Why Study Gerontology?
Thank you for your interest in the Gerontology Program at California State University, Northridge. For over 30 years, we’ve sought to improve the quality of life for older adults through interdisciplinary education, collaboration, and service. Our program focuses on understanding and meeting the diverse needs of our changing senior population. As recent graduates will attest, students receive a unique blend of academic and experiential learning to facilitate professional success in their chosen field of aging services.
No trend in the last 100 years has had greater impact on the nature of social and political life than the demographic shifts reflected in the following:
- According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1 in 5 older adults will be over the age of 65 by the year 2030.
- Individuals aged 85 and older represent the country’s fastest growing demographic, with numbers expected to triple to 8.8 million by 2030.
The number of jobs in gerontology-related fields is expected to increase by more than 36% by 2012 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). While job growth will continue in the health care sector, new opportunities are emerging daily in the development and delivery of aging products and services. Individuals who understand older adults’ needs, strengths, and limitations, as well as their cognitive, physical, and social functioning, will be well-positioned to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace.
Graduate Certificate in Gerontology
The Graduate Certificate in Gerontology is offered by the College of Health and Human Development to prepare a qualified work force to address the needs of our aging population. The need for a gerontology certificate arises because the complex issues and problems of aging require an interdisciplinary perspective that is not provided within any single discipline.
The knowledge and skills acquired will enable graduates to integrate gerontology into their discipline and to provide services for an older population. The certificate provides documentation that students have completed an organized program of interdisciplinary gerontology courses.
Applicants for the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology must have completed a bachelor’s degree in a health or human services-related major. The certificate complements many other graduate degree programs and can be take concurrently with courses towards a graduate degree.
Class scheduling will reflect the needs of a working student population with evening classes or weekend classes that meet less frequently for longer periods of time. Some courses may be offered online. The certificate requires 15 units of approved course work. [See core and elective requirements below.]
Federally-Required Disclosures http://www.csun.edu/hhd/hsci/gerontology/gerogradcert.pdf
Information on careers in this field can be found at: http://www.onetonline.org/crosswalk/CIP?s=30.1101&g=Go.
The Educational CIP Code for this certificate program is 30.1101 and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Standard Occupation Codes (SOC) are 19-1042.00 and 19-3099.00.
The program is designed to take two semesters. The tuition and fees can be found at: http://www-admn.csun.edu/ucs/.
In 2010/11 most students paid $3,945 in fees and $1,620 in Books and Supplies.
Federal student loans are available to students in this certificate program. Information can be found on the Financial Aid and Scholarship website at www.csun.edu/finaid.
Core Requirements (12 UNITS):
1. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Aging (HHD 501) (3 units) This seminar 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, and social policy.
Thus, the course will examine the individual and social meanings of aging and old age; the physical, physiological, psychological, and sociological changes accompanying aging, and the individual, family, community and societal adaptations that need to be made in response to these changes. The course will emphasize the research literature to consider issues that include work, retirement, leisure, health, technologies and living environments.
2. Aging Policy and Programs (HHD 502) (3 units) This seminar 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 course focuses on a few policy development areas. Students will gain insight into the historical, social, economic and demographic issues that have influenced the development of federal and state legislation giving rise to programs for older persons. Through projects and papers students examine the design and implementation of particular policies, track current changes in legislation, and critique current policies.
3. Gerontology Program Development (HHD 503) (3 units) 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 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.
4. Current Issues in Aging (HHD 504) (3 units) This interdisciplinary course addresses selected topics in aging presented at an advanced level. Preference is given to current topics considered key to the gerontology professional. Possible topics include emerging issues in diversity, gender, nutrition, consumer affairs, physical fitness, quality of life and mental health.
5. Elective (3 Units) Select one from the list below:
SOC 440 Sociology of Aging (3)
PSY 465 Psychology of Aging (3)
HSCI 418 Health and Aging (3)
HSCI 422 Health Services for the Elderly and Mentally Ill (3)
HSCI 521 Healthcare Ethics (3)
FCS 424 Resource Management for the Elderly (3)
FCS 409 Geriatric Nutrition (3)
FCS 543 Intergenerational Caregiving (3)
RTM 415 Leisure and Aging (3)
KIN 566 Seminar in Aging and Environmental Aspects of Exercise (3)
For more information contact:
Department of Health Sciences
818-677-4081 or:
stephan.chung@csun.edu