Longevity, Aging and Generational Studies, Minor

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Program Description

The intercollege minor in Longevity, Aging and Generational Studies is designed for students to gain an in-depth understanding of the aging process and its implications for science and society. With the growth of the number of older people in the population, there is increased need for people with knowledge of the aging process in a variety of professional and occupational roles. In conjunction with the student's major, the minor prepares students for entry-level human service positions working with aging adults, or for graduate or professional school programs including communication disorders, counseling, health planning and administration, medicine, psychology, recreation and park management, social work, and hospitality management where knowledge of the aging process and problems of older people is relevant. Eighteen credits are required for the minor, including at least 6 credits at the 400 level.

What is Longevity, Aging and Generational Studies?

Longevity, Aging and Generational Studies is the comprehensive study of aging as a developmental process using the many disciplinary frameworks of the biological, life, and health sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and arts and humanities. The intercollege minor in Longevity, Aging and Generational Studies at Penn State offers students in all colleges and campuses an opportunity to learn about this complex and important field through multidisciplinary study. As scientific and societal successes extended the human lifespan, population aging has now become a common phenomenon across many nations. There is enormous need for individuals with an understanding of aging processes who can work as clinicians, health professionals, managers, researchers and more.

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You Might Like This Program If...

You want to learn more about the aging process and problems of older people.
You want to prepare for an entry-level position working with elderly individuals or elderly populations.
You plan to pursue a graduate or professional school program in a field in which knowledge of the aging process and problems of older people is relevant, such as communication disorders, counseling, health planning and administration, medicine, psychology, recreation and park management, or social work.

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Program Requirements

Program Requirements
Requirement	Credits
Requirements for the Minor	18

Requirements for the Minor

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
HDFS 249N	Adult Development and Aging	3
HDFS 445	Development Throughout Adulthood	3
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
Select 12 credits from the following (including at least 3 credits at the 400 level):		12
ADTED 460	Introduction to Lifelong Learning and Adult Education
AYFCE/CIED 845	Intergenerational Programs and Practices (must be approved by the Graduate School)
BBH 316	Foundations and Principles of Health Promotion
BBH 368	Neuroanatomy, Behavior, and Health
BBH 410	Developmental and Health Genetics
BBH 416	Health Promotion II: Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
BBH 417	Advanced Applications in Health Promotion
BBH 420	Developing Stress Management Programs
BBH/HPA 440	Principles of Epidemiology
BBH 468	Neuroanatomical Bases for Disorders of Behavior and Health
BBH 469	Neurobiology
BIOL 155	Introduction to the Biology of Aging
BIOL 409	Biology of Aging
CAS 162N	Communicating Care
CAS 253	Health Communication
CAS 421	Communication and Aging
CAS 453	Health Communication Theory and Research
ENGR 310	Entrepreneurial Leadership
FIN 330	Personal Financial Planning
FIN 430	Estate Planning
FIN 450	Retirement Planning
HDFS 210Z	Ethnicity, Health and Aging
HDFS 413	Developmental Problems in Adulthood
HDFS 434	Perspectives on Aging
HDFS 447	Issues in Gerontology
HDFS 448	Death and Bereavement
HHD 100H	Honors Seminar on Longevity, Health, and Human Development
HHD 245N	Health, humanity, and longevity: Conversations with elders
HM 306	Hospitality in Senior Living
HM 413	New Product Development for Commercial Foodservice
HM 483	Revenue Management
HM 484	Hospitality Entrepreneurship and Innovation
HPA 301	Health Services Policy Issues
HPA 332	Health Systems Management
HPA 442	Long-Term Care Management
HPA 443	Nursing Home Administration
HPA 444	Aging Policy in the United States
KINES 350	Exercise Physiology
KINES 360	The Neurobiology of Motor Control and Development
KINES 384	Biomechanics
KINES 465	Neurobiology of Sensorimotor Stroke Rehabilitation
KINES 481W	Scientific Basis of Exercise for Older Adults
MGMT 215	Entrepreneurial Mindset
NURS 115	Medications and the Elderly Client
NURS 310	Therapeutic Nursing Care of the Older Adult Client in a Variety of Settings
NURS 464	Dying and Death
PSYCH 244	Introduction to the Psychology of Human Factors Engineering
PSYCH 260	Neurological Bases of Human Behavior
RM 302	Risk and Insurance
RM 320W	Risk Management and Insurance
RM 401	Fundamentals of Private Pensions
SOC 35	Sociology of Aging
SOC 162N	Communicating Care
SOC 423	Social Demography
SOC 435	Perspectives on Aging

Note: With faculty approval, students may apply credits earned through special topics courses (297, 497), independent study or research that focus on aging or old age towards minor requirements.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Melissa Wetzel, M.A., LPC, NCC
Academic Adviser, Human Development and Family Studies
119 Health and Human Development Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-8000
mup874@psu.edu

Altoona

Lauren P. Jacobson, Ph.D.
Teaching Professor, Human Development and Family Studies and Coordinator, Human Development and Family Studies Program
Hawthorn Building, 127
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
lpj100@psu.edu

Brandywine

Jennifer Zosh
Professor of Human Development and Family Studies
25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1438
jmz15@psu.edu

DuBois

Sarah L. Pierotti, Ph.D.
Assistant Teaching Professor, Human Development and Family Studies
235 Swift
DuBois, PA 15801
814-375-4833
slp5723@psu.edu

Fayette

Elaine Barry
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, Human Development and Family Studies
2201 University Drive
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456
724-430-4284
esb12@psu.edu

Harrisburg

A. Patricia Aquilera Hermida, M.F.T, D. Ed.
Associate Teaching Professor and Program Coordinator, Human Development and Family Studies
Olmsted Building W314
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6227
aua240@psu.edu

Mont Alto

Robin Yaure
Teaching Professor and Program Coordinator, Human Development and Family Studies & Psychology
112 Wiestling Hall
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6210
r2y@psu.edu

Scranton

Parminder Parmar, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, Human Development and Family Studies
112E Dawson Building
120 Ridge View Drive
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2530
prp104@psu.edu

Shenango

Roxanne Atterholt
Associate Teaching Professor and Program Coordinator, Human Development and Family Studies
147 Shenango Avenue
106 McDowell Hall
Sharon, PA 16146
724-983-2953
rxa32@psu.edu

York

Amber Majeske, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, Human Development and Family Studies
13 John J. Romano Administrative Building
York, PA 17403
717-771-4029
ajs49@psu.edu

World Campus

Undergraduate Academic Advising
100 Innovation Blvd
Suite 225
University Park, PA 16803
814-863-3283
advising@worldcampus.psu.edu

Career Paths

With the growth in the number of older persons in the U.S. and globally, nearly every health profession, from geriatricians (physicians who specialize in care for older persons) to hospice nurses, is impacted by the need for health care among an aging population. In addition, older people are living more active lives, so fitness and recreational professionals and hospitality and tourism managers see increased demand from older persons. And, the increase in the aging population is placing new challenges on organizations, families, and communities, so anyone interested in these societal organizations will be affected by gerontological issues.

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