As of fall 2021, admission to the graduate program in Gerontology has been suspended.
Applications to the program are not being accepted at this time.
Program Director
Daniel J. Van Dussen, Ph.D.
DePizzo Endowed Chair of Gerontology
Professor of Gerontology
440 DeBartolo Hall
(330) 941-1683
djvandussen@ysu.edu
Program Description
The curriculum is designed from an interdisciplinary perspective of gerontology with a focus on epidemiology and health. This program will provide students with advanced education in issues facing older adults, for the purpose of preparing them for advancement in the field of gerontology. The program allows for a Thesis or a Non-Thesis track based upon the students’ desires and goals. The program consists of 36 semester hours, which may be completed in four semesters of full-time coursework or six semesters part time.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the minimum criteria set by the College of Graduate Studies, applicants must meet the following requirements for full admission:
- A cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the students’ academic or professional background.
- A letter of intent stating their objectives for seeking a Master’s Degree in Gerontology and how this program will help them fulfill their goals.
- A personal interview is optional.
- A Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
- A social statistics course at the undergraduate or graduate level.
Graduate Faculty
Tiffany F. Hughes, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Cognitive impairment and dementia; fall prevention; health promotion
Daniel J. Van Dussen, Ph.D., Professor
Social and psychological determinants of health among older adults; the family; social support; statistics and methods
Amy Weaver, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Geriatric education; geriatrics; simulation
Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts in Gerontology will consist of 12 courses (36 credit hours) which can be completed over a 2 academic year period.
Thesis Option
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| GERO 6915 | Service Delivery Aging Policy | 3 |
| GERO 6905 | Social Gerontology | 3 |
| PSYC 6957 | Advanced Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
| GERO 6906 | Perspectives in Gerontology | 3 |
| GERO 6960 | Epidemiology of Aging | 3 |
| GERO 6999 | Research Methods | 3 |
| GERO 7090 | Field Practicum | 3 |
| GERO 7094 | Selected Topics | 3 |
| Thesis | ||
| GERO 7099 | Thesis | 3 |
| Elective | ||
| Select 9 s.h. from the following: | 9 | |
| Anatomy and Physiology of Aging | ||
PSYC 6959 | ||
| Long-Term Care | ||
SCWK 7006 | ||
| Field Practicum | ||
| Selected Topics | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 36 | |
Non-Thesis Option
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| GERO 6915 | Service Delivery Aging Policy | 3 |
| GERO 6905 | Social Gerontology | 3 |
| PSYC 6957 | Advanced Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
| GERO 6906 | Perspectives in Gerontology | 3 |
| GERO 6960 | Epidemiology of Aging | 3 |
| GERO 6999 | Research Methods | 3 |
| GERO 7090 | Field Practicum | 3 |
| GERO 7094 | Selected Topics | 3 |
| Non-Thesis Track | ||
| Field Practicum | 3 | |
| Elective | ||
| Select 9 s.h. from the following: | 9 | |
| Anatomy and Physiology of Aging | ||
PSYC 6959 | ||
| Long-Term Care | ||
SCWK 7006 | ||
| Field Practicum | ||
| Selected Topics | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 36 | |
Graduate Courses
GERO 6905 Social Gerontology 3 s.h.
Social Gerontology. Integration and application of gerontological theories; major conceptual issues regarding life span development; and contemporary gerontological concepts and research.
GERO 6906 Perspectives in Gerontology 3 s.h.
Focus on the major theoretical perspectives of aging and aging related research with a focus on health. Theories from gerontology, epidemiology, sociology, and psychology will be covered.
GERO 6915 Service Delivery Aging Policy 3 s.h.
An interdisciplinary analysis of services for older adults including an examination of major policies, programs, and trends in aging.
GERO 6960 Epidemiology of Aging 3 s.h.
Integration and application of epidemiologic theories; major conceptual issues regarding epidemiology and aging; and contemporary interdisciplinary concepts and research. Primary focus will be on the disease distribution and leading causes of death among our aging population.
GERO 6998 Anatomy and Physiology of Aging 3 s.h.
Using a systems approach, this course will examine the anatomical and physiological changes that occur with aging. It will discuss age-related disorders and evaluate the impact of these changes on activities and daily function.
GERO 6999 Research Methods 3 s.h.
This course serves as an introduction to major methodological issues and basic statistics in the social-scientific study of gerontology. Major topics include developmental perspective and conceptualization of change, basic developmental research design, conceptualization of research problems, research design, measurement, and data analysis. This course should enable students to formulate research questions, design studies, and determine measurement devices and methods of analysis from a developmental perspective.
GERO 7001 Long-Term Care 3 s.h.
This course will introduce students to the following topics: who needs long term care; population distribution of long-term care and its current trends; long-term care industry; human medicine and long-term care; social structures and social inequalities in long-term care; culture components of long-term care; family care and social care; government, laws, and social policies of long-term care; and long-term care in a global perspective.
Prereq.: GERO 6960.
GERO 7090 Field Practicum 1-9 s.h.
Students will complete a 200-hour placement in an aging-related workplace. Variable credit 1-6 s.h. May be repeated for up to 9 s.h.
GERO 7094 Selected Topics 3 s.h.
An examination of contemporary topics in the field of gerontology. Examples of subject areas that may be covered: Nutrition, Pharmacology, Legal, etc. variable credit 1-3 hours may be repeated for up to 6 credit hours.
GERO 7099 Thesis 1-3 s.h.
A substantive research project with approval of a committee chair and committee. Variable credit 1-3 s.h. May be repeated for up to 6 s.h.