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Gerontology Certificate

Coordinator Eric Vogelsang, PhD (Sociology) eric.vogelsang@csusb.edu (909) 537-5575 Office: SB-429

Background

Between 2010 and 2050, the number of older adults (aged 65-plus) in the United States is projected to rise from 40 million to 84 million; and will soon represent one out of every five Americans. This remarkable and unprecedented societal change will create numerous and unique opportunities for those interested in occupations related to the field of aging.

The Certificate in Gerontology at CSUSB is designed for students from a variety of disciplines, and with a variety of career goals. Although traditionally completed by students in Sociology, Psychology, and Health Science, this certificate is open to all majors. Successful completion of the certificate will not only impart competency in gerontology, but it will also expose the student to a range of perspectives in this emerging interdisciplinary field.

Administrative

The candidate is responsible for filing an application with the Office of Records, Registration and Evaluations for granting of the certificate. The candidate must also notify the certificate program coordinator when required course work is completed. Undergraduates must earn a grade point average of 2.0 (2.5 for postgraduates) in certificate courses.

The certificate is awarded on the student’s transcript, upon confirmation that the requirements for that program have been satisfied.

Course Requirements

Certificate requirements are outlined on the following page. Certificate course requirements may be the same ones used to satisfy major, minor, credential or general education requirements.

CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENT: 18 units (6 classes)

CORE COURSES

Note: Students are highly encouraged to take all three core courses. However, one or two substitutes may be made with coordinator approval.

Core Requirements - Choose Nine Units From:
Course Title
HSCI 4023 Health and Wellness of Older Adults
SOC 3300 Aging and The Lifecourse
PSYC 3329 Psychology of Adulthood and Aging
KINE 3600 Physical Activity and Aging

 

Electives Requirements - Choose Nine Units From:
Course Title
HSCI 3060 Medical Care Organizations
HSCI 3067 Human Disease Mechanisms and Pathophysiology
HSCI 3204 Public Health Nutrition
HSCI 3556 Housing, Institutions, and Land Use
HSCI 4550 Health Aspects of Death and Dying
HSCI 5753 Field Experience in Health Science (with Gerontology component)
PSYC 3303 Parenting and Family Relations
PSYC 3318 Health Psychology
PSYC 3324 Developmental Psychobiology
PSYC 3345 Cross-Cultural Psychology
PSYC 5540 Work, Retirement, and Leisure
PSYC 5575 Internship (with Gerontology component)
SOC 3400 Sociology of Families
SOC 3550 Medical Sociology
SOC 3560 Sociology of Mental Health
SOC 4180 Social Welfare in the U.S.
SOC 4340 Community Organization
SOC 5751 Internship and Practicum (with Gerontology component)
KINE 3100 Introduction to Adapted Physical Activity
KINE 3400 Psychology and Sociology of Human Movement
KINE 3810 Sport and Exercise Nutrition
KINE 4400 Exercise Testing and Prescription
KINE 4700 Clinical Exercise Physiology

(A) Other courses may be substituted with documentation of the class containing agingrelated content; along with approval of the certificate coordinator.

(B) This two-credit course must be combined with KINE 360 (2 credits) to count as one elective.

(C) Although not required, an internship or field experience is highly recommended, and would count as an elective course towards the certificate. The internship must have an aging component and be approved by the certificate coordinator. The internship can be in any subject or discipline as long as it meets these requirements.