Contributor: Rosalyn Neranartkomol
Origin/Affiliation: M.Sc. in Gerontology - 6th Year Medical Student at Medical University of Silesia in Katowice
From 2014 to 2017, I pursued a Master of Science in Gerontology from the University of Southern California (USC). The flexibility of the program allowed me to take the courses part-time and online; therefore, I was able to take courses even when I was not in California. A degree in gerontology is beneficial for anyone who works with seniors. I was interested in working as an administrator at a skilled nursing facility; therefore, it was favorable for me to pursue this degree.
Personally, I was happy to see how wide ranging the applicability of this degree is. Being exposed to the physiology and psychology of aging helps widen my understanding of the aging process and help combat any stigma I may hold about aging. Ageism is one of the topics that came up and I was able to see how it influenced public policies, design, and other aspects of life. There were many elective courses that we can choose to take dependent on what we want to focus on, and there has been constant innovation in the degree offerings. After I had graduated, I noticed that there were additions to the specializations that can be pursued whether it is nutrition, long-term care, hospitality, medical management, etc.
I benefitted a lot from my degree and was able to intern at a skilled nursing facility in California, which taught me a lot about the in-and-outs of senior housing in the United States of America. I was also able to meet other likeminded individuals and share thoughts and experiences about eldercare in the United States and in other countries. After reading about my experience as a gerontology student, if you wish to pursue a degree in Gerontology at USC then I would like to refer you to this website: https://gero.usc.edu/admissions/academics/masters-programs/
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