Gerontology
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science
Mary Ann Erickson, Associate Professor and Chair
The Ithaca College Gerontology Institute administers the aging studies major and minor for Ithaca College undergraduates and offers a nondegree certificate in gerontology for extramural students.
Aging studies is an interdisciplinary major and draws on Ithaca College's unique combination of liberal arts and professional programs to provide students with a liberal arts foundation, a broad-based understanding of individual and social aspects of aging, and professional skills relevant to their career goals.
Students have the option of enrolling in either the B.A. or the B.S. program in aging studies, depending on their educational and career interests and choice of concentration. The majors prepare students for positions with an aging focus or for graduate education in gerontology or a related discipline. The aging studies major has been designated a program of merit by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.
The interdisciplinary minor in aging studies involves coursework in gerontology and several other departments and is available to students in any major. The minor addresses biological and psychological aspects of individual aging, as well as the societal implications of the rapidly increasing older population. Fieldwork in an approved aging organization provides an important experiential learning opportunity for aging studies minors. The requirements for the minor are designed to complement or supplement a student's major.
Facilitating student growth and learning is a priority for gerontology faculty and staff. All majors are assigned an adviser to assist with progress toward completing their major requirements and to serve as a resource for exploring interests and career goals. It is strongly recommended that aging studies majors meet with their adviser at least twice each semester, once at the beginning of the semester and again during the required advising period before online registration.
Aging Studies, B.A.
Aging Studies, B.S.
Aging Studies Minor
Certificate in Gerontology (extramural students only)
Gerontology Institute
Requirements for the Major in Aging Studies -- B.A.
Group 1: required courses
|
GERO 10100 |
Introduction to Aging Studies |
3 |
|
BIOL 20500 |
Biology of Aging |
3 |
|
GERO 29010 |
Fieldwork in Gerontology |
3 |
|
GERO 31900 |
Aging and Social Policy |
3 |
|
SOCI 35300 |
Research Methods I |
3 |
|
SOCI 35400 |
Research Methods II |
3 |
| GERO 40100 | Gerontology Internship | 3 |
|
GERO 48000 |
Gerontology Senior Seminar |
3 |
|
HLTH 20500 |
Critical Health Issues |
3 |
|
PSYC 36600 |
Psychology of Aging |
3 |
|
ANTH 34000 |
Aging and Culture or |
|
|
SOCI 22000 |
Sociology of Aging or |
|
|
GERO 22000 |
Sociology of Aging |
3 |
|
Total, required courses |
33 |
Group 2: aging studies restricted electives
Select 12 credits from the following:
| GERO 21000 | Health and Aging | 3 |
| GERO 23000 | Memory Loss and Aging | 3 |
|
GERO 32500 |
The Long-Term Care System |
3 |
| GERO 38900-38909 | Selected Topics in Applied Gerontology | 1-3 |
|
GERO 39900-39909 |
Selected Topics in Social Gerontology |
1-3 |
|
GERO 49900 |
Independent Study |
1-4 |
|
GERO 37000 |
Counseling the Older Adult |
3 |
|
MUMC 41100 |
Creative Musical Experience with Older Adults |
3 |
| SLPA 24900 | Hearing Loss in the Elderly | 3 |
|
SLPA 35900 |
Communication Disorders in the Aging Population |
3 |
|
RLS 23800 |
Leisure and Aging |
3 |
|
HLTH 24000 |
Health Promotion and the Older Adult |
3 |
| HLTH 39902 | Nutrition through the Life Cycle | 3 |
|
Total, restricted electives |
12 |
Group 3: general education distribution requirements
3.1 Self and society
Select 6 credits from the following:
|
PSYC 10400 |
Introduction to Developmental Psychology |
3 |
| Any course with a Self and Society (1) designation | 3 |
3.2 Global issues
Select 3 credits from the following:
Select any course with a Global Perspective designation (G) (3 credits).
3.3 Diversity
Select 6 credits from the following:
|
CNPH 30300 |
Images of Men and Women in Mass Media |
3 |
|
ENGL 21100 |
Jewish American Writers |
3 |
|
ENGL 22000 |
Black Women Writers |
3 |
|
POLT 14100 |
Power: Race, Sex, and Class |
3 |
|
HIST 20900 |
Ethnic United States since the Civil War |
3 |
|
PHIL 26000 |
Difference and Community |
3 |
| SOCI 11600 | Introduction to Multicultural Studies | 3 |
|
SOCI 20700 |
Race and Ethnicity |
3 |
|
SOCI 30300 |
Global Race and Ethnic Relations |
3 |
|
SOCI 34300 |
Sociology of Gender |
3 |
|
RLST 10500 |
Introduction to World Religions: Primal and Eastern |
3 |
|
RLST 10600 |
Introduction to World Religions: Western and Modern |
3 |
|
MUNM 25500 |
Women in Music |
3 |
|
MUNM 25600 |
Women in Popular Music |
3 |
|
Any 3-credit course with a prefix of CSCR |
3 |
3.4 Ethics and values
Select 3 credits from the following:
|
PHIL 10100 |
Introduction to Philosophy |
3 |
|
PHIL 21200 |
Introduction to Ethics |
3 |
|
PHIL 22000 |
Political Philosophy |
3 |
|
PHIL 23000 |
Bioethics |
3 |
3.5 Speech communication
Select 6 credits form the following:
|
SPCM 11000 |
Public Communication or |
3 |
|
SPCM 11500 |
Business and Professional Communication |
3 |
|
SPCM 14000 |
Small Group Communication or |
3 |
|
SPCM 14900 |
Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication or |
3 |
| SPCM/HLTH 22500 | Health Communication | 3 |
3.6 Economics and policy
Select 6 credits from the following:
|
ECON 11500 |
Current Economic Issues |
3 |
|
ECON 12100 |
Principles of Macroeconomics |
3 |
|
ECON 12200 |
Principles of Microeconomics |
3 |
|
POLT 10100 |
U.S. Politics |
3 |
| POLT 12200 | Politics and Society | 3 |
|
SOCI 30700 |
Social Policy |
3 |
|
HPS 21500 |
Introduction to Health Policy and Policy Making |
3 |
3.7 Writing
Select 6 credits from the following:
|
WRTG 10600 |
Academic Writing I or |
3 |
|
WRTG 11100 |
Academic Writing II |
3 |
|
WRTG xxxxx |
Three additional credits in writing at level 2 or above |
3 |
3.8 Visual and performing arts
Select 3 credits from the following:
|
THPA 13100 |
Acting I |
3 |
|
THPA 15000 |
Introduction to Dance |
3 |
|
THPA 16000 |
Introduction to Theater |
3 |
|
ARTH 11100 |
Episodes in Western Art |
3 |
|
ARTH 11400 |
Architecture across Cultures |
3 |
|
ARTH 13500 |
Introduction to Visual Culture |
3 |
|
ARTH 16000 |
Art across Cultures |
3 |
| ARTH 24300 | Gender and Visual Culture | 3 |
| ARTH 24500 | Imaging Authority | 3 |
|
JAZZ 16100 |
Survey of Jazz History |
2 |
|
MUNM 10700-10800 |
Class Voice for the Non-Music Student |
1 |
|
MUNM 17300 |
Keyboard Musicianship I for the Non-Music Major |
1 |
|
MUNM 25100 |
Music and the Media |
3 |
|
MUNM 25300 |
Involvement with Music |
3 |
|
MUNM 25700 |
History of American Popular Song |
3 |
|
MUNM 35100 |
American Musical Theater |
3 |
|
Total, general education distribution requirements |
39 |
Required concentration
Students enrolled in the B.A. in aging studies are required to enroll in one of two areas of concentration: counseling or health promotion. Students who have interests or career plans not addressed by an existing concentration may propose a planned interdisciplinary concentration (PIC). The PIC must be developed with an adviser and must include courses (21 credits) that relate to future career or educational goals. Students who choose to design a PIC must submit an application approved by their adviser and the aging studies academic program coordinator no later than the second semester of the junior year. The proposed concentration must include 21 unique credits; a course may not count toward both an aging studies requirement or elective and the concentration.
Counseling concentration
Required courses
|
SOCI 30800 |
Counseling Theory and Dynamics |
3 |
|
SOCI 34600 |
Methods of Social Work Practice |
3 |
|
SOCI 34700 |
Supervised Fieldwork |
3 |
|
SOCI 36100 |
Social Welfare and Social Work |
3 |
|
GERO 37000 |
Counseling the Older Adult |
3 |
Electives
Select 6 credits from the following:
|
PSYC 24100 |
Family Dynamics and Therapy |
3 |
|
PSYC 32100 |
Abnormal Psychology |
3 |
|
HLTH 22700 |
Stress: Its Nature and Management |
3 |
|
HLTH 35000 |
Psychoactive Drugs |
3 |
|
GERO 39903 |
Selected Topics in Social Gerontology: Families and Aging |
3 |
|
Total, counseling concentration |
21 |
Health promotion concentration
Required courses
|
HLTH 20200 |
Human Nutrition* |
3 |
|
HLTH 24000 |
Health Promotion and the Older Adult |
3 |
| HLTH 30100 | Life Cycle Nutrition | 3 |
| HLTH 21300 | Wellness: Multicultural Perspectives on Health and Healing | 3 |
*This course has a prerequisite of sophomore standing and one of the following: EXSS 12000, BIOL 11900, BIOL 12100, CHEM 11100, or CHEM 12100. Students in this concentration will take one of these courses in place of a free elective.
Electives
Select 9 credits from the following:
|
HLTH 11300 |
Personal Health |
3 |
|
HLTH 22500 |
Alcohol and Alcoholism |
3 |
|
HLTH 22700 |
Stress: Its Nature and Management |
3 |
| HLTH 22800 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| HLTH 22900 | Disease and Lifestyle | 3 |
|
HLTH 35000 |
Psychoactive Drugs |
3 |
| HLTH 44200 | Critical Assessment of Nutrition Programs | 3 |
| SOCI 31600 | Women and Health | 3 |
|
Total, health promotion concentration |
21 |
|
Free electives |
14-15 |
Summary
|
Aging studies required credits |
33 |
|
Aging studies restricted elective credits |
12 |
|
Aging studies general education requirements |
39 |
|
Concentration |
21 |
|
Free electives |
15 |
|
Total, B.A. in aging studies |
120 |
Requirements for the Major in Aging Studies -- B.S.
Group 1: required courses
|
GERO 10100 |
Introduction to Aging Studies |
3 |
|
BIOL 20500 |
Biology of Aging |
3 |
|
GERO 29010 |
Fieldwork in Gerontology |
3 |
|
GERO 31900 |
Aging and Social Policy |
3 |
|
SOCI 35300 |
Research Methods I |
3 |
| SOCI 35400 | Research Methods II | 3 |
|
GERO 40100 |
Gerontology Internship |
3 |
|
GERO 48000 |
Gerontology Senior Seminar |
3 |
|
HLTH 20500 |
Critical Health Issues |
3 |
|
PSYC 36600 |
Psychology of Aging |
3 |
|
ANTH 34000 |
Aging and Culture or |
|
|
SOCI 22000 |
Sociology of Aging or |
|
|
GERO 22000 |
Sociology of Aging |
3 |
|
Total, required courses |
33 |
Group 2: aging studies restricted electives
Select 12 credits from the following:
| GERO 21000 | Health and Aging | 3 |
| GERO 23000 | Memory Loss and Aging | 3 |
|
GERO 32500 |
The Long-Term Care System |
3 |
|
GERO 38900-39909 |
Selected Topics in Applied Gerontology |
1-3 |
|
GERO 39900-39909 |
Selected Topics in Social Gerontology |
1-3 |
|
GERO 49900 |
Independent Study |
1-4 |
|
GERO 37000 |
Counseling the Older Adult |
3 |
|
MUMC 41100 |
Creative Music Experience with Older Adults |
3 |
|
SLPA 24900 |
Hearing Loss in the Elderly |
3 |
|
SLPA 35900 |
Communication Disorders in the Aging Population |
3 |
|
RLS 23800 |
Leisure and Aging |
3 |
|
HLTH 24000 |
Health Promotion and the Older Adult |
3 |
| HLTH 30100 | Life Cycle Nutrition | 3 |
|
Total, restricted electives |
12 |
Group 3: general education distribution requirements
See listing of general education distribution requirements for the B.A., above.
| 3.6 Economics and Policy | ||
| 3.7 Writing | ||
| 3.8 Visual and Performing Arts | ||
|
Total, general education distribution requirements |
39 |
Required concentration
Students enrolled in the B.S. in aging studies are required to select one of two areas of concentration: management and administration or recreation and leisure. Students who have interests or career plans not addressed by an existing concentration may propose a planned interdisciplinary concentration (PIC). The PIC must be developed with an adviser and must include courses (21 credits) that relate to future career or educational goals. Students who choose to design a PIC must submit an application approved by their adviser and the aging studies academic program coordinator no later than the second semester of the junior year. The proposed concentration must include 21 unique credits; a course may not count toward both an aging studies requirement or elective and the concentration.
Management and administration concentration
Required courses
15 credits
|
ACCT 22500 |
Financial Accounting |
3 |
|
GBUS 20300 |
Legal Environment of Business I |
3 |
|
MGMT 20600 |
Organizational Behavior and Management |
3 |
|
MKTG 31200 |
Principles of Marketing |
3 |
|
HRM 34000 |
Human Resource Management or |
3 |
|
MGMT 31000 |
Leadership in Organizations or |
3 |
|
MGMT 32100 |
Power and Conflict in Organizations |
3 |
Electives
Select 6 credits from the following:
|
STCM 10100 |
How Organizations Communicate |
3 |
| STCM 11100 | Presentation Media and Visual Design | 3 |
|
GERO 32500 |
The Long-Term Care System |
3 |
|
RLS 13700 |
Leisure Travel |
3 |
|
RLS 23800 |
Leisure and Aging |
3 |
|
WRTG 21100 |
Writing for the Workplace |
3 |
|
WRTG 21300 |
Technical Writing |
3 |
|
WRTG 31100 |
Writing for the Professions |
3 |
|
WRTG 31700 |
Proposals, Grants, and Reports |
3 |
|
COMP 10500 |
Introduction to Web Development |
3 |
|
COMP 10600 |
Introduction to Multimedia Programming |
4 |
|
COMP 11000 |
Computers and Information Technologies |
3 |
|
COMP 20500 |
Advanced Web Programming |
3 |
|
Total, management and administration concentration |
21 |
Recreation and leisure concentration
Required courses
15 credits
|
RLS 10100 |
Leisure and Society or |
3 |
|
RLS 10300 |
History and Philosophy of Leisure |
3 |
|
RLS 10500 |
Leadership |
3 |
|
RLS 23200 |
Program Planning |
3 |
|
RLS 24800 |
Service Learning I: Programming |
3 |
|
RLS 23800 |
Leisure and Aging |
3 |
Electives
Select 6 credits from the following:
|
RLS 10400 |
Cooperative Games Facilitation |
3 |
|
RLS 12500 |
Understanding Disability: Characteristics, Causes, Services |
3 |
|
RLS 13700 |
Leisure Travel |
3 |
| RLS 15100 | Foundations of Outdoor Adventure Pursuits | 3 |
|
RLS 21600 |
Outdoor Adventure Skills |
3 |
|
RLS 23300 |
Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation |
3 |
|
RLS 33000 |
Administration of Recreation |
3 |
| RLS 33100 | Supervision of Recreation Personnel | 3 |
|
RLS 33400 |
Leisure Education |
3 |
|
RLS 33600 |
Commercial Recreation |
3 |
|
RLS 34000 |
Inclusive Community Leisure Services |
3 |
|
RLS 36600 |
Social and Cultural Aspects of Play |
3 |
|
RLS 39900-39999 |
Selected Topics in Recreation |
1-3 |
|
Total, recreation and leisure concentration |
21 |
|
Free electives |
14-15 |
Summary
|
Aging studies required credits |
33 |
|
Aging studies restricted elective credits |
12 |
|
Aging studies general education requirements |
39 |
|
Concentration |
21 |
|
Free electives |
15 |
|
Total, B.S. in aging studies |
120 |
Aging Studies Minor
The interdisciplinary minor in aging studies involves coursework from Gerontology and several other departments and is available to students in any major. The minor addresses biological and psychological aspects of individual aging, as well as the societal implications of the rapidly increasing older population. Fieldwork in an approved aging organization provides an important experiential learning opportunity for aging studies minors.
The requirements for the minor are designed to complement or supplement a student's major.
Requirements for the Minor in Aging Studies
Common core
|
GERO 10100 |
Introduction to Aging Studies |
3 |
|
GERO 29010 |
Fieldwork in Gerontology |
3 |
|
Total, core credits |
6 |
Disciplinary foundation
|
PSYC 36600 |
Psychology of Aging |
3 |
Select one of the following:
|
BIOL 20500 |
Biology of Aging |
3 |
|
HLTH 24000 |
Health Promotion and the Older Adult |
3 |
| GERO 21000 | Health and Aging | 3 |
| Minors may choose to apply an additional 3 credits from the list above as a gerontology elective. |
Select one of the following:
|
ANTH 34000 |
Aging and Culture |
3 |
| GERO 22000/SOCI 22000 | Sociology of Aging (these courses are cross-listed; students may not receive credit for both) | 3 |
| Minors may choose to apply an additional 3 credits from the list above as a gerontology elective. | ||
|
Total, disciplinary foundation |
9 |
Aging studies electives
Select 6 credits from the following:
|
GERO 37000 |
Counseling the Older Adult |
3 |
| HLTH 30100 | Life Cycle Nutrition | 3 |
|
MUMC 41100 |
Creative Music Experience with Older Adults |
3 |
|
SLPA 24900 |
Hearing Loss in the Elderly |
3 |
|
SLPA 35900 |
Communication Disorders in the Aging Population |
3 |
|
RLS 23800 |
Leisure and Aging |
3 |
| GERO 23000 | Memory Loss and Aging: Myths and Realities | 3 |
|
GERO 31900 |
Aging and Social Policy |
3 |
|
GERO 32500 |
The Long-Term Care System |
3 |
|
GERO 38900-38909 |
Selected Topics in Applied Gerontology |
3 |
|
GERO 39900-39909 |
Selected Topics in Social Gerontology |
3 |
|
Total, electives |
6 |
|
|
Total, aging studies minor |
21 |
Certificate in Gerontology
Ithaca College offers a 24-credit undergraduate, nondegree certificate in gerontology that follows the guidelines of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education and is registered with the New York State Education Department. Overseen by both the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute and the Division of Graduate and Professional Studies, the gerontology certificate is available to extramural students only. Students admitted into this program are eligible for a grant to offset part of the tuition costs of courses included in the certificate curriculum.
The gerontology certificate is designed to provide professionals in the health and social services, as well as other interested individuals, with specialized knowledge of gerontological issues that will help them better understand and serve older adults. Students completing this program will enhance their knowledge and skills in a number of areas, including
- individual and social aspects of the aging process;
- causes and consequences of problems experienced by older persons;
- provision of services to older persons through a variety of professional disciplines;
- provision of services and programs that promote the health and independence of older persons;
- communication with older persons and among health care professionals; and
- organizational management and administration in a variety of residential environments.
The gerontology certificate curriculum includes 24 credits taken from five sections. Most of these courses have minimal prerequisites. The full curriculum is shown below.
Curriculum
Core -- required courses
6 credits
|
GERO 10100 |
Introduction to Aging Studies |
3 |
|
GERO 29010 |
Fieldwork in Gerontology |
3 |
Disciplinary perspectives
Select 6 credits from the following:
|
BIOL 20500 |
Biology of Aging |
3 |
|
PSYC 36600 |
Psychology of Aging |
3 |
|
ANTH 34000 |
Aging and Culture |
3 |
|
SOCI 22000 |
Sociology of Aging or |
3 |
|
GERO 22000 |
Sociology of Aging |
3 |
Health aspects electives
Select 3-6 credits from the following:
|
SLPA 24900 |
Hearing Loss in the Elderly |
3 |
|
SLPA 35900 |
Communication Disorders in the Aging Population |
3 |
|
PTBS 20200 |
Rehabilitation for Older Adults |
1 |
|
HLTH 24000 |
Health Promotion and the Older Adult |
3 |
|
HLTH 32200 |
Nutrition for the Older Adult |
3 |
Social aspects electives
Select 3-6 credits from the following:
|
MUMC 41100 |
Creative Musical Experience with Older Adults |
3 |
|
RLS 23800 |
Leisure and Aging |
3 |
|
GERO 32100 |
Interdisciplinary Initiatives in Rural Geriatrics |
3 |
|
GERO 32500 |
The Long-Term Care System (counts only for one group) |
3 |
|
GERO 33000 |
Research Methods in Gerontology |
3 |
|
GERO 38900 |
Selected Topics in Applied Gerontology |
3 |
|
GERO 39900 |
Selected Topics in Social Gerontology |
3 |
Administration and policy issues
Select 3 credits from the following:
|
GERO 31900 |
Aging and Social Policy |
3 |
|
GERO 32500 |
The Long-Term Care System (counts only for one group) |
3 |
|
GERO 41400 |
Long-Term Care Services Administration |
3 |
|
HPS 49500 |
Special Topics in Health Administration |
1-3 |
| Total, certificate in gerontology | 24 |
Summary
|
Core courses |
6 |
|
Disciplinary perspectives |
6 |
|
Health aspects electives |
3-6 |
|
Social aspects electives |
3-6 |
|
Administration and policy issues |
3 |
|
Total, certificate in gerontology |
24 |
For further information regarding the program's admission requirements and curriculum, contact the Gerontology Institute, 607-274-1965, e-mail aging@ithaca.edu.