Aging Studies Program
• Home
• Earning an Aging Studies Certificate
---- Certificate Checklist 
• Earning an Aging Studies Undergraduate Minor
---- Minor checklist
• Application
• Courses/classes information
• Faculty
---- Faculty-Spotlights
• Resources on Aging (state, federal, and international)
• Aging at Iowa (Gerontology and Geriatrics Program at UI)
• Contact the Aging Studies Program
General Certificate and Minor Information
Introduction
The Aging Studies Program is a multidisciplinary curriculum program consisting of courses in the Psychological, Biological/Health, and Social/Cultural aspects of aging (Gerontology) which have been coordinated and sequenced to provide a planned program of study for students with academic, research or service career interests in aging. It draws upon existing courses as well as continuously developing new courses and consists of 21 approved semester hours of aging-specific coursework at the 100 level or above. Aging-specific coursework is defined as those courses within the University that are principally focused on older persons and/or the aging process.
There are three options for completing the Aging Studies Program:
Certificate
Students successfully completing 21 semester hours of approved coursework who have also completed the requirements for an undergraduate degree will be awarded a certificate by the Registrar and an entry will be made on the student's transcript indicating completion of the requirements for the Aging Studies Program. Below is a checklist listing certificate requirements.
Aging Studies Certificate requirements checklist
Field Work Agency Evaluation (certificate only)
Field Work Packet (certificate only)
Minor
Undergraduate students may choose to obtain a minor instead of a certificate by successfully completing 15 semester hours in Aging Studies. Below is a checklist listing minor requirements.
Aging Studies Minor requirements checklist
Individualized Major
Undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences also have the option of designing an individualized program in Aging Studies leading to a Bachelor of Arts by applying to and being accepted by the Interdepartmental Studies Program. Entry into the program requires approval of a plan of study that includes 36 semester hours of upper-level coursework. Students enrolled in this program also may meet the requirements for a certificate in Aging Studies.
Program Administration
The program is administered by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in cooperation with other colleges of the University. A tenured faculty member, Mercedes Bern-Klug, serves as coordinator of the program. An executive committee appointed by the Director advises her on matters of curriculum, program requirements, and procedures for the program. Almost sixty faculty affiliates across campus teach courses or conduct research on aging topics.
Program Eligibility
The Aging Studies Program is open to all interested graduate, upper-level undergraduate (must have completed forty-five [45] semester hours), and special status students whose particular career interests and needs will be served by completing the program of study.
Students in good standing at the above mentioned levels may establish plans of study with the Aging Studies Academic Adviser, who will work with the students and their advisers in shaping the plan of study to complement the student's academic program and career interests. The plan of study will include the required courses as well as recommendations for the sequencing of coursework to be taken.
Application Information
Students in good standing may submit an application for enrollment, along with a current transcript, to the Aging Studies Program. Applications may be obtained online or by contacting the Aging Studies office at (319) 335-1265. Students may apply at any time for admission to the program. Official transcripts from each undergraduate or graduate institution previously attended should be submitted with the application. If not currently enrolled, application must also be made to The University of Iowa.
Requirements for Certificate
The Certificate in Aging requires 21 semester hours of approved aging related courses.
| 153:108 (same as 042:108 / 096:108 / 169:108) | Basic Aspects of Aging | 3 s.h. |
| 153:135 (same as 042:135) | Older Adulthood: Cultural Comparisons | 3 s.h. |
| 153:150 (same as 031:150) | Psychology of Aging | 3 s.h. |
| 153:160 | Biology of Aging | 3 s.h. |
| 153:190 (same as 042:190) *Taken after 9 sh minimum completed | Fieldwork in Gerontology | 3-6 s.h. |
| 153:130(undergraduate) or 153:230(graduate) | Aging Studies Colloquium | 1 s.h. |
| Approved aging-related courses | 2-5 s.h. each |
A grade point average of at least 2.0 is required in all coursework applied toward the Certificate and/or minor.
Requirements for Minor
Undergraduate students in the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Nursing, Engineering or Education may complete a minor in Aging Studies by taking 15 semester hours in age-related coursework. (Age-related coursework is defined by courses beginning with the Department number 153). The course Basic Aspects of Aging (153:108) is required for all students.
Information Requests
For more information about the Aging Studies Program, please call or write:
UI Aging Studies Program
Director, Mercedes Bern-Klug, PhD, MSW
Room 308 North Hall
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone
(319) 335-126
FAX
319 335-1711
Email
Mercedes-bern-klug@uiowa.edu
