Gerontology (GERO)

GERO200
Introduction to Gerontology

Description: Introduction to social gerontology and human development in later life; emphasis on important elements of aging, such as socialization, family interaction, retirement, physical and psychological aging, and perceptions of older persons in contemporary society.

This course is a prerequisite for: GERO 446, GERO 846, PSYC 446

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option
ACE Outcomes: ACE 6 Social Science

Credit Hours:3

ACE:ACE 6 Social Science

GERO307
Death and Dying

Description: Interdisciplinary survey of literature in the field of thanatology with an emphasis on working with the older patient and his or her family.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO410
Educational GerontologyCrosslisted with GERO 810

Prerequisites: Junior, Senior & Graduate students only

Description: Introduction to the field of education for and about the aging. Institutions and processes of education will be analyzed to determine their relationships and value to persons who are now old and those who are aging.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded
Offered:SPRING

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO435
Issues in AgingCrosslisted with GERO 835

Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing

Description: For students in gerontology and in other fields who are interested in a humanistic approach to understanding significant issues which affect the lives of older people.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:9
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO442
Recreation Therapy: Intervention for the AgingCrosslisted with GERO 842

Description: Role of leisure services as related to understanding and working with elders. Emphasis on recreation programming as a mode of intervention. Analysis and study of the phases of aging, with reference to psychomotor, affective, and cognitive changes; introduction to the theories of aging and how they relate to the lifestyle of this population; recreational therapy intervention, activity adaptation and program design; leisure education and issues and trends.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO446
Psychology of Adult Development and AgingCrosslisted with GERO 846, PSYC 446

Prerequisites: PSYC 181 or GERO 200.

Description: Major social and psychological changes that occur as a function of aging. Both normal and abnormal patterns of developmental change including their implications for behavior.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO447
Mental Health and AgingCrosslisted with GERO 847

Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing.

Description: Mental health needs of older adults. Identifying both positive mental health and pathological conditions. Treatment interventions effective with older adults and their families.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO450
Legal Aspects of AgingCrosslisted with GERO 850

Description: Consideration of the legal concerns which are likely to arise as people age. Includes introduction to the American legal system and emphasis on underlying legal concepts and issues of special importance to older persons.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO451
Long-term Care AdministrationCrosslisted with GERO 851

Description: Investigation of the broad range of policy issues, theoretical concerns, and practical management strategies influencing the design, organization, and delivery of long-term care services.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO452
Senior HousingCrosslisted with GERO 852

Prerequisites: Junior/Senior Standing

Description: Provides an in-depth understanding of the various housing options available to older adults including aging in place to hospice. Gain a working knowledge of the needs of older adults and how this is used in making decisions about housing.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO455
Health Aspects of AgingCrosslisted with GERO 855

Description: Psychological, sociological, and physiological factors that influence the health of the aging, with particular emphasis given to biological changes that have implications for disease and health disorders.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO459
Disorders of Communication in Older AdultsCrosslisted with GERO 859

Description: Familiarizes the student with the identification and symptomology, basic assessment and intervention strategies associated with disorders of communication affecting older adults and geriatric patients. Beneficial to students majoring in gerontology, or speech pathology, as an elective course, or as a professional enrichment course for persons working in these or related fields.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO467
Programs and Services for Older AdultsCrosslisted with GERO 867

Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing.

Description: Historical overview of programs for the elderly, to examine the national policy process as it relates to the older American, and to review the principles and practices relative to the existing national programs for the aged.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option
Offered:FALL/SPR

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO469
Working with Minority ElderlyCrosslisted with GERO 869

Prerequisites: Junior or senior in gerontology or social work.

Description: Interdisciplinary course designed to provide the student with knowledge of the differing status, attitudes, and experiences of the elderly within four major minority groups and to examine various service systems and practice models in terms of their relevance and effectiveness in meeting needs of minority elderly.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO472
Baby Boomers and 21st centuryCrosslisted with GERO 872

Description: Marketing decisions and strategies apply to all businesses and are influenced by the target market. The economic realities and the character of America will change due to shifting demographics of baby boomers. Businesses that understand the power of the baby boomers will succeed; failure to understand that power may lead to economic consequences. Students from many disciplines will benefit from this cross-referenced course blending the realities of gerontology with the predictions of baby boomer behavior and the resulting impact to all businesses.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO475
Mid-life Career Change and Pre-RetirementCrosslisted with GERO 875

Description: Examination of mid-life as it applies to the concept of second careers, existing resources, and the future of second careers; and the concept and practical implications of preretirement planning.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO485
Hospice and Other Services for the Dying Patient/FamilyCrosslisted with GERO 885

Description: Designed to involve students in the recognition of fears, concerns, and needs of dying patients and their families by examining the hospice concept and other services available in our community. Factual information, readings, professional presentations, films, and experiential exercises are offered to aid the student in understanding that hospice is an alternative to the traditional medical model so that when the "cure" system is no longer functional, then the "care" system, hospice, can be offered.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO489
Palliative Care: Mentoring a Healthcare Approach of Patient-Centered Care with Focus on Well-BeingCrosslisted with GERO 889

Prerequisites: Jr or Sr standing

Description: Provides a foundation for the recognition of the need to implement palliative medical care. Using current texts and literature, video and podcast lectures by colleagues, and review of case and topics, study the definitions, purposes, and benefits of palliative medical care. Learn the avenues and ways to implement palliative care to provide care that promotes well-being.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded
Offered:FALL

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO492
Special Studies in GerontologyCrosslisted with GERO 892

Prerequisites: 6 hrs gerontology.

Description: Special studies designed around the interests and needs of the individual student in such areas as the psychology, sociology, economics, or politics of aging, as well as operation of various service systems. May be either a literature review project or a field project in which experience is gained in the community identifying and analyzing needs and services related to older people.

Course details
Credit Hours:1-3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:1-3

ACE:

GERO494
PracticumCrosslisted with GERO 894

Prerequisites: 9 hrs gerontology and permission.

Description: Opportunity for students to share field experiences; to obtain guidance concerning various relationships with agency, staff, and clients; and to develop a broadly based perspective of the field of aging.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:6
Grading Option:Graded with Option
Experiential Learning:Internship/Co-op

Credit Hours:3

ACE:

GERO497
Senior Honors Project/Thesis

Prerequisites: Senior Honors Program.

Description: Independent research project supervised by department/school faculty.

Course details
Credit Hours:3-6
Max credits per semester:6
Max credits per degree:6
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3-6

ACE:

GERO498
Counseling Skills in GerontologyCrosslisted with GERO 898

Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing.

Description: Develops basic counseling skills for application in gerontology.

Course details
Credit Hours:3
Max credits per semester:3
Max credits per degree:3
Grading Option:Graded with Option

Credit Hours:3

ACE: