Academic Programs

Internship Program

The internship program is designed to help individuals "bridge the gap" between student and professional roles. It provides an opportunity to apply theories and concepts to actual work with or on behalf of the elderly. The program consists of two components: field-work experience and a practicum discussion class.

Field-work experience is available in a variety of settings. Placements are made by the internship staff, in collaboration with the students and the internship sites. Internships may focus on aspects of one or more of the following: social services, health services, policy, business, advocacy or administration. All field-work experience is supervised by qualified agency employees who serve as preceptors, giving hands-on direction, guidance and feed-back, as well as practical instruction. Because the School strives to provide quality learning experiences, internship settings and preceptors must be pre-approved by the internship staff, and all field-work experience is monitored through written evaluations and site visits.

Practicum discussion classes meet regularly and provide interns with a forum to discuss, debate, and resolve work-place issues using consultation, communication and case conferences methods. In addition, presentations by practicing professionals offer up-to-date perspectives on practical issues in the field of gerontology.

Undergratuate Internships

Undergraduate students complete their primary internships in their senior year. Students must have completed 16 units of gerontology courses prior to starting their internships, and are placed in the fall or spring semesters.

All undergraduates must complete a minimum of four units of internship credit, which requires 130 hours of field-work experience and participation in the practicum discussion class. Up to 4 additional units of elective credit may be taken as an internship.

All undergraduate internships will include some direct contact with elderly people. Undergraduate students are not paid for their internships.

Graduate Internships

The field practicum provides the opportunity for the student to gain valuable experience and develop needed skills by working in a community agency or institution. It involves a minimum of 240 hours of community involvement. Students may elect to take an additional 4 units of GERO 591 Field Practicum as an elective.

Field placement assignments are made by the internship coordinator of the school in consultation with the student and in accordance with the resources available in the community. Every effort is made to secure placement which will reflect the student’s capacity to assume the responsibilities of a professional in gerontology. Evaluations of the student’s performance are sent to the school by the community agency; the student receives a grade of credit/no credit in GERO 591 Field Practicum

International Internship Program

The USC Davis School has existing collaborations with multiple universities in Asia and Europe, as well as alumni working in related jobs throughout the world. If your schedule allows, we can help you find placements working with professionals in several countries. If you have specific language skills, many options are available working in translation, research data collection and analysis, or the administration of programs. Opportunities exist throughout the year. Consider the option of working abroad and expanding your image of the world.