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.
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.
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.
Even though the major is relatively new to our campus, the program is administered through the Gerontology Institute, which has been established for years and has a national and international reputation of excellence. The Institute's partnership with Longview, an adult residential facility located very near the College, provides a unique learning experience for our students. This partnership features intergenerational programming which allows older adults to take classes on our campus and also encourages our students to become involved in activities at Longview.
To learn more about the Gerontology Institute and our Longview partnership, visit Gerontology at Ithaca.
