Prerequisite/Corequisite Key
| P = Course must be taken previously | C = Course must be taken concurrently | E = Course can be taken previously or concurrently |
| (RQ) = Required | (RM) = Recommended |
GERON 101
Introduction to Aging
3 to 3 credit hours
This online course introduces the student to the inter-disciplinary field of gerontology and a constructive approach to the aging process. Relevant and contemporary topics are covered, which includes subject areas in the fields of biology, psychology, economics, health sciences, and the collective social issues that affect a growing number of older adults. Students are provided opportunities to investigate negative myths about aging, interact with an older adult in a positive manner to promote healthy aging, and to explore the complexity and diversity of those aging members of our society. Offered fall and spring (also listed as NURS 199).
GERON 101
Introduction to Aging
3 to 3 credit hours
This online course introduces the student to the inter-disciplinary field of gerontology and a constructive approach to the aging process. Relevant and contemporary topics are covered, which includes subject areas in the fields of biology, psychology, economics, health sciences, and the collective social issues that affect a growing number of older adults. Students are provided opportunities to investigate negative myths about aging, interact with an older adult in a positive manner to promote healthy aging, and to explore the complexity and diversity of those aging members of our society. Offered fall and spring (also listed as NURS 199).
GERON 124
Physiology of Aging
3 to 3 credit hours
In this course the physiological changes that occur in the aging process are addressed with emphasis on learning for the student who is not previously trained in the physiological sciences; includes information on appropriate exercise, nutrition and ways to minimize problems for the elderly. Offered fall and spring (also listed as BIO 124).
GERON 199
Lifespan Development
3 to 3 credit hours
P: PSYCH-101
Lifespan Development is a survey of theory and research on development throughout the life span from conception to death. The course focuses on the physical, emotional, social and cognitive changes. Offered fall and spring (also listed as PSYCH 199).
GERON 200
Personal Financing
3 to 3 credit hours
This course content is designed to help the learner make wise spending, saving, and credit decisions and to make effective use of income to achieve personal financial success. Offered fall and spring (also listed as FIN 200).
GERON 205
Narrative Gerontology
3 to 3 credit hours
The purpose of this interdisciplinary course is to introduce the student to narrative/story [Voices of Aging] as a way of knowing, a way of coming to connect with and communicate with the older adult in a variety of settings through interdisciplinary venues that include literature, gerontology, psychology, sociology, anthropology and nursing. The student will be introduced to interpretive phenomenology as a way of thinking and understanding the diversity and complexity of the older adult. Student interdisciplinary teams will discuss a variety of readings and studies and participate in developing a qualitative research study outline exploring the perspectives of older adults, leading to a multi-perspectival understanding of aging and how to come to understand what is meaningful to older adults. Also listed as NURS 205.
GERON 208
Aging and Culture
3 to 3 credit hours
This 8 week online course examines aging from a cross-cultural perspective. Emphasized are the diverse and worldwide cultural contexts that mediate the experience of aging. Evaluated is the human response to aging as influenced through historical time periods. Theoretical perspectives and myths surrounding aging are explored. Challenges of growing old are considered in diverse life contexts and cultures. Explored are case studies of aging from Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas and the contextual knowledge that illuminates life transition, health, wellbeing, and cultural adaptation for the aged. This course applies across academic disciplines including nursing and health sciences. Offered fall and spring. Also listed as NURS 208.
GERON 216
Introduction to Health Communication
3 to 3 credit hours
This course is a survey of health communication concepts and theories. The processes by which people, individually and collectively, understand shape and accommodate to health and illness issues are explored as well as the study and use of communication strategies to inform and influence individual and community decisions that enhance awareness, processes and procedures. Offered spring. Also listed as COMM 216.
GERON 224
Adulthood and Aging
3 to 3 credit hours
P: PSYCH-101
Adulthood and Aging considers physical changes with aging, psychological and sociological theory and research concerned with the changes and developmental tasks characteristic of mature adulthood, middle age and aging. Also listed as PSYCH 224.
GERON 266
Suffering and Death
3 to 3 credit hours
This course is a study of central themes, resources and methods employed in Christian theological reflection upon human suffering and death. Also listed as RELST 266.
GERON 309
Neuroscience of Communication
3 to 3 credit hours
P: CSDI-204, CSDI-206
This course examines the neurological foundations of speech, language, and swallowing, and provides an introduction to the neurogenic communication disorders of aphasia, apraxia of speech, and dysarthria. Offered spring. Also listed as CSDI 309.
GERON 318
Sociology of Aging
3 to 3 credit hours
This course explores the sociological aspects and theories of aging. Using a cross-cultural perspective, the content focuses on issues in life-course, leisure and retirement, social ecology and structure, interpersonal and intergenerational relations, and the economics and politics of aging. Offered as needed. Also listed as SOC 318.
GERON 341
Health Psychology
3 to 3 credit hours
P: PSYCH-101
Health Psychology is an interdisciplinary study of health and psychology. The primary emphasis of the course is a biopsychosocial one. Content includes the history and focus of health psychology, an examination of stress, its relation to illness, and methods for coping with and reducing it, physical and psychological pain, methods for managing and controlling it, and procedures to enhance health and prevent illness. Also listed as PSYCH 341.
GERON 348
Geriatric Syndromes
3 to 3 credit hours
This 8 week on-line course utilizes relevant theory and findings from the social, biological and health sciences to explore the holistic needs of older adults experiencing common psychological and physiological issues that are specific to this age group. Issues related to assessment, intervention, risk reduction and prevention are incorporated as well as explaining the impact these problems may have on older adults and their families. Also listed as NURS 348.
GERON 395
Capstone Project
3 to 4 credit hours
P: GERON-101 or NURS-199 Completion of core and elective courses for either the Gerontology Major or Minor.
This Gerontology Major course completion degree will culminate with an interdisciplinary Capstone Project in which the student(s) will develop a project integrating program learning outcomes. Foci in this project may include Communication, Community, Teamwork, Integrated literature review or a Presentation. Students, in teams or individually, may develop and present a community educational offering in collaboration with a specific agency or work with a faculty member on a particular project related to the field of gerontology. The capstone experience will be developed and individualized to meet the interests of the student in alignment with the learning outcomes of the Gerontology Studies Major. This course will sunset after Fall 26 with GERON Major.