Applied Gerontology

Objectives
Specific objectives of the program include the provision of opportunities to:

• Develop an understanding of the biological, psychological and sociological processes of older adult maturation and aging.
• Address current and future demographic trends of the aging population and implications for health and social services program development and service delivery.
• Learning about conceptual frameworks in providing culturally sensitive and meaningful health and social services to older adults from culturally diverse backgrounds.
• Explore the techniques of problem identification and assessment, problem-solving strategies and methods utilized by various human service disciplines, including their respective roles in providing services to older adults.
• Integrate theory and practice in a field setting.
• Pursue special interest in aging through elective courses.
• Analyze the processes of aging in culturally diverse communities and society in general.

Career Opportunities
There are many interesting and challenging gerontology related career opportunities.

• Program Administration
• Direct Services—Individual, Group and Community
• Support Services and Information for Individuals, Families, and Agencies
• Assessment and Resource Referral
• Home Care, Adult Day Care, Hospital, and Nursing Homes
• Board and Care/Retirement Homes
• Teaching Older Adults

Admission Requirements:

• Completion of 90 quarter (60 semester) units of baccalaureate level course work or its equivalent or
• Consent of the Associate Director of the Education Programs if the student is undecided about a major or enrolling through Continuing Education.

Download the Certificate Program in Applied Gerontology brochure.

The Program
The Certificate Program in Applied Gerontology consists of 28 units including 16 units of core courses; 4 units of field experience; and 8 units of electives. The core courses provide basic knowledge about aging in several key domains: biological, socio/psychological and policy/social services. Another area of the core adults from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Required Core Courses (16 units)
Students must take these courses (12 units)
BIOL 384N	Biology of Aging	4 Units
SW 450	Cross-cultural Practice with Aging Populations	4 Units
SW 465	Programs and Policies related to the Elderly	4 Units
STUDENTS MUST TAKE ONLY ONE COURSE (4 units)
SOC 323	Socialization: Maturity and Aging	4 Units
OR
SOC 450	Sociology of Aging	4 Units
OR
PSY 362	Psychological and Psychosocial Developmental Stages in Maturity and Aging	4 Units
OR
PSY 462	Psychology of Human Aging	4 Units

HHS 495 - Required Field Experience/Internship
This integral component consists of 3 units of field experience plus a one-unit seminar (HHS 495). The field experience provides an opportunity to synthesize and apply one's discipline preparation with information and knowledge acquired in the core.

The concurrent seminar provides an opportunity to discuss: How to integrate knowledge/information/theory/ about aging into professional practice; practical issues/problems that arise in the field; and the relationship and interrelationship of various disciplines in serving older adults. The field experience will generally be taken in the student's major area of study. Non-matriculated students will be placed in agencies specific to their area of expertise or to their goals for career changes.

Electives are selected with the approval of the Associate Director and allow for the pursuit of special areas of interest. Students select 8 units from the following:

Elective Courses (select 8 units with approval of the Certificate Advisor)
ANTH 325	The Anthropology of Aging: A Bio-Physiological Approach	4 Units
ANTH 335	Maturity and Aging in CrossCultural Perspective	4 Units
COUN 405B	Theoretical and Developmental Aspects of Behavior: Pubescence - Senescence	4 Units
COUN 479	Counseling Older Adults	4 Units
ENGL 383	Narratives of Maturity and Aging	4 Units
KIN 345	Physiological Effects of Exercise During Aging	4 Units
KIN 438A	Principles of Exercise for Older Adults	3 Units
KIN 440	Psychosocial Aspects of Exercise During Aging	4 Units
ML 382	Maturity and Aging in East Asian and Romance Literatures	4 Units
NTRS 351	Adult Nutrition	4 Units
NTRS 451	Nutrition and Aging	4 Units
NURS 346	Family Nursing	4 Units
PHIL 373	Themes of Adult Life in Philosophy	4 Units
POLS 330	Politics of Aging	4 Units
*PSY 362	Psychological and Psychosocial Developmental Stages in Maturity and Aging	4 Units
*PSY 462	Psychology of Human Development: Maturity and Aging	4 Units
RELS 325	Themes of Adult Life in the World's Religions	4 Units
*SOC 323	Socialization: Maturity and Aging	4 Units
*SOC 450	Sociology of Aging	4 Units
SOC 452	Life Span Transitions: Retirement	4 Units
SOC 453	Social Aspects of Death & Bereavement	4 Units
SW 371B	Social Work Practice, Human Behavior and Social Environment: Late Adolescence through Old Age	4 Units

*If not taken in the core

Please check the university's Schedule of Classes at:
http://www.calstatela.edu/schedule

Advisement and Information
Contact Dr. Valentine Villa
Director
Applied Gerontology Institute
Salazar Hall C120
(323) 343-4724
E-mail: vvilla@calstatela.edu