These facts spell opportunity for you
- Average life expectancy in 1900: 47 years
- Average life expectancy in 2000: 76 years
- Percentage of Americans over the age of 65 in 1900: 4%
- Percentage of Americans over the age of 65 in 2000: 13%
- Predicted percentage of Americans over the age of 65 in 2030: 20%
- Predicted number of Americans over the age of 65 in 2030: 70 million
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These facts generate a question. Does our society have the necessary number of professionals to assist the ever-increasing aging population? The answer is “NO.” And this answer leads to career opportunities for you.
So what is gerontology?
Gerontology is the study of the aging process as individuals grow from middle age through later life. It includes:
- the study of physical, mental, and social changes in older people as they age;
- the investigation of the changes in society resulting from our aging population; and
- the application of this knowledge to the development of various programs and policies to assist the aging.
What is gerontology at St. Bonaventure?
There are three major reasons why studying gerontology at St. Bonaventure is different than any other college or university in the country. First, you will be studying at a center rather than an academic department. The Bogoni Center for Aging Studies at St. Bonaventure not only offers you an integrated academic experience, but opportunities to hear a variety of our guest speakers, and attend our sponsored conferences.
Secondly, because The Center performs research for outside institutions, you will have the opportunity to assist in that research as well as perform your own. You will do this in the Bogoni Center computer laboratory dedicated only to center students.
Thirdly, our academic program is tailored to a holistic approach, rather than “straight” gerontology. That is, aside from traditional gerontology courses, you will enroll in courses in spirituality and philosophy. Our emphasis on spirituality and philosophy within health delivery reflects what is termed the "palliative approach" to medicine and is just beginning to effect medical practice in the United States. You will graduate with a cutting edge degree.
What will I learn?
- How and why different cultures treat older people differently
- How and why cognitive changes affect older people
- How and why psychological changes affect older people
- How and why spiritual and philosophical commitments positively affect older people
- How and why government policies affect the condition of older people and how these policies can be improved
- How and why exercise affects the aging population
- How and why nutrition affects the aging population
- And much, much more!
How will I learn?
The Bogoni Center for Aging Studies at St. Bonaventure offers a setting to study gerontology unlike any other in the United States. Because we are a center rather than a traditional academic department, we are able to integrate into a comprehensive educational experience traditional classroom subjects, significant and important research skills and experience, field experience in an internship program, and exposure to experts in the field through our conference and speakers program.
During your four years at St. Bonaventure you will enroll in classes covering sociological, psychological, philosophical, biological, physical, cultural, and spiritual aspects of the field. During the same time, you will take this knowledge and apply it in a research setting utilizing state of art computers and programs in the center’s own computer laboratory.
Finally, you will serve an internship, which will enable you to work in the field itself at local hospitals, retirement centers, nursing homes, government agencies, Hospice, etc. Upon graduation, this integrated approach to learning, which combines the classroom, research and hands on experience will greatly enhance your access to the job market and/or graduate school.
For more information...
Contact the director of the Aging Studies/Gerontology Program, Dr. James Moor.