Applied Gerontology Minor

A minor in Applied Gerontology is a program open to all majors in a multidisciplinary field that is professionally diverse and rapidly growing.  As the number and percentage of elders continues to increase, our society will be facing crucial issues about aging which will impact the lives of most Americans.  A minor adds an extra credential to the resume, gives an unique edge in the job market or graduate school applications and will provide additional employment opportunities.

A minor provides students the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and skills to work with and support the aging.  Students learn to use the knowledge gained from the courses to improve the quality of life and promote well-being of our aging population, in their respective fields.  The gerontology related coursework focuses on topics that yields to best practices at both, an individual and administrative level, for supporting successful aging.

The minor in Gerontology is an 18-credit program of study which includes a required 3-credit course, GRO 100 Introduction to Gerontology, 6 credits of electives from a selection of 200 level courses and 9 credits of electives from 300-400 level courses taken from the course list.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will articulate and integrate interdisciplinary theories commonly applied in field of gerontology
• Students will evaluate societal issues and challenges resulting from aging
• Students will demonstrate knowledge in old age as a life-stage and aging as a life-long process
• Students demonstrate an understanding of the psychological, physiological, and sociological changes that occur with aging
• Students will have an opportunity to have an individualized experience in the field of aging that is tailored to their unique interests and/or career goal

About Academic Minors

Farmingdale State College students are invited to enhance their studies with an "Academic Minor." A minor is a cluster of thematically related courses drawn from one or more departments. In addition to department based minors (e.g. computer programming & info systems), interdisciplinary minors are also available (e.g. legal studies).

Academic minors are approved by the College-Wide Curriculum Committee and the Provost. Students must make application for an academic minor through the department offering the minor in conjunction with the Registrar's Office Specific course work must be determined in consultation with a faculty member in the department offering the minor. A statement of successful completion of the academic minor will appear on the student's transcript at the time of graduation.

• A minor is considered to be an optional supplement to a student's major program of study.
• Completion of a minor is not a graduation requirement and is subject to the availability of the courses selected. However, if the requirements for a minor are not completed prior to certification of graduation in the major, it will be assumed that the minor has been dropped. Consequently, the student will only be certified for graduation in their primary major.
• Only students in 4 year baccalaureate programs can apply for a minor.
• A minor should consist of 15 to 21 credits.
• At least 12 credits must be in courses at the 200 level or higher.
• At least 9 credits must be residency credits.
• Specific requirements for each minor are determined by the department granting the minor. 
• Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in their minor.  Some minors may require a higher GPA.
• Students are prohibited from declaring a minor in the same discipline as their major (e.g. one cannot combine an applied math minor with an applied math major). Academic minors may not apply to all curricula.
• Students are permitted to double-count courses.
• Students are only permitted to take more than one minor with appropriate written approval of their department chair or curriculum Dean.

Admission to Farmingdale State College - State University of New York is based on the qualifications of the applicant without regard to age, sex, marital or military status, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability or sexual orientation.