Back to Archive List
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 |
