Gerontology, Bachelor of Science

Program Overview

The Gerontology, Bachelor of Science program at the University of Nebraska Omaha equips students with the knowledge and skills to work with older adults in diverse settings. With a core foundation in gerontology principles and a choice of concentrations in Pre-Health, Administration, or Healthy Aging, graduates are prepared for careers such as Geriatric Care Manager, Social Worker, and Long-Term Care Administrator. The program's focus on experiential learning and a practicum experience provides hands-on opportunities for practical application of knowledge and skills.

Program Outline

Outline:

The Gerontology, Bachelor of Science program requires 60 total credit hours.

Required Courses:

• Gerontology Core (18 credits):
• GERO 2000 INTRODUCTION TO GERONTOLOGY (3 credits)
• GERO 3070 DEATH AND DYING (3 credits)
• GERO 3500 BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF AGING (3 credits)
• GERO 4460 PSYCHOLOGY OF ADULT DEVELOPMENT AND AGING (3 credits)
• GERO 4470 MENTAL HEALTH AND AGING (3 credits)
• GERO 4550 HEALTH ASPECTS OF AGING (3 credits)
• GERO 4690 AGING AND DIVERSITY (3 credits)
• Gerontology Electives (9 credits):
• Select 9 credit hours of gerontology coursework, based on interests and career objectives.
• Gerontology Practicum (3-4 credits):
• GERO 4940 PRACTICUM (3-4 credits)
• Statistics (3 credits):
• Students must complete a 3-credit course in basic statistics.
Acceptable courses include:
• PA/CRCJ/SOWK 3000 APPLIED STATISTICS AND DATA PROCESSING IN PUBLIC SECTOR
• STAT 3000 STATISTICAL METHODS I
• SOC 2130 SOCIAL STATISTICS
• MATH 1530 INTRODUCTION TO APPLIED PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
• PSYC 3130 STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
• Other statistics courses may be approved by academic advisors.
• Research Methods (3 credits):
• Students must complete a 3-credit course in basic research methods.
Acceptable courses include:
• GERO 3250 RESEARCH METHODS IN GERONTOLOGY
• CRCJ 2510 RESEARCH METHODS
• SOC 3510 RESEARCH METHODS
• Other research methods courses may be approved by academic advisors.
• Area of Concentration or Minor (18 credits):
• Students choose a concentration or minor to complement their degree.
• Students may choose any approved UNO minor or from three Gerontology-approved concentrations:
• Pre-Health Concentration
• Long Term Care Administration Concentration
• Health Aging Concentration
• Students may also complete a double degree or double major to fulfill this requirement.
• If a minor is chosen, students must abide by specific UNO minor requirements.
• All courses for Gerontology-approved concentrations must be completed with a “C-“ or higher and no CR/NC is accepted.

Concentrations:

• Pre-Health Concentration (18-20 credits):
• GERO 4560 NUTRITION AND AGING (3 credits)
• GERO 4850 HOSPICE & OTHER SERVICES FOR THE DYING PATIENT/FAMILY (3 credits)
• Select 12-14 credits from the following:
• BIOL 1450 BIOLOGY I (1 credit)
• BIOL 1750 BIOLOGY II
• BIOL 2140 GENETICS
• BIOL 2440 THE BIOLOGY OF MICROORGANISMS
• BIOL 3020 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF THE CELL
• CHEM 1140 & CHEM 1144 FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF COLLEGE CHEMISTRY LABORATORY (1 credit)
• CHEM 1190 & CHEM 1194 GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II LABORATORY
• CHEM 2210 & CHEM 2214 FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and FUNDAMENTALS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
• CHEM 2250 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
• CHEM 2260 & CHEM 2274 ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II and ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
• GERO 4050 ADVANCED BIOLOGY OF AGING
• GERO 4570 REHABILITATIVE DESIGN
• HEKI 3090 APPLIED NUTRITION
• PHYS 1050 & PHYS 1054 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS and INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS LABORATORY (1 credit)
• PHYS 1120 & PHYS 1164 GENERAL PHYSICS II and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY II
• PHYS 2120 & PHYS 1164 GENERAL PHYSICS-CALCULUS LEVEL and GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY II
• Administration Concentration (18 credits):
• GERO 4520 SENIOR HOUSING (3 credits)
• GERO 4510 LONG-TERM CARE ADMINISTRATION (3 credits)
• Select 9 credits from the following:
• ACCT 2000 ACCOUNTING BASICS FOR NON-BUSINESS MAJORS (1 credit)
• ACCT 2010 PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING I
• ACCT 2020 PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING II
• ECON 2200 PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS (MICRO) (1 credit)
• ECON 2220 PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS (MACRO) (1 credit)
• GERO 4350 ISSUES IN AGING
• GERO 4500 LEGAL ASPECTS OF AGING
• GERO 4720 BABY BOOMERS AND THE 21ST CENTURY
• ENTR 3710 ENTREPRENEURIAL FOUNDATIONS
• MKT 3310 PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING
• PA 2000 LEADERSHIP & ADMINISTRATION
• PA 2170 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
• PA 3200 PROGRAM PLANNING AND EVALUATION
• RELU 2410 REAL ESTATE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
• CMST 3130 SPEECH COMMUNICATION IN BUSINESS AND THE PROFESSIONS
• Healthy Aging Concentration (18 credits):
• GERO 4420 RECREATION FOR THE AGING (3 credits)
• GERO 4560 NUTRITION AND AGING (3 credits)
• GERO 4850 HOSPICE & OTHER SERVICES FOR THE DYING PATIENT/FAMILY (3 credits)
• Select 9 credits from the following:
• GERO 4570 REHABILITATIVE DESIGN
• PHHB 1500 FOUNDATIONS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
• PHHB 2310 HEALTHFUL LIVING
• PHHB 3080 HEALTH CONCEPTS OF SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT
• PHHB 3310 INJURY PREVENTION IN PUBLIC HEALTH
• PHHB 4050 INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH IN PUBLIC HEALTH
• PHHB 4130 COMMUNITY HEALTH
• PHHB 4650 GLOBAL HEALTH
• KINS 1800 FITNESS FOR LIVING
• HEKI 3090 APPLIED NUTRITION
• KINS 4200 PLANNING WORKSITE WELLNESS PROGRAMS
• KINS 3900 MOTIVATION FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
• May also choose up to 3 courses from:
• PEA 111S RELAXATION TECHNIQUES
• PEA 111T YOGA I
• PEA 111U YOGA II
• PEA 112D PILATES MATWORK
• PEA 112I TAI CHI FOR MOVEMENT IMPROVEMENT
• PEA 112L WALKING/JOGGING
• PEA 111V BEGINNING/INTERMEDIATE SWIMMING
• PEA 112A SWIM CONDITIONING
• PEA 112S CROSS-TRAINING
• PEA 112V MINDFULNESS MEDITATION
• PEA 112X BARRE FITNESS
• PEA 112C POWER YOGA
• PEA 111H WEIGHT TRAINING/BODY CONDITIONING

Course Schedule:

The program provides a suggested four-year plan of study, outlining courses to be taken each semester.

Modules:

The program is structured around core gerontology courses, electives, a practicum, and a concentration or minor. Each course provides specific knowledge and skills related to aging, health, and community resources.

Assessment:

• Coursework: Students are assessed through a variety of methods, including exams, quizzes, papers, presentations, and projects.
• Practicum: The practicum involves hands-on experience in a gerontology-related setting, where students are evaluated on their skills and knowledge.
• Concentration or Minor: Students are assessed based on the requirements of their chosen concentration or minor.

Teaching:

• Faculty: The program is taught by experienced faculty with expertise in gerontology, aging, and related fields.
• Teaching Methods: The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, discussions, group work, and experiential learning.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths: Graduates of the Gerontology, Bachelor of Science program are prepared for a variety of careers in the field of aging, including:
• Geriatric Care Manager
• Social Worker
• Case Manager
• Community Health Worker
• Long-Term Care Administrator
• Research Assistant
• Advocate for Older Adults
• Opportunities: Graduates may find employment in a variety of settings, including:
• Nursing Homes
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Hospitals
• Community Centers
• Government Agencies
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Outcomes: The program aims to equip graduates with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to succeed in their chosen career paths.

Other:

• General Education: Students must complete the University of Nebraska Omaha's General Education curriculum, which includes courses in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and writing.
• Writing in the Discipline: Students must complete a Writing in the Discipline course, which can be chosen from a list of approved courses.
• Public Speaking: Students must complete a public speaking course.
• GPA Requirements: Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 to graduate.
• Transfer Credit: Students may be able to transfer credit from other institutions.
• Placement Exams: Students may be required to take placement exams in math, English, and foreign language.