MALS Degree + Post-baccalaureate Gerontology Certificate
Students who wish to pursue a post-baccalaureate certificate in gerontology in addition to the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) degree should consult the website for that program and Dr. Candace Ashton, Gerontology Interim Coordinator.
MALS Degree with a Specialized Concentration in Gerontology
Those students who decide to seek a MALS degree with a specialized concentration in gerontology must take GRN 501: Aging in Society; GRN 523: Biology of Aging; PSY 524: Psychology of Aging: and six elective hours in gerontology in addition to GLS 502, Contemporary Issues in Liberal Studies, GLS 598, Final Project in Liberal Studies, and 9 hours of other GLS courses. This option does not complete all work required for the Post-baccalaureate Gerontology Certificate.
MALS (General Option)
MALS students pursuing a general concentration option (no specialization in gerontology or hispanic studies) are free to take any of the following graduate gerontology courses as electives in completing MALS degree requirements.
Note: Only nine non-GLS graduate credit hours will be accepted towards the MALS degree and only six credit hours
for cross-listed courses may be used. Also, non-GLS courses cannot be used towards the GLS post-Master's certificate.
GRN/SOC 501. Aging and Society (3) Study of age as a
structural feature of changing societies and groups, aging as a social
process, and age as dimension of stratification.
GRN 503. Investigative Inquiry in Gerontology (3) Prerequisite:
Graduate standing. Principles of quantitative and qualitative methods
used in gerontological research and inquiry.
GRN 518/SOC 518. (GRN 418) Women and Aging (3) Examines
women's experience of old age and the aging process. Specific emphasis
on family, medical, and economic institutions.
GRN 523. Biology of Human Aging (3) An overview of the
aging process with special emphasis on anatomical and physiological changes
that occur with human aging. Current theories as to the mechanisms of
aging are considered. Premature aging diseases and age-related diseases
are discussed. Student presentations required. Three lecture hours each
week.
GRN 524. Literature of Aging (3) Contemporary fiction
and nonfiction by Philip Roth, Doris Lessing, May Sarton, and others,
selected for their depictions of older protagonists and explorations of
opportunities and challenges of later life, are analyzed. Literary theories,
literary criticism, and gerontological scholarship contribute to the interpretations.
The texts' ways of challenging our culture's ageism are emphasized. Students
give oral reports, write essays, and participate in an e-mail project
with a senior group in the community.
GRN 526. Psychosocial Adjustment to Retirement and Later Life (3) A seminar focusing on the psychosocial aspects of retirement and post-employment
years. Theories of aging and scientific inquiry applied to retirement,
and their significant others.
GRN 546. Health Care Access for the Elderly (3) An introduction to the US health care system
with an emphasis on issues related to the elderly. Problems of access
to health care for the aging population, their families, and communities.
GRN 590. Practicum in Gerontology (3) Prerequisites:
GRN/SOC 501, PSY 524, GRN/BIO 523. A field experience designed to demonstrate
knowledge and skills related to geriatric or gerontological practice.
May be repeated once for credit.
GRN 591. Directed Individual Research in Gerontology (3)
Prerequisites: Three hours of graduate work with content in human aging.
May be repeated for credit with consent of program director.
GRN 595. Special Topic Seminar in Gerontology (3) Discussion
of special topic related to gerontology. May be repeated for a maximum
of 12 hours credit.
PAR 505. Bioethics and Aging (3) Examination of the principles
and problems in the application to ethical theory to medical research
and practice with emphasis on the special ethnical problems of providing
health care to the aging population and involving elderly patients in
medical research.
PSY 516. (416)
Adult Development and Life Transitions (3) This course explores
the major normative and nonnormative changes which take place during adulthood.
Operating from a lifespan perspective, topics include an examination of
how adults initiate, understand, cope with and resolve life transitions
(i.e., parenting, loss, illness, career change, relationship change, etc.)
PSY 524. The Psychology of Aging (3) Prerequisite: Course
in aging or gerontology or permission of instructor. Advanced topics on
the effects of aging on a variety of psychological processes including
attention, memory, complex cognition, personality, mental health, and
social support.
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Last Update: July 10, 2009
