Fall Term * = Online Course
- BCHS 2534 - Clinical Aspects of Dementia Care, 2.0 cr.
This course is designed as an independent study for students in the public health and aging program. Its focus is on the methods and technology for diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
- GERON 2001 - Ethics and Aging*, 3.0 cr.
Course offers an introduction to the analysis of ethical issues associated with an aging society and, in particular, the clinical care of older adults. Participants will be able to identify major ethical issues affecting older adults, their caregivers, and society and will be able to engage in the exploration and analysis of those issues using the bioethics frameworks studied and discussed in class.
- GERON 2008 - Human Performance, Nutrition and Aging*, 3.0 cr.
This course is designed to provide a broad foundation of information related to Human Performance and Nutrition as one ages. The impact of Human Performance and Nutrition on an individual´s overall wellness and independence is examined.
- GERON 2011 - Navigating Grief and Loss in Older Adults*, 3.0 cr.
Navigating Grief & Loss in Older Adults is an online course that provides a more in-depth look at grief & loss in its varying forms. For the last four decades, there has been unchallenged agreement that the discussion of the human experience of death, grief and loss belong in the study of human service professionals. Grief & Loss is a universal experience. We will explore several dimensions of grief and loss through the lens of older adults. We will not limit our scope to grief as it applies to only those feelings after a death, but will also spend considerable time looking at grief and loss through the wider “life lens” (i.e., developmental, maturational, and functional losses in older adults; secondary losses; and loss triggers). Our focus will study the experiences of bereaved individuals coping with loss(es), and individuals who are dying. Theoretical perspectives will be utilized in this course while also exploring other areas of interest such as; culture & spirituality, resiliency & hope, and professional self-care.
The information attained through this course will enable you to apply grief & loss models and concepts with older adults specifically, with any human, and also personally. You will be more effective in taking an educated, individualized, & holistic approach in dealing with these inevitable life losses. By doing so, you will ultimately assist those whom you work with towards healing.- GERON 2013 - Evidence-Based Approaches to Family Caregiving, 3.0 cr.
Evidence-Based Approaches to Support Family Caregivers, is an online course that provides a more in-depth look at research-informed approaches and interventions in supporting family caregivers. By delving into these approaches, which is based on the most recent research, helping professionals will be better equipped to assist family caregivers in providing care, maximizing self-efficacy, and infusing increased knowledge to family caregivers who are the primary source of support for older adults with chronic illness and disability. By investigating evidenced-based interventional approaches, students will examine psychosocial, psychotherapeutic, technologically-based interventions, as well as coordination care services & resources. Our study will also focus on the experiences of family caregivers and walking the journey alongside them, while also being able to assist in interventional approaches and tools for best care practices. In this work, students will envelope a view of holistic approaches of caring for the caregiver, but also in giving voice to the care recipient and understanding their needs during this journey of being cared for. The exploration of several dimensions and approaches to caregiving will include psychological and physical health, as well as social relationships and support. In focusing on these areas, we will not only look at risk factors for adverse outcomes but also positive aspects of caregiving. This course will briefly touch on special populations for caregiving which will include looking at families who care for their children due to illness or disability. The information attained in this course will enable helping professionals to apply approaches and concepts learned to carers and care recipients in comprehending the multi-faceted dynamics that come along with the role of caregiving.
- GERON 2016 - Diversity in Aging, 3.0 cr.
Diversity and Aging addresses racial/ethnic, gender, socioeconomic, cultural, sexual orientation, and religious differences that define the aging population. This course will investigate recent research on the impact of diversity and inclusion in aging populations.
- GERON 2000 - Directed Study*, 1-3 cr.
A student-initiated educational experience, guided by a faculty member that significantly supplements the core curriculum of the certificate and provides specialized, focused training in aging.
- LAW 5395 - Health Law and Policy, 3.0 cr.
This is a broad survey course of the legal regulation of the health care industry. In general, it examines how concerns by patients, health care providers, and health care payers about cost, quality and access affect the way in which health care is provided. The topics covered are the legal regulation of the quality of health care through mechanisms such as professional licensure, hospital privileges, and institutional licensure; common-law and statutory obligations to provide care; state and federal regulation of insurance and managed care; healthcare fraud and abuse; and healthcare antitrust.
- BCHS 2534 - Clinical Aspects of Dementia Care, 2.0 cr.
This course is designed as an independent study for students in the public health and aging program. Its focus is on the methods and technology for diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
- EPIDEM 2981 - Epidemiology of Aging: Methods, 2.0 cr.
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the methodological aspects of epidemiologic research in the field of aging and geriatrics. The course will examine major epidemiologic cohort studies of aging, clinical trials and nursing home research. The focus of this course will be demography, study, design, sampling, recruitment, and both physical and cognitive assessment.
- SWINT 2030 - Direct Practice with Older Adults, 3.0 cr.
This course defines the range of interpersonal practice with and for the elderly in terms of primary, secondary and tertiary levels of intervention. A broad range of clinical practice roles is addressed in regards to practice across a broad spectrum of settings. All of the established social work practice approaches are looked at in detail for treatment procedures which can be applied to work with the elderly. An eclectic perspective to practice with the elderly is stressed.
- SWINT 2004 - Grief and Loss: Interventions, Implications, & Understanding, 3.0 cr.
- Methods of intervention with the suicidal and terminally ill patient and his family, covering ethical problems related to right to life and right to death issues, explication of Kubler-Ross' five stages of dying, religious orientations to death and dying, and pathological and normal grief reactions.
- HRS 2501 - Functional Assessment, 3.0 cr.
- This course focuses on diagnostic decision making from the perspective of the evidence for the validity and reliability of selected functional assessment instruments. Instruments that focus on the consequences of pathologies at the levels of impairment, activity limitation, and participation restriction will be reviewed.
- EPIDEM 2110 - Principles of Epidemiology, 3.0 cr.
This course reviews the basic concepts of epidemiology including community diagnosis, analytical techniques, and evaluation of preventive methods. Examples of both acute and chronic diseases will be covered. The course includes lectures, readings, homework assignments, and several multiple-choice examinations. Courseweb is utilized. (Three sections are offered, one of which is Web based.)
- EPIDEM 2260 - Epidemiological Basis for Disease Control, 2.0 cr.
This course provides the student with an introduction to the epidemiological basis for designing and evaluating prevention programs in the community, the epidemiological basis of evaluating health services, and analysis of health care and design of community programs.
- HRS 2704 - Fundamentals of Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology 3.0 cr.
This course provides an introduction to multiple areas of assistive technology and rehabilitation engineering. It is a fall term course and a prerequisite for HRS 2705, which is offered in the spring. The course is designed for graduate students to simply learn more about the field of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology, as well as for those needing a foundation to build upon for more advanced studies in the field.
Spring Term * = Online Course
- GERON 2000 - Directed Study*, 3.0 cr.
- This course is student-initiated educational experience, guided by a faculty member that significantly supplements the core curriculum of the certificate and provides specialized focus training in aging.
- GERON 2002 - Prevention and Healthy Aging*, 3.0 cr.
- This course will provide the guidance and rationale for promoting health, prevention, and effective risk factor management in the adult population (50+) in respect to rising health care costs, decreasing benefits, and the aging of our population. This course offers a general overview of various aging issues (physical, cognitive, social, cultural, and economic) that impact the individual, community, and society. This course will prepare students to integrate optimal preventive practice into their professional context and translate evidence-based strategies into community outreach services that are designed to prevent or delay the common conditions of aging and ones that emphasize the importance of healthy behaviors throughout the life span.
- GERON 2005 - Gerontology: Perspectives on Aging*, 3.0 cr.
This course will provide the student with an introduction to the aging process in our society. It will examine the aging phenomena by focusing on; life span development, person-environment interaction, optimal quality of life, cross-cultural considerations, how aging is studied, and access to resources in a new age.
- GERON 2007 - Caregiving in Aging*, 2.0 cr.
This course is designed for students to learn about the evolving role of caregiving in our society. This course will examine the challenges and responsibilities associated with caring for an older adult in the home setting, and the supportive options and resources that are available.
- GERON 2010 - Seminar Series on Aging*, 1.0 cr.
This course provides a student with the opportunity to study independently, and in detail, some aspect of aging in which he or she has a particular interest.
- BCHS 2532 - Dimensions of Aging, Culture, & Health, 2.0 cr.
Course provides an overview of the aging experience from a cross-cultural and a public health perspective. The ways in which people cope with and adapt to the aging process is the major theme.
- SWBEH 2077 - Human Behavior: Adult Development and Aging, 3.0 cr.
This course is an in-depth human behavior and social environment course focusing on development during the adult years (early and middle age) and on old age. This course offers a framework for understanding adult life stages from a life-span developmental perspective. This includes an examination of developmental tasks, dilemmas, and challenges influenced by a complex environment of cultural, economic, and political forces.
- SWWEL 2039 - Social Policy and Gerontology, 3.0 cr
This course is designed to examine the dynamics and procedural steps in social policymaking and implementation first in a general context and then more specifically in relation to the older population. The last half of the course is devoted to the identification of major issues in social policy for the aged and intensive analysis of selected policy decisions.
- SWINT 2004 - Grief and Loss: Interventions, Implications, & Understanding, 3.0 cr.
Methods of intervention with the suicidal and terminally ill patient and his family, covering ethical problems related to right to life and right to death issues, explication of Kubler-Ross' five stages of dying, religious orientations to death and dying, and pathological and normal grief reactions.
- SWINT 2007 - Introduction to Phychopharmacology & Social Work Practice, 3.0 cr.
This course is designed to familiarize students with the basic terminology and models of pharmacokinetics and the role of social workers in medication management. The development of psychopharmacology from a historical and sociological perspective as well as an overview of neurochemistry and biological-psychological functioning will be addressed. Emphasis will be placed on the development of a range of techniques and strategies in collaboration with clients, families, and other providers in order for social workers to be responsive to the comprehensive needs of their clients.
- HRS 2502 - Human Performance: Analysis, 3.0 cr.
This course focuses on diagnostic decision-making from the perspective of diagnostic reasoning and the relative validities of various functional (disability) assessment methodologies: self report, proxy-report, clinical judgment, performance testing.
- HRS 2503 - Human Performance: Adaptation, 3.0 cr.
This course focuses on the evidence supporting compensatory occupational therapy interventions, including task and environmental adaptations, job modifications, and assistive technology.
- HRS 2594 - Specialized Preceptorship: Research, 1-6 cr.
This course provides experiential learning in coordinating occupational therapy research, including obtaining IRB approval, getting informed consent, participating in data collection, and managing data quality.
- PSY 1230 - Psychology of Death and Dying, 3.0 cr.
The purpose of this course is to widen the student's understanding of human death, in its biological, socio-cultural, and primarily, psychological dimensions. We will examine the concept of death, psychological reactions to death and dying, and the process of bereavement. We will also explore selected issues such as suicide and euthanasia, children's concepts of death, and the question of life after death. It is hoped that with increased knowledge about death and dying, you will be able to look more critically at materials being published in the popular press.
- SWWEL 2039 - Social Policy and Gerontology, 3.0 cr.
This course is designed to examine the dynamics and procedural steps in social policymaking and implementation first in a general context and then more specifically in relation to the older population. The last half of the course is devoted to the identification of major issues in social policy for the aged and intensive analysis of selected policy decisions.
- GERON 2003 - Intergenerational Studies, 2.0 cr.
This course is an online, interactive experience based on the 13 year success of the generations Together Intergenerational training Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. The course is designed to help develop skills needed for success in the intergenerational field. Students read course materials, do online assignments, and discuss the content with fellow students and instructors. And follow step-by- step procedures to complete the individual units.
Summer Term * = Online Course
- GERON 2000 - Directed Study*, 3.0 cr.
This course is student-initiated educational experience, guided by a faculty member that significantly supplements the core curriculum of the certificate and provides specialized focus training in aging.
- GERON 2006 - Multidiscenplinary Aspects of Dementia*, 3.0 cr.
The course is designed to provide students with a general overview of dementia and its subtypes. Students will become familiar with current evidence in the study of dementia from across disciplines including epidemiology, biology, psychology, and sociology. Practical issues surrounding the care of dementia patients from a professional and personal perspective will also be presented. Participation in online group discussions will be required.
- LIS 2970 - Information Resources, Services, & Technology for an Aging World*, 3.0 cr.
This term-long, 3 credit online-only course, will focus on collection development, reference, and education services for older adults, and their professional and family caregivers. The course will cover the critical evaluation of materials in print, non-print, and electronic formats, and a discussion of information services provided by healthcare organizations, community agencies, medical center and hospital libraries, public libraries which serve an aging population, and academic libraries serving students in the helping professions.
- NURNP 2526 - Management of Geriatric Health*, 2.0 cr.
The focus in this class is on the theories and principles from the sciences central to the delivery of health care to the elderly. Emphasis is on assessment and health promotion, management of common health problems, nutrition and aging, geriatric pharmacology, psychosociology and psychopathology of aging, geriatric health issues.
- SWINT 2004 - Grief and Loss: Interventions, Implications, & Understanding, 3.0 cr.
Methods of intervention with the suicidal and terminally ill patient and his family, covering ethical problems related to right to life and right to death issues, explication of Kubler-Ross' five stages of dying, religious orientations to death and dying, and pathological and normal grief reactions.
- HRS 2594 - Specialized Preceptorship: Research, 1-6 cr.
This course provides experiential learning in coordinating occupational therapy research, including obtaining IRB approval, getting informed consent, participating in data collection, and managing data quality.