HD 2510 - Social Gerontology: Aging and the Life Course

(crosslisted) SOC 2510
(SBA-HE) (SBA-AG)

Spring. 3 credits. Student option grading.

Prerequisite: HD 1130 , SOC 1101, DSOC 1101, or PSYCH 1101.

J. Wells.

Analyzes the social aspects of aging in contemporary American society from a life course perspective. Topics include (1) an introduction to the field of gerontology, its history, theories, and research methods; (2) a brief overview of the physiological and psychological changes that accompany aging; (3) an analysis of the contexts (e.g., family, friends, social support, employment, volunteer work) in which individual aging occurs, including differences of gender, ethnicity, and social class; and (4) the influences of society on the aging individual.

Outcome 1: Be able to relate public health and sociological research on health inequalities to differences in aging experiences across groups.