Gerontology Program

Masters of Health Science, Concentration in Gerontology

Point of Contact
Dr. Frieda Butler
Coordinator
Phone: 703-993-1911
Email: fbutler@gmu.edu

The Master of Science in Health Science-Gerontology Track is designed for students interested in providing services to the elderly, conducting research and/or influencing public policy concerning aging and the elderly, working as program planners and evaluators, and administrators or managers in the field of aging. Opportunities are provided to develop leadership skills in this rapidly developing field and to advocate for a fast growing population of elderly. The degree is suitable for students who wish to prepare for a career in gerontology, executives or practitioners already in the field, and individuals who wish to increase their understanding of the aging process and human development in the later years.

Students from a variety of disciplines may be admitted to this program. Students must show a capacity for graduate work and must be prepared to complete a 128-hour practicum experience of 6-8 hours per week in an appropriate organization.

Admission Requirements

The applicant must:

Submit a completed graduate application
Hold a Baccalaureate degree
Have a GPA of 3.0 or higher (provisional acceptance with lower GPA, must achieve 3.0 GPA or higher in first twelve credits of graduate work)

Students may be admitted provisionally if their GPA is less than 3.0. In this case, scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller's Analogies Test (MAT) must be submitted.

Students admitted provisionally must achieve a 3.0 GPA in the first 12 credits of graduate work. If they fail to do so, they will be terminated.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for the degree must complete 36 credits of graduate course work. This includes 12 credit hours of gerontology concentration, 12 credit hours of health science concentration, three credit hours of practicum and nine credit hours of electives.

A graduate course in which a grade of C or below is earned may be repeated only once. Graduate students may repeat no more than two courses in their stated program of study.
A student must achieve a 3.0 GPA to graduate.

Program of Study

Health Science Core (Minimum of 12 Credits)
- GCH 712 (3:3:0)
  Introduction to Epidemiology
  Introduction to epidemiology and health services research as a body of knowledge and a method for analyzing health problems. Students learn the role of health services research and epidemiology in policy and evidence-based management and clinical practice. Students design experiments, analyze secondary data, and evaluate impact of programs on health outcomes.
- HAP 512 (3)
  Management of Health Service Organizations
  Prerequisite: Admission to the Graduate Health Science/Nursing Program or permission of the instructor. An introductory course in the application of organizational and management theory, relating to the management of health service organizations. Emphasis is placed on leadership and trends in organizational structure that affect performance effectiveness, quality and inter-organizational relations, and the values and principles of health management as a profession. Explores the challenges of managing health professionals' decision-making, power gradients, change and other issues that affect the function and performance of health service organizations. Introduces strategies utilized by learning organizations. Teaching learning methods utilized include didactic presentations, assigned reading from textbooks and current literature, guest lectures, case analyses and dialogue with faculty and class participants.
- HHS 597 (3:3:0)
  Approaches to Quantitative Analysis in Healthcare Research
  Applies selected biostatistics techniques to public health and health system management issues. Includes univariate, bivariate statistics and regression analysis.
- NURS 660 (3:3:0)
  Seminar in the Ethics of Health Care
  Examines moral dilemmas in the healthcare profession, with special emphasis on patients' rights, professionals' obligations to other professionals, and issues of social justice in healthcare. Methods of moral deliberation based on ethical knowledge and justification are applied to ethical dilemmas in healthcare.
Gerontology Track (Minimum of 12 Credits)
- GCH 578 (3:3:0)
  Cultural Competence and Diversity in Health Care
  Examines cultural competence and diversity in healthcare, and explores theories and models. Topics include culture as a system, health and illness beliefs, and practices of various cultures.
- GCH 637 (3:3:0)
  Normal Aging and Health Deviation
  Examines biopsychosocial aspects of aging. Examines effects of age changes and health deviations on functional capacity of older persons, and on interventions and promotion of the elderlyÕs capacity for self-care.
- HAP 762 (3:3:0)
  Aging and Health Care Policy
  Prerequisite or corequisite: GCH 637, SOCI 599, or NURS 659; or permission of instructor. Focuses on policy perspective in relation to older adults in the community and in long-term care facilities. Students analyze policy issues and healthcare delivery systems as they affect the older adult through lecture, discussion, field trips, projects, and policy analysis papers.
- SOCI 686 (3:3:0)
  Sociology of Aging
  Prerequisite: graduate standing or permission of instructor. Analysis of sociological issues in aging. Issues include class and cultural factors, problems of work, retirement, attachment and loss, and ageism. Different theories of aging are examined.
  - or -
  PSYC 614 (3:3:0)
  The Psychology of Aging
  Prerequisites: PSYC 100 and undergraduate or graduate course in aging. Review of the experimental literature in psychology of aging, including intellectual functioning, personality and adjustment, minor and major adjustment problems, and role changes in later life.
Gerontology Practicum (6 Credits)
- GCH 770 (3:2:3)
  Gerontology Practicum I and Capstone Seminar I
  Prerequisite: all core course work; corequisite for gerontology tract majors: health services research for MS in health science. Field practicum in gerontology, emphasizing application of gerontological knowledge in designated facility, and developing skills to function in service organization for the aging. Problem identification and analysis, project development, and practical experience under supervision of qualified professional. Students collaborate with preceptor to develop useful project based on organizational and client needs. Uses case study analyses to explore problem-solving approaches. in variety of situations and healthcare or service organizations.
- GCH 771 (3:2:3)
  Gerontology Practicum II and Capstone Seminar II
  Prerequisite: GCH 770. Continuation of field practicum in gerontology. Students receive practical experience under supervision of qualified professional. Emphasis on implementation of approved project. Gerontological theoretical concepts applied in implementation and evaluation. Uses case study analyses to explore problem-solving approaches.
Electives (Minimum of 9 Credits)
- Electives should be selected to provide a focus in a particular role related to gerontology such as Gerontological Case Manager, Gerontological Health Educator, or Manager, Director, Program Developer, etc. in a gerontological setting. A partial listing of the electives is provided. Students must confer regularly with their advisors for ongoing guidance and mentoring.
Partial Listing of Available Electives

GCH 510 Scientific Basis of Pain, Fatigue, and Suffering
GCH 543 Global Health: Trends and Policies
GCH 583 Food/Cult: Biocult Perspectives
GCH 585 Care Management of Persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders
GCH 594 Introduction to Rehabilitation
GCH 732 Chronic Disease/Epidemiology 1

PSYC 518 Death, Dying and Grieving
PSYC 704 Life Span Developments
PSYC 734 Aging/Human Factors

HAP 542 Health Policy
HAP 650 Assisted-Living Management and Operations
HAP 678 Introduction to US Health Systems
HAP 704 Contemp Issues in Health Systems Mgmt

SOCI 614 Sociology of Culture

COMM 721 E-Health Communication

Total = 36 Credits

Curriculum - Full Time Study

Academic Year 1 - Fall Semester
- GCH 637 - Normal Aging and Health Deviations
- SOCI 686 - Sociology of Aging
  - or -
  PSYC 614 - The Psychology of Aging
- Elective
Academic Year 1 - Spring Semester
- HAP 621 - Management of Health Service Organizations
- NURS 660 - Seminar in the Ethics of Health Care
- Elective
Academic Year 2 - Fall Semester
- HHS 597 or HAP 501 - Introduction to Biostatistics
- GCH 578 - Cultural Competence and Diversity in Health Care
- GCH 770 - Gerontology Practicum I and Capstone Seminar I
Academic Year 2 - Spring Semester
- GCH 712 - Epidemiology and Health Service Researc
- HAP 762 - Aging and Health Policy
- GCH 771 - Gerontology Practicum 2 and Capstone Seminar II
Total Credits 36

Curriculum - Part Time Study

Academic Year 1 - Fall Semester
- GCH 637 - Normal Aging and Health Deviations
- SOCI 686 Sociology of Aging
Academic Year 1 - Spring Semester
- HAP 621 - Management of Health Service Organizations
- NURS 660 - Seminar in the Ethics of Health Care
Academic Year 2- Fall Semester
- GCH 578 - Cultural Competence and Diversity in Health Care
- Elective
Academic Year 2 - Spring Semester
- HAP 762 - Aging and Health Policy
- Elective
Academic Year 3 - Fall Semester
- HAP 501 or HHS 597 - Introduction to Biostatistics
- GCH 770 - Gerontology Practicum and Capstone Seminar I
Academic Year 3 - Spring Semester
- GCH 712 - Epidemiology and Health Services Research
- GCH 771 - Gerontology Practicum 2 and Capstone Seminar II
Total Credit Hours 36

Explanation of Credit Hours
Course titles are followed by numbers in parentheses (0:0:0), separated by colons. The numbers have the following significance:

First Number: credits for the course
Second Number: hours of lecture or seminar per week for the course
Third Number: hours of laboratory for the course

For independent study, readings, topics, or similar courses, individual instructors set hours.

For more information, contact Dr. Frieda Butler at fbutler@gmu.edu or
703-993-1911