Bachelor of General Studies

Concentration in Gerontology

Did you know that people over the age of 80 are the fastest growing segment of our society today? People aged 60 and older will constitute over 20% of the world's population in the year 2015. Individuals who have studied gerontology (study of aging) are in high demand in the 21st century. A Bachelor of General Studies with a concentration in gerontology will provide an excellent liberal arts foundation for pursuing the growing career paths needed to meet the needs of our changing society. As a graduate with this degree, you should have an understanding of the diverse challenges and opportunities that face the older adult in a changing world.

In the next decade, the fastest-growing occupations will be concentrated in service industries such as business, healthcare and social services. The demand for graduates with non-technical degrees is growing because employers want more than an individual with a degree in a specific field. With current demographic changes, knowledge in the area of gerontology provides flexibility to enter career paths in nearly every field imaginable in these high demand areas. A few of the employment sectors that hold promise for an individual who has completed a BGS degree with an emphasis in Gerontology include:

* Health Services- every aspect of health care from wellness and prevention to illness
   and providing direct care or administration to policy development and health education.
* Social Services - group work with the elderly, recreation, administration and
   rehabilitation.
* Community Work - fundraising for social service agencies, nonprofits, or community
   development centers.
* Corrections - probation, parole, detention centers or other areas that serve the
   older adult.
* Business - advertising, marketing and consumer research, personnel, training or sales.
* Educational settings - adult lifelong learning programs for community education
   offices.
* Public relations - writing, research, and editing material for or on behalf of the older
   adult.
* Government services - policy development or work at the federal, state or local
   level.

 

The Concentration in Gerontology

Listed below is the curriculum for the gerontology emphasis in the Bachelor of General Studies degree. Courses may be substituted with the approval of the Coordinator of Gerontology.

Core Coursework - All students must take the following courses for a total of 11 credit hours:

PSY 420 Psychology of Aging (occasionally offered, not regularly scheduled).........3 credit hours
SOC 644 Sociology of Aging.....................................................................3 credit hours
BIOL 355 Physiology of Aging..................................................................3 credit hours
NURS 493 Seminar in Gerontology...........................................................2 credit hours

Distribution Coursework - Students must select five courses with at least one course from at least four of the five departments listed for a total of 10 credit hours:

Communication Disorders
SLP 665 Communication and Aging (Spring)............................................2 credit hours
SLP 664 Communication and Hearing Loss in Older Adults(Summer).....2 credit hours
*SLP 664 is on-Campus. SLP 665 is web-based*

Health and Human Performance
HHP 619 Exercise Testing & Prescription for the Elderly (Summer).........2 credit hours
HHP 617 Nutrition and Aging (Spring)......................................................2 credit hours
HHP 480 Leisure Programming for the Elderly(Fall).................................2 credit hours

Nursing
NURS 211 Learning in Older Adulthood..................................................2 credit hours
NURS 491 Health Care System, Policy, & Cost........................................2 credit hours

Sociology and Social Work
SOC 620 Spirituality and Aging: The Empowering Relationship(Fall/Spring)....3 credit hours

Technology Studies
TECS 450 Recreational Activities in Older Adulthood..............................2 credit hours
TECS 455 Adaptive Home Maintenance for Older Adults........................2 credit hours
* Will continue to be involved as long as there are the numbers to have the classes, does not want the classes even listed unless there are enough people who are interested in taking the classes or if the classes are going to be promoted*

As you can see, the BGS degree with an emphasis in gerontology is a decision that will provide you with a multitude of career choices. If you have further questions about Gerontology, please contact:

Liane Connelly, PhD, RN, CNAA, BC
127 Stroup Hall
600 Park Street
Fort Hays State University
Hays, Kansas 67601
(785) 628-4511 (phone)
lconnell@fhsu.edu

Faculty in Gerontology