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

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:

HHP 670 Introduction to Gerontology.......................................................2 credit hours
PSY 420 Psychology of Aging or PSY 668 Neuropsychology..................3 credit hours
SOC 644 Sociology of Aging....................................................................3 credit hours
HHP 612 Physiology of Aging...................................................................3 credit hours
HHP 470 Seminar in Gerontology.............................................................2 credit hours

Electives

The final 8-9 hours of the 21 required are selected from the following courses: