Gerontology
The interdisciplinary gerontology program at Nazareth College consists of 18 credit hours. Students may combine a minor in gerontology with coursework from any department, such as communication sciences and disorders, social work, psychology, nursing, physical therapy, and music therapy.
A one-semester internship at a local agency/institution is available and recommended to reinforce and supplement learning through:
- Contact with professionals on the job
- Direct contact with genuine problems and issues in the field of aging
- Witnessing ways that society responds to aging issues raised in the classroom
- Opportunities to evaluate your personal responses to working with or for older persons
- A "learning lab" in which to test theoretical concepts and to define or refine clinical experiences
Contact Information
-
David W. Steitz
- Associate Professor in Psychology
- Director in Gerontology
- 585-389-2738
- dsteitz4@naz.edu
- Golisano Academic Center 338H
Example Careers
- Adult education
- Home health care management
- Senior center management
- Aging and the built environment
- Health and aging policy
- Intergenerational programs
- Legal analysis and advocacy
- Marketing, design and product development
- Multicultural issues
- Technology and aging
- Human resources
- Volunteer program management
- Long-term care administration
Career Outlook
- Understanding issues related to aging is critical in many fields. In 2015, 7 of the 10 highest-rated jobs are in health care, including physical therapists and registered nurses, according to U.S. News & World Report, which calculated rankings based on salary, future growth, job prospects, employment rate, job security, stress level, and work-life balance.
- The rising number of older adults is one significant factor driving the need for more health care workers.
- By 2030, one in five Americans will be aged 65 or over, nearly double the rate in 2000, according to the US. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.