Gerontology
Student Learning Outcomes
Broad Outcomes:
Gerontological learning and skill development focus on the following
dimensions:
- Introduction and overview of the discipline of gerontology.
- Process and content of policy in both the private and public sectors.
- Diversity and its impact on the aging process.
- Scientific methodologies utilized in developing empirical
principles/propositions in gerontology.
- Quantitative analysis.
- Planning, preparations, and transition to the later phases of life --
retirement.
- Crisis, disorders, and maladaptive behavior associated with older persons.
- Death, dying and grieving process.
- Testing and integration of empirical principles in the world of work.
- Preparation for work and/or graduate school in gerontology.
Gerontology Specific Outcomes:
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Introduction and overview of the discipline of gerontology.
Knowledge and understanding of:
- Scientific process and methods used in studying aging process.
- Language, key concepts, and empirical principles in gerontology.
- Biological and social theoretical models used to understand the aging
process.
- Characteristics of the elderly - myths vs. reality
- Experience of growing old in an industrialized society.
- Relevant issues and programs involving older persons.
Skills and abilities:
- Locate scientific studies dealing with aging.
- Discuss relevant issues and programs for older persons.
- Distinguish between myths and reality.
- Process and content of policy in both the private and public sector.
Knowledge and understanding of:
- How local, state, and national social problems emerge and are defined.
- Influence economic, socio-cultural, budgetary, and judicial factors have
on development of Gerontological policy.
- Political and organizational processes used to influence policy.
- Process for developing and implementing public and private sector policy.
- Current social policy/programs and their historical development.
- Theoretical and empirical models for policy analysis.
- Values and ethics that guide gerontologists in practice and policy.
Skills and abilities:
- Discuss relevant policy issues.
- Utilize a model and actually assesses a current social policy.
- Diversity and its impact on the aging process.
Knowledge and understanding of:
- Characteristics of ethnic elderly population.
- Differential impact that ethnicity has on the aging process.
- Theoretical models used in understanding the uniqueness of the aging
process for particular ethnic groups.
- Ethnic experience of growing old.
- Relevant health, medical care, life courses, family structure, mental
health and provision of service issues.
- Scientific methods utilized in studying ethnic groups.
- Empirical body of knowledge dealing with ethnic aging.
Skills and abilities:
- Locate and summarize scientific studies dealing with ethnicity and aging.
- Select and utilize theoretical models to analyze a case of an ethnic older
person.
- Discuss relevant issues that face ethnic older persons/communities.
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Scientific methodologies utilized in gerontology
Knowledge and understanding of:
- Process for scientific methods of inquiry.
- Relevant issues and principles in doing scientific research.
- Models for assessing research findings.
- Research designs for evaluation of practice strategies.
- Need for development and utilization of knowledge grounded in sound
scientific principles for the purpose of arriving at alternative
intervention in practice.
- Qualitative and quantitative research processes.
- Methods of community based social survey research.
- Professional codes of ethics in (a) using human subjects, (b) following
sound scientific principles, (c) giving credit to others’ work, and (d)
reporting findings for single system and survey research projects.
Skills and abilities:
- Critical thinking skills in designing scientific studies.
- Scientifically designing and assessing intervention strategies for
practice.
- Planning and doing social surveys.
- Quantitative analysis.
Knowledge and understanding of:
- Language and concepts of statistics.
- Methods of organizing and displaying data sets that facilitate
communication of the characteristics of data.
- Assumptions underlying both descriptive and inductive statistics.
- Methods for selecting most appropriate and discerning statistical tests.
- Calculating both descriptive and inductive statistical tests.
- Interpreting statistical findings in such a manner that researchers and
practitioners can easily understand and utilize research findings.
- Methods of preparing data set for computers.
- Steps in computer analysis using descriptive and inductive statistical
tests.
- Professional code of ethics in (a) utilizing appropriate tests, (b)
reaching conclusions, and (c) communicating results.
Skills and abilities:
- Selecting the most appropriate descriptive and inductive statistical test
and calculating and interpreting the results of the analysis.
- Creating a computer data file and doing computer analysis of data sets
using both descriptive and inductive statistics.
- Planning, preparations and transition to the later phases of life --
retirement.
Knowledge and understanding of:
- Importance of taking a pro-active approach in planning and making
preparations for later stages of the life cycle.
- Dimensions of economic planning, implications for retirement.
- Factors and process of moving from a work ethic orientation to a world of
leisure.
- Life style options and necessary considerations as older persons age.
- Elements in identifying a housing and geographical locations for
retirement, i.e., housing options, types of structures, compatibility with
age related body changes, structures, climates, costs, and housing.
- Considerations in developing comprehensive retirement plans.
Skills and abilities:
- Developing comprehensive retirement plans.
- Crisis, disorders, and maladaptive behavior associated with older
persons.
Knowledge and understanding of:
- Issues of independent and dependent living of older persons.
- Types of emotional reaction to age-related crisis.
- Elements and recognition of defense mechanisms common among older persons.
- Elements and recognition of psychiatric disorders common among older
persons.
- Elements and recognition of cognitive disorders associated with older
persons.
- Dimensions in doing comprehensive assessment of older persons.
- Methods of identifying community resources available to older persons who
are experiencing crises and disorders.
Skills and abilities:
- Effective interviewing of older persons.
- Doing assessment/diagnostic evaluation of older persons.
- Identifying resources and making the most appropriate referrals.
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Death, dying, and grieving process.
Knowledge and understanding of:
- Recognition that death is a reality, and planning and preparation are
important in dealing with the process.
- Dying and grieving processes.
- Elements and considerations in planning and dealing with dying and death.
- Community resources available to assist persons, friends, and families in
dealing with dying and death.
Skills and abilities:
- Developing plans for dying and death.
- Assisting people in dealing with the process of dying and death.
- Testing and integration of empirical principles in the world of work.
Knowledge and understanding of:
- Relationship between theory and research as it applies to the world of
work.
- Process of identifying and making agency referrals.
- Structure and polices of agencies.
- Agency-specific learning of administration and procedural processes.
- Importance of coming to terms with personal feeling and values that
interfere with professional responsibility in working with clients.
Skills and abilities:
- Identifying community resources and making appropriate referrals.
- Keeping confidentiality.
- Effective oral and written communication.
- Work ethic.
- Setting priorities, organizing work, and managing time.
- Adhering to rules, policies, and procedures of a specific agency.
- Preparation for work and/or graduate school in gerontology.
Knowledge and understanding of:
- Review, reinforce, assess, and integrate Gerontological knowledge in
preparation for gerontology world of work.
- Preparation for job seeking and/or graduate school admission.
- Specialized Gerontological topics not included in current curriculum that
senior students desire.
- Review, synthesize, and evaluate Gerontological perspectives as they
relate to the student’s selected area of work in gerontology.
Skills and abilities:
- Identifying potential opportunities in the job market.
- Developing a Resume for employment.
- Effective techniques for job interviewing.
Mission Statement /
Curriculum Grid / Assessment Plan
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Results of Assessment / Contact Person
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