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Gerontology Program
By Joanna Pelletier, allied health world contributing writer
Published: March 5th, 2010
What can be expected from gerontology programs?
When students choose an undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate gerontology program, they should consider gerontology programs that are associated with the Association of Gerontology in Higher Education, a branch of the Gerontological Society of America. Though none of these organizations grant or regulate professional certifications, they keep their participants current with regards to new approaches to gerontology education and changes within the profession as a whole.Undergraduate gerontology programs blend aspects of psychology, sociology, biology, demographics, history, law, and business,
and prepare students for graduate programs and entry-level work. A typical program may include classes in geriatric nutrition, health promotion across the lifespan, anthropology of family life, finance, economics and gender, health literacy, ethics, sociology of families, cognition and aging, population issues, incidents in family development, behavior changes, death and dying.
Bachelor's degree programs also include math, English, communication, science, and humanities classes, which help students develop their critical thinking, analytical, writing, communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills. Some programs may require students to complete an undergraduate internship or volunteer in a hospital, clinic, or retirement or assisted living community.
Master's degree programs also require students to gain experience in the field through internships and volunteering. Graduate programs take two to five years to complete, which weighs heavily on how many courses students take per term. These gerontology programs typically do not include classes in other disciplines, however; this may not be the case of all gerontology schools. If students and professional attend a religious or liberal arts university, they may have to take a few interdisciplinary courses as a part of their Master's coursework. Master's degree programs also differ from one another in terms of their focus. Some programs may emphasize social work or nursing more than others, while others may focus more on sociology, psychology, or health care.
Geriatric nurse practitioner programs may be the exception, however. Unlike psychology-focused gerontology programs, these programs blend advanced concepts in nursing with classes in health promotion, advanced clinical pathophysiology, health concepts for aging, and an adult-focused practicum.
Physical therapy and occupational therapy programs also blend field-related concepts with gerontology classes. These gerontology programs include classes in clinical research, instructional design and delivery, practice management, perspectives on aging, physical dimensions of aging, spirituality and aging, and assessment and intervention for geriatric clients.
Graduate-certificate gerontology programs tend to be more punctuated than full Master's degree programs. Students can choose programs in physiology, nutrition, psychology, health care, sociology, social policy, or another special topic for their certificate focus. Full gerontology certification consists of four to eight classes in one of these areas, which can take six to sixteen months to complete. Students in certificate programs do not complete a practicum or internship as a part of their degree.
Students who follow psychology-focused programs usually take classes in lifespan development psychology, counseling, program planning and evaluation, death and dying, and other field-related classes. These students may also take classes in administration, depending on the program. Sociology certificate students take similar classes, but they focus more on how different groups affect the aged population. Classes in a sociology-focused program may include topics like lifespan development sociology, social attitudes toward aging, and other special topics.
Doctoral programs provide a more in-depth focus of specific issues in gerontology, like lifespan development, health care administration, or consumer choice. These programs take four to six years to complete.
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