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Gerontology Undergraduate Courses
geron 150 Introduction to Aging and the Life Course +
Description:
This introductory course provides an overview of research and knowledge in human aging. This course builds a framework for understanding the biopsychosocial aspects of human aging and the characteristics of older adults in the world today. The survey course looks at the latest findings across many disciplines that study global aging (e.g., psychology, sociology, political science, public health, social work, nursing). For example, it explores a number of variables that are important to human aging such as personal health and well-being, social support, and race and cultural contributions to the life course. This course also covers the basic aspects of planning and delivering health and social services for older adults. More Info
Offered in:geron 160 International Perspectives on Population Aging +
Description:
This foundational course introduces the major topics, concepts and terminology in life course studies using a global comparative perspective. This course builds a framework for understanding aging populations and aging individuals. It considers how different cultures and contexts influence attitudes toward aging and the aged. Case studies and essays from international gerontology scholars will be presented and studied. More Info
Offered in:geron 170 Sexuality and Aging +
Description:
This course will instruct students in the embodied experience of the aging population, with a particular focus on sex and sexuality throughout the years of mid and later life. This will include fostering understanding of adults' changing sexual desires, needs, and activities throughout the lifespan, as well as recent trends among newer cohorts of aging adults as pertains to marriage, divorce, and late life romantic relationships. There will also be focus on the unique experiences of sexual minority older adults (e.g., LGBTQ+) and the diverse experiences of sexual majority and minority older adults in an international and global setting. More Info
Offered in:geron 180 Diversity and Aging +
Description:
This course provides an overview of the diversity of the aging population in the United States, and the influence that this diversity has on the lived experience of aging individuals, through a multidisciplinary lens, using a life course and cumulative advantage framework. Key concepts, current research findings, and important policies concerning older adults are discussed. ''Diversity'' in this course is construed broadly to incorporate race, ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation, immigration status, and ability, as well as how these identities interact -- intersectionality. More Info
Offered in:geron 190 Death and Dying +
Description:
This course focuses on death and dying as social phenomena, which have implications not only for the dying person, but for surviving relatives and loved ones, as well as for social systems and structures that manage the dying process. Taking an analytic approach to death and dying, this course aims to help students link personal experiences of death and loss with broader social and structural issues concerning death, dying, and bereavement. This will include discussion of healthcare and life sustaining treatment, palliative care and hospice, as well as bereavement and rituals surrounding death and burial. More Info
Offered in:geron 240 Policy and Aging +
Description:
This undergraduate course provides an overview of policy and aging. The course provides a general framework for understanding and analyzing social policy and introduces students to the study of public policy. In addition, the course offers an overview of aging policy in the United States, with attention to financial security, access to health care, long-term care, and the Older Americans Act. Students are introduced to policy analysis. This course includes two sections, the first section introduces the legislative bodies and administrative agencies. This section allows students to critically analyze the state legislative process and to master verbal reasoning skills necessary to engage in strategic planning for influencing the decision makers. The second section provides a general framework for understanding and analyzing social policy and introduces students to the study of public policy. More Info
Offered in:geron 250 Mental Health and Aging +
Description:
This course will provide students with a comprehensive overview of psychological aspects of aging. this course will be organized into three broad sections. 1) In the first section of this course, you will become aware of the increasing population of older adults, methods in aging studies, biological theories, physical changes, quality of life and longevity, common diseases, and person -environment interactions. 2) The second section of this course will cover attentional processes, types of memory, intelligence, and social cognition. 3) For the final section of this course, we will focus on mental health. Specifically learning about changes in personality with age, psychological and cognitive disorders including depression, anxiety, dementia, relationships throughout the lifespan, death and dying, and end of life care. To finish the semester we will reflect back on what we have learned and focus on how we can successfully age and encourage others to do so also. More Info
Offered in:geron 260 Health and Physical Aspects of Aging +
Description:
This course focuses on the physical changes in the body associated with normal aging. There is a lessened reserve capacity in all organ systems in the body that increase susceptibility to disease and illness. Emphasis is on health promotion and disease and disability prevention. More Info
Offered in:geron 325 Applied Research in Aging +
Description:
This 3-credit course is a project in conjunction with a community organization about an issue affecting the elderly. Students learn to clearly articulate significant questions, develop a research methodology, prepare instruments and gather data that informal debate on the issue. Students will participate in the design and implementation of a group field project. We will use mixed methods to explore the attitudes and behavior of these older adults. More Info
Offered in:geron 342L Aging and Society +
Description:
This course provides and overview of aging across the life course. Topics include the sociological components of aging from birth through childhood, young adulthood, adulthood, old age, and dying. Special emphasis is placed on the impact of gender, race, and social class on the aging process in the United States. More Info
Offered in:geron 350 Families in Later Life +
Description:
This course is designed as an overview of major areas of research on later life families. The class provides an opportunity to develop and evaluate research dealing with families in later life. Students will learn about theoretical bases of research and special methodological issues facing family researchers. Selected substantive topics include: intimate relationships in later life, intergenerational relationships, sibling relationships, the demographics of later life families, family caregiving, and policy issues. More Info
Offered in:geron 355 Service Delivery Issues for Aging Populations +
Description:
This course is concerned with the link between consumers and aging services in settings with well-developed formal services. The aim of the course is to provide students with an understanding of the structural problems that underlie the challenges that consumers face in using formal services. the course will cover a wide range of services that older people may need, the complementary relationship between formal and informal services, boundaries issues among service specialties and service professionals, service coordination and integration, and the role of both consumer direction and professional case management in negotiating service systems. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
geron 401 Field Placement I +
Description:
This course provides students with an opportunity for a guided practical experience in one of a variety of possible settings. Field placements will typically be approximately 14 weeks in duration. The internship setting will involve an on-site supervisor who is qualified to participate in the development, monitoring, and assessment of the student learning plan. The instructor, on-site supervisor, and student will develop a work plan that will include the aim of the project proposed for the student, the methods to be employed, the effort expected, and the time frame for project completion. Students will communicate with the instructor regularly during the semester. More Info
Offered in:geron 441 Global Aging Field Placement II +
Description:
This advanced course provides an opportunity for students to experience a field placement in a global setting. This cross-national placement will provide students with a guided practical experience in gerontology in a variety of possible settings. Field placements may vary in length to accommodate the needs of the site and students (range of 1-4 weeks). More Info
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