The minor in Geriatric Health and Wellness is designed for students who wish to gain specialized knowledge and skills in preparation for working with older adults. Students must have sophomore status or above. The minor is sequenced to help students explore issues and factors that influence health, changing social function and quality of life for older adults, in a variety of settings. The course of study encourages interdisciplinary interaction, service-learning, and evidence in practice, with a focus on diversity, multi-cultural needs, health status, health promotion, and wellness for older adults. The minor also draws significantly on course work in the related social sciences and humanities for a broad perspective on the issues associated with aging.
Course Requirements
The student must complete the two required courses, and choose four related elective courses across a minimum of two related disciplines as outlined below. Courses for the minor can be used to meet respective departmental and University requirements per existing policies.
In order for the minor to be acknowledged, students must receive approval plus a signature from their Major Advisor and from the Minor Advisor (as assigned by the Geriatric Health and Wellness Program Director).
Required Courses
- GW 201 Health and Wellness in Later Life
- GW 203 Chronic Illness and Frailty in Later Life
Electives (from at least two disciplines)
- AT 310 Aspects of Clinical Medicine
- EX 358 Human Development and Exercise
- EX 365 Clinical Exercise Science
- HM 399 Mechanics of Locomotion
- HS 301 Spirituality in Health Care
- NU 210 Health & Wellness & Cultural Diversity
- NU 375 Populations and Public Health Nursing (Nursing majors only)
- NU 381 Public Health Nursing (Nursing Majors only)
- PH 258 Medical Ethics
- PH 382 Problems in Contemporary Philosophy (Pre-requisite: PH 101 Introduction to the problems of Philosophy)
- PS 295 Health Psychology
- PS 274 Adult Development (Prerequisite: PS 101, PS 110 or PS 103)
- PS 251 Life-span Development (Prerequisite: PS 101. Nursing and pre-OT, non-Psychology majors only)
- PS 335 Learning Theory (Pre-requisite: PS 111 Thinking Critically About Psychological Science)
- PS 350/BI 205 Introduction to Neuroscience (Prerequisites: PS 111 and BI 111/113)
- RS 260 Bioethics: Religious Approach
- RS 281 Religions, Health and Healing (Pre-requisite: RS 101 Introduction to the Study of Religion)
- SO 240 Studying Changing Human Populations (Pre-requisite: RS 110 Sociological Human Populations)