| GERON 601 |
Research Methods and Experimental Design |
Burr, Caro |
This course provides the methodological skills necessary for empirical dissertation
research. Topics covered include linking theory and research, sample design, operationalization and measurement,
and research ethics. |
| GERON 603 |
Statistical Methods in the Analysis of Social Problems I |
Porell, Clayton-Matthews |
This course provides the methodological skills necessary for empirical dissertation
research. Topics covered include linking theory and research, sample design, operationalization and measurement,
and research ethics. |
| GERON 604 |
Statistical Methods in the Analysis of Social Problems II |
Porell, Clayton-Matthews |
This course introduces students to advanced statistical procedures as social science
tools. It is designed to provide students with a working knowledge of advanced statistical techniques. This
course consists of two one and one-half-hour sessions and one two-hour lab each week. This is an
application-oriented course covering multiple regression, path analysis, simultaneous equation methods, factor
analysis, summary measures, and econometrics. |
| GERON 609 |
Qualitative Methods and Field Research |
Friedman, Weiss |
This course is designed to introduce students to qualitative
research methods; its specific focus is on policy research and aging. Students practice the
skills needed to observe the world around us, by attending to social phenomena, descriptively
and analytically. The course functions as both a seminar and a research workshop, and students
learn by doing, engaging in a field work project. |
| GERON 611 |
Health and Physical Changes in Aging |
Spencer |
Those who provide and manage services for the elderly, or are involved in public
policy and research concerning the elderly, need knowledge about the physical process of aging. This course
describes the physiological changes that accompany the aging process and relates these to social and economic
factors that influence health status. Discussion topics include issues of prevention, health promotion, and
health maintenance; and selected disorders that affect health and independent living. |
| GERON 614 |
Specialized Target Populations: Older Immigrants |
(varies) |
This course presents a social demographic perspective on older immigrants in the
US. Special emphasis is given to the policy issues that influence the migration process, as well as individual
and community factors that influence the adaptation and adjustment process. Topics covered in the course include
the roles of social capital and human capital for adaptation, demographic techniques and trends for
understanding migration, the health of older immigrants and international comparisons. |
| GERON 621 |
Social Aspects of Aging |
Mutchler, Burr |
This course presents a social perspective on the aging process. It considers
social factors that influence aging and the nature of the integration of the aged into society, as well as
the way in which population aging affects the society as a whole. The course also looks at social theories
of aging, paying special attention to changing social roles, social stratification and aging, and the
development of institutions for the aged. Gender, race, ethnicity, and class are discussed as social
categories that influence aging and that play a role in the determination of social policy for the aged.
Readings on the status, role, and culture of the aged are drawn from the literatures of sociology, economics,
and anthropology. |
| GERON 623 |
Issues in Aging Policy |
Bruce, Caro |
This course introduces students to the development, implementation and analysis
of social policy in the US on major issues affecting older people. Income security, health care financing,
and long-term care receive major attention. Discussions also focus on the programs mandated by the Older
Americans Act; and participants examine the major normative, demographic, economic, and political forces that
underlie aging policy. |
| GERON 626 |
Economic Issues in Aging Populations |
Chen |
This course deals with the economic issues raised by aging populations. It
begins by introducing population trends and projections, and provides a primer on microeconomic and
macroeconomic concepts and analyses. The course then discusses a range of economic issues, and some of the
major institutions and elements in our society that play important roles in providing people with income and
health security: Social Security, private pensions, private savings, public assistance, work and retirement.
Special attention is paid to problems affecting racial and ethnic minorities, women, widows, and the "old old."
Emphasis is also given to the potential for productive aging and for economic relationships across
generations. |
| GERON 628 |
Psychology of Aging |
Turner |
This course focuses on psychosocial processes throughout the second half of life,
from middle age through the "young old" and "old old" years. It addresses both normal aging and psychopathology.
Of special concern is the question of whether there are systematic intrinsic psychological or personality changes
associated with development in later life. The course also focuses on the processes used to cope with
age-associated transitions ranging from the empty nest to impending death. It explores theoretical models for
understanding coping and adaptation, developmental changes, and psychopathology. Other topics include
clarification of the causes and nature of the most common psychopathologies, depression, and Alzheimer's disease;
and the psychodynamics of institutionalization and family care of the very old. |
| GERON 631 |
Families in Later Life |
Turner, Burr, Mutchler |
This course presents an overview of gerontological research on family relations in
later life. Its objective is to provide a summary of the major theories, theoretical concepts, and research
findings about later life. The course addresses social policy issues and applications of family theory. Family
theory and research are looked at from a multidisciplinary perspective. |
| GERON 641 |
Historical and Theoretical Foundations of Gerontology |
(varies) |
This course examines the development of science as an evolving and
changing concept. Participants study the philosophy of science and the pertinent literature
relevant to the structure of the social sciences. The course explores various concepts of theory
building as a way of providing students with a framework showing how theory is developed and
influenced by research, and how research is subsequently influenced by theory. The course seeks
to provide students with a perspective from which they can critique gerontological theory and
develop new research agendas to assist in the development of theory in the evolving field. |
| GERON 688 |
Professional Development Seminar |
Burr |
This seminar introduces students to many aspects of the profession that may not
taught in regular classes. Topics such as publishing strategies, grant writing, teaching, job search and ethics
are covered. May be taken up to three times for credit. |
| GERON 697 |
Special Topics in Aging |
(varies) |
This course provides an opportunity for presentation of current
topics in aging policy that do not fall under the purview of any other course. |
| GERON 701 |
Advanced Statistical Methods in Gerontology |
Porell, Clayton-Matthews |
This course instructs students in advanced statistical topics and
provides training in the use of corresponding computer methods. The course builds upon the
statistical foundations established in GERON 601, 603, 604, and 605, providing technical skills
for use in the complex and specialized statistical research found in the social sciences. In
addition to class time this course requires independent work at the computer. |
| GERON 721 |
History and Political Economy of Social Policy Toward the Elderly |
Binstock |
In the US, public policy toward the elderly is a relatively recent
phenomenon, first articulated in the 1935 landmark Social Security legislation. Participants study
the history that led up to the development of Social Security and go on to use it as a context in
which to examine other significant federal legislation for the aged such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Particular emphasis is placed on the competing political forces that influenced the development of
aging policy in the past and continue to do so. Economic, social, and health-related benefits for
the aged in the US are analyzed in comparison to those existing for other age groups in this
country, and for the elderly in other industrialized nations. |
| GERON 722 |
Social and Health Service Delivery Systems for the Elderly |
|
This course provides an overview of the various delivery systems
that provide social and medical services to the elderly. Students examine the highly fragmented
delivery systems that presently exist, and explore alternative models for service delivery. The
course involves a technical analysis of recent research on health care and social service
reimbursement systems which consider cost containment as part of the optimal service delivery
mechanism. The course seeks to acquaint graduate students with the planning models used in developing reimbursement and service delivery systems, and to explore new models that can achieve high quality service goals in a political environment. |
| GERON 726 |
Current National Databases in Gerontological Policy Research |
Porell |
This course introduces students to the use of large national databases for
gerontological social policy research. It provides a survey of the scope and content of various public-use
national databases used in the field, as well as an in-depth examination of one of these major databases.
Students are introduced to the fundamentals of statistical programming; to the use of such standard
statistical packages as Statistical Analysis System (SAS); and to methods and strategies for basic analytic
data file construction. These programming skills are applied to a specific database through examples
presented by the instructor, as well as through a series of assignments completed by the student. |
| GERON 727 |
Research Practicum in Gerontology |
Porell |
This course provides students with a guided experience in writing an empirical
research paper of publishable quality. Participants address a research question through secondary statistical
analysis of a large survey data set supplied by the instructor. They critically examine published papers to
learn how to write empirical papers for refereed gerontology journals. The statistical analysis involves
application of multiple regression techniques. Students receive guidance from the instructor in all aspects of
writing the paper: introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, and discussion. They also learn how
to construct complex statistical tables. The course requires independent work conducting analysis of statistical
data at a computer. |
| GERON 732 |
Demographic Methods in Aging |
Burr, Mutchler |
This course provides a foundation in basic demographic methods for graduate
students. Its underlying assumption is that population aging will be the major demographic phenomenon affecting
this nation's institutions over the next half century. Students develop an understanding of how demographic
trends and characteristics of populations are measured; and examine the social and policy implications of major
demographic trends for the US and other countries. Race, ethnic, gender and class issues are emphasized. |
| GERON 734 |
Law and Health Policy for the Elderly |
Bruce |
This course examines the use of law in creating health policy that affects older
Americans. It presents students with a brief introduction to the sources of law, to legal reasoning, and to the
structure of the legal system. Cases are used to explore the impact of our legal system on issues of access,
quality, and the cost of health care for older citizens. Other issues to be discussed include consent to and
withdrawal of treatment. |
| GERON 760 |
Policy Analysis Techniques |
Caro |
|
| GERON 761 |
Advanced Policy Analysis in Aging |
Caro |
This course is concerned with the formation, justification, and implementation
of aging policy in the US. Designed for students with a background in the history, economic and political
economy of aging policy, the course provides an opportunity to apply this knowledge to the shaping of current
public policy. The course explores agenda setting, the dynamics of the political process, and the variety of
ways in which political power can be used. Students write a paper designed to inform decision makers on a
current policy issue in aging. |
| GERON 771 |
Seminar in Long-Term Care |
Caro, Porell, Gruenberg |
This course analyzes major public policy issues in the organization and financing
of long-term care services in the US. It examines the full spectrum of long-term care services, including both
institutional and non-institutional long-term care. The course also includes systematic descriptions of the
characteristics of existing interventions, reviews of policy research finding, and critical analyses of policy
options. |
| GERON 772 |
Seminar in Health Care Financing |
Harrow, Tomkins |
This course analyzes historical, current, and proposed policy
options in health car financing, including Medicare, health insurance and issues of provider
reimbursement. |
| GERON 774 |
Seminar in Economic Security of the Aged |
Chen |
Lectures and discussion on contemporary issues in economic
security for the elderly. |
| GERON 779 |
Seminar in Productive Aging |
Burr, Caro, Mutchler |
This course provides advanced doctoral students with an opportunity
to examine and critique research and scholarly discourse on the economic and social roles of
older people in contemporary society. Students analyze the major positions and debates about
productive aging, and review the most recent research concerning productive activities of older
people. Recent theories and recent on the role of productive aging in promoting health and
well-being among the elderly are also covered. |
| GERON 796 |
Independent Study in Aging Policy |
(varies) |
Independent research under the direction of a faculty member. |
| GERON 798 |
Internship in Gerontology |
(varies) |
Students participate in policy research or policy analysis of
aging-related issues in various settings, including but not limited to government agencies,
and research institutes at other universities and non-profit organizations. Each internship
is supervised by a faculty member. Students receive credit on the basis of a paper that
reflects the substantive work accomplished through the internship, or the general knowledge
gained through the internship about policy research or policy analysis. Students may register
for this course as often as they like but may apply no more than 3 credits toward their
degree. |
| GERON 891 |
Dissertation Seminar |
Burr |
This course assists students in preparing the dissertation
proposal, and in the design and data collection phases of the dissertation process. |
| GERON 899 |
Dissertation Research |
|
Research conducted under faculty supervision that leads to
the presentation of a doctoral dissertation (1-9 credits) |
