Fall 2007 Course Descriptions

All courses below are approved to be taught in Fall 2007; however, some (or all) may not be offered this term.  The course numbers that are offered this term link to the Schedule of Classes.  Class with alternative delivery modes (Web based, cable TV, correspondence, etc) are noted in the Schedule at the section level.  The complete list below is a good indicator of what may be offered over the next few years (contact department about offerings).  For explanations of course elements see the Key to Course Descriptions.

Gerontology (GERO)  Department Info

GERO 399 -- Independent Study  (1-3 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

GERO 413 -- Issues in Aging  (3 units)
Description:  What challenges and opportunities do adults face as they age? What resources and barriers shape their lives? How do physiological, psychological, interpersonal, economic, and socio-historical factors affect the experience of aging? How do gender, social-class, and ethnicity influence the experience of aging? What are existing and optimal policies and services that affect the lives and well-being of older adults? What are effective ways of studying the aging process? How can theories and conceptual frameworks from the fields of psychology, sociology, family studies, anthropology, & biology/medicine help us to make sense of the aging process? These and other related questions reflect the major themes of this course. The course format will include a combination of readings, lecture, discussion, video case studies, guest speakers, in-class oral and written student participation, and an out-of-class written assignment. Students who successfully complete this course will have a strong empirical and conceptual knowledge base regarding issues in aging, and will be able to apply this critical understanding to their professional and personal experiences with older adults.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Equivalent to:  FSHV413
Mutually Exclusive: Credit allowed for only one of these courses: GERO 413 or FSHV 413
Identical to:  FSHD 413; FSHD is home department.
May be convened with:  GERO 513.
Usually offered:  Spring.

GERO 424 -- Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Perspective  (3 units)
Description:  Biological, psychological, and social issues in aging, including brain changes with age, cognitive change with age, and the social impact of increasingly older population demographics.  This is a Writing Emphasis Course.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  satisfaction of the Mid-Career Writing Assessment (MCWA) or the former upper-division writing proficiency requirement (UDWPE); PSYC 290A or PSYC 290B; PSYC 302 or PSYC 325 or PSYC 360.
Identical to:  PSYC 424; PSYC is home department.
May be convened with:  GERO 524.
Usually offered:  Fall.

GERO 459 -- Adult Development and Aging  (3 units)
Description:  Change and continuity in cognition, personality, and adjustment during adulthood, with emphasis on aging processes and late life.  This is a Writing Emphasis Course.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  satisfaction of the Mid-Career Writing Assessment (MCWA) or the former upper-division writing proficiency requirement (UDWPE); PSYC 290A or PSYC 290B.
Identical to:  PSYC 459; PSYC is home department.
May be convened with:  GERO 559.
Usually offered:  Spring.

GERO 470A -- Human Adaptability  (3 units)
Description:  Study of the means by which humans adjust to their environments through the processes of growth and development. Focus is on physiological, nutritional, and epidemiological factors. Includes discussion of the biology of human aging.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  ANTH 265 or consent of department. ANTH 470A is not prerequisite to ANTH 470B.
Identical to:  ANTH 470A; ANTH is home department.
May be convened with:  GERO 570A.
Usually offered:  Fall.

GERO 498 -- Senior Capstone  (1-3 units)
Description:  A culminating experience for majors involving a substantive project that demonstrates a synthesis of learning accumulated in the major, including broadly comprehensive knowledge of the discipline and its methodologies. Senior standing required.
Grading:  Regular or alternative grades can be awarded for this course: A B C D E or S P C D E.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

GERO 499 -- Independent Study  (1-3 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

GERO 501 -- Life-Span Communication  (3 units)
Description:  This is an advanced course aimed at providing a broad overview of the ways in which communication affects, and is affected by, the aging process from birth to death. We will read research articles relating to life-span communication. During the course I wish to convey as much about research methods and how to read technical prose as much as communication and the life-span. The exams will test students understanding of the articles (in terms of their methodological and statistical content and their information about life-span communication) as well as lecture material. In class we will be discussing the articles, clarifying problems etc. Graduate requirements include additional papers, readings, exams, etc. Graduate papers will be expected to be considerably more in depth as well as more indepth research.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  COMM 501; COMM is home department.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

GERO 513 -- Issues in Aging  (3 units)
Description:  What challenges and opportunities do adults face as they age? What resources and barriers shape their lives? How do physiological, psychological, interpersonal, economic, and socio-historical factors affect the experience of aging? How do gender, social-class, and ethnicity influence the experience of aging? What are existing and optimal policies and services that affect the lives and well-being of older adults? What are effective ways of studying the aging process? How can theories and conceptual frameworks from the fields of psychology, sociology, family studies, anthropology, & biology/medicine help us to make sense of the aging process? These and other related questions reflect the major themes of this course. The course format will include a combination of readings, lecture, discussion, video case studies, guest speakers, in-class oral and written student participation, and an out-of-class written assignment. Students who successfully complete this course will have a strong empirical and conceptual knowledge base regarding issues in aging, and will be able to apply this critical understanding to their professional and personal experiences with older adults. Graduate level requirements include extra required readings and an in-depth term paper.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  FSHD 513; FSHD is home department.
May be convened with:  GERO 413.
Usually offered:  Spring.

GERO 517 -- Vision and Aging  (1 unit)
Description:  This course provides basic information related to visual changes among older adults and how these changes affect function and quality of life. Major topics include population characteristics, eye changes and pathologies, psychosocial responses to visual changes, technological and non-technological adaptations, and service availability.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Usually offered:  Fall.

GERO 524 -- Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Perspective  (3 units)
Description:  Biological, psychological, and social issues in aging, including brain changes with age, cognitive change with age, and the social impact of increasingly older population demographics. Graduate-level requirements include an in-depth research paper on a single aspect of gerontology.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  PSYC 524; PSYC is home department.
May be convened with:  GERO 424.
Usually offered:  Fall.

GERO 528 -- Interpersonal Helping Skills  (1 unit)
Description:  A one-credit, five-week course on ways to facilitate interpersonal communication. Emphasis will be on how to listen to, and communicate with, people at all developmental levels, with special attention to the aged population. The course will include theoretical and practical knowledge. Practice sessions are required to allow students to focus on typical problems.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Usually offered:  Fall.

GERO 531 -- Biomedical and Clinical Aspects of Aging  (3 units)
Description:  This course is designed to provide the student with current information and research on the biomedical aspects of aging, co-morbid conditions, and clinical care using an interdisciplinary approach.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Usually offered:  Summer.

GERO 547 -- Perspectives in Geriatrics Lab  (1 unit)
Description:  contact department.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  PHSC 547; PHSC is home department.
May be convened with:  GERO 847.
Usually offered:  Spring.

GERO 548 -- Perspectives in Geriatrics  (2 units)
Description:  Multidisciplinary approach to the health-care needs of the elderly, including medication use, nutrition, health care agencies and roles of individual health care professionals. Graduate-level requirements include one in-depth research paper on a single topic relevant to geriatric care.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  PHSC 548; PHSC is home department.
May be convened with:  GERO 848.
Usually offered:  Spring.

GERO 559 -- Adult Development and Aging  (3 units)
Description:  Change and continuity in cognition, personality, and adjustment during adulthood, with emphasis on aging processes and late life. Graduate-level requirements include an in-depth research paper on an aspect of a specific psychological problem of the aged.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  PSYC 559; PSYC is home department.
May be convened with:  GERO 459.
Usually offered:  Spring.

GERO 570A -- Human Adaptability  (3 units)
Description:  Study of the means by which humans adjust to their environments through the processes of growth and development. Focus is on physiological, nutritional, and epidemiological factors. Includes discussion of the biology of human aging. Graduate-level requirements include a substantial research paper on a topic appropriate to the subject matter.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  ANTH 570A; ANTH is home department.
May be convened with:  GERO 470A.
Usually offered:  Fall.

GERO 576 -- Communicative Aspects of Aging  (1 unit)
Description:  Hearing, speech, voice, and language changes in the elderly caused by aging and disease. Emphasis on management of these problems.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  SP H 576; SP H is home department.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

GERO 583 -- Issues in Frail Elder Care  (3 units)
Description:  [Taught even-numbered years] Course focuses on issues in providing care to frail elders. Organizational, environmental and interpersonal theory and research concerning a variety of problems is reviewed.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  NURS 583; NURS is home department.
Usually offered:  Spring.

GERO 599 -- Independent Study  (1-6 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

GERO 636 -- Economics of Aging  (3 units)
Description:  Analysis of economic issues and policy as they affect the aging individual, family and society.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  FSHD 636.
Usually offered:  Fall.

GERO 661 -- Research Methodologies I  (3 units)
Description:  This course will expose students to the logic and conduct of research that is aimed at producing generalizable information about human communication. The goal of the course is to develop student's ability to conduct and evaluate social scientific research.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  Consent of instructor.
Identical to:  COMM 661; COMM is home department.
Usually offered:  Fall.

GERO 663 -- Cross-Cultural Aspects of Aging and Health  (3 units)
Description:  This interdisciplinary course focuses on the impact of culture and ethnicity on the provision of healthcare and services for older adults from a variety of cultural and ethnic groups. The course is designed so as to bring disciplines together to discuss clinical and social issues related to health beliefs and practices, and access to and availability of services.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Usually offered:  Fall.

GERO 671 -- Research Methodologies II  (3 units)
Description:  This course will expose students to fundamental and intermediate techniques for the analysis of quantitative data. Descriptive statistics, univariate, and multivariate statistics will be covered throughout the semester. In addition to examining different analytical techniques, students will be exposed to computer programs for statistical analyses.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  Consent of instructor.
Identical to:  COMM 671; COMM is home department.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.

GERO 673 -- Epidemiology of Aging  (3-4 units)
Description:  This is a course in the principles and methods of epidemiology as applied to the study of aging. It assumes basic knowledge of pathophysiology, and epidemiological and biostatistical methods. Major research issues in the Epidemiology of Aging as well as the methods to study them will be presented and discussed. This course will examine concepts including: Trends in aging and the health of aging populations; Health transition, and explanations and consequences of mortality decline; Determinants of health and survival; Distinctions between healthy aging, disease and disability; Health promotion and primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, as applied to older persons; The epidemiology of selected diseases, syndromes and conditions common to old age; The aged health care continuum and how different types of care/ health care systems are used in prevention, intervention and treatment, and supportive care; Special concepts and key methodological considerations for conducting epidemiologic studies of older persons (e.g., cohort effects, age-specific rates, age standardization, use of proxies, appropriate measures, adjusting for comorbidities, and longitudinal analyses), and Practical and ethical issues in the aged as research subjects
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  EPID 673; EPID is home department.
Usually offered:  Spring.

GERO 693 -- Internship  (1-6 units)
Description:  Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

GERO 694 -- Practicum  (1-3 units)
Description:  The practical application, on an individual basis, of previously studied theory and the collection of data for future theoretical interpretation.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

GERO 699 -- Independent Study  (1-6 units)
Description:  Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work. Graduate students doing independent work which cannot be classified as actual research will register for credit under course number 599, 699, or 799.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

For descriptions of medical student electives, see the College of Medicine Electives Manual.

GERO 847 -- Perspectives in Geriatrics Laboratory  (1 unit)
Description:  contact department.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Prerequisite(s):  Concurrent registration, PHPR 848.
Identical to:  PHPR 847; PHPR is home department.
May be convened with:  GERO 547.
Usually offered:  Spring.

GERO 848 -- Perspectives in Geriatrics  (2 units)
Description:  Graduate-level requirements include one in-depth research paper on a single topic relevant to geriatric care. Multidisciplinary approach to the health-care needs of the elderly, including medication use, nutrition, health care agencies and roles of individual health care professionals.
Grading:  Regular grades are awarded for this course: A B C D E.
Identical to:  PHPR 848; PHPR is home department.
May be convened with:  GERO 548.
Usually offered:  Spring.

GERO 900 -- Research  (1-6 units)
Description:  Individual research, not related to thesis or dissertation preparation, by graduate students.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P C D E K.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

GERO 909 -- Master's Report  (1-6 units)
Description:  Individual study or special project or formal report thereof submitted in lieu of thesis for certain master's degrees.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P E K.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

GERO 910 -- Thesis  (1-6 units)
Description:  Research for the master's thesis (whether library research, laboratory or field observation or research, artistic creation, or thesis writing). Maximum total credit permitted varies with the major department.
Grading:  Alternative grades are awarded for this course: S P E K.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring, Summer.

GERO 930 -- Supplementary Registration  (1-9 units)
Description:  For students who have completed all course requirements for their advanced degree programs. May be used concurrently with other enrollments to bring to total number of units to the required minimum.
Grading:  a Grade of K is awarded for this course except for the final term.
May be repeated:  an unlimited number of times, consult your department for details and possible restrictions.
Usually offered:  Fall, Spring.