(PHOENIX, Ariz., July 27, 2004) – After a year-long endeavor of planning that involved focus groups and advisory councils, the Phoenix College Gerontology Department will officially launch its new curriculum, which includes five additional certificate programs and more than a dozen new classes this fall. To officially launch the new programs, the Phoenix College Gerontology Department will hold an open house/program orientation on Wednesday, Aug. 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in C-315.

During the open house/program orientation, attendees will receive information on the new certificate pathways and curriculum. Additionally, one lucky individual attending the event will receive a gift certificate from the Phoenix College Bookstore. Other prizes will be available.

The new programs include:

Gerontology: Foundations
The program will provide instruction in core concepts in aging and service delivery with a focus on health promotion. Additionally, students will consider the psychosocial and biophysical aspects of aging.

Gerontology: Eldercare
Gerontology: Eldercare will provide practical in-depth consideration of concerns associated with the therapeutic care of elders in the home, community and institutional settings, including dementia care, activity programming and legal issues. It will also include experience in different settings/activities to enhance skills.

Gerontology: Aging Services Management
The program will focus on practical in-depth consideration of management issues including strategies for personnel management, techniques for addressing executive management issues, and practice creating, interpreting and using budgets. Additionally the program will address public policy and will include the instruction on preparing written proposals for aging services.

Gerontology: Program Development
Gerontology: Program Development will provide practical in-depth analysis of activity programming for older adults and special populations. The program will also address management issues and provide practice reading and interpreting budgets. Students will als obtain experience in different settings/activities to enhance skills.

Gerontology: Generalist
The program will provide practical in-depth consideration of a variety of issues in gerontology and the provision of aging services, including dementia care, activity programming, legal aspects of aging, and public policy and advocacy. It will also give students experience in different settings/activities to enhance skills.

The revised program is designed to permit increased options for students while addressing the needs of constituencies in the aging services network and the larger community within Arizona. As a result of this restructuring, the college now offers advanced certificates that permit specialization in eldercare, program development and management. Additionally, any of the advanced certificates serves as a pathway to an Associate in Applied Science degree in Gerontology.

The open house/program orientation is free and open to members of the public. Those interested in this area of study are encouraged to attend. For additional information, please call (602) 285-7193.

###