GERONTOLOGY

Interdisciplinary Program in Gerontology

704-687-4520

www.coas.uncc.edu/gerontology

Degrees

M.A. (Concentration in Planning and Administration is available), Certificate

Director and Coordinator

Dr. Dena Shenk

Graduate Faculty

Anita Blowers, Director, Office of Student Success and Retention and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice

Bill Brandon, Metrolina Medical Foundation Distinguished Professor of Public Policy in Health

Maren Coffman, Assistant Professor of Nursing

Boyd Davis, Bonnie E. Cone Professor of Teaching, Professor of English

Mark Dorfman, Professor of Finance and Business Law

Mark Faust, Assistant Professor of Psychology

Paul Foos, Professor of Psychology

Cynthia Hancock, Lecturer, Department of Sociology & Anthropology

Martin Kane, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering

JoAnn Lee, Associate Professor of Psychology

Julie McLaughlin, Assistant Professor of Sociology

Linda Moore, Associate Professor of Adult Health Nursing

Deanna Morrow, Associate Professor of Social Work

Jane Neese, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Health and Human Services

Gary Rassel, Associate Professor of Political Science

Dorothy Ruiz, Associate Professor of African-American and African Studies

Dena Shenk, Professor of Anthropology

Randy Swanson, Associate Professor of Architecture

Rosemarie Tong, Mecklenburg County Medical Society Distinguished Professor

Michael Turner, Associate Professor of Health Programs and Kinesiology

Carole Winston, Assistant Professor of Social Work

Diane Zablotsky, Associate Professor of Sociology

MASTER OF ARTS IN GERONTOLOGY

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. The Planning and Administration Concentration will best meet the needs of those planning to direct programs for older adults, and those interested in the development and administration of programs.

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 adviser and graduate committee to design and implement their individual program.

Additional Admission Requirements

Grade point average of at least 2.75 overall and 3.0 in courses in Gerontology.

Satisfactory GRE or MAT scores.

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.

Prerequisite Requirements

Completion of at least one broad-based undergraduate course in Gerontology or the Professional Development Program in Gerontology previously offered through the Office of Continuing Education, Extension and Summer Sessions at UNC Charlotte.

Degree Requirements

The Gerontology Program requires 36 semester hours of graduate course work.

Core Courses (required, 21 hours)

GRNT6600 Current Issues in Gerontology (3)

SOCY6130 Sociology of Aging: Theories and Research (3)

PSYC6124 Psychology of Aging (3)

NURS6275 Health Promotion and Wellness for Older Adults (3)

GRNT6201 Research and Methods in Aging I (3)

GRNT6202 Research and Methods in Aging II (3)

GRNT6400 Practicum (3)

In addition to these core courses, each student will complete either a thesis or an applied project (GRNT 6999 or 6990).

Elective courses include the following:

GRNT5050 Topics in Gerontology (1-4)

GRNT5250 Programs and Services for the Aging (3)

GRNT6800 Independent Research Study (3) can be repeated, up to 6 credits can be counted towards MA electives

GRNT6210/

MPAD6210 Aging and Public Policy (3)

GRNT6211/

MPAD6211 Administration of Aging Programs (3)

HPKD5232 Physiology of Human Aging (3)

MPAD6128 Public Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation (3)

MPAD6172 Administration of the Health Care System in the U.S. (3)

NURS6115 Health Planning in the Health Care System (3)

GRNT5134 Families and Aging (3)

GRNT5150 Older Individual and Society (3)

Other electives may be selected in consultation with your adviser.

Comprehensive Examination

Each student will complete an oral comprehensive exam at the time of the thesis or applied project proposal defense.

Committee

Each student should select his/her Graduate Committee before completion of GRNT 6201.

Thesis or Applied Project

The thesis option entails 9 hours of elective credits and 6 hours of thesis credits (GRNT 6999). The student must also pass an oral defense of both the thesis proposal and thesis, and oral comprehensive exams at the time of the thesis proposal defense.

The applied project option generally entails 12 hours of elective credits and 3 hours of applied project credits (GRNT 6990).

The student must also pass an oral defense of both the applied project proposal and the project, and oral comprehensive exams at the time of the project proposal defense.

Financial Aid/Financial Assistance

The program offers the NMR Gerontology Graduate Scholarship annually with all application materials due by June 1.

Early Entry Program

Exceptional undergraduate students may be accepted into the master’s of Gerontology and begin work toward a graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN GERONTOLOGY

The Graduate Certificate in Gerontology is designed to provide graduate education in Gerontology for those who already have a graduate degree in another field or those currently completing a graduate degree in another field, who are interested in working with older adults. It requires completion of a set of core and elective courses related to the study of aging. Applications for admission 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 are required 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 Graduate Certificate Program requires completion of a minimum of 15 semester hours of graduate course work related to aging and older adults.

Core Course

GRNT6600 Current Issues in Gerontology (3)

Electives

Primary Electives (choose 2-3 of the following):

PSYC6124 Psychology of Aging (3)

SOCY6130 Sociology of Aging: Theories and Research (3)

NURS6275 Health Promotion and Wellness for Older Adults (3)

Secondary Electives (choose 1-2 from the following):

GRNT5050 Topics in Gerontology (1-4)

GRNT5250 Programs and Services for the Aging (3)

GRNT6210/

MPAD6210 Aging and Public Policy (3)

GRNT6211/

MPAD6211 Administration of Aging Programs (3)

GRNT 6400 Practicum (3)

HPKD5232 Physiology of Human Aging (3)

MPAD6128 Public Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation (3)

MPAD6172 Administration of the Health Care System in the U.S. (3)

NURS6115 Health Planing in the Health Care System (3)

GRNT5134 Families and Aging (3)

GRNT5150 Older Individual and Society (3)

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

Transfer Credit

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

Courses In Gerontology

GRNT 5050. Topics in Gerontology. (1-4) Investigation of specific issues in Gerontology, either from the perspective of a single discipline or from a multidisciplinary perspective. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. (On demand)

GRNT 5134. Families and Aging. (3) Theories explaining the formation and functioning of American families with emphasis on the impact of the aging of society. Examination of the current demographic trends and expectations of multigenerational families, as well as the future demands and modifications. (Yearly)

GRNT 5150. Older Individual and Society. (3) Study of the social and cultural context on the lives of aging individuals in American society. Will include a focus on expectations, social interactions, and psychological well-being in the context of retirement, caregiving, and health (Yearly)

GRNT 5250. Aging Programs and Services. (3) Examination of federal, state and local framework of services and programs for the aging. Graduate students required to complete a more extensive final paper. (On demand)

GRNT 5260/WMST 5260. Women: Middle Age and Beyond. (3) Position of older women in society and the particular problems and issues for women as they age. (On demand)

GRNT 5270. Intergenerational Relationships & Programs. (3) Exploration of the importance of and consequences of intergenerational relationships and the range of programming currently available to encourage interaction between people of different ages. (On demand)

GRNT 6201. Research and Methods in Aging I. (3) Prerequisite: Statistics. Examination of variety of qualitative and quantitative methods used in research on aging and analysis of Gerontology research from a range of disciplines. Students will develop a working draft of their thesis-applied project proposal. (Fall)

GRNT 6202. Research and Methods in Aging II. (3) Prerequisite: GRNT 6201. Examination of the variety of qualitative and quantitative methods used in evaluation research in applied settings. Students will develop an evaluation project plan. (Spring)

GRNT 6238/PHIL 6238. Intergenerational Issues of Justice. (3) Examination of intergenerational issues of justice in public policy toward the elderly and their health care needs. Issues of justice and morality will be explored in terms of the distribution of limited health care resources among competing age groups. (On demand)

GRNT 6210/MPAD 6210. Aging and Public Policy. (3) Examination of the public policy making process with attention to aging policy. Consideration of determinants of aging policy and institution and actors in the policy making process and piecemeal development of legislation will be analyzed as factors related to the making of policy for the aged. (Alternate years)

GRNT 6211/MPAD 6211. Administration of Aging Programs. (3) Focus will be implementation of public policies and programs for the aged and the development and administration of these programs. Students will become familiar with the process through which policies are transformed into aging programs and the budgetary, management and evaluative considerations that must be taken into consideration. (Alternate years)

GRNT 6400. Practicum. (3) Completion of a field-based educational experience which relates to the student’s career goals and objectives. Pass/Fall grading. (Summer)

GRNT 6600. Current Issues in Gerontology. (3) Study of current topics and issues in the field of Gerontology from an interdisciplinary perspective. An ethical framework will be used to examine the issues. (Fall)

GRNT 6800. Independent Research in Gerontology. (3) Graduate students meet individually or in small groups with the instructor and will complete readings and/or research on a topic in gerontology according to a contract. Attendance at lectures of an undergraduate class in Gerontology may be included among course requirements. May be repeated for credit up to a maximum of six hours. (On demand)

GRNT 6990. Applied Project. (3) Permission needed from program. Pass/Fail grading. (Fall, Spring, Summer)

GRNT 6999. Master of Arts Thesis. (3 or 6) Prerequisite: application for admission to the thesis option. A completed paper and oral presentation are required. Pass/Fail grading. (Fall, Spring, Summer)

GRNT 7999. Master of Arts Graduate Residency. (1) (Fall, Spring, Summer)