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Gerontology
間眅埶AV Requirements
間眅埶AV to the doctor of philosophy (PhD) program will require a gerontology master’s degree or a master’s degree from another discipline in which a significant amount of course work and/or thesis/project research deals with aging or the aged. Applicants will be evaluated on an individual basis. Those not meeting these requirements will need to complete preparatory course work that is equivalent to a master’s in gerontology or aging studies. It is recommended that applicants have a minimum 3.5 grade point average (GPA). In addition, there must be supervisory capacity in the department to support the candidate’s dissertation research.
In addition to program requirements, applicants will meet University admission requirements to a doctoral program as stated in the 1.3.4.
Supervisory Committee
A senior supervisor is assigned to each student upon doctoral program admission. Three additional committee members and will be added by the end of the first year. At least two supervisory committee members must be members of the Department of Gerontology. This can include the senior supervisor.
Program Requirements
Doctoral students complete five GERO graduate courses (see Course Requirements section below) but may be required to complete up to seven additional courses if deemed necessary by the admissions committee. Two courses will be related to one of two streams that the student has selected as an area of expertise: environment and aging; or health and aging. Two courses will be methods/statistics courses, and one course will be a required theory course. (See for course descriptions.)
After completing of course work, students will also write and defend a dissertation.
Course Requirements
Environment and Aging Stream
This course presents an in-depth examination of theory, research and policy related to planning, designing, developing and managing housing for independent and semi-independent older adults.
This course focuses on design issues, theory, research and policy relevant to planning, developing and managing institutional living environments for dependent adults.
Critically evaluates and synthesizes key theory, research and health promotion policy related to the intersection of aging families, communities and health. The principal theoretical perspectives will include: life course theory; social, human and cultural capital; ecological models; political economy; and community empowerment approaches. Equivalent Courses: GERO840.
Looks at the way information and communication technologies are transforming social and healthcare landscapes and explores how new technology impacts on the independence, social participation and quality of life of older people.
Health and Aging Stream
This course presents an in-depth examination of theory, research and policy related to planning, designing, developing and managing housing for independent and semi-independent older adults.
This course focuses on design issues, theory, research and policy relevant to planning, developing and managing institutional living environments for dependent adults.
Critically evaluates and synthesizes key theory, research and health promotion policy related to the intersection of aging families, communities and health. The principal theoretical perspectives will include: life course theory; social, human and cultural capital; ecological models; political economy; and community empowerment approaches. Equivalent Courses: GERO840.
Looks at the way information and communication technologies are transforming social and healthcare landscapes and explores how new technology impacts on the independence, social participation and quality of life of older people.
Required Methods/Statistics Courses
Student complete any two of
This course deals with the design, implementation and evaluation of health promotion programs and services for older persons. Students will participate in the development and critical analysis of a variety of health initiatives aimed at healthful aging.
This course has been specifically designed to provide training in quantitative data analysis using SPSSx Programming Language with a focus on behavioral research problems in gerontology.
Examines qualitative research methods used in social science research with special emphasis on gerontology. Specific focus will be placed on conducting interviews and participant-observations; field-notes, analyzing text-based data; and writing of qualitative studies.
* or equivalent courses
Required Theory Course
Reviews major theories used in gerontology from diverse fields covering the individual and society, including environment and aging; health and aging; social and family relationships; social change; and behavioural change. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the fundamental assumptions of human aging experience underlying the theories; critical assessment of theoretical propositions; research evidence; and potential for synthesis.
Students may substitute up to three courses from other programs (especially the Faculty of Health Sciences) with departmental approval. Students may also complete one directed studies (GERO 889).
Comprehensive Examinations
After completion of all course work with a GPA of at least 3.25, students will write two comprehensive examinations based on reading lists developed with their supervisory committee.
One exam will cover the substantive literature in the dissertation field. The second will be determined by the supervisory committee based on the current and anticipated research needs of the student. It will typically cover one or a combination of the following: a secondary area of gerontological knowledge; design and methods; or theoretical knowledge.
A student who fails a comprehensive exam will have one chance for re-examination. Failure to pass a second time will result in immediate withdrawal from the program. On the first set of comprehensive examinations, the supervisory committee may require that the student orally defend their comprehensive examination if clarification or elaboration is required to determine a pass or fail based on the written material. All re-examinations will require that the student orally defend their comprehensive examination. When the exams are successfully completed, the student must successfully defend their dissertation proposal before being officially admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree.
Dissertation
Students write and successfully defend a dissertation prospectus in accordance with 1.9.4 and 1.10.1.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the (residence, course work, academic progress, supervision, research competence requirement, completion time, and degree completion), as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled, as shown above.
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