Dr. Daniel J. Van Dussen

1
The Proposed Gerontology Master of Arts Degree at
Youngstown State University

• Dr. Daniel J. Van Dussen
• Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and
  Gerontology
• 6/27/12

2
Program History

• First aging related courses in Ohio 1957
• Steering Committees 1978, 1996, 2006-present
• Gerontology major 2008
• Heavy state and national participation in aging
  2000-present

3
Justification for a Gerontology MA

• Growth of the Certificate in Applied Gerontology
• Student Interest
• University Interest
• Community Interest
• Demography of the United States

4
Source US Census Bureau, International Data Base
5
Source US Census Bureau, International Data Base
6
Ohios Age Distribution
7
Largest total populations of older adults 2025
Rank State Number
1 California 7,284,978
2 Florida 6,387,843
3 Texas 4,500,152
4 New York 3,606,687
5 Pennsylvania 2,688,781
6 Illinois 2,226,431
7 Ohio 2,206,698
8 Arizona 1,940,356
9 Michigan 1,926,396
10 North Carolina 1,897,902
Sources United States Census and
http//proximityone.com/st003065.htm
8
Admissions Criteria

• GPA
• GRE
• Three letters of recommendation
• Letter of intent
• Optional interview
• Undergraduate or graduate statistics course
• 9 semester hours of aging related coursework

9
Proposed Gerontology Program

• 36 credit Hours
• Internship
• Interdisciplinary in Nature
• Applied
• Designed to use existing areas of expertise at
  YSU
• Different than existing MA programs in Ohio

10
Core Curriculum
Department Catalog Course Title Hours Instructor(s)
GERO 6905 Social Gerontology 3 Van Dussen
GERO 6915 Service Delivery and Aging/Policy 3 Slivinske and Binning
PSYCH 6957 Adult Development 3 Newton
GERO 6906 Perspectives in Gerontology 3 Van Dussen
GERO 6960 Epidemiology of Aging 3 Van Dussen
GERO 6999 Research Methods 3 Boron and Li
GERO/NURS 6998 Anatomy and Physiology of Aging 3 Weaver and Balendiran
GERO 7000 Advanced Multivariate Statistics 3 Li and Boron
GERO 7090 Field Practicum 3 Van Dussen, Slivinske
GERO 7094 Selected Topics 3 Leson (first offering), all.
11
Electives
Department Catalog Course Title Hours Instructor(s)
PSYCH/GERO 6959 Behavior Change, Intervention, and Aging 3 Boron
GERO 7001 Long-Term Care 3 Li
SCWK 7006 Social Work in Aging 3 Slivinske
PSYCH/GERO 7011 Mental Health and Aging 3 Hire in progress
GERO 7099 Thesis 6 Chosen by student
GERO 7090 Field Practicum 3 Van Dussen, Slivinske
GERO 7094 Selected Topics in Gerontology 3 Leson (first offering), all.
12
Thesis vs. Non-Thesis Track

• Students may choose to do a thesis (see above
  curriculum)
• OR
• Three additional semester hours in Field
  Practicum
• AND
• One additional elective for the non-thesis track.
  The non-thesis track is designed for those who
  are less likely to continue for a PhD.

13
Growth Opportunities for YSU

• Marketing to new parts of Ohio and the United
  States
• Expanded emphasis on research
• National reputation
• Growing field of inquiry
• Building on Ohio reputation through our current
  research

14
Questions