This course is designed to provide the student with the means to develop an understanding of the  psychological aspects of aging.  There will be an emphasis on normal psychological changes that take place during the aging process as well as mental health pathologies that impact the elderly.

Overall Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. Describe the psychological, cognitive, physical and social changes that accompany aging.
2. Identify mental health diagnoses that impact older adults.
3. Explain the courses of treatment for mental health diagnoses that impact older adults
4. Compare and contrast stategies that have been shown to contribute to successful psychological health during aging.
5. Identify the physical, emotional, and psychosocial problems related to the normal aging process.
6. Identify the role of work and retirement that impact mental health.
7. Explain the current theories of personality development in late adulthood and theories of successful aging.

Top of Page

Major Course Topics

• Mental Health & Aging
• Retirement
• Mental Health Diagnoses
• Retirement
• Death & Dying
• Caregiving
• Cognitive Health & Aging

Top of Page

Course Format

• Is not self-paced.
• The Schedule of Assignments lists deadlines for all course reading, homework assignments, quizzes and exams.
• This schedule is posted within the course and is available for students all semester.
• Does not require on-campus meetings, except it may have a proctored exam in the HCC Test Center.  (For more information, see the "Exam" section below.)
• Does not require real-time chats.
• The communications will take place through e-mail and scheduled posted threaded discussion questions (weekly).

Top of Page

Orientation

This course has no required face-to-face orientation.

Top of Page

Course Requirements

Review the “What you should know before you register” section of the Distance Learning home page.

•  Two papers and two examinations

Top of Page

Texts and Materials Required:

Textbook information:  To visit our bookstore's online sales site, please visit www.howardccbooks.com and follow the instructions for selecting textbooks.

Technical Requirements and Plug-Ins:

Review the Technical Requirements link above. The following plug-ins are required for this course:

• Acrobat Viewer
• Internet Explorer
• PowerPoint Viewer, if you don’t have the full version of Microsoft PowerPoint
• Word Viewer, if you don’t have the full version of Microsoft Word

Top of Page

Exams

For purposes of verification and assessing learning outcomes, this course may have online testing or proctored exams at the HCC Test Center for students in the local region or at a regional institution for remote students. The exam will have a flexible window of time during which it needs to be taken rather than a single date and time.

If you have any questions or comments about this class, please send a message to

Jennifer FitzPatrick; jfitzpatrick@howardcc.edu

Last updated on 8-April-12
© Howard Community College, 2000

 Top of Page | Online Courses Home | Distance Learning Home | HCC Home