 
Majors in Gerontology
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 the B.A. or B.S. program in gerontology, depending on their educational and career interests and choice of minor or planned interdisciplinary combination. 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 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
Dean's List
At the end of each semester, students who have shown outstanding academic achievement are placed on the dean's list. To be included on the dean's list in the Gerontology Institute, a student must have
1. a minimum semester average of 3.70 (3.50 for freshmen);
2. completion of at least 15 letter-grade credit hours; and
3. no final grades of D, F, or I.
Academic Status
The general academic status policy of the Gerontology Institute follows the all-College guidelines for warning, suspension, and dismissal as set forth in this catalog (see p. 310). To meet minimum academic standards, students must maintain at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA and full-time students must pass at least 12 credits during any given semester and 24 credits in any consecutive 12-month period.
Requirements for the Major in Gerontology - B.A.
Group 1: Required Courses
780-10100
|
Introduction to Gerontology (3)
|
|
303-20500
|
Biology of Aging (3)
|
|
780-29010
|
Fieldwork in Gerontology (3)
|
|
780-31900
|
Aging Policies and Programs (3)
|
|
780-33000
|
Research Methods in Aging (3)
|
|
780-40100
|
Gerontology Internship (3)
|
|
780-48000
|
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) or
|
|
780-22000
|
Sociology of Aging (3)
|
|
|
|
Total
|
30
|
Group 2: Gerontology Restricted Electives
780-32500
|
The Long-Term Care System (3)
|
|
780-33500
|
Research Experience in Gerontology (3)
|
|
780-39900
|
Selected Topics in Social Gerontology (1-3)
|
|
780-49900
|
Independent Study (1-4)
331-37000 Counseling the Older Adult (3)
|
|
331-37000
|
Counseling the Older Adult (3)
|
|
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
|
Group 3: General Education Distribution Requirements
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
|
3.3 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)
|
|
331-30300
|
Global Race and Ethnic Relations (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
|
Introduction 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
|
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)
|
6
|
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)
|
3-4
|
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)
|
|
640-21500
|
Introduction to Health Policy and Policy Making (3)
|
6
|
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
|
6
|
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)
|
3
|
|
|
Total general education distribution requirements
|
42
|
Minor or Planned Interdisciplinary Combination (PIC)
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, B.A. in gerontology
|
120
|
Requirements for the Major in Gerontology - B.S.
Group 1: Required Courses
780-10100
|
Introduction to Gerontology (3)
|
|
303-20500
|
Biology of Aging (3)
|
|
780-29010
|
Fieldwork in Gerontology (3)
|
|
780-31900
|
Aging Policies and Programs (3)
|
|
780-33000
|
Research Methods in Aging (3)
|
|
780-40100
|
Gerontology Internship (3)
|
|
780-48000
|
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) or
|
|
780-22000
|
Sociology of Aging (3)
|
|
|
|
Total
|
30
|
Group 2: Gerontology Restricted Electives
780-32100
|
Interdisciplinary Initiatives in Rural Geriatrics (3)
|
|
780-32500
|
The Long-Term Care System (3)
|
|
780-33500
|
Research Experience in Gerontology (3)
|
|
780-38900
|
Selected Topics in Applied Gerontology (1-3)
|
|
780-39900
|
Selected Topics in Social Gerontology (1-3)
|
|
780-49900
|
Independent Study (1-4)
|
|
780-41400
|
Long-Term Care Services Administration (3)
|
|
331-37000
|
Counseling the Older Adult (3)
|
|
554-41100
|
Creative Musical Experience with Older Adults (3)
|
|
620-24900
|
Hearing Loss in the Elderly (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)
|
|
670-20200
|
Rehabilitation for Older Adults (1)
|
|
Group 3: General Education Distribution Requirements
See listing of general education distribution requirements on p. 113
Minor or Planned Interdisciplinary Combination (PIC)
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)
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, B.S. in gerontology
|
120
|
Gerontology Minor
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:
Common core Credits
780-10100
|
Introduction to Gerontology (3)
|
|
780-29010
|
Fieldwork in Gerontology (3)
|
|
|
Total, core credits
|
6
|
Disciplinary foundation
330-36600
|
Psychology of Aging (3)
|
|
Select one of these:
303-20500
|
Biology of Aging (3)
|
|
662-24000
|
Health Promotion & the Older Adult (3)
|
|
Select one of these:
339-34000
|
Aging and Culture (3)
|
|
331-22000
|
Sociology of Aging (3) or
|
|
780-22000
|
Sociology of Aging (3)
|
|
|
|
Total, disciplinary foundation
|
9
|
Gerontology Electives
Select 6 credits from the following courses
331-37000
|
Counseling the Older Adult (3)
|
|
554-41100
|
Creative Music Experience with Older Adults (3)
|
|
620-24900
|
Hearing Loss in the Elderly (3)
|
|
620-35900
|
Communication Disorders in the Aging Population (3)
|
|
661-23800
|
Leisure and Aging (3)
|
|
662-32200
|
Nutrition for the Older Adult (3)
|
|
670-20200
|
Rehabilitation for Older Adults (1)
|
|
672-48000
|
Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics (2)
|
|
672-49000
|
Practicum in Geriatric Occupational Therapy (2)
|
|
780-31900
|
Aging Policies and Programs (3)
|
|
780-32100
|
Interdisciplinary Initiatives in Rural Geriatrics (3)
|
|
780-32500
|
The Long-Term Care System (3)
|
|
780-38900
|
Selected Topics-Applied Gerontology (3)
|
|
780-39900
|
Selected Topics-Social Gerontology (3)
|
|
780-41400
|
Long-Term Care Services Administration (3)
|
|
|
Total, electives
|
6
|
|
|
Total, gerontology minor
|
21
|
|
