Center for Studies in Aging Main Office Chilton Hall, 273 P.O. Box 13438 Denton, TX 76203-6438 (817) 565-2765 Student Advising Office Chilton Hall, 273B (817) 565-3449 Richard A. Lusky, Director Graduate Faculty: Fairchild, Ingman, John, Lusky, Turner, Yeatts. The Center for Studies in Aging offers graduate programs leading to the following degrees: -Master of Arts, and -Master of Science, both with majors in administration of long-term care and retirement facilities, administration of aging organizations and studies in aging. The primary objective of the degree programs is to provide preparation for professionals in the field of aging. Programs prepare students to be administrators of long-term care and retirement facilities, home health care agencies and therapeutic day care centers; to participate in the planning, coordination and administration of public and private programs in aging; and to hold aging-related positions in business and industry. University library holdings in gerontology are extensive as a result of systematic acquisitions beginning in the early 1960s. In addition, the nationally recognized Gerontological Film Collection, available through the Media Library, holds more than 400 titles. Opportunities for research assistantships for qualified graduate students are available. In addition, the Gerontology Assessment and Planning Program, operated jointly by the center and the UNT Health Science Center at Fort Worth, affords students the opportunity to interact directly with older people, their family members and professionals in the aging network. Students in other fields may minor in studies in aging at the master's or doctoral level. Research Research at the Center for Studies in Aging is concerned with various social, psychological and policy aspects of aging. Faculty members currently are investigating employee job performance in nursing homes, impact of leadership on culture of nursing homes and retirement communities, development of support ratios as indicators of the impact of elderly migration settlement, development of databases and models for community services planning, geriatric programs in community health centers, the low-income minority elderly, American Indian elderly, and aging and developmental disability. Major funding sources for these research investigations include the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Gerontological Society of America, the National Center for Health Services, the Texas Rehabilitation Commission and the U.S. Administration on Aging. Degree Programs The center offers graduate programs leading to the following degrees: -Master of Arts, and -Master of Science, both with majors in administration of long-term care and retirement facilities, administration of aging organizations and studies in aging. Master of Arts and Master of Science Admission Requirements Applicants for admission must meet all general admission requirements of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. GPA requirements are described in the Admission section of this catalog. Application also must be made to the Center for Studies in Aging. A total combined verbal and quantitative score of at least 800 on the aptitude section of the Graduate Record Examination must be submitted, including a score of at least 400 on the verbal section. No specific undergraduate major is required. However, 3 hours of social gerontology are a prerequisite for all master's degree candidates, and 6 hours of undergraduate accounting (ACCT 2010 and 2020, or equivalent) are prerequisites for degree candidates majoring in administration of long-term care and retirement facilities. These prerequisites may be taken concurrently with courses applying to the master's degree. General Degree Requirements All majors require completion of 45 graduate hours, including 39 hours of course work and 6 hours (approximately seven months) of a supervised internship in an appropriate facility serving the elderly. Internship placements are available nationwide under the preceptorship of experienced professionals. Students must complete one problem in lieu of thesis for 3 hours credit. (A second problem in lieu of thesis may be substituted for another 3 hours of course work.) Students with extensive practitioner experience may be allowed to substitute additional course work for the internship. Only 6 hours of course work at the 4000 level are permitted. Master's degree candidates must pass a written comprehensive examination. Candidates for the MA degree must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language (normally French, German or Spanish). See the "Foreign Language Requirement" heading in Master's Degree Requirements section of this catalog for further details. Master of Arts and Master of Science Administration of Long-Term Care and Retirement Facilities Required courses: CSAG 5300, 5400, 5600, 5710, 5780, 5810, 5840, 5850, 5860 and 5930. Minor in business administration (required): ACCT 5130, BLAW 5050 or 5600, FINA 5040, MGMT 5070. Requests for course substitutions are considered on an individual basis and may be approved if warranted by the student's academic background and/or professional experience. Master of Arts and Master of Science Administration of Aging Organizations Required courses: CSAG 5710, 5780, 5840, 5850, 5860 and 5930. Other CSAG courses totaling at least 27 semester hours will be selected in consultation with the student's adviser. Master of Arts and Master of Science Studies in Aging Required courses: CSAG 5710, 5780, 5840, 5850, 5860 and 5930. Minor (optional): Students majoring in studies in aging may choose 6 to 12 semester hours in a minor field such as business administration, psychology, sociology, rehabilitation studies, health promotion, recreation or other areas of special interest. Other CSAG courses totaling 15 to 27 hours will be selected in consultation with the student's adviser. Minor in Studies in Aging Students in other fields may choose studies in aging for a minor. CSAG 5700, 5710, 5780 and 5860 are required for minor students, with additional courses to be chosen in consultation between the student and minor professor. Other Advanced Study The center offers an 18-hour Specialist Certificate in Aging, and conducts summer and winter institutes primarily for people employed in the field of aging. Students enrolled in the regular program may enroll for a maximum of 6 hours in these institutes. Minority Aging Research Institute Robert K. John, Director The mission of the Minority Aging Research Institute (MARI) at the Center for Studies in Aging is to increase scholarly and public awareness of contemporary aging issues facing ethnic minority communities at the local, state and national levels. MARI is the only university-endorsed program in Texas that combines gerontology and minority aging concerns and research. Both graduate and undergraduate students are involved in MARI's research and training efforts, and MARI staff are engaged in a variety of minority aging research projects. Courses of Instruction All Courses of Instruction are located in one section at the back of this catalog.