Aging and Health

The Aging and Health Minor is designed for degree candidates from any college in the university who want to specialize in the gerontological aspects of their discipline or to understand the aging process more fully. It is a great addition for majors from nursing, biology, sociology, medical laboratory science, and psychology. The minor offers courses in:

health promotion in adulthood
maintenance of cognitive health
management of chronic health and disability
aging in our society
aging throughout the lifespan

We also provide in depth coverage of certain conditions, including autistic spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, Down's Syndrome that are typically associated with childhood and early development, in addition to other conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury.

Students will take a total of 18 credits; composed of 6 courses at 3 credits each. 9 of the 18 credits must be at the 300-400-level and be minor-specific. Further, those nine cannot be counted twice. If you're a psychology major, then three of the courses (9 credits) must come from non-psychology courses. We recommend AGH302 for all, as well as PSY410 for psychology majors or AGH410 for non-majors.

Course descriptions, schedules and requirements

UMassD advantages

As an aging and health minor, you can work with the Ora M. DeJesus Gerontology Center, which is dedicated to promoting healthy aging through multi-disciplinary research and outreach. The Center’s research and programs enhance current knowledge of the aging process and promote healthy, active living. The Center builds bridges between the university and community through research, education, outreach, and partnerships.