Minor in Gerontology

Minor

Gerontology

On Campus

The gerontology minor familiarizes you with one of our society’s most prevalent issues: the dramatic increase in its aging population. Interdisciplinary courses teach you about the many dimensions of the aging process, and help you to understand the range of social, psychological and physiological issues facing our country’s advanced-age population.

A student speaks with two senior citizens during a technology workshop

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Program Overview

In the Minor in Gerontology program, you’ll gain the skills to interpret and perform statistical analysis and research, as well as learn about the variety of programs, products, services and other resources available to older adults. The study of gerontology complements a range of majors, including law, sociology and psychology. Whether your primary interest includes the direct care of seniors, or the legislature that protects them, a variety of electives enable you to focus on an area most related to your goals. The gerontology minor opens the door to future volunteering opportunities, or to careers dedicated to making a direct, positive impact on the lives of the elderly and their families.

In Our Community

An older man and older women with a student looking at a book — The Legacy Project is a program designed to enable individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias to have their life stories written and preserved by trained student volunteers. Jessica Leach ’22, MOT ’24 worked with Bob Savage, a resident of LiveWell Dementia Specialists facility, to preserve his life story.

Close up of the poem “They” by Bob Savage — After conducting several interview and recording Bob's rich life, Jessica presented him with his Legacy book. This experience allows student volunteers to gain the valuable experience of interacting with older adults which positively impacts their future thoughts and beliefs about dementia when encountering it professionally.

A student helping an older woman work an iPhone — Quinnipiac occupational therapy students recently held a 3 session training for older adults at the North Haven Senior Center to show them how to use their phones and tablets to take photos.

Close up of an email being sent on an iPhone — The session included how to take selfies and how to send photos. The training culminated with an art show to showcase the older adults' work.

A close up of the Bobcat Stride branded bags — Quinnipiac recently kicked off a new community initiative called Bobcat Stride on the North Haven Campus. The initiative provides our local senior community members with a safe, warm place to exercise during the cold winter months.

A group of older adults walking through a hallway — The quarter-mile walking route is mapped out on the second floor of the Center for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. The program runs 6-8 am on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, and is free to members of the public 50 years and older.

Gerontology Minor Curriculum

For the gerontology minor, students should work with the program director to select 18 credits of coursework in gerontology. A student majoring in criminal justice or sociology can minor in gerontology. Courses taken for a minor may not count toward a CJ or SO major. Courses taken for a CJ or SO major may not count toward a minor.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Select 18 credits from the following:
GT 211	Introduction to Social Work	3
PS 234	Adult Development & Aging	3
GT 263	Aging in Society	3
GT 270	Community Program Development	3
GT 290	Research Methods	3
GT 300	Special Topics in Gerontology	3
GT 305	Sociology of Death and Dying	3
GT 315	Social Work Case Management	3
GT 365	Aging and Social Problems	3
GT 382	Studying Social Issues with Statistics	3
Students may choose one of the following sociology courses toward the minor:
SO 241	Sociology of Race and Ethnicity	3
SO 244	Race, Gender and Class: Social Inequalities	3
SO 255	Sociology of Families	3
SO 266	Population and Society	3
SO 280	Sociology of Health and Illness	3
SO 304	Sociology of Gender	3