At which campus can I study this program?
Program Description
The intercollege minor in Gerontology is designed for students to gain an in-depth understanding of the aging process and old age. With the growth of the number of older people in the population, increased need has arisen 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 the elderly, or for graduate or professional school programs including communication disorders, counseling, health planning and administration, medicine, psychology, recreation and park management, and social work 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 Gerontology?
Gerontology 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 Gerontology 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.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GERONTOLOGY
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.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHY STUDENTS CHOOSE TO STUDY GERONTOLOGY
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).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| HDFS 249N | Adult Development and Aging  | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| BIOL 155 | Introduction to the Biology of Aging | 3 |
| or SOC 35 | Sociology of Aging | |
| SOC 435/HDFS 434 | Perspectives on Aging | 3 |
| or HDFS 445/PSYCH 416 | Development Throughout Adulthood | |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 9 credits of the following: | 9 | |
| Introduction to Lifelong Learning and Adult Education | ||
| Intergenerational Programs and Practices (must be approved by the Graduate School) | ||
| Foundations and Principles of Health Promotion | ||
| Developmental and Health Genetics | ||
| Principles of Epidemiology | ||
| Introduction to the Biology of Aging | ||
| Communication and Aging | ||
| Developmental Problems in Adulthood | ||
| Development Throughout Adulthood | ||
HDFS 446 | ||
| Issues in Gerontology | ||
| Hospitality in Senior Living | ||
| Introduction to Health Services Organization | ||
| Health Systems Management | ||
| Long-Term Care Management | ||
| Neurobiology of Sensorimotor Stroke Rehabilitation | ||
| Scientific Basis of Exercise for Older Adults | ||
| Medications and the Elderly Client | ||
| Therapeutic Nursing Care of the Older Adult Client in a Variety of Settings | ||
| Dying and Death | ||
| Fundamentals of Private Pensions | ||
| Sociology of Aging | ||
| Social Demography | ||
| Perspectives on Aging | ||
Note: Students may enroll in special topics courses (297, 497) that focus on aging or old age, with faculty permission. With faculty approval, students may also enroll for independent studies in their major department to write a senior thesis focused on an issue of aging.
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
119 Health and Human Development Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-8000
mup874@psu.edu
Mont Alto
Jackie Schwab
Associate Professor in HDFS
11 Bookstore Building
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6034
sen@psu.edu
Scranton
Janet Melnick
Associate Teaching Professor
111B Dawson Building
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2674
jam81@psu.edu
Shenango
Roxanne Atterholt
Assistant Teaching Professor, Program Coordinator, and Adviser
147 Sharon Ave.
102 McDowell Hall
Sharon, PA 16146
724-983-2953
rxa32@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.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES WITH A MINOR IN GERONTOLOGY
Contact
University Park
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES
119 Health & Human Development
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-8000
mup874@psu.edu
https://hhd.psu.edu/undergraduate/minors
Mont Alto
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES PROGRAM
11 Bookstore Building
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6034
sen@psu.edu
Scranton
111B Dawson Building
Dunmore, PA 18512
570-963-2674
jam81@psu.edu
Shenango
147 Sharon Ave.
102 McDowell Hall
Sharon, PA 16146
724-983-2953
rxa32@psu.edu
https://shenango.psu.edu/academics/majors-shenango/human-development-family-studies