The Graduate School Bulletin
Graduate Programs in Gerontology
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Faculty
Overview
Requirements for the Post-Baccalaureate in Gerontology
Requirements for the Master of Science in Gerontology
Aging and Business Concentration
Nonprofit Management Concentration
Requirements for the Master of Science in Gerontology / Master of Business Administration
GRO Gerontology Courses
Faculty
Program Director:
Janice I. Wassel, Ph.D.
Demography; financial resources and the aging family; retirement decisions of professionals, women, and married couples; caregiving and family systems (Gerontology Program).
Interdisciplinary Faculty and Advisors:
Professors
Beth E. Barba, Ph.D.
Human/animal interactions with older adults, Eden Alternative (team care delivery, animals and children) in nursing homes, failure to thrive in older adults (School of Nursing).
Linda Buettner, Ph.D.
Dementia, depression, and Therapeutic programs for older adults, Alzheimer’s disease care, and community based interventions for frail older adults (Department of Recreation, Tourism, and Hospitality Management).
Laurie M. Kennedy-Malone, Ph.D.
Community-gerontological nursing (School of Nursing).
Jane E. Myers, Ph.D.
Gerontological counseling, adult development, developmental counseling, wellness, clinical assessment, adult children of older adults (Department of Counseling and Educational Development).
William L. Tullar, Ph.D.
Knowledge management, human resource metrics, and employee selection (Department of Business Administration).
Associate Professors
Kenneth A. Klase, D.P.A.
Public administration, public budgeting and finance, public financial management (Department of Political Science).
Martha Taylor, Ph.D.
Nutritional health and needs of older adults, health promotion/disease prevention, nutrition education (Department of Nutrition).
Bei Wu, Ph.D.
Cognitive impairment and health, impact of oral health on cognition, depression and health, social support and international analysis of long-term care development, health care policy, health services utilizations, successful aging, the influence of cultural beliefs and values on the dementia caregiving experience. (Gerontology Program)
Assistant Professors
Kurt W. Kornatz, Ph.D.
Adaptations of the neuromuscular system in response to aging and training (Department of Kinesiology).
Olav Rueppell, Ph.D.
Life history and behavior of social insects, aging and genetics of complex traits (Department of Biology).
Sudha Shreeniwas, Ph.D.
Gender and family issues among seniors in India and among ethnic groups in the U.S. (Department of Human Development and Family Studies).
Adjunct Instructors
Sandra Leak, M.H.A.
Comparative long term care policy at the community and state level (Department of Public Health Education).
Overview
An interdisciplinary graduate program in gerontology is offered through The Graduate School. Programs offered include a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate, a Master of Science in gerontology, a Master of Science in gerontology with a concentration in nonprofit management or in aging and business. The Bryan School of Business and Economics and the Gerontology Program offer a dual Master of Science in gerontology and Master of Business Administration degree.
Graduates of the programs are prepared to meet the growing demand for trained professionals in public service at local, state, and federal agencies and private, nonprofit agencies or organizations or for business professionals educated on aging issues and ready to face the markets and demands of society’s changing demographics in areas such as residential options, home care markets, human resource or long term care options. All options include internship/research opportunities. Students work closely with faculty to prepare a customized portfolio according to individual’s career goals.
Students wishing to combine a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in gerontology with a degree should consult with the Director of the Gerontology Program and with the department of interest.
Requirements for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Gerontology
Sixteen (16) credit hours must be successfully completed during four academic years to earn the certificate. Courses fulfilling the certificate program may be used to meet requirements in a degree program in accordance with the policies of The Graduate School.
Required Core Courses (10 hours)
GRO 501 Seminar: Critical Issues of Aging (3)
GRO 600 Proseminar in Gerontology (1)
GRO 621 Health and Aging (3)
GRO 649 Gerontology Practicum or Supervised Research (3)
Electives (9 hours)
To meet the student’s educational objectives, three courses (9 hours) are selected under advisement from three core areas:
Biology/health
Gerontology
Psychosocial
Requirements for the Master of Science in Gerontology
The Master of Science in gerontology requires 37 semester hours of course work and internships/research experiences. The program offers a thesis and non-thesis option.
Required Core Courses (22 hours)
GRO 501 Seminar: Critical Issues of Aging (3)
GRO 600 Proseminar in Gerontology (1)
GRO 620 Research Methods in Gerontology (3)
GRO 621 Health and Aging (3)
GRO 649 Gerontology Internship or Research Experience I (3)
*GRO 651 Integrative Seminar in Gerontology (3)
GRO 679 Gerontology Internship or Research Experience II (3)
ERM 517 Statistical Methods in Education (3) or
STA 571 Statistical Methods for Research I (3) and STA 571L Statistical Methods Laboratory I (1)
*Indicates Capstone Experience
Students are required to complete GRO 501 and GRO 600 in the first fall semester enrolled in the program. Additionally, students will be strongly encouraged to take both GRO 620 and GRO 621 during their first 16 semester hours after acceptance into the M.S. program. It is recommended that students complete the statistics requirement prior to enrolling in GRO 620. Students accepted without an undergraduate statistics course are encouraged to complete such a course prior to enrolling in the graduate statistics course for all M.S. options.
Electives (15 hours)
To meet the student’s educational objectives, fifteen (15) hours are selected under advisement from three academic areas:
Biology/health
Gerontology
Psychosocial
Thesis Option (6 hours)
GRO 699 Thesis (6)
With faculty approval, students who are interested in exploring a specific research problem in depth may choose to complete a thesis. Students must register for six (6) hours of thesis thereby reducing elective hours.
Aging and Business Concentration
Graduates of the aging and business concentration are prepared to integrate the critical issues of aging and business across a wide-range of settings, including health and wellness programming, older adult housing and retirement communities, product development and marketing, policy and program development, or financial gerontology. This program may be completed with a thesis (49 hours) or non-thesis option (43 hours).
Required Core Courses (22 hours)
GRO 501 Seminar: Critical Issues in Aging (3)
GRO 600 Proseminar in Gerontology (1))
GRO 620 Research Methods in Gerontology (3)
GRO 621 Health and Aging (3)
GRO 649 Gerontology Internship or Research Experience I (3)
*GRO 651 Integrative Seminar in Gerontology (3)
GRO 679 Gerontology Internship or Research Experience II (3)
ERM 517 Statistical Methods in Education (3) or
STA 571 Statistical Methods for Research I (3) and STA 571L Statistical Methods Laboratory I (1)
*Indicates Capstone Experience
Additional Aging Requirements (9 hours)
GRO 610 Life Planning for the Third Age (3)
GRO 622 Financing Longevity: Issues in Insurance (3)
GRO 631 Planning and Evaluation for Professionals in Aging (3)
GRO 611 Issues in Aging and Business (3)
Students must choose two:
GRO 611A Silver Industries (1.5)
GRO 611B Boomer Demographic Phenomena (1.5)
Business Applications Requirements (6 hours)
MBA 602 Presentation and Interpretation of Financial Statements (1.5)
MBA 603 Economic Analysis (1.5)
MBA 606 Marketing Management (1.5)
MBA 601A Entrepreneurship (1.5)
Electives (6 hours)
Elective courses are selected with faculty advisement to permit tailoring of the program of study to the student’s specific interests. With faculty consultation, students select 6 hours of elective courses at the 500 or 600 level from a range of disciplines including gerontology, sociology business administration, counseling, human development and family studies, public health education, and/or social work.
Thesis Option (6 hours)
GRO 699 Thesis (6)
With faculty approval, students who are interested in exploring a specific research problem in depth may choose to complete a thesis.
Nonprofit Management Concentration
Graduates in the nonprofit management concentration are prepared to meet the growing demand for trained professionals in public service at local, state and federal agencies; private, nonprofit agencies, and voluntary organizations serving the elderly and older adult population and/or meeting the needs of an aging society. This program may be completed with a thesis (46 hours) or a non-thesis option (40 hours). Course work fulfills the requirements for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in nonprofit management through the Department of Political Science. Students must submit an application for the certificate.
Required Core Courses (21 hours)
GRO 501 Seminar: Critical Issues of Aging (3)
GRO 600 Proseminar in Gerontology (1)
GRO 620 Research Methods in Gerontology (3)
GRO 621 Health and Aging (3)
GRO 649 Gerontology Internship or Research Experience I (3)
*GRO 651 Integrative Seminar in Gerontology (3)
ERM 517 Statistical Methods in Education (3) or STA 571 Statistical Methods for Research I (3) and STA 571L Statistical Methods Laboratory I (1)
PSC 540 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3)
PSC 550 Philanthropy and Resource Development (3)
*Indicates Capstone Experience
Choice Requirements (3 hours)
Students must choose one of the following:
PSC 511F Problems in Public Management: Financial Management (1) or PSC 511R Problems in Public Management: Nonprofit Budgets (1)
And students choose two of the following:
PSC 511B Problems in Public Management: Marketing for Public and Nonprofit Agencies (1)
PSC 511D Problems in Public Management: Strategic Planning (1)
PSC 511G Problems in Public Management: Grant Writing (1)
PSC 511N Problems in Public Management: Nonprofit Law (1)
Elective Requirements (9 hours)
Elective courses are selected with faculty advisement to permit tailoring of the program of study to the student’s specific interests. With faculty consultation, students select 9 hours of elective courses at the 500 or 600 level with at least 3 credit hours in political science and 3 credit hours in gerontology. Other possible electives include courses in business administration, counseling, human development and family studies, public health education, and/or social work.
Internship or Research Experience Requirement (3 hours)
RO 679 Gerontology Internship or Research Experience II (3)
With advisement of faculty in the Gerontology Program, students select an appropriate structured setting as an experiential learning activity within a public or nonprofit agency. The internship or research experience will provide students with practical experience in the ongoing operations of an agency of government or in an organization engaged in public affairs activities serving the elderly or addressing the needs of an aging society.
Thesis Option (6 hours)
GRO 699 Thesis (6)
With faculty approval, students who are interested in exploring a specific research problem in depth may choose to complete a thesis.
Requirements for the Master of Science in Gerontology / Master of Business Administration
The Gerontology Program and the Bryan School of Business and Economics offer a combined Master of Science in gerontology/Master of Business Administration degree. A minimum of 57 semester hours is required for the degree.
Computer Literacy
Upon entry to the M.S./M.B.A. degree program, students should have a working knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications in a PC environment. Familiarity with Excel is required.
Required Core Course (46.5 hours)
Up to 12 hours in the MBA course work may be waived based on demonstrated competencies in the subject matter but must be replaced with elective courses. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in GRO 600 and GRO 501 concurrently.
MBA 600 Business Statistics (1.5) and MBA 610 Advanced Business Statistics (1.5) or ERM 517 Statistical Methods in Education (3) or STA 571 Statistical Methods in Research (3) and 571L Statistical Methods Lab (1)
MBA 602 Presentation and Interpretation of Financial Statements (1.5)
MBA 603 Economic Analysis (1.5)
MBA 604 Organizational Behavior (1.5)
MBA 605 Financial Management (1.5)
MBA 606 Marketing Management (1.5)
MBA 607 The Operations Function (1.5)
MBA 609 Management Communications (1.5)
MBA 612 Cost Management Systems (1.5)
MBA 613 Economic Policy and the Global Environment (1.5)
MBA 615 Leadership Assessment and Development (1.5)
MBA 616 Managing in a Global Environment (1.5)
MBA 617 Management Science (1.5)
MBA 618 Business Processes and Technology (1.5)
MBA 620 Competitive Analysis and Strategy Formulation (1.5)
MBA 624 Strategies for Managing Human Resources (1.5)
MBA 625 Corporate Structure and the Finance Function (1.5)
MBA 626 Strategic Marketing Management (1.5)
MBA 627 Global Operations Strategy (1.5)
MBA 628 Business Strategy and Information Technology (1.5)
*MBA 629B Creating and Sustaining Competitive Advantage (3) or GRO 679 Gerontology Internship or Research Experience II (3)
GRO 501 Seminar: Critical Issues of Aging (3)
GRO 620 Research Methods in Gerontology (3)
GRO 649 Gerontology Internship or Research Experience I (3)
GRO 651 Integrative Seminar in Gerontology (3)
*Indicates Capstone Experience
Electives (10.5 hours)
Selected upon advisement to permit tailoring of the program of study to the student’s specific interests and to include at least 9 semester hours in gerontology or gerontology electives.
GRO Gerontology Courses
| 501 | Seminar: Critical Issues of Aging (3:3) |
| Intensive review and analysis of the literature and research on issues of aging and the unresolved problems. (Fall) | |
| 589 | Experimental Course |
| This number reserved for experimental courses. Refer to the Course Schedule for current offerings. | |
| 600 | Proseminar in Gerontology (1:1) |
| Introduction and gateway to the profession and study of gerontology including career roles and paths, professional development and ethics, and research processes and conduct. | |
| 601 | Practical Issues in Aging (1:1) |
| Examination of a topic in aging from an applied perspective applicable to professionals working in the field of aging. May be repeated for a maximum of 3 credits when topic varies. | |
| 610 | Life Planning for the Third Age (3:3) |
| Pr. permission of instructor Integrative approach to explore how trends in finances, relationships, health, self-development, housing and work/leisure time interact to impact quality of life and options available to aging adults. | |
| 611A | Silver Industries (1.5:1.5) |
| Comprehensive overview of the gerontological trends and associated business consequences that characterize an aging society. Case illustrations highlighted. | |
| 611B | The Boomer Demographic Phenomena (1.5:1.5) |
| Comprehensive overview of the current and future societal and demographic trends as a consequence of the Boomer Demographic Phenomena with implications for government, community, and business markets. Applied demographic exercises. | |
| 620 | Research Methods in Gerontology (3:3) |
| Pr. 501 and permission of instructor The integration and application of qualitative and quantitative research designs and methods used in gerontology. Additional attention focuses on the formulation and writing of a research proposal. | |
| 621 | Health and Aging (3:3) |
| Examines aspects of health and aging from an integration of biomedical and psychosocial perspectives. Foundations for the professional practice of gerontology. | |
| 622 | Financing Longevity: Topics in Insurance (3:3) |
| Overview of concepts and products of insurance related to financing longevity in the United States. Topics include Medicare, Medicaid, long term care insurance and related products. | |
| 631 | Planning and Evaluation for Professionals in Aging (3:3) |
| Introduction to the knowledge and skills related to planning and evaluating innovative responses to the aging of society using program theory as a foundation. | |
| 632 | Communities Responding to an Aging Society (3:3) |
| Addresses community responses to an aging society and how those responses may be enhanced through civic engagement, infrastructure development, and public/private initiatives. Emphasizes developing and sustaining innovative programs. | |
| 633 | Long Term Care Public Policy (3:3) |
| Addresses public policy related to the organization, financing, and delivery of the broad continuum of long term care with a concentration on the care of frail older adults. | |
| 649 | Gerontology Internship or Research Experience I (3:0:10-12) |
| Pr. 501 and permission of instructor First internship or research experience for graduate students in gerontology. 140 to 160 hours in a program approved site developed from among nonprofit, governmental, or business settings. (Graded on S-U basis) | |
| 651 | Integrative Seminar in Gerontology (3:3) |
| Pr. enrollment in the M.S. in gerontology program and completion of at least 24 hours of course work including: 501, 620, 649, ERM 617 or STA 571 (plus lab), and 12 hours of
gerontology electives Integration of current literature and theoretical applications in gerontology focusing on specific area(s) of student’s specialty and practicum experiences. Additional emphasis on professional writing, presentations, networks, and extramural funding. (Spring) | |
| 676 | Special Topics in Gerontology (1-3) |
| Study of a special topic in gerontology. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. | |
| 679 | Gerontology Internship or Research Experience II (3:0:12-15) |
| Pr. admission to the M.S. in gerontology. Completion of at least 2/3 course work, including 501, 600, 620, and 649, CITI certification for social and behavioral sciences, and permission of instructor Final internship or research experience for graduate students in gerontology. 160 to 200 hours in a program approved site developed from among nonprofit, governmental, or business settings (Graded on S-U basis) |
|
| 695 | Independent Study (1-3) |
| Intensive study in an area of special interest in gerontology. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 semester hours credit. | |
| 699 | Thesis (1-6) |
| Pr. 501, 620, 649, 651, 660 Individual guidance in the development of a specific research problem. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours credit. (Graded on S-U basis) | |
| 711 | Experimental Course |
| This number reserved for experimental courses. Refer to the Course Schedule for current offerings. | |
| 801 | Thesis Extension (1-3) |
| 803 | Research Extension (1-3) |