  |
|
The Golden Years: New Opportunities Canada’s population is aging. By the year 2020, nearly one quarter of our population will be over the age of 60. People are living longer, healthier, and more productive lives, and that’s changing our perceptions of aging. At one time aging conjured up images of failing health, isolation, and lack of purpose, however this is not an inevitable part of aging. This phenomenon is creating a host of career opportunities for people with a background in gerontology — for people who understand the elderly, their needs, and the issues that affect them. Gerontology is a field of study that examines adult development and aging and the issues that affect older persons — the frail and the healthy. It examines human aging from a variety of perspectives — sociological, psychological, physical, spiritual and philosophical. It provides a new understanding of what it means to age and how the aging process can be seen as a positive progression in human development and self-fulfilment. At the same time, it’s allowing health care practitioners, social workers, ministers and those who live and work with older people to develop the skills they need to help seniors lead healthy, productive lives. The St. Thomas Advantage A leader in the field of gerontology, St. Thomas University has pioneered the development and delivery of programmes in aging. Our gerontology certificate was one of the first in Atlantic Canada. Our double major in gerontology is one of only two comprehensive Canadian undergraduate programmes in aging. Our Bachelor of Applied Arts in Gerontology (BAAG) degree is the only programme of its kind in the country. Campus resources that complement and support these programmes include the Third Age Centre and the Chair in Gerontology. Together, these resources engage in research activities and provide community-based programming to seniors, volunteers, caregivers, and professionals employed in aging-related fields. Three Programmes Meeting Three Distinct Needs Each of St. Thomas University’s three gerontology programmes is tailored to respond to the needs of a distinct group of students. The double major is intended for students who plan to further their education in gerontology at professional or graduate schools. The applied arts programme leads specifically to applied practice in the field of gerontology. The certificate in gerontology is a professional-development programme for students who have had a minimum of one year of work experience in the field of aging. Bachelor of Arts The double major combines the study of gerontology with a concentration in one of the traditional liberal arts disciplines. It challenges students to develop a conceptual framework that places the knowledge of a relatively new field of study within a broader context. It also provides students an opportunity to obtain first-hand experience in working with and for seniors and to report on their experiences. It leads to careers in law, medicine, social work and various other professions. Graduates also contribute as planners and administrators in gerontology related careers in both the government and private sector. Students declare the gerontology major at the end of their second year of the Bachelor of Arts degree programme if they have successfully completed the compulsory introductory courses: GERO 2013 Introduction to Gerontology and GERO 2023 Multidisciplinary Issues in Aging. A minimum of six full-year courses or the equivalent in compulsory and elective gerontology courses is required for the major. In addition to these courses, students majoring in gerontology complete 50 hours of volunteer or employment activities in the field of aging prior to graduation. The Bachelor of Applied Arts Programme The Bachelor of Applied Arts in Gerontology (BAAG) is offered by St. Thomas University in collaboration with the New Brunswick Community College-Saint John (NBCC-Saint John). The programme provides quality liberal arts education, a theoretical foundation in gerontology, human-services training, and hands-on experience in the design and delivery of services to the elderly. It responds to the demand for university graduates with the knowledge base and technical skills for “applied practice” in the field of gerontology. The Bachelor of Applied Arts in Gerontology is a four-year degree program. In the first two years students take a combination of gerontology and other liberal arts courses at St. Thomas University. In third year, students enroll full time at NBCC-Saint John and receive intensive, job-specific training in various areas related to the field of gerontology. Third-year field placements provide practical experience in the delivery of services to the elderly. In fourth year, students return to St. Thomas to complete their studies. A Certificate Programme for Practitioners The University’s certificate programme gives those who have worked in the field of aging an opportunity to develop a new understanding of their role as caregivers and facilitators. The programme is part-time and consists of at least six full-year courses or the equivalent, three-and-one-half of which are required. The rest are elective. With the exception of the research methods course, which is required only of students in the BA programme, the gerontology course requirements for the certificate are identical to those of the gerontology major. Gaining Admission to Gerontology Programmes • The Bachelor of Arts Programme • Regular admission requirements for St. Thomas University’s Bachelor of Arts degree programme apply. The application deadline for September admission is March 31. Applications must include: Students applying under the adult learner admissions policy should also include a letter to the Admissions Office describing educational background, work experience and academic plans. • Bachelor of Applied Arts • Students interested in pursuing a BAA in Gerontology must first register in the Bachelor of Arts degree programme where they spend their first two years of study taking courses in gerontology and in the other liberal arts. Applications for the Bachelor of Applied Arts (Gerontology), which is a limited-enrolment programme, are made to the Registrar’s Office in the student’s second year of study. • The Certificate Programme • Candidates must have had at least one year’s experience in the field of aging to be considered for admission to the certificate programme. They must either have successfully completed a university preparatory program in high school or satisfy the University’s requirements as an adult learner — be at least 21 years of age and provide evidence that would suggest the ability to succeed at university. In addition to the application materials required of applicants to the BA, certificate candidates must submit: (a)
a resume of their experience in the field of aging; Find out more about St. Thomas: Admissions Office Request for information and/or application to be sent by mail. To find out more use the following link:
|