Ithaca College Gerontology Institute

Ithaca College Major in Aging Studies Designated a Program of Merit

The Gerontology Institute just learned that our Major in Aging Studies has been granted the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education’s (AGHE) Program of Merit designation. This is a five-year designation.

In July 1998 AGHE’s Executive Committee established and implemented a voluntary program of evaluation known as the Program of Merit (POM). The POM designation provides gerontology programs with an AGHE “stamp of approval”.  To be considered for the designation, Gerontology faculty and administrators developed and submitted a self-study report which addressed the Aging Studies Program’s alignment with AGHE standards and guidelines for gerontology programs and described the program’s history, resources, organizational and administrative structure, students and faculty, mission and goals, and relationship with the community.

A framed Program of Merit Certificate will be awarded at AGHE’s annual conference in Baltimore in late Februrary 2008.

Ithaca College offers a major and minor in Aging Studies, both of which are administered and supported by the Gerontology Institute.  The interdisciplinary nature of our program enables us to offer a wide range of courses taught throughout the various schools on campus.

Fall 2008 aging-related courses

A Rewarding Path

If you are looking for a rewarding and creative career path, the aging studies major can help you get there! The number of older Americans is unprecedented. The future will be in the hands of those who study aging. With a degree in aging studies you'll be especially prepared for the jobs created to serve this population -- jobs providing housing, transportation, health care, recreation, and more. Or you might become an educator or researcher studying sociology or psychology relating to older adults. You might consult with businesses to design products or develop services that benefit older adults. And the relative newness of the field means that starting your own business or coming up with an innovative idea are distinct possibilities.

Our Flexible Program

Aging studies majors choose one of four concentrations: counseling, health promotion, recreation and leisure, or management and administration -- all areas that contribute towards a future in the field of aging. Alternatively, students may choose to work with an adviser to create a 21-credit concentration based on their interests and career goals.

Division of Interdisciplinary and International Studies