Pruett Gerontology Center and the department of Gerontology offers two ways for students to earn distinctions in Gerontology.
- The Minor in Aging Studies is a value added complement to many undergraduate majors consisting of 18 course hours, which includes a Practicum under the guidance of Dr. Charlie Pruett. The growing number of older adults in the nation and the world is creating opportunities for most majors to focus on leading and serving an aging population. The Minor may be obtained through the Pruett Gerontology Center and the College of Education and Human Services (CEHS) as a specialization in conjunction with any other degree.
The Minor in Aging Studies focuses on six objectives:
Objective 1 – Concepts and Theories Used to Study Aging: Demonstrate the ability to evaluate, from a developmental (bio/psycho/social) theoretical framework, personal life strengths characteristics which can assist in dealing with challenges faced by functional decline in later life.
Objective 2 Personal Ethics: Demonstrate a knowledge and appreciation of the contributions that aging persons make to their families and society.
Objective 3 – Professional Ethics: Demonstrate an understanding of ethical behavior in relation to clients and colleagues in the profession of aging.
Objective 4 – Professional Development: Demonstrate an ability to identify specific career opportunities appropriate to the student’s academic discipline and major.
Objective 5 – Professional Development: Demonstrate an ability to apply Gerontological elements within the specific academic discipline of the student.
Outcome 6 Professional Skills: Demonstrate an ability to design research pertaining to issues of aging in light of relevant contextual variables.
2. The Certificate in Gerontology represents a specialization in the field of Gerontology. It is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of individuals who work with older adults by providing an educational experience that is multidisciplinary in nature. It is a 15-hour articulation which includes a practicum, under the guidance of Dr. Charlie Pruett.
Courses for both the Aging Studies Minor and the Certificate in Gerontology include:
REQUIRED COURSES (9 Hours)
GERO 350/SOCI 350 Sociology of Aging
GERO 352 Adult Development and Aging
GERO 495/Practicum In Gerontology
ELECTIVE COURSES (6-9 Hours)
FAM 454 Aging and the Family
GERO 437 Ministering to Older Adults
GERO 441/SOCW 441 Social Welfare Policy and Services
GERO 448/BIOL 448 Biology of Aging
GERO 479/COMP 479 Programs and Services for the Elderly
GERO 486 Counseling Older Adults and Their Family
GERO 400 Guided Study
KINE 475 Activity and Aging
NURS 320 Gerontologic Nursing (2 Hours credit)
SOCI 415 Social Research (If project done in aging studies)
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