• Majors in Gerontology
• Academic Achievement and Advising

Gerontology Institute

John A. Krout, Professor and Director Pamela S. Mayberry, Associate Director and Academic Program Coordinator

For full faculty listing, see "Faculty and Administration".

The Ithaca College Gerontology Institute promotes and supports research, curriculum and program development, continuing education, and community service activities in gerontology. A primary goal of the institute is to provide opportunities for students to learn about aging and careers in gerontology through courses, internships, volunteer activities, and involvement in research projects and professional organizations.

Ithaca College enjoys a partnership with Longview, a residential facility for older adults located very close to campus. This partnership, designed to be mutually beneficial for Ithaca College students and Longview residents, is coordinated and supported by the Gerontology Institute. Longview residents take courses and participate in cultural events at the College. Ithaca College students are involved at Longview through course projects, internships, volunteer opportunities, and special programs (such as an intergenerational choir) sponsored by student organizations.

The Gerontology Institute supports faculty research and especially encourages projects that involve students in the research process. Students from a variety of majors have gained valuable research experience through a variety of research projects. Ithaca College students have conducted interviews with older adults, worked with faculty on data analysis, and presented papers at professional meetings as part of their involvement in gerontology research projects.

The Gerontology Institute administers the gerontology majors and minor described below and collaborates with the Division of Continuing Education and Summer Sessions to oversee the nondegree certificate in gerontology (see p. 517). The institute also provides support to faculty members who wish to incorporate information about aging in their courses, invites gerontology scholars to campus to meet with students and faculty, and provides an important link with state and national professional gerontology organizations.

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 professional and ethical issues and apply to careers in the field of aging

· Use skills specific to their chosen focus area in a work or educational setting

Academic Achievement and Advising

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

· a minimum semester average of 3.70 (3.50 for freshmen);

· completion of at least 15 letter-grade credit hours; and

· no final grades of D, F, or I.

Advising

Facilitating student growth and learning is a priority for gerontology faculty and staff. All majors are assigned an advisor 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 gerontology majors meet with their advisor at least twice each semester, once at the beginning of the semester, and again during the advising period prior to online registration.

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. 577). 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

Select 12 credits from the following:

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
377-11000	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

Select 12 credits from the following:

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. 194.

Total required

42

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

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 and 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