Academics
Undergraduate Minor in Gerontology
- GRN 2000 Health and Aging (3 credits)*
- GRN 3000 Aging in All Environments (3 credits)*
- GRN 3500 Issues in Aging: Service Learning in Gerontology (3 credits)*
- GRN 4000 Public Policy and Aging (3 credits)*
- Plus 6 credits of approved electives to total 18 credits.
*Requires successful completion of prerequisite GRN 1000 Introduction to Aging Studies
Elective courses
- Biology – BIOS 2400 – Human Physiology
- Biology – BIOS 5310 – Biology of Aging
- Blindness and Low Vision Studies – BLS 3050 – Introduction to Adults with Disabilities
- Family and Consumer Sciences – FCS 4130 - Later Life Family Relationships
- Finance – FIN 3720 Estate Planning
- Holistic Health – HOL 1000 – Choices in Living
- Holistic Health – HOL 4700 – Relationship-Centered Skills
- Holistic Health – HOL 5530 – Holistic Strategies to Illness and End of Life
- Holistic Health – HOL 5550 – Successful Aging, Holistic Perspectives
- Human Performance and Health Education – HPER 4720 Recreation for the Aging
- Occupational Therapy – OT 4700 – Functioning of the Older Adult
- Philosophy – PHIL 3340 – Biomedical Ethics
- Psychology – PSY 4280 – Psychology of Aging
- Social Work – SWRK 4640 – Problem Solving in Gerontology
- Specialty Program in Alcohol and Drug Abuse– ADA 5450 - Alcohol, Drugs, and Aging
- Speech Pathology and Audiology - SPPA 2000 - Communication Disorders and Sciences
- Speech Pathology and Audiology - SPPA 5520 Communication Problems of the Aged
Other courses if approved by the program director or program advisor.
After completion of the Minor in Gerontology, students will have met the following learning objectives:
- Discuss biological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of aging.
- Identify and discuss the systems that influence successful aging and disability, such as policy, the aging network, and health systems.
- Identify the normal changes that occur with aging.
- Identify and explain the chronic conditions experienced by older adults.
- Identify and list developmental stages and life transitions that affect older adults and their families.
- Access and discuss research in gerontology and geriatrics.
- Define environment from a narrow to a broad perspective.
- Describe the impact that the environment may have on the function and independence of older adults.
- Identify the roles of interdisciplinary team members and the decision-making process for referrals.
- Integrate classroom learning experiences with service learning projects.
- Discuss the heterogeneity of older adults.
- Describe basic demographic information and identify policy implications at a national, state, and local level.
- Identify the primary features of public policies for older adults relating to income security, health and long term care, particularly vulnerable groups.
- Monitor and evaluate current policy issues affecting older persons.
