S.99-2
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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC
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MEMORANDUM
To: ?
Senate
From: ?
D. Gagan, Chair
Senate Committee on Academic lianning
Subject: ?
Proposed Minor Program in Gerontology
(SCUS Reference: SCUS 98-20)
(SCAP Reference: SCAP 98-61)
Date: ?
December 11, 1998
Action undertaken by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies and the
Senate Committee on Academic Planning gives rise to the following motion:
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Motions:
"that Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors
as set forth in S.99 -
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the proposed Minor Program in
Gerontology."
New Program Proposal?
GERONTOLOGY MINOR?
October, 1998
A. ?
Institutional and Program Identification
The Gerontology Program at Simon Fraser University, Harbour Centre, proposes a minor in
Gerontology. Contact Gloria Gutman, Director Gerontology Program/Gerontology Research
Centre at 291-5062 or Norah Holtby, Assistant to the Director at 291-5065 for more information.
This credential, which will be awarded by Simon Fraser University, will use existing course
offerings, and teaching staff of the Gerontology Post-Baccalaureate Diploma and Masters
Program.
According to current estimates, by the year 2011 when the leading edge of the baby boom
generation become senior citizens,
15%
of British Columbians will be aged 65 and older. By
2021, the proportion will increase to an estimated 20%. As the older population grows there will
be an increasing need for employees with some university training in gerontology but for whom
an intense concentration would not be necessary. These would include entry-level positions in
the housing and hospitality industry, in recreation, health care and government concerned with
administration and planning of services for older adults, persons in the design and manufacturing
.
professions, or in money and banking, who develop products for the older market, and for
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individuals in positions requiring a bachelor's degree which interface directly with older persons
and their families. Another segment of students will be comprised of persons interested in aging-
related courses for personal development and to better understand and meet the needs of family
for whom they may be providing assistance.
The Gerontology Minor will provide an opportunity for students without a previous degree to
obtain specialized education in gerontology, while enhancing Simon Fraser University's existing
mandate to provide innovative multi-disciplinary programs that will continue to develop existing
relationships with our community partners. This program would meet a geographic need in that
there are only two institutions in Canada which offer a similar credential, neither of which are in
Western Canada.
Given that this program will not require additional staff or library resources it is hoped that the
program could be implemented within the next year.
B. ?
Program Description ?
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In 1983, Simon Fraser University became one of the first institutions in Canada to offer an
accredited multi-disciplinary program in Gerontology. The Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in
Gerontology addressed the lack of educational programs in gerontology at that time. The
program was designed for individuals who had completed an undergraduate degree and had a
minimum of one year of work experience with the elderly. It was designed for health care
professionals, administrative staff and those who had already completed an undergraduate
degree but were interested in focusing specifically on aging.
In 1996, the Masters program became the only program in western Canada to provide students
with the opportunity to pursue applied research at the graduate level. Since the inception of the
Masters program, there have been a growing number of undergraduate students who are
interested in obtaining an undergraduate credential in Gerontology. A portion of these students
are looking to pursue a Gerontology Minor in preparation for graduate work while others would
like to enhance the marketability of their undergraduate degree by adding a specialization in
Gerontology.
The Gerontology Minor program differs from the Gerontology Diploma and Masters Programs
in being targeted specifically for students who do not have an undergraduate degree. The Minor
program would provide an excellent opportunity for undergraduate students to enhance the
multi-disciplinary focus of their undergraduate degree by combining a Minor in Gerontology
with an existing major program. A Minor in Gerontology would most likely attract
undergraduate students from Psychology, Sociology, Kinesiology, Criminology, Inter-
Disciplinary Studies (BGS) and Education and might also be of interest to those in Business
Administration, Geography, Philosophy, Political Science and Women's Studies. In general,
these students would be at an earlier stage in their work cycle and have less work and academic
experience than those students pursuing existing Gerontology programs at Simon Fraser
University.
As previously mentioned, the aging of the Canadian population will result in an increasing
number of older persons who will be clients of future industries. It is anticipated that the
Gerontology Minor Program will provide graduates with a better knowledge of aging related
issues which they can incorporate into their field of work. This would fill both an vocational and
social need, in addition to contributing to the personal and professional development of the
individual students involved.
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Americec1 by SCUS
The minor will provide specialized education in gerontology for undergraduate students
interested in combining course work in aging related issues with an existing major program.
Students intending to enter the program must have completed a minimum of 60 credit
hours with
a
CGPA of
2.0
or better. The following prerequisites for their equivalent are
recommended:
KIN 105/142, PSYC 100/102, SA 150
and
STAT 203.
Approved minor students must complete GERO 300-3 Introduction to Gerontology plus twelve
credit hours from the following:
GERO 301-3 Research Methods in Gerontology
GERO 302-3 Health Promotion and Aging
GERO 400-3 Seminar in Applied Gerontology
GERO 401-3 Aging and the Built Environment
GERO 402-3 Drug Issues in Gerontology
GERO 404-3 Health and Illness in Later Life
GERO 405-3 Aging in Rural and Small Communities
GERO 406-3 Death and Dying
GERO 407-3 Nutrition and Aging
GERO 408-3 Families and Aging
GERO 410/411/412 Special Topics in Gerontology.
Additional courses from various department are designated for inclusion in the minor; a list is
available from the department. A maximum of six credit hours of designated courses may be
applied towards the minor, provided that prior approval is obtained from the program advisor.
Candidates intending to apply to the Gerontology Post-Bacclaureate Diploma or Masters
Programs should contact the student advisor before selecting courses for the minor.
C. ?
Admission and Transfer
To date, 63 SFU undergraduate students not enrolled in the Gerontology Diploma Program have
completed 9 or more credit hours in Gerontology. Given that Gerontology courses have never
been specifically marketed to undergraduate students this indicates considerable interest in the
subject area. Currently these students, who are close to having completing the equivalent of a
minor program, are not able to receive recognition for their concentration in Gerontology
because no undergraduate credential exists. It is estimated that the number of students who
would pursue a Minor in Gerontology would range from
15-25
per year, if students knew such a
program existed. Over the last several years the Gerontology Program has compiled a list of
undergraduate students who have indicated an interest in pursuing a minor in Gerontology. To
date there are more than 200 names on this list. We are also in the process of contacting
community and professional organizations to enlist their support and to determine which
segments of their membership would be most interested in this program.
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D. ?
Program Resources
The minor will be constructed of courses which already exist as required or optional course
offerings for the Gerontology Post-Baccalaureate Diploma Program. It is expected that the
flexibility offered by the minor program will stimulate interest at the undergraduate level and
increase enrollment in existing courses. The graduate program will benefit by increasing the pool
of potential students. We do not anticipate or request any input of additional resources.
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