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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.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LONGEVITY, AGING AND GENERATIONAL STUDIES
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 LONGEVITY, AGING AND GENERATIONAL STUDIES
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 |
| 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 | |
| Introduction to Lifelong Learning and Adult Education | ||
| Intergenerational Programs and Practices (must be approved by the Graduate School) | ||
| Foundations and Principles of Health Promotion | ||
| Neuroanatomy, Behavior, and Health | ||
| Developmental and Health Genetics | ||
| Health Promotion II: Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation | ||
| Advanced Applications in Health Promotion | ||
| Developing Stress Management Programs | ||
| Principles of Epidemiology | ||
| Neuroanatomical Bases for Disorders of Behavior and Health | ||
| Neurobiology | ||
| Introduction to the Biology of Aging | ||
| Biology of Aging | ||
| Communicating Care | ||
| Health Communication | ||
| Communication and Aging | ||
| Health Communication Theory and Research | ||
| Entrepreneurial Leadership | ||
| Personal Financial Planning | ||
| Estate Planning | ||
| Retirement Planning | ||
| Ethnicity, Health and Aging | ||
| Developmental Problems in Adulthood | ||
| Perspectives on Aging | ||
| Issues in Gerontology | ||
| Death and Bereavement | ||
| Honors Seminar on Longevity, Health, and Human Development | ||
| Health, humanity, and longevity: Conversations with elders | ||
| Hospitality in Senior Living | ||
| New Product Development for Commercial Foodservice | ||
| Revenue Management | ||
| Hospitality Entrepreneurship and Innovation | ||
| Health Services Policy Issues | ||
| Health Systems Management | ||
| Long-Term Care Management | ||
| Nursing Home Administration | ||
| Aging Policy in the United States | ||
| Exercise Physiology | ||
| The Neurobiology of Motor Control and Development | ||
| Biomechanics | ||
| Neurobiology of Sensorimotor Stroke Rehabilitation | ||
| Scientific Basis of Exercise for Older Adults | ||
| Entrepreneurial Mindset | ||
| Medications and the Elderly Client | ||
| Therapeutic Nursing Care of the Older Adult Client in a Variety of Settings | ||
| Dying and Death | ||
| Introduction to the Psychology of Human Factors Engineering | ||
| Neurological Bases of Human Behavior | ||
| Risk and Insurance | ||
| Risk Management and Insurance | ||
| Fundamentals of Private Pensions | ||
| Sociology of Aging | ||
| Communicating Care | ||
| Social Demography | ||
| 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
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.
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/degrees/human-development-family-studies