Office in Behavioral Sciences Building, Room A116
(970) 491-5558

Department of Human Development and Family Studies

The Gerontology Interdisciplinary Minor is a cooperative effort among faculty from different departments and colleges of CSU who share a common interest in gerontology, the study of human aging. The primary purpose of the interdisciplinary minor is to provide students with background academic knowledge and practicum/ internship experience to work effectively with and for older adults in a variety of settings, and to enter professions in which there is a need to combine insight and skills derived from their major with knowledge about older individuals and the aging process.

Please visit the Department of Human Development and Family Studies website to learn more about and/or declare the minor, or contact Dr. Christine Fruhauf, Gerontology Interdisciplinary Minor Coordinator, at christine.fruhauf@colostate.edu or 970-491-1118.

Effective Fall 2022

Students must satisfactorily complete the total credits required for the minor. Minors and interdisciplinary minors require 12 or more upper-division (300- to 400-level) credits.

Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites.

A grade of C (2.000) or better is required in each course that is a core requirement for the interdisciplinary minor. 

Core Requirements16-18
FSHN 444Nutrition and Aging1-3
or FSHN 459 Nutrition in the Life Cycle
HDFS 201Perspectives in Gerontology3
HDFS 312Adult Development-Middle Age and Aging3
HES 434Physical Activity Throughout the Lifespan3
SOWK 371EFields of Practice: Social Gerontology3
Select a minimum of 3 credits internship/field placement directly related to aging from the following:3
Human Services Internship: Gerontology
Internship: Human Development and Family Studies
Internship: Pre-Health
Internship: Prevention/Intervention Science
Internship: Leadership
Field Placement
Elective Courses3-5
Principles of Human Physiology
Behavioral Genetics
Medical Nutrition Therapy
Community Nutrition
Disability across the Lifespan and Culture
Death, Dying, and Grief
Couple and Family Studies
Families in the Legal Environment
Mental and Physical Health in Adulthood
Population Health and Disease Prevention
Theory of Health Behavior
Practicum–Adult Fitness
Introductory Genetics: Applied/Population/Conservation/Ecological (GT-SC2)
Introductory Genetics: Molecular/Immunological/Developmental (GT-SC2)
Introduction to Music Therapy
The Disability Experience in Society
Philosophical Issues in the Professions: Caring Professions
Philosophy of Aging
Group Study
Psychopathology
Cognitive Psychology
Group Study: Applied Social Psychology
Group Study: Cognitive Psychology
Group Study: Counseling/Clinical Psychology
Group Study: Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Group Study: Perceptual and Brain Sciences
Group Study: Special Topics in Psychology
Social Inequality
Health, Medicine, and Society
Addictions - A Social Work Perspective
Fields of Practice: Criminal Justice
Social Welfare - Policy, Issues, and Advocacy
Program Total Credits21-23