Student Programs

Required Courses for the Gerontology Certificate


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Required Courses

  • All students must complete the introductory gerontology course, GRNT 6000 (3 hours).
  • One 3-hour course is chosen from each of the three clusters outlined below.

 

 

GRNT 6000 - Three Hours
Perspectives on Aging
All students are required to complete GRNT 6000 - Perspectives on Aging. Ideally, this course should be completed at the beginning of the program of study. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an overview of gerontology. The course has been specially designed to be taken at the beginning of the program. The various contents included in this seminar course should be helpful in deciding what Certificate courses are most relevant to a student’s individualized plan of study. No alternatives can be used to fulfill this requirement.

 

All students are required to complete at least one course from each of these three clusters of courses listed in the right column.

POD = Permission of Department

 

 

Biology/Physiology - Three Hours

GRNT 6010 Biogerontology
The physiological and anatomical changes that occur as a person ages. The basics of the biology of aging followed by a system by system description of the aging phenomena in the human body.

CBIO 6340 Biology of Aging
Biological processes accompanying aging in human and other organisms. Emphasis on physiological decline; theoretical explanations; attempts to prolong life; and the utility and limitations of model systems used to analyze human aging. Prerequisite: POD.

FDNS 6560 Nutrition and Aging
Foods and nutrients in the health and well-being of older adults; effects of aging on macro and micronutrient needs; influence of disease, medications, economics, and culture; nutritional assessment, support, and services; health promotion and disease prevention; future directions for research. Prerequisite: (FDNS 3100 or FDNS 4050/6050) and (CBIO 2210-2210L or VPHY 3100)

 

 

Psychology - Three Hours

GRNT/PSYC 6700 Psychology of Aging
Research in gerontology, with emphasis on learning, personality, attitudes, perception, ability, and adjustment in older adults. 

PSYC 8810 Psychology of Health and Illness
Psychological influences on health, illness, and responses to those states. Psychological origins and outcomes of health policy and health interventions.

 

 

Sociology - Three Hours

GRNT 6650 Aging In Society
The social and cultural nature of human aging in society. Aging as a social process, and age as a structural feature of changing societies and groups, are explored as a consequence of the interactions of individuals with their social and cultural environments. Cross-cultural emphasis.

CHFD/HACE 6500 Aging and the Family
Review of theory, research, and methodology on aging and the family. Emphasis rests with identifying current concepts, controversies, and diversity in families and aging individuals.

SOCI 4650/6650 Sociology in Aging
The status, roles, and demographic aspects of the aging population and its relationship with social institutions. Prerequisite: POD.