Gerontology Course Offerings

GT-225 Lifespan Development (3 credits)
This course will focus on the development of individuals across the lifespan. Beginning with prenatal and early infancy development, the course will progress through adolescence, adulthood, and topics in death and dying. Material will include aspects of physical, cognitive, social, personality, and emotional development. This class will place an emphasis on theoretical models and experimental findings. The course adopts a discussion format with textbook, primary readings, reaction papers, and a term paper. Prerequisites: PSYC 121.
GT-401 Biology, Health, & Personality Dimensions of Aging (3 credits)
This course covers the basic biological, health, and personality factors related to aging. Topics include life course changes, normal aging, nutrition, aging related diseases, frailty, incontinence, cognition, anxiety and depression, dementia, and personality changes. Prerequisite: SOC 105, 230, or GT 225 OR permission of instructor or Director of the Gerontology Center.
GT-403 Later Life and Spirituality (3 credits)
This course covers key issues facing elders and their families in later life related to health care, death, and the spiritual needs of elders. Topics include: dying, ethical issues, end-of-life reviews, and the role of religion over the life course. Prerequisite: SOC 105, 230, or GT 225 OR permission of instructor or Director of the Gerontology Center.
GT-405 Institutional Care and Geriatric Assessment (3 credits)
This course covers the various institutional settings serving the needs of elders, as well as issues related to geriatric assessment. Topics include: assisted living, residential and home-based care, community based long-term care, designing physical environment for elders, comprehensive geriatric assessment, specific functional assessments, and geriatric assessment instruments. Prerequisite: SOC 105, 230, or GT 225 OR permission of instructor or Director of the Gerontology Center.
GT-407 Economics of Aging and Social Policies (3 credits)
With the impending retirement of the millions of Baby Boomers, understanding the economic, political, and social issues related to the elder population becomes ever more important to individuals in society. This course is a comprehensive and balanced assessment of economic issues, social policies, and their impact on everyone, old and young. Prerequisite: SOC 105, 230, or GT 225 OR permission of instructor or Director of the Gerontology Center.
GT-411 Aging and Elders in Film (3 credits)
This course will explore the ways that films reflect and create social constructs for later life, and examine the bias, stereotypes, and other limitations employed by film as a medium. In addition, the course will analyze films depiction and construction of aging across the life course through an intersectional lens of gender, class, race and ethnicity, (dis)ability, and sexual orientation. Finally, the course will identify ways that films and directors both expose social constructs and challenge them in a way to expand human rights. Prerequisites: SOC 105, 230, or GT 225; OR permission of instructor or Director of the Gerontology Center
GT-496 Internship (1-6 credits)
Students may elect to do a short research study or complete a community-based internship in a setting serving the elderly. Prerequisite: Completion of at least six modules in the Gerontology Certificate Program or permission of director of Gerontology Center.
GT-501 Biology, Health, & Personality Dimensions of Aging (3 credits)
This course covers the basic biological, health, and personality factors related to aging. Topics include life course changes, normal aging, nutrition, aging related diseases, frailty, incontinence, cognition, anxiety and depression, dementia, and personality changes. Prerequisite: SOC 105, 230, or GT 225 AND permission of instructor or Director of the Gerontology Center.
GT-503 Later Life and Spirituality (3 credits)
This course covers key issues facing elders and their families in later life related to health care, death, and the spiritual needs of elders. Topics include: dying, ethical issues, end-of-life reviews, and the role of religion over the life course. Prerequisite: SOC 105, 230, or GT 225 AND permission of instructor or Director of the Gerontology Center.
GT-505 Institutional Care and Geriatric Assessment (3 credits)
This course covers the various institutional settings serving the needs of elders, as well as issues related to geriatric assessment. Topics include: assisted living, residential and home-based care, community based long-term care, designing physical environment for elders, comprehensive geriatric assessment, specific functional assessments, and geriatric assessment instruments. Prerequisite: SOC 105, 230, or GT 225 AND permission of instructor or Director of the Gerontology Center.
GT-507 Economics of Aging and Social Policies (3 credits)
With the impending retirement of the millions of Baby Boomers, understanding the economic, political, and social issues related to the elder population becomes ever more important to individuals in society. This course is a comprehensive and balanced assessment of economic issues, social policies, and their impact on everyone, old and young. Prerequisite: SOC 105, 230, or GT 225 AND permission of instructor or Director of the Gerontology Center.