The request to create GRNT 4353/5353

Date: November 20, 2015
To: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
From: Office of Academic Affairs
Approved On: October 26, 2015
Approved by: Undergraduate Course and Curriculum Committee
, Approved by: Graduate Council
Implementation Date: Fall 2015

Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.

Catalog Copy

GRNT 4353. Environments for Aging. (3) Cross-listed with GRNT 5353. Students will be introduced to the values and practices of a broad spectrum of housing alternatives for an aging population, which include traditional and household models of long term care, therapeutic environments for individuals with dementia, Naturally Occuring Retirement Communities (NORCS), as well as co-housing and intentional community options.

GRNT 5353. Environments for Aging. (3) Cross-listed with GRNT 4353. With roots in environmental psychology, this course explores the ways in which older adults experience and interact with their physical environment at both the macro and micro levels. Students will be introduced to the values and practices of a broad spectrum of housing alternatives for an aging population, which include traditional and household models of long term care, therapeutic environments for individuals with dementia, Naturally Occuring Retirement Communities (NORCS), as well as co-housing and intentional community options.

Gerontology, Minor

The interdisciplinary program in Gerontology is designed to provide students with academic and field experiences in the area of aging. An understanding of the basic processes of aging and of its social consequences is valuable not only for students who wish to pursue careers directly related to gerontology but also for students interested in traditional careers in other areas and interested in their own aging. As the number of older persons in our society continues to increase, it will be important for people in every occupation and profession to have a basic understanding of the aging process. The goal of the program is to provide students with that basic understanding.

Gerontology is both an interdisciplinary and a multidisciplinary field. Invariably, the best research, training, and service programs in gerontology have developed when professionals from a variety of traditional academic disciplines have been afforded the opportunity to work together, each contributing a unique expertise while benefiting from the expertise of others. The minor in Gerontology is built around a core sequence of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary courses that are taught from a variety of different academic disciplines. This approach is designed to bring together information from multidisciplinary sources, integrate theoretical and applied concepts in gerontology, and communicate to students the need for an integrated approach to meeting the needs of older persons.

A Minor in Gerontology can be useful in combination with a broad range of majors. With the aging population growing rapidly in the U.S. and globally, there are consequences that translate into diverse career options. Projections indicate opportunities in city planning, administration, management, recreation, counseling, physical therapy, social work, program development, research, long-term care administration and healthcare, for example.

Program Requirements

The Minor in Gerontology is awarded only to students completing an undergraduate major at UNC Charlotte. A total of 18 hours in gerontology courses with an overall GPA of 2.5 in those courses is required. Students must earn a C or above in courses that are counted toward the minor.

Required Courses

Note:

*Participation in a preliminary orientation session a semester in advance is required to receive a permit for this class. Students must be declared minors who have completed GRNT 2100, two primary electives, and one secondary elective (at a minimum), and should take this course as close to graduation as possible.

Primary Electives

Select at least two of the following:

Secondary Elective Courses

Secondary elective courses may be chosen from the following list of approved courses related to gerontology in consultation with the Gerontology Undergraduate Coordinator. Other appropriate courses may be chosen as electives in consultation with the Gerontology Undergraduate Coordinator.

Notes:

Because this is designed to be an interdisciplinary minor, no more than three courses in the student’s major may count toward the minor.

Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from UNC Charlotte may be readmitted to pursue a Minor in Gerontology, just as they may be readmitted to pursue a second major. (For further information on readmission, see the Admission to the University section of this Catalog.)

Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from an institution other than UNC Charlotte may not receive a Minor in Gerontology from UNC Charlotte (unless they earn a second baccalaureate degree from UNC Charlotte). Such students may request a letter from the program and/or a transcript notation that acknowledges completion of courses specified for the minor but indicates that the minor can only be awarded upon completion of a degree.

The Gerontology Program offers both a Master’s degree and a graduate certificate program in Gerontology. See the UNC Charlotte Graduate Catalog for more details.

Gerontology, Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Gerontology is designed to provide graduate education in Gerontology for those who already have a graduate degree in another field, those currently completing a graduate degree in another field, who are interested in working with older adults, and others seeking a credential to work in the aging field. It requires completion of a set of core and elective courses related to the study of aging. Applications for admission to the Graduate Certificate Program in Gerontology are considered as they are received and admissions are ongoing. Students are admitted to the Graduate School in a special category for certificate students.

Additional Admission Requirements

In addition to the general requirements for admission to a certificate program, applicants must provide:

  • Official transcripts of all baccalaureate and graduate work attempted.
  • Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s professional and personal qualifications. These letters may be waived if the student is already enrolled in a Master’s or doctoral program.
  • An essay describing the applicant’s relevant experience and objectives in undertaking graduate study in Gerontology.

Degree Requirements

The Graduate Certificate Program requires completion of a minimum of 15 credit hours of graduate coursework related to aging and older adults.

Core Course

Elective Courses

Primary Electives

Select at least one course from each of the following groups:

Secondary Electives

Select 1-2 of the following:

Note:

Secondary electives may also be chosen from other appropriate courses as offered with the approval of the Gerontology Graduate Program Director.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit is not accepted toward a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology program.

Gerontology, M.A.

The Master of Arts in Gerontology is designed to prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills to fill a wide variety of positions in the developing field of aging. Interdisciplinary Gerontology courses integrate materials from various disciplines. Multidisciplinary Gerontology courses are also included, requiring students to study aging from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. The core of essential materials included in the required courses are augmented by the selection of elective courses in an individually designed program for each student. Students work with their advisor to develop a program that will best prepare them to meet their goals.

Potential students are encouraged to apply to begin the program in the fall semester, although applications are reviewed throughout the year. The program can be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis with all required courses and a selection of electives offered in the evening. Some courses may require prerequisites and it is the responsibility of the candidate to meet any prerequisites (e.g., statistics is a required prerequisite for GRNT 6201). Students will work in conjunction with their advisor and graduate committee to design and implement their individual program.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75 overall and 3.0 in courses in Gerontology
  • Satisfactory GRE or MAT scores (A standardized test score is waived for a student who completes the Graduate Certificate Program in Gerontology with grades of all B or above)
  • Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s personal and professional qualifications
  • An essay is required describing the applicant’s relevant experience and objectives in undertaking graduate study in Gerontology

Degree Requirements

The Gerontology Program requires a minimum of 36 credit hours of graduate coursework.

Core Courses (21 credit hours)

Thesis/Applied Project

Select one of the following:

Elective Courses

Note:

Other electives may be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor.