Gerontology Minor

There are two primary goals of the minor:

• To provide you with up-to-date information about older adults and aging related issues that will supplement your professional training.
• Dispelling many of the myths about older people and to help you overcome fears about growing old.

The program is interdisciplinary in that you will be exposed to many different topics (e.g. psychology, sociology, humanities, social work) and shown how aging relates to each. Two required courses make up the core of this minor. Those are an introductory course and an internship, which focuses on an experience in either a local business or human service agency that serves older adults such as a nursing home, senior center or Area Agency on Aging. Electives allow you to focus on your personal and professional areas of interest.

Through required coursework, electives in your personal interest, applied experiences, research opportunities and volunteer activities, you will gain a firm understanding of aging-related issues that can be applied to your major field of study. A gerontology credential can show current and/or future employers that you have what it takes to serve this group.

Those who complete the gerontology minor can pursue many career options, including:

• Administration (aging services, human resources)
• Financial and legal services (career planning, fiduciary, fraud prevention)
• Fitness/wellness (fitness trainer, hydrotherapy, wellness coach)
• Health care (art therapy, alternative medicine, aging-in-place specialist)

There is a required internship that provides you with hands-on experience in the field. Ideally, you will complete an internship that matches your career goals.

Additionally, you may join the Shippensburg Gerontological Organization, which is a student volunteer club that serves older adults in the Shippensburg area and other surrounding areas. This allows you to volunteer at local senior centers, assisted living centers and retirement homes.