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Gerontology

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses Faculty

Overview

A large group of older adults smiling for the camera

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT GERONTOLOGY?

Visit our Gerontology Department web pages for answers to these and many other questions:

  • What makes the ARC Gerontology program one of the best programs in the nation?
  • Does ARC offer fully online gerontology degrees and courses?
  • What is Gerontology, and what is the Gerontological Perspective?
  • Does a Gerontology degree provide career security?
  • What do Gerontologists do, and where do they work?
  • What types of positions do Gerontologists obtain?

GERONTOLOGY ASSOCIATE OF ARTS

This regular associate degree prepares students for transfer into the California State University Sacramento Gerontology bachelor’s program and other programs within their College of Health and Human Services such as Communication Science and Disorders, Recreation Therapy, and Social Work.  The graduation requirements for these CSUS programs include American Sign Language (ASL) or a language other than English.  This degree requires a minimum of 60 units of coursework, including:

  • Gerontology courses
  • University transfer program enrollment prerequisites
  • ASL or Foreign Language courses

GERONTOLOGY ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE

This regular associate degree prepares students for transfer into the California State University Sacramento College of Health and Human Services programs such as health Science and Public Health.  The graduation requirements for these programs include statistics and biology coursework rather than American Sign Language (ASL) or a language other than English.  This degree requires a minimum of 60 units of coursework, including:

  • Gerontology courses
  • University transfer program enrollment prerequisites
  • Statistics and Biology courses

GERONTOLOGY OCCUPATIONAL ASSOCIATE OF ARTS

The degrees are nationally accredited by the Accreditation for Gerontology Education Council (AGEC) and nationally recognized as Programs of Merit by the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) and the Gerontological Society of America (GSA).  They prepare students for employment in the field of aging or for transfer to a university to complete a bachelor’s degree.  Graduates of these programs meet the Gerontological Coordinator credential requirement of the National Association for Professional Gerontologists (NAPG).

These degrees require a minimum of 60 units of coursework including 24 units of gerontology, human services, and communication coursework, 3 units of work experience, and 9 units of specialization in one of five areas:

  • Gerontology: Administrative
  • Gerontology: Advocacy and Social Policy
  • Gerontology: Case Management and Social Services
  • Gerontology: Geriatric Health Care
  • Gerontology: Recreation

GERONTOLOGY OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT

The ARC Gerontology Certificates of Achievement nationally recognized as Programs of Merit by the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) and the Gerontological Society of America (GSA).  They are offered for the five specialized occupational degrees listed above.  The requirements for these certificates are the same as for the degrees except students do not have to meet the 60 units minimum requirement to complete the certificate.  Students who have already satisfied the current California general education course requirements in another program, receive an AA or AS after completing the certificate of achievement requirements.

VOCATIONAL AND CEU COURSE ADVISORY

Please check the ARC semester schedule for the vocational courses that are currently available or complete this Vocational Course Info Request, and the next time the course(s) you are interested in are scheduled, we will get in touch. The Social Services Designee course is being revised, and new vocational courses are being developed.

  • Due to the pandemic shutdown and related faculty retirements, the state-approved training courses for Activity Leaders/Coordinators and RCFE Administrators will not be offered in the 2022-2023 school year.
  • Due to changes in the state of California continuing education unit (CEU) course approval process, the gerontology department no longer offers CEU courses for CNAs and HHAs.