The interdisciplinary gerontology major 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 a B.A. or B.S. program in gerontology, determined by their educational and career interests and choice of minor or planned interdisciplinary combination (PIC). The majors prepare students for positions with an aging focus or for further graduate education in gerontology or a related discipline.
Through a liberal arts foundation, multidisciplinary gerontology coursework, and experiential learning, the Ithaca College gerontology major prepares students to
Think critically and communicate effectively in written and oral form
Understand and apply theoretical perspectives related to the study of aging
Integrate information and perspectives from various disciplines to understand the biological, social, and psychological aspects of aging
Understand the diversity of the older population and appreciate the impact of rural/urban differences, culture, race, ethnicity, social class, and gender
Conduct basic research and present results, and to read, analyze, and use research-based information
Understand the development of United States aging policy and its impact on programs and services for older adults
Be knowledgeable about aging issues in a global context
Analyze and apply professional and ethical issues related to careers in the field of aging
Use skills specific to their chosen focus area in a work or educational setting
680-10100
Introduction to Gerontology (3)
303-20500
Biology of Aging (3)
680-29010
Fieldwork in Gerontology (3)
680-31900
Aging Policies and Programs (3)
680-33000
Research Methods in Aging (3)
680-40100
Gerontology Internship (3)
680-48000
Gerontology Senior Seminar (3)
640-20500
Critical Health Issues (3)
330-36600
Psychology of Aging (3)
339-34000
Aging and Culture (3) or
331-22000
Sociology of Aging (3)
Total
30
Select 12 credits from the following:
680-32500
The Long-Term Care System (3)
680-33500
Research Experience in Gerontology (3)
680-39900
Selected Topics in Social Gerontology (1-3)
680-49900
Independent Study (1-4)
554-41100
Creative Musical Experience with Older Adults (3)
620-35900
Communication Disorders in the Aging Population (3)
661-23800
Leisure and Aging (3)
662-24000
Health Promotion and the Older Adult (3)
662-32200
Nutrition for the Older Adult (3)
Total restricted electives
12
3.1 Self and Society ( select 6 credits from this section)
330-10400
Introduction to Developmental Psychology (3) or
330-20400
Principles of Developmental Psychology (3)
3
and one of the following:
330-10300
General Psychology (3)
330-12100
General Experimental Psychology (4)
330 20300
Principles of Psychology (3)
330-31600
Social Psychology (3)
331-10100
Introduction to Sociology (3)
331-21800
Individual and Society (3)
331-31400
Sociology of Health and Medicine (3)
344-20700
Death and Immortality (3)
662-22900
Disease and Lifestyle (3)
662-31500
Family Health Problems (3)
3-4
3.2 Global Issues (select 3 credits from this section)
221-22000
Global Flow of Information (3)
310-12300
Political Justice (3)
310-12800
Introduction to International Relations (3)
310-12900
Introduction to Global Studies (Politics) (3) or
339-12900
Introduction to Global Studies (Anthropology) (3) or
640-12900
Introduction to Global Studies (Health Services Administration) (3)
311-27300
Twentieth-Century Global Revolutions (3)
331-30300
Global Race and Ethnic Relations (3)
339-10400
Cultural Anthropology (3)
555-13000
Music in Society (3)
3.3 Diversity (select 6 credits from this section)
222-30300
Images of Men and Women in Mass Media (3)
225-36000
Communication in Culturally Diverse Organizations (3)
307-21100
Jewish-American Writers (3)
307-22000
Black Women Writers (3)
310-14100
Power: Race, Sex, and Class (3)
311-20900
Ethnic United States since the Civil War (3)
331-20700
Race and Ethnicity (3)
331-11600
Introduction to Multicultural Studies (3)
331-34300
Sociology of Gender (3)
344-10500
Introduction to World Religions: Primal and Eastern (3)
344-10600
Intro to World Religions: Western and Modern (3)
555-25500
Women in Music (3)
555-25600
Women in Popular Music (3)
6
3.4 Ethics and Values (select 3 credits from this section)
314-10100
Introduction to Philosophy (3)
314-21200
Introduction to Ethics (3)
314-22000
Political Philosophy (3)
314-23000
Medical Ethics (3)
3.5 Speech Communication (select 6 credits from this section)
319-11000
Public Communication (3)
or 319-11500
Business and Professional Communication (3)
319-14000
Small Group Communication (3)
or 319-14900
Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication (3)
3.6 Statistics (select 3 credits from this section)
313-15500
Basic Statistical Reasoning (3)
313-24300
Statistics (3)
313-24400
Statistics with Probability (4)
330-20700
Statistics for Psychology (4)
3.7 Economics and Policy (select 6 credits from this section)
306-11500
Current Economic Issues (3)
306-12100
Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
306-12200
Principles of Microeconomics (3)
310-10100
U.S. Politics (3)
331-30700
Social Policy (3)
3.8 Writing (select 6 credits from this section)
377-10600
Academic Writing I (3) or
377-10700
Academic Writing II (3)
377-xxx00
Three additional credits in writing at level 2 or above
3.9 Visual and Performing Arts (select 3 credits from this section)
305-13100
Introduction to Acting (3)
305-15000
Introduction to Dance (3)
305-16000
Introduction to Theater (3)
376-11000
Introduction to Art (3)
376-11400
Architecture across Culture (3)
376-13500
Visual Culture (3)
376-13700
Visual Persuasion (3)
376-20800
Mythology and Art (3)
553-16100
Survey of Jazz History (2)
555-10700/ 10800
Class Voice for the Non-Music Student (1)
555-12000
Language and Experience in Art and Music (3)
555-16000
Introduction to Listening: The Concert Experience (3)
555-17300
Keyboard Musicianship I for the Non-Music Major (1)
555-25100
Music and the Media (3)
555-25300
Involvement with Music (3)
555-25700
History of American Popular Song (3)
555-35100
American Musical Theater (3)
Total general education distribution requirements
42
Approved minors for the B.A. in gerontology:
· Health (19 credits)
· Health Communication (21 credits)
· Nutrition Promotion (21 credits)
· Social Work (18 credits)
· Writing (21 credits)
Students who have interests or career plans not addressed by the minors listed above may propose a planned interdisciplinary combination (PIC) in lieu of a minor. The PIC must be developed with an adviser and must include courses (18-21 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 gerontology academic program coordinator no later than the second semester of the junior year.
Total minor or PIC
16-24
Free electives
12-20
Total, BA in gerontology
120
680-32100
Interdisciplinary Initiatives in Rural Geriatrics (3)
680-38900
Selected Topics in Applied Gerontology (1-3)
680-41400
Long-Term Care Services Administration (3)
620-24900
Hearing Loss in the Elderly (3)
670-20200
Rehabilitation for Older Adults (1)
See listing of general education distribution requirements on p. 430
Total required
Approved minors for the B.S. in gerontology:
· Health ( 19 credits)
· Health services administration (21 credits)
· Nutrition promotion (21 credits))
· Management (24 credits)
· Finance (18 credits)
· Marketing (18 credits)
· Organizational communication, learning and design (18 credits)
· Recreation (16 credits)
· Outdoor recreation (16 credits)
Total, B.S. in gerontology
The interdisciplinary minor in gerontology involves coursework from several schools of the College 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 gerontology minors.
The requirements for the minor are designed to complement or supplement a student's major as follows:
Total, core credits
6 credits from the following courses
Aging and Culture (3)
Total, disciplinary foundation
672-48000
Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics (2)
One experimental or other gerontology-related course approved in advance by student's minor adviser (3)
Total, electives
Total, gerontology minor
18
All CATALOGS
The Web version of the Ithaca College Undergraduate Catalog 2001-2002 is produced by the Ithaca College publications office. Send all comments, corrections, questions to
Andrejs Ozolins
