Program options

GERONTOLOGY AND AGING STUDIES PROGRAM

The purpose of the Gerontology and Aging Studies Program is to encourage and promote a better understanding of lifespan development, aging, and the changing nature of older adult services. The program is designed to prepare students for service and careers in the aging services network (health, medicine, business, volunteer and professional ministries and care-giving services). No state teacher certification or professional designation is offered with this certificate.

The certificate/academic programs will:

  1. Deliver a high quality course of study that prepares students for service to mature adults in the church and world.
  2. Provide mentorship and community for students of gerontology.
  3. Provide students with a working knowledge base of lifespan development, programs, services and issues in aging policy and ministry.
  4. Offer opportunities for ministry, practice and research related to the student’s professional needs and goals.
  5. Connect and involve students in the aging services networks in church and society.

The specific goals of the certificate/academic programs in gerontology are:

  1. To instruct students about lifespan development and individual aging.
  2. To prepare students for entrance into service to and professions working with mature adults.       
  3. To educate students about an aging society and church as well as the implications that our aging institutions have for ministry, services and policies.
  4. To encourage and support training, research, programs, services and curricular development in the field of aging.

The gerontology and aging studies program is open to students in Concordia’s traditional undergraduate program, the degree completion program, or students only wishing to complete Gerontology coursework. Degree options include: undergraduate certificate, minor, and bachelor’s (see graduate catalog for information on graduate degree options).

The Gerontology Certificate

Concordia’s Gerontology Program is recognized by the Association of Gerontology in Higher Education as a fully qualified certificate granting program. Upon completion of the required coursework and practicum work students receive the certificate. It may be earned as a stand-alone certificate or as a part of a traditional or degree completion undergraduate degree. Students may also earn a minor in Gerontology without earning the certificate.

UNDERGRADUATE GERONTOLOGY CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

1. Common Requirements (12 hours)

  • Gero 400 Issues in Gerontology and Aging Studies OR Gero/CTA 205 Adult Development and Aging (3)
  • Gero 401 Aspects of Health and Aging (3)
  • Gero 402 Social Gerontology (Social, Community and Interp. Issues in Aging) OR Soc 333 Social Gerontology (3)
  • Gero 403 Mental Health and Aging (3)

2. Aging Electives (3 hours)

  • Gero 400 Issues in Gerontology and Aging Studies (3)
  • Gero 404 Faith/Spiritual Development and Later Life (3)
  • Gero 411 History and Literature of Aging (3)
  • Gero 412 Life Review, Autobiography and Creative Non–Fiction (3)
  • Gero 413 Aging and Communication (3)
  • Gero 414 Aging Policy, Programs and Services (3)
  • Gero 415 Retirement and Life Span Financial Issues (3)
  • Gero 417 Aging and the Brain (3)
  • Gero 418 Nutrition and the Older Adult (3)
  • Gero 419 Death, Dying and Trauma (3)
  • Gero 420 Long Term Care Administration (3)
  • Gero 421 Events and Activities Management (3)
  • Gero 422 Intergenerational Programming and Activities (3)
  • Gero 423 Geriatric Counseling (3)
  • Gero 425 Complementary Therapies (3)
  • Gero 426 Parish Nursing (3)
  • Gero 427 Theories and Applications in Nursing Informatics (3)
  • Gero 430 Issues of Aging and Longevity for Health Professionals and Caregivers (3)
  • Gero 498 Special Topics in Aging (3)
  • HHP 488 Health Promotion Programming (3)
  • Soc 533 Aging and the Family* (3)

3. Professional/Content Elective(s) (3 hours)

  • Additional Aging Elective from above OR relevant elective in major field

4. Application Project (3 hours)

  • Gero 499 Practicum (156 clock hours over the last year of the program) OR Major/minor based internship/practicum completed with older adults. (Students must complete a practicum equivalent project as part of the internship.)

*Undergraduate Credit Only; Included in either the Family Life Ministry or Religious Education Programs

Note: For more information on the Gerontology and Aging Studies program, see page 72. All minors listed in the undergraduate catalog are available for Degree Completion students pursing a Bachelor of Arts degree.

B.A. MAJOR IN GERONTOLOGY AND AGING STUDIES

1. General Education (48 hours)

2. Gerontology Core (36 hours)

Common requirements (18 hours)

  • Gero 205 Adult Development and Aging (3)
  • Gero 401 Aspects of Health and Aging (3)
  • Gero 402/Soc 333 Social Gerontology (3)
  • Gero 403 Mental Health and Aging (3)
  • Gero 404 Faith/Spiritual Development and Later Life (3)
  • Math 122 Statistics (prior to taking upper-level courses) (3)

Aging Elective(s) (9 hours)

  • Psy 221 Lifespan Development (3)
  • Gero 400 Issues in Gerontology (recommended if not taken in the core) (3)
  • Gero 411 History and Literature of Aging (3)
  • Gero 412 Life Review, Autobiography and Creative Non-Fiction (3)
  • Gero 413 Aging and Communication (3)
  • Gero 414 Aging Policy, Programs and Services (3)
  • Gero 415 Retirement and Life Span Financial Issues (3)
  • HHP 488 Health Promotion Programming (3)
  • Gero 417 Aging and the Brain (3)               
  • Gero 418 Nutrition and the Older Adult (3)
  • Gero 419 Death, Dying and Trauma (3)
  • Gero 420 Long Term Care Administration (3)
  • Gero 421 Events and Activities Management (3)
  • Gero 422 Intergenerational Programming and Activities (3)
  • Gero 423 Geriatric Counseling (3)
  • Gero 425 Complementary Therapies (3)
  • Gero 426 Parish Nursing (3)
  • Gero 427 Theories and Applications in Nursing Informatics (3)
  • Gero 430 Issues of Aging and Longevity for Health Professionals and Caregivers (3)
  • Gero 498 Special Topics in Aging (3)               

Professional/Content Elective(s) (6 hours)

Additional aging electives from above OR select from lifespan related courses in an area of professional interest including not exclusive to:  

Application Project (3 hours)

  • Gero 499 Practicum (156 hours over the last year of the program) (3)

Minors in Gerontology

Minors are available to all students.  Minors are not availabe in an area similar to a student's major.

Gerontology (18 hours)

  • Gero 205 Adult Development and Aging (3) or 400 Issues in Gerontology and Aging Studies (3)

15 hours from:

  • Gero 401 Health Aspects of Aging (3)
  • Gero 402 Social Gerontology (3) or Soc 333
  • Gero 403 Mental Health and Aging (3)
  • Gero 404 Faith Development & Later Life (3)
  • Gero 411 History and Literature of Aging (3)
  • Gero 412 Life Review, Autobiography and Creative Non-Fiction (3)
  • Gero 413 Aging and Communication (3)
  • Gero 414 Policy, Programs & Services (3)
  • Gero 415 Retirement & Lifespan Financial Issues (3)
  • Gero 417 Aging and the Brain (3)
  • Gero 418 Nutrition & the Older Adult (3)
  • Gero 419 Death, Dying and Trauma (3)
  • Gero 422 Intergenerational Programming and Activities (3)
  • Gero 423 Geriatric Counseling (3)
  • Gero 425 Complementary Therapies (3)
  • Gero 427 Theories and Applications in Nursing Informatics (3)
  • Gero 430 Issues of Aging and Longevity for Health Professionals (3)
  • Gero 498 Special Topics in Aging (3)
  • Gero 499 Practicum (3)

This minor does not result in a Gerontology certificate (for certificate requirements, see pages 72 and 75 in the Undergraduate Catalog).

Senior Adult Fitness

  • Gero 205 Adult Development and Aging (3) or 400 Issues in Gerontology and Aging Studies (3)
  • Gero 401 Health Aspects of Aging (3)
  • Gero 418 Nutrition & the Older Adult (3)
  • HHP 393 Internship in Senior Adult Fitness (3)
  • HHP 410 Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning (3)
  • HHP 488 Health Promotion Programming (3)
  • Three hours of electives chosen from Bio 371 The Biology of the Brain (3), HHP 312 Exercise Prescription (3), Gero 403 Mental Health and Aging (3), 417 Aging and the Brain (3).