Minors: Gerontology

The minor in gerontology emphasizes a humanistic perspective, in depth information about normal aging processes and their impact on individuals, families, and society, as well as the critical ability to challenge current cultural attitudes toward aging. Students will study the psychology, biology, sociology, and cultural diversity of gerontologic processes and populations.

EDD 7607: Concepts and Controversies in Aging
This course will provide a focus on the major concepts and controversies currently being debated in the field of gerontology. We will explore concepts of aging, health care, and society; some of the social and economic outlooks for our aging society; and the life course perspective. Some of the controversies will include such topics as health care rationing, elder abuse and neglect, the right to die, changing notions of retirement, creativity and aging, old age and the quest for meaning.

EDD 7608: Humanities and Aging: An Exploration of Human Potential for Late Life Development
This course will develop a greater sensitivity to and understanding of aging through a sampling of Humanities subjects, i.e. literature, history, and world religion, that pertains to the process of aging. From this perspective, the student will gain the special perspective on being human that study of the humanities develops. In addition to readings in the humanities, we will make use of autobiography and narrative descriptions of famous and ordinary older adults, as well as explore the growing use of reminiscence and life review in research and practice with the elderly. The course will also call upon each participant to do some narrative and autobiographical writing of his/her own.

EDD 7609: The Psychology of Aging: A Study of Humanistic, Transpersonal, and Life-Span Development Theory
This course will focus on the human development theories that provide the underpinning for a humanistic approach to aging. The humanistic approach is closely associated with the term ‘conscious aging’, which implies that in addition to the nature of aging as a biological and sociological phenomenon, there is a developmental path that includes the psychological and the spiritual. Students will engage in exploring this holistic perspective that includes learning the theoretical frameworks associated with Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, Roberto Assagioli, Harry Moody, and Ken Wilber, as well as life-span theory.

EDD 7610: Social Gerontology: The Sociology of Aging
This course will provide a sociological perspective on the aging process. We will examine the impact of social and cultural conditions on older adults as individuals and as groups (cohorts). We will focus particularly on social policy through the lens of race, gender, and class. This course will seek to provide the learner with an ability to critically analyze the institutions that provide care and services to older adults, i.e. long term care facilities, hospitals, senior centers, etc. In addition, learners will gain insight and analysis of the major social policies affecting older adults, with emphasis on social security.

EDD 7611: Aging and Ethnicity
While all human beings age, human beings age differently. The field of ethno-gerontology further illuminates the diversity in the aging process by developing cultural competence through cultural knowledge in providing services to older adults. Cultural beliefs and values impact how older adults learn and have access to and/or process information. The quality of service may be greatly influenced by understanding or misunderstanding the ethnic beliefs and values of older adults. This course will teach learners how aging and ethnicity affects how we serve older adults. The course will also help learners become better acquainted with their own cultural beliefs and values, as they learn about the cultural beliefs and values of a wide variety of ethnicities.

EDD 7612: Biology of Human Aging
This course will provide fundamental knowledge about the biology of human aging for those with little or no background in biology. While aging is a fact present in all human lives, there are common misconceptions as to what aging is, how we age, and why we age. There are also controversial and ethical issues associated with scientific explorations into extending our life spans. We will therefore be examining the impact of the science of aging on human life; the use of medical technology and its impact on mitigating aging. We will learn about the many theories of aging; examine healthy aging, and the diseases that most commonly affect us as we grow older. We will also look at the effects of aging on several body systems, and the effect of environment on aging.