HD 2510 - [Social Gerontology: Aging and the Life Course]

(crosslisted) SOC 2510
(SBA-HE)

Spring. Next Offered: 2020-2021. 3 credits. Student option grading.

Prerequisite: HD 1150, HD 1170, SOC 1101, DSOC 1101, or PSYCH 1101.

Staff.

Analyzes the social aspects of aging in contemporary American society from a lifecourse 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.