Gerontology

College of Health and Human Development

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Coordinator: Debra Sheets
Department of Health Sciences Chair: Brian Malec
Jacaranda Hall (JD) 2500
(818) 677-2344
www.csun.edu/gerontology

Programs

Undergraduate

Minor in Gerontology

Graduate

M.S., Interdisciplinary Studies with Gerontology Concentration
Certificate in Gerontology

About the Minor

The Interdisciplinary Minor in Gerontology is offered by the College of Health and Human Development. The minor complements many other academic majors and many of the courses satisfy the requirements or electives for other programs. The program provides students with the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in the field of aging. Graduates with a Minor in Gerontology are in demand for entry level jobs in human services, allied health care, corporations, administration, and direct services in a wide variety of settings.

Academic Advisement

Students interested in the minor, certificate or Interdisciplinary Studies Program should consult the Coordinator, Debra Sheets, at (818) 677-2344.

Minor in Gerontology

1. Core Requirements (15 Units)

Integrating courses (select one of the following):

2. Elective (3 Units)

3. Internship (3 Units)

Internship in major with aging focus

Total Units Required: 21

Gerontology Certificate

The Gerontology Certificate provides an opportunity for those who have completed a bachelor’s degree in another discipline to acquire an understanding of the issues and problems of aging. The certificate program complements many other graduate degree programs and can be taken concurrently since many of the courses satisfy requirements or electives for graduate programs. The certificate program is a rigorous and demanding educational experience, designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in the field of aging. Please contact the coordinator of the gerontology program for details of the requirements.

Course List

HHD 501. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Aging (3): Prerequisites: Baccalaureate degree in health or human services or equivalent. This course provides an interdisciplinary overview of the fundamental principles, theories, issues and concepts in the field of gerontology. The interdisciplinary emphasis derives from the fact that to understand aging we must consider facts and explanations from a wide array of fields. Social gerontology integrates knowledge that ranges from history, demography, physiology, philosophy, science, ethics, medicine, law, mass communications, social policy among others. The course will emphasize the research literature to consider issues that include work, retirement, leisure, health, technologies and living environments.
HHD 502. Aging Policies and Programs (3): Prerequisite: Baccalaureate degree in health or human services or equivalent. This course is designed to provide students with knowledge of the policy process, the politics of aging, and an opportunity to explore selected aging policy issues in depth. The content focus is on a few areas that provide fertile ground for policy development and/or analysis and offer insight into the historical, social, economic and demographic issues that have influenced the development of federal and state legislation and programs for older persons. Projects and papers will provide students with opportunities to examine issues surrounding the design and implementation of particular policies, track current changes in legislation, or undertake critiques of policies already in place.
HHD 503. Gerontology Program Development (3): Prerequisites: Baccalaureate degree in health or human services or equivalent. Using an interdisciplinary approach, this course critically examines a variety of issues relating to the administration, development, and evaluation of gerontology programs and services for diverse populations of older adults and their families. Topics covered include leadership, organizational planning, ethics in human services, fiscal management, program development and evaluation, personnel management, and marketing. The course emphasizes applications to actual problems facing government agencies and organizations serving older adults.
HHD 504. Current Issues in Aging (3): Prerequisites: Baccalaureate degree in health or human services or equivalent. This interdisciplinary course addresses selected topics in aging presented at an advanced level. Preference is given to current topics considered key for gerontology professionals. Possible topics include emerging issues in diversity, gender, nutrition, consumer affairs, physical fitness and mental health