Curriculum Document LSS 05-04

Curriculum Document

Academic Dept.:			School Document Number:	LSS 05-04
Document Author:			Approved by School:	12-05-2005
Date:			CEP Review:
Type of Document:	Addition	X	Senate Approval:
o Course X Program of Study	Deletion		Effective Term:	Fall, 2006
o Course X Program of Study	Revisions		Effective Term:	Fall, 2006
Document Subject:	Creates an interdisciplinary Gerontology Minor.

Justification: This interdisciplinary minor is designed to provide students with information about the elderly and aging issues that can complement a student’s major field of study. Careers covering a wide range of disciplines have been developed specifically to work with older people. These disciplines include biology, psychology, nursing engineering, management and communication.

Current: None

Proposed:

15 Credits to include the following courses:

_____ -BHS 3xx Physical Aging, Health and Behavior

_____ -SOC 430 Sociology of Aging

_____ -SOC 431 Services to the Aged

_____ -SOC 460 Field Experience in Gerontology

_____ -PSY 363 Human Development III: Adulthood

3 Credits chosen from any one of the following courses

_____ -COM 365 Communication and Aging

_____ -COM 371Communication and Health

_____ -F& N 360 Nutrition and aging

_____ -FM 2xx Exercise Physiology through the Life Span

_____ -PSY 535 Psychology of Death and Dying

_____ -SOC 440 Sociology of Health and Health Care

_____ -Independent Studies on issues relevant to aging

Impact on Students:

Currently students majoring in sociology or HDFS can choose a gerontology option. However, no other opportunities exist for students in other majors to specialize in gerontology. This minor also creates opportunities for gerontological study for students who discover interests in the field of aging later in their undergraduate career.

What other Academic Departments will be impacted?

This minor can facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration between the departments of BHS, Communication, and faculty and students elsewhere with interests in gerontology. The minor can also stimulate some demand in those departments for existing courses related to gerontology.

Summarize any discussions with the departments listed above:

This minor primarily represents collaboration among three divisions within the Behavioral Science Department.

Impact on University Resources:

Staffing – Currently no additional faculty are required, although if circumstances change, there may be future need for additional tenure track faculty

Resources – Deepening primary bibliographic resources and broadening secondary bibliographic resources in the university library

Impact on General Education Requirements: None