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Program Change: P01111

Program Title: Gerontology
Undergraduate
Describe the proposed degree program change(s) in terms of how the changes differ from the program as currently approved and published in the latest WOU catalog (specify the latest catalog date).
Executive Summary of Gerontology Proposals The Gerontology Major and Minor are relatively new. We have been able to higher experienced and nationally know and respected Gerontology Faculty that are helping us refine our programs. In addition, we are now very active members of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE). Last spring AGHE conducted an external review of our program and identified two main areas that we could improve (with the ultimate goal of becoming a Gerontology Program of Merit). One area was to have a required practicum and the other was to have a Social Gerontology course. The current set of curriculum proposals are being submitted in an effort to make these improvements. We are proposing two practicum courses: 1. GERO 410 ¿ Junior Practicum (4 credits) and 2. GERO 411 ¿ Senior Practicum (6 credits). Both of the practicum courses would be required for the Gerontology Major and GERO 410 would be an option for the Gerontology Minors. We are also proposing to add GERO 455 ¿ Social Ties and Aging to the required courses for the Gerontology Major and we are removing PSY 311 as a required course. Given that we are adding 10 credits of practicum (GERO 410 and GERO 411) to the required courses for the Gerontology Major, we are proposing that we reduce the electives by 4 credits (from 20 to 16), which would increase the total required credits for the major from 56 to 62. Some other more minor curriculum proposals include: -Adding GERO 407 to the list of elective options for the Gerontology Major and Minor -Creating GERO 399 for special studies courses -Removing PSY 420 from the Catalog, as we created GERO 407 for the same purpose (PSY 420 is an artifact from when we only had a Geropsychology Minor)

Describe the reasons for making this change:
2012/2013 Catalog Copy for Gerontology Major Professors: Joel Alexander, David Foster, Chehalis Strapp, Tamina Toray, Robert Winningham Associate professor: Lauren Roscoe Assistant professor: Ethan McMahan Mission Provide students with a broad interdisciplinary foundation in gerontology and prepare them for possible careers that will improve older adults¿ quality of life. Coursework can draw from psychology, health, political science, communications, and business. The program reflects a degree of flexibility allowing students to customize a program that not only provides a solid foundation in gerontology but also allows for course choices and experiences that will assist them in preparing for a specific career or future post-graduate education Learning outcomes 1. Develop a greater appreciation for the specific needs of older adults. 2. Gain knowledge about the cognitive, physical, and social changes associated with older adulthood. 3. Develop an interdisciplinary perspective by taking courses from numerous disciplines. Gerontology major (56 credits) Required courses (36) PSY 201 General Psychology PSY 202 General Psychology II PSY 301 Introduction to Research Methods PSY 311 Developmental Psychology PSY 320 Introduction to Geropsychology GERO 360 Cognitive and Physical Changes in Aging GERO 370 Aging and Mental Health GERO 430 Palliative Care and Chronic Illness GERO 460 Retirement/LTC Housing for the Elderly Electives (20) Select at least two courses: GERO 409 Practicum (up to 4 hours can count toward the major) GERO 440 Health Care Operations GERO 470 Regulatory and Clinical Operations of Long Term Care GERO 480 Alzheimer¿s Disease and Other Dementias Management PSY 420 Advanced Topics in Geropsychology Select at least two courses: ANTH 395 Medical Anthropology (4) BA 211 Financial Accounting (4) BA 310 Principles of Marketing (3) BA 391 Human Resource Management (3) HE 227 Community and Public Health (4) HE 325 Nutrition (4) HE 375 Epidemiology (4) HE 411 Health Communication (4) HE 434 Diseases (4) HE 485 Bioethics and Public Health (4) HST 484 Health, Medicine and Gender in Historical Perspective (4) PS 350 Intro to Public Policy (3) PS 430 The Aging Society (3) PS 433 Healthcare Politics and Policy (3) PSY 423 Interviewing and Appraisal (4) PSY 439 Positive Psychology (4) PSY 445 Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology (4) PSY 446 The Psychology of Leadership (4) PSY 451 Behavioral Neuroscience (4) PSY 460 Cognitive Neuroscience (4) PSY 483 Adulthood and Aging (4) PSY 484 Death, Dying, and Grief (4) See attached for proposed catalog description. (Not enough space)

For Dean Review only:
How and when will the effectiveness of these changes be determined?
Students will be asked in Spring 2014 during focus group sessions to evaluate course content, suitability of course offerings as applied to professional settings, and other issues as determined by students. Graduating students will be asked to provided program assessment information on senior surveys administered spring 2014.

Approval Queue

Step	Approver	Decision	Timestamp
1 - Department	Margaret Manoogian	Approved	November 20 2012
Comments: No dept chair
2 - Division	Margaret Manoogian	Approved	November 21 2012
Comments: No division chair
3 - Division Curriculum	Margaret Manoogian	Approved	November 22 2012
Comments: No division curriculum chair
4 - Library Dean	-----------------	Approved	November 22 2012
5 - Curriculum Committee	Thaddeus Shannon	Approved	January 16 2013
6 - Faculty Senate	Keller Coker	Approved	February 06 2013
7 - Dean	Stephen Scheck	Approved	February 06 2013
8 - Provost	Kent Neely	Approved	February 07 2013
9 - President	Dianna Nickelson	Approved	March 19 2013

Attached Files:

Gero_Major_Minor_Curriculum_Proposals_11_7_12.docx		Download
Gero_Major_Minor_Curriculum_Proposals_12_19_12.docx		Download
Revised Gero_Major_Curriculum_Proposals_1-16-13.docx		Download

400 Bad Request

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