SEARCH            AU HOMEPAGE           LAS HOMEPAGE              Alfred University
          Gerontology Program
Psychology Division
 Major/Minor
 Courses
 Honors and Independent Study
 Placements
 Career
 APA Format
 Psi Chi
 Psych Club
 Psych Links
Photo of Steinheim Building, A.U.
Why is gerontology important?

We are experiencing a rapid increase in the number of people aged sixty-five and older. This shift is producing dramatic effects on individuals as well as on society collectively. Preparing to meet the needs of this growing segment of valuable citizens is a crucial concern.


What does the Major offer?

The gerontology major at Alfred provides opportunity to study aging and its problems and to prepare for a career in this important and growing profession. The Gerontology major and minor programs offer an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the aging process and the new problems society is facing with older adults. The student majoring in gerontology studies psychological, social, political, biological and health care aspects of aging. The major also provides for the application of classroom knowledge to actual situations through a supervised internship.

Gerontology majors will take four advanced courses specially designed for the program (labeled GERO courses). In addition, majors will take four to five psychology courses, two or three sociology courses, and one in biology for a total of 39 to 40 credits. The degree awarded for completion of this program is a Bachelor of Arts with major in Gerontology.


Is Gerontology the right major for me?

If you have an interest in the helping professions, gerontology might be a good major for you. To get a better idea of what gerontology is all about, pay us a visit or call us. You can sit in on some courses, talk with faculty members, and meet students who are majoring in gerontology. The Director of the Gerontology Program, Dr. Bob Maiden, will gladly arrange to meet with you.

And after graduation?

The demand for people with training in Gerontology is growing rapidly. At the beginning of this decade the Administration on Aging stated that the "The gap between the need for trained personnel and the capacities of present training programs is so great there is no chance of overtraining for decades."

The employment opportunities for people whose training includes gerontology are numerous. Some of the opportunities include Federal, State and Regional Agencies and Offices in Aging, Nursing Homes and Adult Day Treatment Facilities, Community Mental Health Centers, Social Work and Welfare Administration positions, and positions in Research or in Teaching at Colleges and Universities. Participating faculty members for the Gerontology Program at Alfred are drawn from Biology, Sociology and the Division of Psychology, where the program is administratively located.

Honors in Gerontology

In order to qualify to graduate with Honors in Gerontology, a student must meet the following requirements:

  1. A cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher in Gerontology (GERO) courses.

  2. Completion with a grade of B+ or better of a 4-credit independent study that both the Program Director and the faculty sponsor have agreed, in advance of undertaking the plan of study, can be used for Gerontology Honors.

  3. Passing an oral exam regarding your independent study conducted by a committee selected by the Gerontology Steering Committee.

Contact:

Robert Maiden, Ph.D.
Director
1 Saxon Drive
Alfred University
Alfred, NY 14802
email: fmaiden@alfred.edu
phone: (607) 871-2213
fax: (607) 871-2432
Bob Maiden
Updated:   9/29/05 AU Homepage | AU @ a Glance | Academics | Admissions
Alumni | Parents | Faculty & Staff | News | Athletics
Research & Outreach | Student Life | Info Technology
Send comments/suggestions about this page to: genelovelace@htva.net