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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
This course is open to those with the following qualifications:
1.Any diploma or degree holder interested in this field of study.
2.‘A’ Level or K.A.C.E and its equivalent
3.At least a C Grade at K.C.S.E or Division 3 at K.C.E or its equivalent
4.Holders of Division 4 or Grade D+ with five years experience and holders of a certificate in related fields from recognized institutions will only be considered after passing an entry examination.
5.Applicants from non-commonwealth countries will have their qualifications appraised to Kenyan equivalent.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
SEMESTER I
SOC/DGR 010:Social and Cultural Context of Ageing (Core)
Introduction to social gerontology. Ageing of populations and societies. The social environment and ageing. Older persons in past and contemporary societies. The sub-culture of  ageing: stereotypes, norms and constraints. Urban versus Rural ageing. Age stratification and conflicts. Socialization and social roles. Ageing and role transitions. Comparisons of ageing in different societies. Gender and Ageism.
SOC/DGR 011:Family Relations and Ageing (Core)
Introduction to the concept of family. Theories of the family. Family in past and contemporary society. The family life cycle; parents, adolescents and adult children. Old age and the family: Grand motherhood and fatherhood. Ageing in different family systems. Older persons in marital context: never married, married, divorced, widowed, remarried. Older persons and family roles: social, economic, psychological and cultural. Older persons: social status, family tensions and conflicts. Rural versus urban family relations. Ageing in the context of social change in Africa.
SOC/DGR 012:Population and the Ageing (Core)
Conceptual models of ageing populations. Global and national patterns of ageing. The role of older persons and their support within changing family structures in developed and developing countries. Demographic features of  ageing: mortality, fecundity and migration. Ageing among men and women in developing and developed nations. Economic and social implications of population of ageing.  Critic on policies of ageing. Future world trends in ageing.
SOC/DGR 013:The Physiology of Ageing (core)
Defining Physiology and related terms. Physiological alterations with age. Heart rate and blood pressure, respiratory efficiency of older persons.  Joints, flexibility, muscular and cardiovascular endurance training for older persons.  Benefits of exercise for older adults.
SOC/DGR 014:Socio-economic Issues in Ageing
Introduction to principles of economics. Employment structures and older persons. Demographic structure and transition, life expectancy and death rates, retirement: savings and retirement behaviour. Insurance issues: concept of pension and income security. Economic activities: production in agriculture, rural and urban informal activities. Economics of health. Social welfare. Spending, leisure resources. International comparisons of older persons incomes.
SOC/DGR 015:Health and The Ageing Process
Concept of health and wholeness. Theories of health. Health and illness. Society and medicine, Diseases affecting older persons: chronic illness, endemic diseases. Symptoms and symptom experiences, Physical and mental health among older persons. Health behaviour, culture and society, health habits and lifestyles. Family and health care for  older persons. Life expectancy and mortality rates. Preventive health behaviour. Pain management: physiotherapy, psychotherapy and drug therapy.

SOC/DGR 016 – Ageing in Rural and Urban Contexts
Understanding ageing as a social process. Ageing in industrial and agrarian societies. Rural and urban ageing: social and demographic dimensions. Levels, nature, grading, behaviour, characteristics of ageing and ageism.  Income and continuum of care for rural and urban older persons.  Challenges of growing old in rural and urban settings. Transportation challenges in rural and urban contexts. Shelter for older persons: housing and living arrangements for older persons in rural and urban areas. Institutional versus home-based care for older persons. Community roles of older persons in rural and urban settings.
SEMESTER II
SOC/DGR 020:The Psychology of Ageing  (Core)
Definitions:  Self, personality, perceptions and attitudes.  Ageing and the realization of the self.  Perceptions of older persons.  Emotions, personality and ageing.  Some special characteristics of older persons.  Socialization into adult roles. Moral issues. Physiological and intellectual changes.  Concept of successful old age.  Life review: orientations and reconciliation. Psychopathology of older persons. Functional disorders.  Ageing and psychological disorders: stress, anxiety, paranoia, depression, anger, violence, dependency syndrome, eating disorders, personality fragility, pervasions and mental illness. Counseling with older persons: Psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.
SOC/DGR 021: Research Methodology in Gerontology (Core)
Importance of research in Ageing, the rules and logics of scientific research, the role of theory in searching for ageing problems. Research design and sampling.  Approaches in research: qualitative, quantitative, triangulation, macro and micro, experimental research, social survey, opinion polls, historical, comparative, longitudinal, panel, cohort, trend analysis, cross-section and case studies. Formulation of hypothesis and research questions.  Applying theory: the cohort size and life chance. Participatory research with older people.  Writing a research report.
SOC/DGR 022:Theories of Ageing (Core)
Meaning and principles of theory. Overview of theories including structural-functionalism, economic determinism, evolutionary, biological determinism, activity and disengagement theories. Macro level theories of ageing, Models of ageing.
Social change and ageing.
SOC/DGR 023:Ageing, Religion and Spirituality
Different religious systems: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and African traditional religion. Ageing and religion: religious beliefs as coping mechanism in old age. Ageing and morality. Role of religion in dealing with anxiety, sickness, dying and death.  Religion and the interpretation of old age roles and care giving.  Conflicts of cultural and religious expectations of older persons.  Older persons and religious specialists.
SOC/DGR 024:Gender Issues and Ageing
Definitions: sex, gender, sexuality. Cultures of Ageing: self, citizen, the body. Gender issues in the household: older married and unmarried couples. Familial roles and relationships.  Issues and concerns on the role of grandparents.  Raising the children of the HIV/AIDs infected.  Differential effects of ageing on women’s and men’s roles. Relationships and identities: the changing nature of gender inequalities.  Gender differences in the ageing experience: experiences of ageing and well-being from the perspective of women and men.  Gender dimensions in the care of older persons.  Management of identity and retirement in later life.  Intergenerational dialogue: systems of knowledge and skills transfer.  Women/men as custodians and creators of knowledge within communities.
SOC/DGR 025:Health care Delivery for Older Persons
Health care providers and patient relationships. Health care systems for older persons. Institutional versus home-based care services. Care for special health problems: STIs, HIV/AIDS, drugs and mental illnesses. Convectional versus alternative medicine. Government policy and health care reforms. Financing health care and cost of health for older persons.

SOC/DGR 026:Sexuality and Ageing
Nature of ageing and gender.  Ageing and sexuality: socialization and re-socialization processes, norms and etiquette in the life course.   Sexuality, femininity and masculinity.  Sexual orientation.  Sexuality and marriage.  Sexual dysfunctions and problems: Issues of senility and menopause in older persons. Issues of HIV/AIDS.  Sexuality and marital quality among older married couples: issues of marital stability and instability.
SEMESTER III
SOC/DGR 030:Nutrition and the Ageing Process (Core)
Nutrition and ageing process. Nutrition-related health problems of older persons: arthritis, osteoporosis, periodontal disease, cataracts, senility, nutritional deficiencies and mental confusion, organic dementia. Nutritional requirements as influenced by the phenomenology of ageing: dietary intakes- calorie, protein, mineral and vitamin requirements.  Planning meals and nutrition programmes for older persons.  Assessment of nutritional status and dietary intake.
SOC/DGR/031:Ageing and Poverty (Core)
Definition and types of poverty. Cultural basis of poverty. Gender and poverty in Africa. Older persons as victims of poverty. Effects of poverty on older persons. Rural and urban poverty. Public policies and programmes on poverty and their relevance for older persons. Participation of older persons in the assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of poverty.
SOC/DGR 032  Policy, Legislation and Ageing (Core)
International conventions on ageing.  The role of the older persons in policy formulation. Review of rights and privileges of older persons.  The social security policy and the retirement legislations.  Comparative analysis of policy and legislations concerning older persons and ageing in developed and developing countries: Europe, Asia, America and Africa.  Case study of the Republic of Kenya constitutions as it affects older persons and the ageing.
SOC/DGR 033:Creativity and Ageing
Concept of creativity. Performing and creative arts among older persons, artistic activities for older persons. Levels of participation in creative art: composer, performer, listener. Groups activities. Aesthetics and perception of art. Appreciation of art expressions. Recall spontaneity in expressions: proverbs, sayings, poetry, song, dance, narrative. Music making by older persons, music related activities of older persons: male, female and mixed.  Age specific roles of artists: drama, music and narration.  Types of songs and dances. The place of music in the life of older persons. Material art: carvings, weaving, painting and drawing. Creativity and social cohesion.
SOC/DGR 034  Ageing and Disability
Definition of disabilities; Types and levels of disabilities. Female and male disabilities and dependency in old age. Old age and disability in/out of the family. Ageing and disabilities in rural and urban areas. Institutionalisation and disability in old age. Treatment and rehabilitation. Ageing, mental and physical disabilities in developing countries. Cultural context of disability in old age.
SOC/DGR 035:Cultural diversity and Ageing
Meaning of cultural diversity. Theories of ethnicity. Ageing in different ethnic/racial contexts. Ageing sub-cultures. Different interpretations of ageing. Interactions with older persons in different groupings. Ageing and ethnic conflict management. Issues in ageing among minority groups.
SOC/DGR 036:Communication and Older Persons
Definitions. Overview of theories of human communication. The communication process. Elements and models of communication. The importance of communication for the older persons.  Social and physical issues of communication and ageing. Use of verbal and non-verbal communication among older persons. Listening: active and reflective. Gender differences in language use by older persons. Intergenerational interactions. Inter-cultural and Intra-cultural communications. Communication and social identity among older persons.  Linguistics diversity, cultural and communicative effectiveness. Barriers to communication involving older persons; physical, psychological, physiological and cultural. Principles of maximizing communication with older persons. Mass media and older persons.

SEMESTER IV
SOC/DGR 040:Recreation and Leisure for Older persons (Core)
Concepts of Recreation, leisure and play. Benefits of recreation, attitudes of  older persons towards recreation.  Management of recreation programmes for older persons. Designing, scheduling and evaluation of the programmes, Recreational facilities and equipment for older persons.  Barriers and solutions to participation of older persons in recreational activities.  Promotion of recreation and leisure among older persons.  Gender dimensions of leisure and recreation.
SOC/DGR 041  Ethics and Ageing (Core)
Concepts of ethics, morality and ageing.  Descriptive and normative dimensions of ageing.  Death, dying and ageing: euthanasia, life-saving/sustaining, suicide.  Human nature, human rights and ageing.  Equality of social opportunities for older persons.  Life fulfillment and older persons: happiness, guilt and despair.  Social values to older persons: love, respect, obedience, sympathy.  Dependence, independence, self-esteem and older persons.
SOC/DGR 042:Ageing, Crime and Deviance
Definitions: crime and deviance. Overview of criminological theories. Older persons as crime perpetrators: causative factors, effects, apprehension, correction, rehabilitation and prevention measures. Homicide and suicide among older persons. Older persons as crime victims: types of crimes committed against them.  Justice issues: court conduct, evidence, lawyers and penalties. Gender issues and crime among older persons. Culture and crime, deviations and pervasions. African traditional systems of crime control and role of older persons. Crime fear in older adults, compensation and crime control issues.
SOC/DGR 043:Disaster issues and Older Persons
Definition, scope and characteristics of disasters.  Types of disasters, common types of disasters in Africa.  Managing disaster situations: extent and type of disruptions; effects on vulnerable groups.  Response strategies for older persons: planning, resource mobilization and implementation.  Guidance and counseling. Rehabilitation and reconstruction.  Contingency measures.SOC/DGR 044     Resource Mobilization and Management for Older Persons
Resources: meaning, types, sources, availability and adequacy.  Planning for resource generation. Mobilizing resources. Resource use and management with regard to older persons. The role of older persons in community resource mobilization and management.
SOC/DGR 045:Older Persons and Information Technology
Definitions: technology, information. The concepts of  ‘global village’ and information age. Older persons and modern tools of communication such as cellular phones, computers, radio and cable TV. The Internet and older persons. Effects of technology in the arts, entertainment and the professions on older persons. The impact of future  technologies on the life of older persons.
SOC/DGR 046:Practicum  (Core)
Students will undertake field visits to an institution or community center caring for older persons for a duration of 8 weeks during which time they will collect information on the history, objectives and administrative structure of the organization or center. In addition, they will make an evaluation of the working and performance of the organization or center based on its objectives and write a report.  This practicum will be equivalent to 2 units.