Florida State University Graduate Bulletin 2007-2009
Certificate Program in the Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy
College of Social Sciences
Director and Rod and Hope Brim Eminent Scholar in Economics: David MacPherson (Economics); Mildred and Claude Pepper Eminent Scholar Chair: Quadagno (Sociology); Professors: Barrilleaux (Political Science), Bourgeois (Communication Disorders), Brummel-Smith (Medicine), Charness (Psychology), Fournier (Economics), Weissert (Political Science); Associate Professor: Reynolds (Sociology); Assistant Professors: Barrett, (Sociology), Bokhari (Economics), Dijkstra (Psychology); Rohlinger (Sociology); Affiliates: Brooks, Cowart, Ebener, Ferris, Hinterlong, Kelly, LaPointe, Licht, Lloyd, Miles, Nilsson, Ouimet, Panton, Pomidor, Sachs-Ericsson, Taylor, Thomas, Vinton, Wolfson
The Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy serves as a focal point for aging research and education on the campus of Florida State University. Resources are devoted to supporting individual and collaborative faculty research projects and funding graduate student education. Research activities include health policy; access to health care and health care financing; aging and social change; income security, work and retirement; social welfare and social security reform; end-of-life issues; Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers; and successful aging. Faculty associates and affiliates from many other colleges are also involved in research activities in cognitive aging, elder abuse, the delivery of social services to older clients, the role of nutrition and exercise in improving the functioning of older people and technology and aging.
The Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy offers special public lectures and conferences as well as an exceptional education outreach program for older adults, The Academy at FSU. Through public education and outreach, the Pepper Institute seeks to teach each new generation the importance of life-long learning and the value of service to others. The Pepper Institute is located in the Pepper Center, which houses state-of-the-art research facilities, a computer lab, conference rooms, and faculty offices.
Master's Degree in Aging Studies
The Master of Science in Aging Studies is an interdisciplinary program offered by the College of Social Sciences. The program prepares graduates to assume professional leadership positions in research, administration, planning, implementation and evaluation of programs designed to improve the lives of older adults and their families. Special opportunities exist for studying a wide range of areas, including pension and income security, health policy, access to health care and health care financing, social welfare and social security reform, end-of-life issues, aging and social policy, and successful aging.
Admission to the Program
The program admits students with a minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited program. Admission criteria include a cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and a minimum score of 1000 on the combined verbal and quantitative portions of the general aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE.) For students for whom English is a second language, a TOFEL score of 550 (213 on the computer based version) is necessary.
Program Options
The program offers three concentrations—Aging Policy, Evaluation and Research; Administration in Aging; and Health Care and Aging.
- The Aging Policy, Evaluation and Research concentration prepares graduates entering both the private and public sectors to organize, evaluate, and manage information and programs designed to facilitate access to services for the elderly. Graduates will develop the analytical skills necessary to initiate research projects, analyze data, evaluate programs and recommend changes in aging polices for both Florida and the nation.
- The Administration in Aging concentration prepares graduates for leadership in the private and public sectors, to develop and administer programs that enhance services and quality of life for older adults. Graduates will gain an understanding of the special needs and concerns of elders and will learn the administrative skills necessary to manage and evaluate the effectiveness of alternative methods for providing services.
- The Health Care and Aging concentration focuses on the growing interest in health care issues. Long-term care, end-of-life issues, assisted living, and Alzheimer's disease are a few of the special interest areas that students have an opportunity to explore in depth. Graduates develop an understanding of the national health policy system including Medicare and Medicaid and how our national health policy affects the health care of older adults.
Course of Study
The program builds upon a core set of requirements, totaling eighteen (18) semester hours, that reflect the basic skills necessary to administer and evaluate programs and data for aging related professional positions.
A six (6) semester hour graduate field practicum is required for the Master in Aging Studies degree. The practicum provides students with a supervised work experience in a professional organization involved in research, training, or direct service in aging. Students may choose to complete a research thesis in lieu of the graduate field practicum.
For elective course work students will take twelve (12) semester hours selected from a list of eligible academic courses provided for each concentration. A total of thirty-six (36) semester hours earned at a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, with a maximum of three (3) semester hours taken S/U, are required for graduation. Additional courses may be available. Please check with the Master's Administrator.
Core Courses
Eighteen (18) semester hours required of all Master's in Aging Studies students.
General Aging (select two)
MHS 6938 Special Topics in Counseling Psychology [Social Psychology of Aging] (3)
PSY 5916 Research Topics in Psychology [Adult Development and Aging] (3)
SOW 5646 Aging and Old Age (3)
SYA 6933 Selected Topics in Sociology [Aging Policy Planning and Services] (3)
SYP 5735 Sociology of Aging (3)
Economics (select one)
ECO 5936 Special Topics [Economics of Aging] (3)
ECO 5936 Special Topics in Economics [Economics of Health] (3)
PAD 5227 Managing Public Financial Resources (3)
Methods (select two)
Students are advised to take both of their Methods courses in the same program.
Methods I (select one)
PAD 5700 Research Design in Public Administration (3)
SYA 5345 Introduction to Research Methods (3)
URP 5201 Techniques of Planning Analysis I: Research and Evaluation (3)
Methods II (select one)
PAD 5701 Quantitative Analysis in Public Administration (3)
SYA 5455 Social Statistics and Data Analysis (3)
URP 5211 Methods of Planning Analysis II: Statistics (3)
Policy (select one)
POS 5456 Interest Groups and Policy (3)
PUP 5005 Public Policy: Institutions and Processes (3)
PUP 5007 Models of Public Policy-Making (3)
URP 5530 Policy and Planning for the Aging (3)
Elective Courses
Twelve (12) Credit Hours required. With the consent of their adviser, students will select courses that meet the needs of their chosen area of concentration.
Aging Policy, Evaluation, and Research Concentration
ECO 5936 Special Topics [Economics of Aging] (3)
PAD 5327 Public Program Evaluation (3)
PAD 6108 Institutions, Policy & Management (3)
POS 5127 State Government and Politics (3)
PUP 5007 Models of Public Policy-Making (3)
SYA 6933 Selected Topics in Sociology [Aging Policy Planning and Services] (3)
SYO 5545 Social Institutions and Complex Organizations (3)
URP 5530 Policy Planning for the Aging (3)
Administration in Aging Concentration
ECO 5936 Special Topics [Economics of Aging] (3)
MAN 5205 Organization Theory (3)
MAN 5206 Organizational Behavior (3)
MAN 5305 Personnel/Human Resource Management (3)
PAD 5417 Human Resource Management (3)
PSY 5916 Selected Research Topics [Adult Development and Aging[ (3)
PSY 6919 Seminar in Current Research Topics [Age and Human Performance] (3)
SYA 6933 Selected Topics in Sociology [Aging Policy Planning and Services] (3)
URP 5530 Policy Planning for the Aging (3)
Health Care and Aging Concentration
ECO 5936 Special Topics [Economics of Health] (3)
ECP 5536 Seminar in Health Economics (3)
NGR 5930 Special Topics in Nursing [Advanced Practice Approach to Gerontology] (3)
SOW 5156 Emotional and Social Aspects of Illness (3)
SYA 6933 Selected Topics [Social Psychology of Aging] (3)
SYD 5215 Mortality (3)
SYO 5405 Health Institutions and Social Policy (3)
URP 5520 The American Health System (3)
URP 5522 Regulatory Aspects of Health Care (3)
Internship or Thesis Required of All Students
Six (6) Credit Hours required to complete the degree.
ISS 5945 Practicum in Aging Studies (3-6)
Certificate in Aging Studies
The Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy administers a graduate Certificate in Aging Studies on behalf of the College of Social Sciences. The certificate offers opportunities for interdisciplinary education in aging studies and provides an educational credential that documents the additional training and experience that the student has received in the field of aging. This is recorded on the student's official university transcript. To earn the graduate Certificate in Aging Studies, students must complete a total of twelve (12) semester hours and satisfy the requirements in both course work and a practicum in aging studies.
- Students should complete nine (9) semester hours of course work selected from a list of approved aging studies courses. No more than two courses may be taken in the student's major area of study; at least one course must be taken through another department. Approved courses offered for the upcoming semester are listed on the Pepper Institute Web site at http://www.pepperinstitute.org. Select the "Certificate Program" link to view the current semester's approved course listing.
- To complete the internship, students should enroll in ISS 5945, Internship.
Selected Course Offerings
ADE 5193 Education and Training in Gerontology (3)
ISS 5945 Internship (3–6)
ISS 5930r Special Topics in Social Science (1–3)
MHS 6938r Special Topics in Counseling Psychology (3)
NGR 5255 Dynamics of Aging (3)
PSY 6919r Seminar in Current Research Topics (1–3)
SOW 5156 Social and Emotional Aspects of Illness (3)
SOW 5646 Aging and Old Age: Social Work with the Aged (3)
SYP 5735 Sociology of Aging (3)
SYP 5737 The Dynamics of Aging and Social Change (3)
URP 5520 The US Health Care System (3)
URP 5522 Regulatory Aspects of Health Care (3)
URP 5530 Policy and Planning for the Aged (3)
Other opportunities for graduate education in the field of aging are available through cooperative programs with various academic departments. For further information, see the appropriate chapter in this Graduate Bulletin. For information, contact slampman@fsu.edu or (850) 644-3520.