AGST 310. MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES IN AGING. 4 Credits.

Required of all students in the minor, this course draws upon a number of disciplines and fields (primarily biology, psychology, social work, sociology, economics, nutrition and dietetics, and ethnic perspectives) to provide a balanced view of both normal and problem aspects of aging. Presents theoretical issues and aspects of aging as well as programs, services and issues involved in working with older persons.

AGST 399. SPECIAL STUDIES. 1-5 Credits.

AGST 410. MINORITY PERSPECTIVES IN AGING. 4 Credits.

Pre-requisites: AGST 310.
Oriented toward a critical examination of the variations in aging experiences of minority elderly in the United States. Focus is on the most salient themes, orientations, and dimensions of the problems and processes of aging in the broader cultural tradition within each ethnic minority group. Particular attention is paid to biological, material, and historical bases.

AGST 415. INTRODUCTION TO PALLIATIVE CARE. 4 Credits.

Cross-listed: SOWK 415.
Pre-requisites: junior standing.
Palliative care is an interdisciplinary and holistic approach for those with a life threatening illness. It aims to improve the quality of life of patients and their families through prevention, psychological and spiritual care. This course will focus on identifying gaps in end of life care and emerging models of palliative care, assessing the psychological, medical, and spiritual needs of someone living with illness, while emphasizing the importance of cultural sensitivity in service delivery.

AGST 449. GRIEF, LOSS AND RESILIENCE. 4 Credits.

Cross-listed: SOWK 449.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 549.
Pre-requisites: junior standing.
Grief and loss are woven throughout the human experience. Helping professionals must be ready to deal with their own grief and loss as well as that of their clients. Losses may accompany forms of addictions, disability, divorce, job loss, moves, placement disruptions, relationship breaks and death. Grief is a spectrum of emotions experienced in response to loss. Students will learn about the varied presentations of grief, theories of grief, what supports can be employed for healthy grief.

AGST 458. PERSPECTIVES ON DEATH AND DYING. 4 Credits.

Cross-listed: SOWK 458.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 574 or AGST 574.
This course is designed to assist students in the helping professions who wish to work with the terminally ill. Focus will be on an increased ability to deal with one’s own mortality; the development of beginning skills for working with the terminally ill and their families; an understanding of the complex social system which surrounds death in modern America; as well as the current moral, ethical and philosophical issues in the field.

AGST 496. EXPERIMENTAL COURSES. 1-5 Credits.

AGST 499. DIRECTED STUDY. 1-5 Credits.

AGST 500. MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES IN AGING. 4 Credits.

Notes: may be stacked with AGST 310.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing.
Provides a multi-disciplinary approach to examining social, economic, health, long term care, cultural, and diversity issues related to aging. Resources and services designed to support healthy aging are reviewed.

AGST 510. MINORITY PERSPECTIVES IN AGING. 4 Credits.

Notes: may be stacked with AGST 410.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing.
Provides a critical examination of the variation in the aging experience of older minorities in the United States. Designed to meet some of the major needs of gerontology students, teachers, researchers, and service providers. The primary emphasis is on the identification of the basic elements and characteristics of older adults, with particular attention to the conditions associated with some variations in minority elders.

AGST 515. INTRODUCTION TO PALLIATIVE CARE. 4 Credits.

Cross-listed: SOWK 515.
Pre-requisites: graduate standing.
Palliative care is an interdisciplinary and holistic approach for those who have a life threatening illness. It aims improve the quality of life of patients and their families through prevention, psychological and spiritual care, etc. This course will focus on identifying current gaps in end of life care and emerging models of palliative care, assessment of the psychological, medical, and spiritual needs of someone living with illness, the importance of cultural sensitivity in service delivery.

AGST 549. GRIEF, LOSS AND RESILIENCE. 4 Credits.

Cross-listed: SOWK 549.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 449.
Grief and loss are woven throughout the human experience. Helping professionals must be ready to deal with their own grief and loss as well as that of their clients. Losses may accompany forms of addictions, disability, divorce, job loss, moves, placement disruptions, relationship breaks and death. Grief is a spectrum of emotions experienced in response to loss. Students will learn about the varied presentations of grief, theories of grief, what supports can be employed for healthy grief.

AGST 574. PERSPECTIVES ON DEATH AND DYING. 4 Credits.

Cross-listed: SOWK 574.
Notes: may be stacked with SOWK 458 or AGST 458.
This course explores issues related to death, dying, grief and loss as well as their relevance and application to social work practice. The content draws from an interdisciplinary knowledge base and emphasizes the acquisition of practice skills. Topics include loss events throughout the life span; psychological and sociological theoretical perspectives in death, dying, grief and loss.