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Gerontology

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses Faculty

Overview

A large group of older adults smiling for the camera

California’s population is aging. Approximately 29% of Californians are already over age 55, 33% will be 55+ by 2033 and in 2060, 38% of Californians will be 55+. This trend has increased the demand for a workforce with specialized knowledge of the older population and aging. We offer degrees and certificates that will prepare you to start your career in the expanding field of aging or transfer to a university.

The gerontology occupational associate of arts degrees prepare students for employment in the field of aging or transfer to a university. The program curricula are mapped to the Gerontological Competencies for Undergraduate and Graduate Education published by the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), the educational branch of the Gerontological Society of America. Graduates of these programs meet the Gerontological Coordinator credential requirement of the National Association for Professional Gerontologists (NAPG). These degrees require core gerontology, human services, communication, work experience, and specialization courses.

The associate's degree that prepares students to transfer to California State University Sacramento's (CSUS) Gerontology program is being updated to match revisions made to the CSUS program within the last year. The outdated program may remain in the catalog until a new degree completes the approval process and replaces it. In the meantime, declare for the occupational program that best matches your career goals (see the course, degree, and certificate advisories for more guidance).

The gerontology occupational certificates of achievement require the same courses as the occupational degrees, except they do not require general education courses. Students who have already satisfied the general education course requirements in another program receive an associate's degree after completing the certificate requirements.

Course, Degree, and Certificate Advisories

  • GERON 305/PSYC 375 Introduction to Geropsychology and the Aging Brain has replaced GERON 302/PSYC 374 Psychology of Aging: Adult Development and Aging in all of ARC's Gerontology programs, regardless of a student's catalog year. GERON 302/PSYC 374 is no longer being offered at ARC. The new course, GERON 305/PSYC 375, presents an applied curricula to prepare students for interacting with older people more effectively. It also has much better transferability to the CSU and UC systems than GERON 302/PSYC 374.
  • The Gerontology AA degree in the current catalog is no longer aligned with the CSUS degree. Do not use it to guide your course selections. If you do, you are likely to take courses that are unnecessary and delay your graduation and transfer timeline. To avoid that, request an appointment with the gerontology department chair for guidance.
  • Though the shortage of entry-level caregivers in California is dire, the ARC Gerontology Department has ceased offering vocational courses that lead to entry-level caregiver positions in residential and day programs for older adults and people with disabilities. Instead, the department has developed courses and programs that lead to employment opportunities with more upward mobility and higher starting pay, such as community health worker assistant, social services assistant, human services assistant, case manager assistant, and so on. If you are a family member, California's Master Plan for Aging established programs to incentivize family caregiving members. It also established a broad network of free and convenient training programs for families and paid caregivers through the California Association of Public Authorities for In-Home Supportive Services. If you want to be hired as a paid caregiver in a residential or day program for older adults and people with disabilities, you do not need training to be hired in that position. Employers are required by law to provide all employees with training, whether they have experience or not. In addition, many prefer hiring and training people without experience because inexperienced and untrained candidates are likelier to stay in positions.

Do You Have Questions About Gerontology?

Visit the Gerontology Department 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?