Introduction
The minor in Gerontology pulls together existing courses from across the campus into a single program. The curriculum is designed to provide the flexibility needed to accommodate students with a wide variety of academic and professional goals while at the same time exposing them to a common core of courses that cover the principal areas of the field. This minor will serve as a complement to a wide variety of majors such as sociology, psychology, biology, business, communicative disorders, and wellness for students who wish to integrate an understanding of the aged and their major field of academic and professional education.

High School Preparation
While it would be useful to have the experience of high school courses in Sociology and Psychology, we suggest that students concentrate their efforts on mastering the basic areas necessary for college admission. Regardless of major, successful applicants will need a background in English, Math, Science and History. Frequently, courses in Foreign Language are also helpful.

Department Features
This minor is administered by the Department of Sociology and coordinated by a department member who is a specialist in Aging and Gerontology. Other faculty in this department and specialists in the contributing allied fields constitute an unusually strong program faculty.

Our Faculty
All faculty members in the Department of Sociology have done post-graduate study beyond the master's degree level, and over half hold the Ph.D. degree. The principal fields and many specializations are represented among our faculty. Collectively, our faculty has a remarkable variety in origins, education, and experience which encompasses all parts of the United States. In our department, the average faculty member has over ten years of teaching experience.

Employment Opportunities
The Census Bureau projects that by 2050, one in three Americans will be 55 years or older and one in five will be 65 or over. This demographic shift is having a major impact on American society calling for increased understanding and professional preparation. It is expected that the need for persons in the existing jobs in this field will continue and that new kinds of job opportunities will emerge as the population shift continues.

Why Study Gerontology at UW-Stevens Point?
In addition to the campus classrooms and laboratories used for course instruction, the Learning Resources Center houses a major collection of research documents in Gerontology. Community agencies and activities serving the elderly are another important resource for field experience courses and internships.

Sample Program of Study for the Gerontology Minor

The following core courses (9 credits) are required:

• Psychology 465 - Psychology of Late Adulthood (3 cr)
• Sociology 366 - Sociology of Aging (3 cr)
• Sociology 467 - Social Gerontology (3 cr)

Fifteen credits of electives must be selected from the following, with no more than six credits taken from any one discipline:

• Communicative Disorders 352 - Audiological (Re)Habilitation (3 cr)
• Economics 328 - Poverty, Welfare, Social Insurance (3 cr)
• Human Development and Nutritional Science
  
  • FMLY & CNSM 390 - Adult Education (2 or 3 cr)
  • FD & NUTRI 458 - Geriatric Nutrition (3 cr)
• Health Promotion/Wellness 305 - Epidemiological Factors in Health Promotion/Protection (3 cr)
• PE-PEX 319 - Exercise, Recreation, and Health Enhancement for the Elderly ( 3 cr) (see Gerontology coordinator for additional info on this course requirement)
• Political Science 306 - Health, Politics, and Policies ( 3 cr)
• Psychology 385 - Health Psychology (3 cr)
• Sociology
  
  • SOC 328 - Poverty, Welfare, and Social Insurance (3 cr)
  • SOC 360 - Population Problems (3 cr)
  • SOC 492/493 - Applied Sociology Practicum and Seminar
  • SOC 494/495 - Social Work Practicum and Seminar
  • SOC 497-499 - Special Work in Aging (1-6 cr)

Recommended Courses
The following additional courses are recommended for students with professional goals in specific areas:

• Research
  
  • Political Science 397 - Methods of Policy Analysis (3 cr)
  • Sociology 352 - Methods of Sociological Inquiry (3 cr)
  • Sociology 497 - Special Work: Sociological Analysis and Research in Aging (1-3 cr)
• Administration
  
  • Political Science 250 - Introduction to Public Administration
  • Sociology 362 - Social Work Methods: Community Organization & Social Service Administration (3 cr)
  • Sociology 498 - Special Work: Social Work: Social Work and Social Administration in Aging (3 cr)
• Service Providing
  
  • Psychology 401 - Introduction to Counseling and Psychotherapy (3 cr)
  • Sociology 261 - Introduction to the Field of Social Work (3 cr)
  • PE 141 - Recreation for Special Populations (3 cr)
  • Sociology 262 - Social Welfare Policies and Programs (3 cr)