Portrait of Emma Lewis (white woman), a student of applied gerontology standing outside of Chapman Hall

The social work minor in aging provides an opportunity for undergraduate social work students to obtain skills and knowledge in gerontology.

Prepare to work in medical settings, hospice, long-term care and rehabilitation facilities, home and community-based services, behavioral health, corrections, criminal justice, research and policy analysis, and more.

Program Type

Minor

Program Format

On Campus

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Social Work Minor in Aging

This social work minor in aging is housed within the Helen Bader Office of Applied Gerontology and offers students a community through events and student-led groups.

The Helen Bader Age & Community Scholarship provides financial support for students pursuing a minor focused on gerontology.

Portrait of young white woman with brown hair and deep gold sweather sitting on campus representing the Social Work Minor in Aging.
Emma Lewis explains how the minor in aging prepared her to work with older adults.

Older adults are living longer than at any other time in history — by 2035, they will outnumber children.

Our social work minor in aging prepares and trains social work students to meet the needs of older adults. Classroom training culminates in a field practicum at an agency that serves older adults. In this setting, a field instructor supports students as they apply the knowledge learned in the classroom and acquire direct practice skills through interacting with clients. This prepares students to work with the aging population after graduation.

Required CoursesCredits
SOC WRK 250: Human Behavior and the Social Environment3
SOC WRK 421: Field Education & Integrated Field Seminar I5
SOC WRK 422: Field Education & Integrated Seminar II5
Electives (Choose three courses from those listed below)9
SOC WRK 300: Aged to Perfection: Introduction to the Study of Aging
SOC WRK 564: Social Services for the Aging
SOC WRK 680: Death and Dying
SOC WRK 685: Social Gerontology
Total Credits22
Headshot of white woman with necklace and purple sweater.
  • Clinical Assistant Professor, Social Work
  • Field Liaison, Social Work Field Program
  • Coordinator of Education & Programming, Applied Gerontology