The 21-semester-hour interdisciplinary minor is available to students who are in any department, school, or college of the University. It may serve as a core study for undergraduate students who wish to supplement their studies with detailed knowledge of gerontology or who contemplate entering master’s or doctoral programs with specializations in aging studies.

The minor might be of particular interest to students preparing to work in human and health services, business, or government.

Why A Gerontology Minor?

• The Gerontology Minor is one of only a handful of programs at EMU that offers truly multi-disciplinary learning experience including required courses and electives from 14 different departments and programs.

• The program includes a 120 credit hour practicum that provides you with the opportunity to work directly in a setting working with or on behalf of older adults.  Students may select from a great variety of interesting and challenging internship sites.

• A majority of Gerontology Program faculty are deeply involved in the aging network through a broad range of community and research activities. In many instances, especially in the case of Gerontology electives, the faculty is actually employed in the field of aging.

Fast facts*… 

• The older population comprised of persons 65 years or older numbered 38.9 million in 2008. 
• The older population represents 12.8% of the U.S. population.
• About one in every eight Americans is 65 years old or older.
• By 2030, there will be about 71.5 million older persons, more than twice their number in 2000.
• People 65+ represented 12.4% of the population in the year 2000 but are expected to grow to be 20% of the population by 2030.
• The population 65 and older increased from 35 million in 2000 to 40 million in 2010 (a 15% increase) and is expected to reach 55 milliion in 2020 (a 36% increase for the decade).
• By 2030, there will be about 72.1 million older persons in the U.S., almost twice their number in 2007.
  
  *Information provided by the Administration on Aging.

Gerontology Minor Curriculum (21 credit hours)

Required Courses (13-14 credits)

Electives (7-8 credits)

Psychosocial and Environmental Aspects of Aging

Biological and Health Aspects of Aging

Policies and Services for the Aging

Note:
* Students who are required to complete a practicum in a setting serving older people as a part of their major may request that this experience fulfill the practicum component of GERT 488/489. However, these students are required to attend the seminar portion of the practicum (GERT 488).