http://www.umsl.edu/divisions/artscience/gerontology/index.html

Faculty

Robert J. Calsyn, Professor* of Psychology and Gerontology
Ph.D., Northwestern University
Carl J. Bassi, Associate Professor* of Optometry
Ph.D., Vanderbilt University
Margo-Lea Hurwicz, Associate Professor* of Anthropology and Gerontology
Ph.D., University of California-Los Angeles
Ann M. Steffen, Director, Associate Professor* of Psychology and Gerontology
Ph.D., Indiana University
Chikako Usui, Associate Professor* of Sociology and Gerontology
Ph.D., Stanford University
Timothy A. Wingert, Associate Professor* of Optometry
O.D., Illinois College of Optometry
Nanora L. Sweet, Assistant Professor of English
Ph.D., University of Michigan
Kuei-Hsiang (Grace) Hsueh, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Ph.D., R.N., University of Arizona
Terry Ettling, Senior Lecturer
M.A., Webster University
Kelly Everard, Adjunct Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Kentucky
Hedva Barenholz Levy, Adjunct Assistant Professor
Pharm D, University of Michigan
Rosalie Marx, Lecturer
M.S.W., Social Work, G.W. Brown School of Social Work, Washington University
Jan McGillick, Lecturer
M.A., University of Chicago
Wilma Schmitz, Lecturer
M.A., Lindenwood University

*members of Graduate Faculty

Faculty from 11 departments and schools are involved in the undergraduate and graduate programs in gerontology.

Master of Science in Gerontology
The master of science degree in gerontology program is a multidisciplinary program designed to prepare students for management or direct service positions working with the aged. The program of study includes courses from a variety of departments including anthropology, biology, nursing, physical education, political science, psychology, sociology, social work, English, public policy administration, and optometry. Courses are offered primarily in the evening to accommodate part-time, as well as full-time students.

Admission Requirements
Program applicants must have the following:

• Baccalaureate degree.
• 3.0 or B average (students with exceptions should contact the director of the gerontology program).
• Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate/graduate work.
• Three letters of recommendation

In addition, students must meet the other general requirements for admission to the Graduate School as explained in the Graduate Study section of the Bulletin.

Degree Requirements
The students are required to complete 30 credit hours, including 24 hours in gerontology courses, a 3-hour statistics course, and a 3-hour research methods course. The required courses are listed below.

Gerontology Distribution Requirements
 

A. Public Policy and Aging-3 credits from the following:

Ger (PPA, Pol Sci) 6443. Health Care Policy
Ger (Soc) 5449, Issues in Retirement

B. Health and Physical Aspects of Aging - 3 credits from the following:

Ger 5610 (Soc Wk 5610), Mechanics of Aging I: The Aging Body (1 credit hour)
Ger 5611 (Soc Wk 5611), Mechanics of Aging II: The Aging Brain (1 credit hour)
Ger 5612 (Soc Wk 5612), Mechanics of Aging III: Diseases of Aging (1 credit hour)
Ger (Nur) 6401, (5000) Health and Wellness in the Aging
Ger 6441, Aging and Health Behavior
Ger 6458 (Opt 8650), Geriatric Optometry

C. Psychosocial Aspects of Aging-3 credits from the following:

Ger (Psych) 4373, Psychology of Aging
Ger (Psych) 4376, Mental Health and Aging
Ger (Soc) 4361, Sociology of Aging
Ger (Anthro) 5440, Cultural Aspects of Aging
Ger (Psych) 4380, Psychology of Death, Dying and End of Life Concerns

D. Practica in Gerontology, 6 credits from the following:

Ger 6495, Practicum in Gerontology
Ger 6496, Advanced Practicum in Gerontology

E. Gerontology Electives - 9 credits

F. Graduate-level statistics course - 3 credits and graduate level research methods course – 3 credits.
Students should consult Director of Gerontology for approved courses.

Graduate Certificate in Gerontology
The graduate certificate in gerontology is designed for students who wish to receive post-baccalaureate training in gerontology. The certificate can be taken by itself or in conjunction with pursuit of a graduate degree in another field. Eighteen credit hours are required.

Admission Requirements
Program applicants must have the following:

• Baccalaureate degree.
• 2.75 grade point average (students with exceptions should contact the director of the gerontology program).
• Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate/ graduate work.
• Two letters of recommendation.

Distribution Requirements
 
A. Public Policy -3 credits from the following:

Ger (PPA, Pol Sci ) 6443, Health Care Policy
Ger (Soc) 6449, 5449, Issues in Retirement

B. Health and Physical Aspects of Aging -3 credits selected from the following:

Ger (Nur) 6401, 5000, Health and Wellness in the Elderly
Ger 6441, Aging and Health Behavior
Ger 5610 Soc Wk 5610, Mechanics of Aging II: The Aging Brain (1 credit hour)
Ger 5611, Soc Wk 5611, Mechanics of Aging II: The Aging Brain (1 credit hour)
Ger 5612, Soc Wk 5612, Mechanics of Aging III: Diseases of Aging (1 credit hour)
Ger 6458, Opt 8650, Geriatric Optometry

C. Psychosocial Aspects of Aging - 3 credits selected from the following:

Ger (Psych) 4373, Psychology of Aging
Ger (Psych) 4376, Mental Health and Aging
Ger (Soc) 4361, Sociology of Aging
Ger (Psych) 4380, Psychology of Death, Dying and End of Life Concerns

D.Ger 6495, Practicum in Gerontology -3 credits

E. Electives in Gerontology - 6 credits

Undergraduate Certificate in Gerontological Studies
A certificate in gerontological studies, a multidisciplinary course of study, is available at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. This program provides an opportunity for students to obtain a focused specialty in gerontology in addition to their majors. It utilizes offerings in the College of Arts and Sciences, Barnes College of Nursing, the College of Business, and the College of Education. It is appropriate for students in any of the colleges of the University.

Certificate Requirements
A student may earn the certificate in gerontological studies by completing a total of 15 hours. Courses must be chosen from at least two of the following four topic areas. No more than 3 credit hours from Research/ Practicum Experience courses will be allowed. The student must have the approval of the director of the gerontology program before enrolling in the course. Courses taken to fulfill the requirements may not be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. New courses continually are added, so it is advisable to check with the director each term. Many courses are cross-listed and also have a gerontology designation.

Humanities
Ger (Eng) 1115, Images of Age in Film
Ger (Eng) 1116, Images of Age in Literature
Ger (Philos) 2256, Bioethics

Social Sciences
Ger (Psych) 2272, Developmental Psychology: Adulthood and Aging
Ger (Psych) 4380, The Psychology of Death, Dying, and End-of-Life Concerns
Ger (Psych) 4373, The Psychology of Aging
Ger (Psych/Social Work) 4376, Mental Health and Aging
Ger (Soc) 4361, Social Gerontology
Ger (ID)1160, Aging in America
Ger (ID) 1220, Special Topics in Gerontology
Ger (Anthro) 3215, Growing Old in Other Cultures

Career Outlook
The increasing number of elderly in the population has greatly expanded job opportunities in gerontology in the last decade, and job prospects for the future are equally bright. Career possibilities include nursing home administration, administration and planning of community-based programs for the elderly, recreational programming, and counseling of the elderly.

Course Descriptions
 

2272 Developmental Psychology: Adulthood and Aging (3)
Same as Psych 2272. Personality, social, and physiological development from the onset of early adulthood through maturity and old age.

3215 Growing Old in Other Cultures (3)
Same as Anthro 3125. This course examines the wide ranging variability in the roles of older people across different cultures and the effects these have on older people, their families, and their societies.

4361 Social Gerontology (3)
Prerequisite: Soc 1010 and junior standing or consent of instructor. Same as Soc 4361. Topics include sociological theories of aging, technological and social change and its effects on the environment of older people, and prejudice and discrimination against the elderly.

4373 Psychology of Aging (3)
Prerequisite: Nine hours of Psychology or consent of instructor. Same as Psych 4373.This course focuses on the developmental changes associated with aging including sensation, memory, emotions, and attitudes.

4376 Mental Health and Aging (3)
Prerequisites: 9 hours of psychology, graduate standing or consent of instructor. (Same as Psych 4376 and SW 4376). (MSW students normally take all foundation courses prior to enrolling in this course.) A survey of recent theory and research in mental health issues for older populations. The primary focus is on major psychological disorders prevalent among the elderly and in treatment approaches for elders.

4380 Psychology of Death, Dying, and End-of-Life Concerns (3)
Same as Psych 4380. Prerequisites: Nine hours of psychology. This course will address the psychological aspects of a variety of end of life issues, including death attitudes, funeral practices, ethics, grief theory, family communication practices, health care system approaches, and current research regarding these.

4490 Directed Readings (1-3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Directed readings and research or field work. May be repeated for a maximum of three hours.

5440 Cultural Aspects of Aging (3)
Same as Anthro 5440. Focuses on the variety of solutions encountered in different sociocultural contexts for dealing with the problems, challenges, and opportunities of growing old. It is organized around topics that are of concern to both anthropology and social gerontology: the status of the aged, intergenerational relations, aging in modernizing societies, ethnic dimensions of aging in complex societies, health in later life, death and dying. Both in-depth case studies and cross- cultural comparisons are examined in an effort to arrive at a culturally informed assessment of factors affecting aging and the aged in the United States.

5610Mechanisms of Aging I: The Aging Body (1)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing and Bio 1102 or equivalent. (Same as SW 5610 and Psychology 5610). (MSW students normally take all foundation courses prior to enrolling in this course). Introduces students with a social sciences/ humanities background to the normal changes in the biology and chemistry of the aging human body and how these changes affect behavior.

5611 Mechanisms of Aging II: The Aging Brain (1)
Prerequisites: Ger 5610 or SW 5610 or Psych 5610 or equivalent or consent of instructor. (Same as SW 5611 and Psych 5611). (MSW students normally take all foundation courses prior to enrolling in this course.) Provides students with a social sciences/humanities background a basic introduction to the biology and chemistry of the aging human brain and nervous system and how these systems impact behavior.

5612 Mechanisms of Aging III: Diseases of Aging (1)
Prerequisites: Ger 5610 and Ger 5611or SW 5610 and 5611 or Psych 5610 and Psych 5611 or equivalents or consent of instructor. (Same as SW 5612 and Psych 5612). (MSW students normally take all foundation courses prior to enrolling in this course) Provides students with a social sciences/humanities background with information on how diseases associated with aging exacerbate the effects of aging on the human body, mind, and behavior.

6401 Health and Wellness in the Elderly (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Same as Nurs 5000. Factors contributing to longevity and health in old age, including genetic predisposition, lifestyle, culture, and environment are related to aspects of maintaining health and promoting wellness. Through a holistic approach, explores aspects of nutrition, exercise and activity, prevention of hazards to health, maintaining self-responsibility, managing stress, and meeting continued developmental, emotional and spiritual needs. Considers cross-disciplinary interventions to promote health and wellness in the elderly. Introduces the "Putting Prevention into Practice" model adapted to health promotion in the elderly.

6441 Aging and Health Behavior (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. (Same as Psych 6441). This course examines sociocultural influences on health care practices of older adults. The role of social support and other social resources in the health behavior of older adults is emphasized. Topics include self-care decisions, formal service utilization, family caregiving, and planned interventions for older adults.

6443 Health Care Policy (3)
Prerequisites: Graduate standing and consent of instructor. Same as Pol Sci 6443, PPA 6430 and SW 6443. (MSW students will normally take the social policy foundation course prior to enrolling in this course). Survey course examining current issues in health policy that face the nation. Policies are placed in a historical context to show how issues have been influenced by different political and economic conditions. Secondary consequences and limitations of current trends in health policy are explored.

6444 Seminar in Public Policy and Aging (3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Same as PPA 6440 and Pol Sci 6444. The study of specialized issues and methods related to federal, state, and local policies that affect the elderly. Potential policy areas to be covered include housing, taxation, mental health, transportation, etc. May be repeated for credit, provided the subject matter is different.

6445 Sociological Dimensions of Chronic Illness (3)
Prerequisite: Soc 5400 or consent of instructor. Same as Soc 6445. The consequences of chronic illness for social roles, family and organizational dynamics, and the functioning of society are examined. Chronic illness is presented as both a medical problem and a social phenomenon that is shaped by the changing age structure of society.

6449 Issues in Retirement (3)
Same as Soc 5449. Prerequisite: Graduate standing. This course examines macro and micro issues of retirement in the United States. It considers experiences of older persons in retirement: its processes, causes, and consequences-in relation to economic market conditions, demographic changes, and programs and policies that are targeted to support the elderly (e.g., Social Security). It also examines issues relating to older women and retirement.

6458 Geriatric Optometry (2)
Same as Opt 8650. Special examination and management considerations of the geriatric patient will be discussed. Psychological, physiological, social, and demographic aspects of aging, as well as ocular changes associated with the aging process will be taught.

6490 Directed Study (1-3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Designed to give the student an opportunity to pursue a more in-depth study of a problem area in gerontology than is normally covered in more formal courses. May be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours.

6494 Integrative Research Seminar in Gerontology (3)
Same as Psych 7494. Prerequisite: A graduate level research methods course (e.g., PPA 6401. This seminar requires students to critically examine research in terms of methodology. Topics covered include: reliability and validity of measures; internal and external validity; needs assessment; treatment implementation and process evaluation, and qualitative methods.

6495 Practicum in Gerontology (3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Supervised work experience in an agency that serves older adults. Students are required to complete a minimum of 150 clock hours at the practicum site.

6496 Advanced Practicum in Gerontology (3)
Prerequisites: Ger 6495 and consent of instructor. Advanced practicum experience beyond Gerontology 6495. Students must complete a minimum of 150 clock hours of supervised fieldwork (service or research) with older adults.

6497 Interdisciplinary Geriatric Care (2)
Same as Opt 6497. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Interdisciplinary approaches that address the medical and social needs of the elderly will be examined. Information about geriatric care and social issues affecting the well being of older adults will be provided. Clinical, theoretical, and educational perspectives will be presented.

6498 Advanced Seminar in Gerontology (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. This course will provide in-depth analysis of specialized topics in gerontology, which are not covered in required courses. (Course may be repeated for a maximum of nine credits, assuming topics are different.)

6499 Topics in Gerontology (1-2)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Analysis of a current problem in gerontology. (Course may be repeated for maximum of five credits, assuming topics are different.)