GERONTOLOGY (GTY–Arts and Science; Department of Sociology and Gerontology)

456/556 Psychosocial Aspects of Health and Aging (3)

Reviews comprehensive geriatric assessment, explores individuals’ perception and internal and external resources associated with healthcare behaviors, and examines models of successful aging. Prerequisite: six credit hours of GTY and three additional credit hours of social science.

460/560 Selected Topics in Gerontology (2-4; maximum 10)

Draws upon current literature and research for in-depth consideration of selected special topics in gerontology.

463/563 Gender and Aging (3)

Examination of various social, psychological, physical, and cultural factors that affect women as they grow older. Cross-listed with SOC and WMS 463/563.

466/566 The Family in Later Life (3)

Examination of family and kinship relations during old age. Topics include relations with spouse, adult children, siblings, and other kin, as well as grandparenthood and widowhood. Prerequisite: at least one course in the family or gerontology, plus regular prerequisites for 400-level courses in sociology or permission of instructor.

468/568 The Aging Individual in a Changing Society (3)

Exposes a variety of views regarding the nature of individuality and the self, the life course, adult development, aging, social structure, and social change. These perspectives foster understanding of the individual and social forces that influence how we evolve as adults. Through guided integrative writing and discussion, students develop a unique personal comprehension of the complex interaction between individual development across the adult life span and the ever-changing social environment.

472/572 Minority Aging (3)

Examines aging among U.S. minority and ethnic groups. Topics include theoretical perspectives, demographics, economics, health, social support, public policy and service delivery systems, and the role of culture in adaptation to aging. Prerequisite: GTY 154, 602, or permission of instructor. Cross-listed with BWS 472/572.

476/576 Environment and Aging (3)

Examines the changing environmental experience of the older person from several theoretical perspectives. Topics include aging in urban and rural places, age-integrated and age-segregated settings, housing options and housing policy in the U.S., design and supportive technologies, and the cultural meaning of place. Prerequisite: (476) GTY 154 or ATH 155; (576) GTY 602 or permission of instructor. Cross-listed with ATH 476/576.

485/585 Long-Term Care in an Aging Society (3)

Examines the major components of long-term care, critiques current approaches to delivering long-term care, examines future challenges, and discusses solutions for an aging society.

602 Perspectives in Gerontology (3)

Examination of socio-cultural theories of aging and review of major conceptual issues related to and research strategies appropriate for the study of aging.

603 Psychology of Aging in Everyday Life (3)

Discusses major conceptual approaches to the psychological study of adult development in the domains of cognition, personality, and social-emotional functioning, using the theoretical framework of life-span developmental psychology. Explores strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of important empirical studies and their implications for theories of normative and successful aging.

605 Gerontology Proseminar A,B,C,D (1)

Personal, academic, and professional development of MGS students. Exposure to faculty research and mentoring; external educational opportunities; portfolio development; formation of a collaborative writing group. A and C offered fall semester; B and D are offered spring semester.

608 The Logic of Inquiry: Research Methods in Social Gerontology (4)

Presents detailed information about, and experience with, aspects of research design in social gerontology including conceptualization, measurement, sampling, analysis, and reporting. Examines inductive and deductive approaches to research questions and the use of national electronic data sets.

609 Qualitative Research Methods (3)

Provides and introduction to the paradigmatic assumptions of qualitative research methods and strategies of data collection, analysis, and writing strategies. Focuses on research questions and issues in gerontology.

611 Linking Research and Practice (3)

Application of principles of research methods to agency-based evaluation of programs. Focuses on the uses and design of program evaluation research, including program initiation, process evaluation, and outcome assessment. Includes a component on grant-writing and budgeting for evaluation activities. Prerequisites: GTY 602, GTY 608.

615 Readings in Gerontology (1-6)

Directed readings on selected topics in gerontology, for pass/fail grade.

620 Supervised Research or Reading on Selected Topics in Gerontology (1-3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing and permission of instructor.

641 Gerontology Pre-practicum (3)

Weekly seminar to prepare graduate students for the practicum. Topics include types of aging-related organizations; organizational theory and behavior; organizational analysis; and professionalism (e.g., goal setting, ethical issues).

666 Aspects of Long-Term Care: Health (3)

Health and quality of care, medical ethics, environmental health, and delivery of health services in a long-term care facility are addressed. Prerequisite: GTY 602 or permission of instructor.

667 Policy and Politics of Aging (3)

Provides overview of key health and social welfare programs and policies affecting older people. Understanding program funding mechanisms, with emphasis on grant writing, is a key element of the course.

676 Program Management in Aging (3)

Analysis of administrative responsibilities in programs and services in the field of aging. Prerequisite: GTY 602 and three graduate hours of MGT; or permission of instructor.

700 Critical Inquiry In Gerontology (1 to 6)

Guided independent research required as a culminating, integrative experience for all MGS students. Students will design and execute a project that involves either original data collection, secondary data analysis, or critical analysis of policies and programs in the field.

702 Knowledge Construction & Advanced Theory (3)

Examines the epistemological and ideological underpinnings of knowledge construction and explores the reciprocal relationship between theories and dominant research questions with particular emphasis on theory construction in gerontology. Builds on and reexamines issues and topics discussed in GTY 602 and GTY 608.

705 Communicating Gerontology Knowledge (3)

Explores strategies for communicating gerontological knowledge and provides practical experience with these strategies. Addresses the teaching of gerontology in traditional classroom settings as well as making presentations to various audiences, and for various purposes, in applied and policy settings.

708 Methods & Statistics (4)

Reviews the assumptions about reality underlying various research paradigms. Explores basic designs of survey, experimental, and field research. Discusses issues of measurement sampling, and causality, multivariate analytical techniques based on the generalized linear model and the concept of sampling distribution as the basis for inferential statistics. Provides opportunities to apply these techniques to the analysis of large data sets.

709 Advanced Qualitative Research & Methods (4)

Builds on GTY 609 by focusing on the major genres in qualitative research, including participant observation, organizational case studies, phenomenological and narrative interpretation, participatory action research, and qualitative evaluation/policy research. Stresses practical mastery of strategies and skills in particular genres, according to students’ dissertation interests.

718 Statistics In Gerontology (4)

Focuses on statistical techniques, with emphasis on multiple regression, factor analysis, and structural equations with latent constructs. Provides opportunities for applying these techniques to concrete data. Fosters ability to interpret and critically evaluate methodologies used in journal articles, particularly data analytic techniques.

740 Graduate Practicum in Gerontology (1-12; 8 minimum)

Field experience for graduate students interested in research experience or applied aspects of gerontology. Students assigned to a program involving research activities, service provision, or administration of programs related to the aging and aged populations. Prerequisite: GTY 602 and permission of instructor.

745 Sociology of Aging (3)

Examines the sociological perspective, its contributions to social gerontology, and its application to issues facing an aging society. Reviews the role of major sociological theories and frameworks (such as structural functionalism, exchange, and conflict theories) in the development of social gerontology.

747 Demography & Epidemiology of Aging (3)

Explores fertility, mortality, and global aging; distribution of health and illness within a population; age-based migration and its impact on locations of origin and destination; variations in health and mortality by gender, race, ethnicity, and social class; impact of health and mortality patterns for individuals, society and public policy.

767 Policy Analysis In An Aging Society (3)

Provides a framework for understanding the development and implementation of public policy. Examines major policy debates, critiques current policy efforts, and makes recommendations for how policies and programs can be improved.

850 Doctoral Dissertation Research (1-16; 16 minimum, maximum 60)