Social work gerontology programs

A portfolio is required for completion of the minor. As this world becomes increasingly interdependent, the College offers an expanding range of semester, year, semester break, and summer study and service programs in a wide variety of countries, and encourages students to take advantage of them.

Learn more about the various Study Abroad opportunities. Courses taken outside the major may be chosen to complement the Social Work major or to provide the student with a second area of concentration. When considering double major s or minor s , please consult advisors from both disciplines. Students are encouraged and recommended to pursue the M. By completing the Social Work major, students may be eligible for advanced standing in nationally recognized graduate schools that actively recruit graduating Social Work seniors from this professional program.

Advanced standing in M. The field practicum in completed in the senior year at a local social service organizational setting. Practicum placements may include:. Some professions e. These requirements are determined by laws and regulations at both the state and federal levels and are subject to change. Compliance with these requirements is the responsibility of the student and the graduate. You should become informed and continue to monitor such requirements as laws and other legal requirements are subject to change.

Note : Visit www. This course is an introduction to the knowledge and skills of the generalist practice of social work. It includes an examination of the history, principles, practice, research, and literature in the social welfare field.

Theoretical and professional foundations, diverse client systems, areas of practice, contemporary social policies, and social work values are examined. The student is given opportunities to dialogue with community agency representatives. This course examines human behavior and the social environment using the generalist social work theoretical framework to explain the interactions of individuals, families, and groups. Special emphasis is given to the biological, social, psychological, and cultural factors that affect human behavior within these micro and mezzo systems.

This course examines human behavior and the social environment using the generalist social work theoretical framework to explain the interactions of communities, organizations, and society. Special emphasis is given to the biological, social, psychological, cultural, and spiritual factors that affect human behavior within these macro systems. Pre or corequisite: SW Peace Studies seeks to understand and address persistent conflict and violence in the world.

Peace Studies integrates knowledge from the thought traditions of multiple disciplines. It engages in building understanding of how those involved in the violent conflict and those external to the violent conflict can build stable peace.

This course is designed to provide a cross-disciplinary examination of violence and Peace Studies to develop a firm grounding in addressing violence of a direct physical and structural kind by policymakers, professional peacebuilders, and peace researchers. This leads us to focusing more on peace than on violence so that we deal with the patterns of violence assessed in global, national, and local environments.

The basic class in social work helping methods, this course applies the generalist approach to social work practice with individuals and families.

Discussion of case studies with emphasis on systems theory and the ecological method. While this course focuses on micro level practice, the methods introduced are applicable to all types of social work practice. Prerequisite: social work major; pre or corequisite: SW and SW The class examines the dynamics that occur when clients with common concerns are brought together for the purpose of helping one another.

Prerequisite: social work major and SW ; pre or corequisite: SW This course introduces the function and role of the social worker in organizations, communities, and societies. While many of the processes used in micro, mezzo, and macro practice are similar, there are unique features involved in the macro context which are examined and illustrated. Organizational and community theories are linked to practice applications. Prerequisites: social work major and SW ; pre or corequisite: SW Development of social welfare policy and service in response to changing social conditions.

Focuses on the theory, history, scope, nature, organization, and implementation of current programs on local, state, and federal levels and in the private sector.

Prerequisite: social work major or permission of instructor. This course is designed to increase student knowledge of diversity in individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations, and societies.

Addressing issues and exploring values necessary for successful interaction with diverse individuals, their families, and the communities and organizations with which they interact. Designated theoretical frameworks that explain the interaction in the social systems of diverse individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations, and societies will be discussed.

The course also focuses on the relationship between diversity issues and human behavior, including prejudice and discrimination. Specific frameworks will be explored to understand the relationship between diversity and cultural, historical, biological, social, psychological, and spiritual variables.

This course is designed to increase student learning in relationships through a discussion of sexuality and intimacy. Students will address these topics through knowledge of the biological, social, spiritual, and psychological aspects of relationships, sexuality, and intimacy.

Knowledge of and competence in understanding populations-at-risk who are experiencing issues with intimacy, sexuality, and relationships will be explored. This course provides students with an opportunity to develop leadership skills using a community based learning model. Students will participate in leadership learning experiences in community social service organizations.

Leadership skills will be increased through actively participating with community leaders involved in a wide variety of programs that target services for populations at risk and diverse groups. Loss, grief, and death are universal and inescapable aspects of the human experience. Loss occurs throughout life from minor daily occurrences to life changing events.

These experiences are frequently complex and affect how one lives. We learn about loss, grief and death so that we can know better how to live.

Personal awareness, experience, and attitudes about loss, grief, and death influence how social workers care for the bereaved and those at end of life. It is important that conscious and thoughtful study is given to these topics. This interdisciplinary course examines the biopsychosocial, spiritual, and cultural aspects of loss, grief, dying, and death within the context of historical and current grief and loss theory, human development, culture, and types of loss.

Examples of losses examined include perinatal loss, death of a child, spouse, parent, friend, and others. The impact of how one dies, such as suicide, violent death, terminal illness and the impact on survivors is also examined.

Gerontological professionals often work in in-patient settings and out-patients clinics to provide treatment, counseling, and support to these individuals and their family members. The relative newness of the field means that there are opportunities for innovative ideas and new programs and products. Many people have started their own businesses, such as coordinating home health care or consulting with businesses and corporations about how to develop services or design products that would attract older consumers.

People working in aging report great satisfaction in addressing the challenges of those who are growing older. They help maintain quality life; enjoy the wit, wisdom, and creativity of older people; and strengthen families as they care for their older members. Why Choose Our College? College of Social Work. Gerontology is: the study of the aging process and individuals as they grow from midlife through later life, including the study of physical, mental and social changes.

While Gerontology is quite specific on its own, degree programs in social work related to providing care and support to the aging population can be found under different subjects and titles. Each degree program can focus on Gerontological research, case management for the aging population, and even healthcare services for people within this age group. Your interests and talents can help drive you into the right specialization for your degree program.

Our team has provided a few different specialization options for Gerontology degree program in the list below for your information. The first step towards a career in social work focusing on Gerontology can be enrolling in a relevant bachelors degree program.

Most students may choose to pursue a Bachelors in Social Work as a foundation for later learning, but there are options for students that complete bachelors level programs in other disciplines. If you are just starting out and know that this is the field for you — we recommend starting with your BSW. The BSW can assist you in learning all of the foundation elements necessary for social work professionals working in the field of Gerontology.

Through bachelors learning, students can study related subjects such as psychology, sociology, and even some subjects related to the U. Healthcare System. Each of these topics can help introduce you to the types of developmental issues, services, and supports relevant to the aging population. In the field of social work, bachelors earners can also pursue licensure, which would be a great way for you to gain relevant experience prior to enrolling in a masters degree of your choice.

CSWE-accredited bachelors programs can be found all over the country. If you would like to see a few examples of what types programs are available, keep reading beneath this section. The masters-level may be the most preferred educational level for professionals interested in working in specialty fields in social work. One reason for this may be because students can have the option to pursue a degree specialization at this level more frequently.

As an example, a student entering into an online Masters in Social Work can choose to focus on Aging Population Health throughout their degree program in order to learn more about the age group they plan to work with. Masters degree programs in Gerontology can educate students on topics relevant to the health-related care, social functioning, and services geared towards the aging population. Most masters-level programs in the field of social work may also contain some leadership-oriented courses that can help you with learning how to manage a large team of social work professionals.

This blend of knowledge can be great for students that may have combined goals of helping the people within the aging population and obtaining management positions in their future.

The courses that may be included within the online masters program can consist of ideas that are concerned with the services and supports that can be provided to the aging population by the state or community, healthcare and retirement services that may be involved in providing care to clients, and laws and regulations specific to working in this specific degree area.

If you would like to read more about some of the courses involved in this program, take a look below at some of the courses pulled by our educational experts during their research. The field of gerontology can be an interesting field for social work professionals to pursue. This course may act as an introductory course in aging care and gerontology, providing insight into common issues within this population, services, and policies in place to protect clients.

Students taking this course can learn to identify needs within their clients, assist them in applying for services, and oversee their service progress for accuracy. This course may also include communication component to be used with clients, families, and providers. The U. Healthcare Systems Working with clients in older age may warrant the need to learn more about the U. Healthcare System and its policies. Since social workers in this domain may assist clients with arranging services related to their health, this course focuses on educating providers with information pertaining to current healthcare practices, insurance coverage for the aging population, and negotiation for necessary services.

Students may also learn about the historical foundation of these systems and how they have evolved over time. Human Behavior and the Social Environment — Adulthood to Old Age How people interact with their environment can be an important factor to consider when developing treatment or service plans. This course may help students focus on behavior and social interaction of adults nearing old age. The ability to travel, health issues, and social change may be some issues of discussion in this course, as well as social displacement and comfort.

Students enrolled in this course may have the opportunity to engage in independent projects about social change relevant to the aging population.