Course Outline 

 

COURSE TITLE: Introduction to Gerontology     

 

SEMESTER OFFERED: EACH SEMESTER

COURSE NUMBER: Gerontology 5001 & 6001
Note: 6001 students have extra research & an oral class presentation on controversial issues in gerontology.

PREREQUISITES: Upper Division Undergraduates or Graduate Standing

TOTAL CREDITS: 3 Semester credits 

 

CLASS HOURS/WEEK: 3 

 

CLINICAL HOURS/WEEK: Project Required.

 

INSTRUCTOR: Dwight L Adams, MS
College of Nursing

Email: dwightladams @msn.com

 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL WEB SITES:
        1- "Making the Most of Retirement"  
        2- "You Grow More Unique as You Age"  
        3- "Adult Caregiving"

 

REQUIRED TEXT:
       Quadagno, Jill, Aging and the Life Course: An Introduction to Social Gerontology 2nd edition, 2002, McGraw Hill, ISBN: 0-07-240553-8

 

OPTIONAL:

       Annual Editions: Aging

 

COURSE INTRODUCTION
As a multi-disciplinary field, you will find a great deal of variety in the study of Aging. Gerontology is actually the scientific study of aging: from  CONCEPTION to DEATH, not just discussing "old people." It covers the total life span of the human species.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the semester, students should be able to:
        1- Do a detailed account of your calculations for your personal longevity. Use the data found in the "You Grow More Uniqueas You Age" web site.
        2- Understand the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors as they influence life-long aging.
        3- Appreciate the value of the multidisciplinary nature of the field of gerontology.
        4- Describe and use several prominent theories of aging.
        5- Identify several specific demographic trends and discuss the implications for individuals, communities, states, and nations of the world.
        6- Identify a broad range of issues and concerns of older adults & recommendations for improving their quality of life.
        7- Explain the functions of various service and professional organizations that are part of the aging network.
        8- Understand some of the unique features of doing gerontological research.
        9- Understand their own attitudes and beliefs about aging and older adults and make their views more consistent with information gained from the course.
        10- Be more familiar with career opportunities related to aging.
        11- Meet their own personal goals for the course, particularly to recognize the value of community service as a method of gaining knowledge while helping others.

 

COURSE OVERVIEW & TEACHING METHODS
Learning is accomplished by a combination of in class experiences, projects, and homework. Attendance and class participation will influence your final grade. What you DO need to turn in:

    I. Assignments from two resources:
        A. First portion: read and summarize at least two (2) web sites mentioned in the front cover of your textbook.. The acceptable length of each "review:" at LEAST a full page (typewritten, regular font, and regular 1" margins). These are due before taking the Midterm.
               

B. Second: read and summarize at least three (3) journal articles from at least two (2) of the following journals. The acceptable length of each report: at LEAST a full page (typewritten, regular font, and regular 1" margins). For
 each article, you need to attach a copy of the first page of the article to the back of your paper. These are due before taking the Final.
                "The Gerontologist,"
                "The Journal of Gerontology,"
                "Gerontology Review,"
                "Educational Gerontology,"
                "Journal of Adult Development,"
                "Age & Aging,"
                "Journal of Women & Aging,"
                "Research on Aging,"
                "Canadian Journal on Aging."

 

II. Using the "Remember When...III" (http://members.tripod.com/DwightLADAMS) web site, find your own "age cohort group" (when you were about 14, including those as much as 5 years younger and 5 years older; a 10 year period of time). See if you agree with the songs that are listed as popular then. See if historical or political happenings at that time made a conscious  impression on you. Did your favorite movie of the time win an Oscar?

Be prepared to discuss this in class during the semester.

   

III. ADULT CAREGIVING ISSUES-- After reading this material on the Adult Caregiving web site (the link is on this page), be prepared to discuss this anytime during the last half of the semester with regards to uplifts and burdens of adult caregiving. .

 

IV. The course also includes a Term Project that can be achieved in three (3) distinct ways:
        A- Volunteer with Meals on Wheels throughout the semester and summarize your qualitative experience in an 8+ page qualitative paper due before taking the Final        

OR
        B- Four Interviews (spending at least two hours with each interviewee) that result in qualitative papers of 3+ pages on each of the 4 interviews:
            1) The first interview: observing an "older" person of your same gender who is still living in at home and is able to take care of themselves. This person must be 85+ years of age.
            2) The second interview: observing an "older" person of your same gender who is institutionalized because they need assistance. This person must be 85+ years of age. 
            3) The caregiver interview: a caregiver of your same gender who is CURRENTLY the primary caregiver for an older (65+) family member without being a paid.

            4) The fourth interview: a care recipient at least 65+ years old still LIVING IN THEIR HOME OR THAT OF A RELATIVE WHO MUST HAVE HELP AND CAN NOT COMPLETELY TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.        

OR
    C- Suggest another project that would put you with older adults. You must get instructor permission before proceeding. This project and the resulting paper must be finished before taking the Final   

 

Exams

        Both the midterm and final are on the web. You are to do the tests on your own; do not ask for help or give help. Discussions between students on the exam before they turn in their tests constitutes cheating. Half of the exam material will be taken from the required text, and the other half will come from class: all lectures, videos, group in class projects, etc.

 

Normal Reading Assignments, Tests, & Projects Schedule:

Week 1: Chapter 1  

Week 2: Chapter 2

ALSO: Calculate your life expectancy using: "You Grow More Unique as You Age" (http://hometown.aol.com/uniqueaging/myhomepage)

 

Week 3: Chapter 3

 

Week 4: Chapter 4  

                                  
Week 5: Chapters 5 & 6  

                                  
Week 6: Chapter 7

 

Week 7: Chapter 8

Week 8: Chapter  9

ALSO: Midterm (through Chapter 9)

 

Week 9: Chapter 10

ALSO: read Adult Caregiving (the link is on this page)

Week 10: Chapter 11

Week 11: Chapter 12

Week 12: Chapter 13 & 14

 

Week 13: Chapter 15

 

Week 14: Chapter 16

 

Week 15: Chapter 17
The Final is Due on the Last day of Class: All projects & homework are due before the Final exam is taken

 

Grading Policy
    Your final grade is weighted as follows: 1/4th each for midterm, final, project, and the combined home work assignments that are to be turned in. Attendance will also be used to lean your grade ½ step higher ("B+"
 to "A-" as an example) or lower  (from "A" to "A-" as an example) 6001 students will also be graded on their extra work

 

Letter Grade   Instructor Evaluation    Percentage Earned
A....... excellent performance........ about 95% +

                                                     WITHOUT extra Credit
A-......superior achievement...about 90% +

                                                      WITH extra Credit

B+ ....good performance............... about 87% +       "

B...... substantial achievement........ about 83% +       "

B-................. "............................. about 80% +       "

C+ ..standard performance........... about 77% +        "

C.... standard achievement........... about 70% +         "

C-...less than standard................. about 67% +         "

D+. substandard performance...... about 63% +         "

D... marginal achievement.............. about 60% +        "

D-............. "............................... about 56% +          "

E..unsatisfactory performance
        unsatisfactory achievement....... 55.9% and below

 

    Note: 1- Your Grades can not be given out by phone. Use the University's web site.
    2- You papers and final are available in the Gerontology Office (316 CON) for 3 weeks after the course.

 

    In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you require a reasonable accommodation to meet the expectations of this course, please discuss your needs with the Center for Disabled Student services (160 Union
 581-5020) to facilitate requests. Please bring this also to the instructor as soon as possible.