NSU Horizons Spring 2012

7 HORIZONS Gerontology Degrees For students who want to focus their studies entirely on gerontology, NSU’s newly named Institute for the Study of Human Service, Health, and Justice introduced its rst Master of Arts in Gerontology class in winter 2012. The program’s developer Jacquelyn Browne, Ph.D., LCSW, believes that it is critical to prepare upper-level leaders who have the knowledge, training, and skills to serve this rapidly expanding demographic. “Our new M.A. degree is designed to train leaders in the eld. Because there is not one area that the longevity revolution will not touch, our program is interdisciplinary,” said Browne. The rst group of students in the 36-credit, online program are mostly midcareer professionals already in the health care industry, according to Browne. Jacques Jourdan is one of the rst students to pursue the M.A. degree in Gerontology. He previously worked in the banking industry helping small-business owners manage their accounts. “It’s a great time to be in the eld of gerontology,” he said. The 46-year-old Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, resident plans to open an assisted living facility after he receives his degree. “With this area of study and my management background, I hope to play a positive role in making life better for seniors in their nal stages of life,” said Jourdan. Students in the M.A. in Gerontology program will be able to choose from a specialty track of 12 credits after they complete 18 credits of gerontology core courses. Specialty tracks include gerontology and the family, gerontology and public health, and emergency preparedness and response for elder populations. “I’m expecting that we will develop other tracks like lifelong learning, long-term care, and technology, which will be useful for students in many emerging elds,” said Browne. The program culminates with a capstone seminar and an applied research capstone project. For undergraduates, a new minor in gerontology at the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences introduces students to this growing eld and involves components that help to break down stereotypes about older adults. Classes such as Ageism and Stereotyping, Adulthood and Aging, Gerontology and the Law, Foundations of Therapeutic Interviewing, and other introductory gerontology courses are what Thomas Fagan, Ph.D., director of the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the college, calls “practical courses that not only teach a set of skills that can help students in their careers, but will expose them to issues—both positive and negative—that concern the elderly.” The minor is intended for students who are contemplating careers in social work, physical therapy, psychology, occupational therapy, human service, health care, and mental health care. “We’re always trying to identify needs in the eld and give our students opportunities in what we see as potential career paths,” said Fagan. Coursework in the minor also includes an experiential component. “Our goal is to get students into places where services to the elderly are offered in different settings. It is important for students to interact one-on-one with older people to get that rst- hand experience,” he said. At the Institute for the Study of Human Service, Health, and Justice, the Bachelor of Science in Human Services Administra- tion program already includes a gerontology track. Students also can take additional courses in the gerontology minor program offered by the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences. “This is just one more opportunity for students to get more exposure to the eld of gerontology. It is also another way for us to encourage students to pursue this evolving career path,” said Angela Yehl, Psy.D., director of clinical operations and assistant professor at the institute. Personal Experiences NSU law student Lydia Charles of Fort Lauderdale used a chapter from her own life to help others dealing with older family members. A law and medicine seminar at the Shepard Broad Law Center prompted Charles to research advance Left to right: Dan Smith and Moe Weiner view the African Presence art exhibition at NSU. Department of Occupational Therapy students often work with senior citizens. Naushira Pandya is chair of the Department of Geriatrics.