Requirements for a B.S. in Gerontology (Comprehensive)
Major Requirements: (48-54 hours)

Prerequisite Courses that also meet General Education Requirements

Additional Required Courses for the Gerontology Major

Core Courses Required for the Gerontology Major

Electives in the Gerontology Major

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Prerequisite Courses That Also Meet General Education Requirements

• COM 115 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3)

• PLS 101 - American Government I: Organization and Function (3)

• PSY 121 - Introductory Psychology (3)
• BIO 101 - Biological Concepts (3) or BIO 102 - Principles of Biological Sciences (4) or BMS 105 - Concepts and Laboratory in the Life Sciences or BMS 110 - Concepts in the BioMedical Sciences (3)

*Transfer students may discuss alternative courses that also meet University General Education requirements.

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Additional Required Courses For The Gerontology Major

• PSY 350 - Aging and Adulthood  or another course approved by the Gerontology Advisor (3)

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Core Courses Required For The Gerontology Major

Substantive Aging Courses (15 hours):

• PSY 397 - Psychophysiology of Aging (3)
• PSY 365 - Aging and Adjustment (3)
• GER 310 - Social Forces and Aging (3)
• GER 380 - Seniors Citizens: Policies and Politics (3)
• GER 470 - Community Resources for Older Adults (3)

Research Methods Courses (3 hours):

• SOC 201 - Research Methodology (3)
• PSY 203 - Introduction to Research (3)
• PSY 300 - Naturalistic Methods in Social Psychology (3)
• PSY 302 - Experimental Psychology (3)

(A comparable course approved by the advisor may also be accepted)

Statistics Course (3 hours):

• AGR 330 - Statistical Applications in Agriculture or ECO 308 - Basic Statistics for Economists or MTH 340 - Statistical Methods or PSY 200 - Psychological Statistical Methods or QBA 237-  Basic Business Statistics or REC 331 - Statistical Applications in Leisure Service or SOC 302 - Statistics for Social Research

Communication Skills Courses (3 hours):

• COM 390 - Communication and Aging  or COM 326 - Effective Listening or COM 332 - Small Group Communication or COM 405 - Interpersonal Communication

(A comparable course approved by the advisor may also be accepted)

Health Sciences Course (3 hours):

• BMS 240 - Introduction to Nutrition (3)
• HRA 130 - Essentials of Nutrition (3)

(A comparable course approved by the advisor may also be accepted)

Required Practicum and Seminar in Gerontology (9-15 hours):

• GER 498 - Supervised Practicum in Gerontology (6-12)
• GER 499 - Seminar in Gerontology (3)

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Electives in the Gerontology Major

• PSY 309 - Identity and Aging in Literature and Film (3)
• GER 320 - Gender Issues in Later Life (3)
• GER 330 - Ethnic Diversity and Aging (3)
• PSY 363 - Death and Human Behavior (3)
• GER 365 - Families in Later Life (3)
• GER 397 - Special Topics in Gerontology  (1-3 Variable topic courses)
• GER 300 - Service Learning Curricular Component (1)
• GER 597 - Impact of Aging in the 21st Century (1-3)

NOTE: Other courses may be accepted as electives for the Gerontology Major but must be approved by a Gerontology advisor.

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Please see the Missouri State undergraduate catalog or the gerontology courses website for detailed course descriptions

For more information on the Gerontology Major or required courses
contact Dr. Mary C Newman or Dr. Carol Gosselink at 836-6530, 836-6859 or
by Email at MaryNewman@missouristate.edu, CarolGosselink@missouristate.edu