Social Gerontology

Master Gerontology

Program Presentation

The evolution of populations throughout the world is bringing with it, both in absolute and relative terms, a notable increase in the number of people over sixty-five years of age. One of the demographic features of today's world is the progressive aging of the world's population. This phenomenon represents a challenge for society and a need for professionals to specialize in offering quality service to the elderly.

The Specialization Course in Applied Social Gerontology aims to educate professionals with advanced training in the different processes of aging, enabling them to work with the elderly in the field of social interventions, thus contributing toward improving the quality of life of elderly people.

Who is the programme for?

The proposed methodology, together with the clarity, comprehensiveness, and didactic design of the contents, allows the Applied Social Gerontology program to be aimed at:

  • Professionals with degrees in Psychology, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Sociology, Physiotherapy, Kinesiology, Sociocultural Animators, Economics, and Law.
  • Other interested university graduates/graduates.
  • Professionals without a university degree with experience and interest in the field of gerontology.

The Applied Social Gerontology program will be an ideal complement toward enriching any undergraduate or graduate education for someone interested in specializing in gerontological issues.

Diploma

Successful completion of the Program will grant the degree of Specialization in APPLIED SOCIAL GERONTOLOGY, issued by the University where the student is enrolled.

Program Structure

The estimated duration of the Applied Social Gerontology program is 12 months.

Concerning the distribution of time:

  • Since it is an online program and not subject to classroom-based courses, there is no specific starting date, for which the student can formalize their enrollment at any moment, as long as there is available space.
  • The maximum time for completing the Program is 12 months. During this period, the student must have submitted all the evaluations corresponding to the subjects.

The credit structure of the Applied Social Gerontology program is as follows:

  CREDITSa DURATIONb HOURS
Subjects 46 9 460
Final Course Work 10 3 100
TOTAL 56 12 560

a. The equivalence in credits may vary according to the university that awards the degree. One (1) ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credit is equivalent to 10 + 15 hours. If the student pursues the program enrolled in a University from outside the European Higher Education Area (EEES), the relationship between credits and hours may vary.
b. Duration in months.
c. There is the possibility of completing the Master's Degree without completing the internship. Consult the Academic Secretary's Office.

Objectives

General objectives:

  • Analyze and synthesize information on issues related to the gerontological social field.
  • Manage activities focused on the care of the elderly from the different levels of service: home help, community services, assistance services and socio-cultural entertainment programs.
  • Learn about and apply the bioethical principles related to the care of the elderly and the defense of their rights.
  • Design and promote research aimed at solving problems related to the social health of the elderly.

Specific objectives:

  • Identify knowledge and theories related to aging processes.
  • Differentiate the techniques of evaluation, diagnosis and intervention in the areas of physical, psychological and social health of the elderly.
  • Assess the principles, phases and specific criteria for intervention with elderly people.
  • Analyze the recommendations as developed by the United Nations and the World Health Organization on aging.
  • Develop gerontological plans related to quality of life to compensate for possible health and autonomy limitations of the elderly.
  • Evaluate research and social interventions in order to provide for the integration and participation of the elderly in the different aspects of social and cultural life.

Career Opportunities

Some of the career opportunities of the program in Applied Social Gerontology are the following:

  • Professionals who wish to specialize in older adult issues.
  • Professionals who act as advisors or consultants in economic, architectural or legal management of senior centers.
  • Community social services personnel.
  • Clinical evaluator of aging processes.
  • Workers in residential centers at different levels.
  • Collaborators of associations for the elderly (Alzheimer's, etc.)
  • Teacher for senior citizen classrooms.
  • Collaborators in NGOs for the elderly.

Study Plan

The Applied Social Gerontology program has a curricular structure based on 2 formative parts that seek to place the student in a real framework according to a continuous change.

  • 1st PART: INTRODUCTORY

The first part allows to know and understand all the complexity related to the field of Gerontology, from its theoretical, conceptual and historical foundations, to its organizational, social and technological implementation.

The objective of the subjects is to ensure that students acquire knowledge about the processes that occur in aging, as well as to identify the techniques of evaluation, diagnosis and intervention applied to social gerontology.

The subjects and corresponding credits that make up the 1st Part:

  • 1st PART: SUBJECTS (46 CREDITS)
1st PART: SUBJECTS
  SUBJECTS CREDITS
1 Introduction to Gerontology 5
2 Biopsychosocial Aspects of Aging 6
3 Planning and Organization of Social Services for the Elderly 5
4 Intervention Programs for Elderly People 5
5 Health and Social Protection Policies 6
6 Research Methods 6
7 Home Care 4
8 Legal Aspects and Bioethics of the Elderly 4
9 Communication Skills of the Gerontology Professional 5
TOTAL 46
  • 2nd PART: FINAL COURSE WORK OR PROJECT (10 CREDITS)

The last Phase of the program is dedicated to the completion of the Final Course Work, which can be started before the end of the 1st Part: Subjects, since the student will then have the necessary developed elements to start the work.

The objective is to present a complete document that shows the complete development of the proposed work, including the possibility of its specific execution, according to the guidelines and details of the Final Course Work presented. The work must be a contribution to some of the fields studied or their relationship, both theoretical and applied and respecting the doctrines, theories and related disciplines.

2nd PART: FINAL COURSE WORK OR PROJECT
  ASIGNATURAS CRÉDITOS
1 Final Course Work or Project 10
TOTAL 10

 

Note: The subject content may be subjected to slight modifications due to updates and improvements.

Management

Academic Administration

  • Dr. Maurizio Antonio Battino. Researcher in Biochemistry and professor in the Scuola di Specializzazione in Scienza dell'Alimentazione. Professor at the Università Politecnica delle Marche. Scientific Director of the European University of the Atlantic. 
  • Dr. Pilar Sánchez Collado. Doctor in Pharmacy. Head professor of the Department of Biomedical Sciences of the University of León.
  • Dr. José A. De Paz Fernández. Doctor in Medicine. Head professor of the Department of Biomedical Sciences of the University of León.

General Academic Coordination

  • Dr. Irma Domínguez Azpíroz. International Coordinator.

Teaching staff and Authors

  • Dr. Antonio Illana Conde. Lawyer and Judge of the Motril Court in Granada. Coordinator of the Master's Degree in Social Gerontology of Granada.
  • Dr. Antonio Martínez Maroto. Doctorate in Law. Head of the Gerontological Plan Area of IMSERSO. Coordinator of the Ethics and Legislation Group of the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology.
  • Dr. Antonio Martos Martín. Doctor by the University of Granada. Professor at the University of Granada and the University of Malaga.
  • Dr. Alejandra María Corona Romero. Doctor in Public Health Sciences from the University of Guadalajara. Professor and researcher.
  • Dr. Carmen Sánchez Carazo. Doctor in Medicine and specialist in Preventive Medicine and Public Health from the University of Comillas.
  • Dr. Clícia Jatahy Peixoto. Doctor in Psychogerontology. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University and the International University of Valencia.
  • Dr. Divka Inge Rojic Becker. D. in Neurosciences from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Researcher in the group of memory enhancement and retrieval in the Department of Psychobiology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
  • Dr. María del Pino Sánchez Hernández. D. in Gerontology and Postgraduate Professor at the University of Granada.
  • Dr. María Dolores García Olalla. Doctorate in Psychology by the Rovira i Virgili University. Collaborating Professor at the Rovira i Virgili University.
  • Dr. Misericordia Camps Llauradó. Doctor in Psychology. Researcher and professor at the Rovira i Virgili University.
  • Dr. Montserrat Celdrán Castro. Interuniversity Doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Barcelona. Associate Professor, Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Barcelona.
  • Dr. Montserrat González Gómez. D. in Public Health Sciences from the University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara. Professor at the University of Guadalajara. Professor at the Institute of Graduate Studies and Sciences S.C. Professor at University of Valle de Mexico.
  • Dr. Ramona Rubio Herrera. D. in Psychology from the Central University of Barcelona. Professor of Gerontology at the University of Granada.
  • Dr. Silvia Quer. Doctor in Clinical and Health Psychology. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Dr. Susana Martínez. Doctor in Biology from the University of León. Professor at the University of León and the European University of the Atlantic.
  • Dr. (c) Lucibel Vásquez. D. candidate in Psychosocial Intervention. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • M. Stefanía Carvajal. Master in the Strategic Management of Health Organizations. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • M. Verónica Lopes. Master in Community Nursing and Public Health by the Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal - Escola Superior de Saúde, Setúbal, Portugal. Professor at the International Iberoamerican University.
  • Mg. Anabel Pérez. Master in Applied Social Gerontology. Degree in Pedagogy from the University of Barcelona.
  • Mg. Pilar Rodríguez Rodríguez. Diploma in Social Gerontology and expert in Social Research and Planning from the Complutense University of Madrid. President of the Foundation of Pillars for Personal Autonomy.
  • Sra. María Luján Japón Belmonte. Director of Projects and Institutional Relations of Asisttel, Servicios Asistenciales S.A.

FUNIBER Training Scholarships

The Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) allocates periodically an extraordinary economic item for FUNIBER Training Scholarships.

To apply, please fill out the information request form that appears in the web of FUNIBER or contact directly the Foundation’s headquarters in your country that will inform you if you need to provide some additional information.

Once the documentation is received, the Evaluation Committee will determine your application's eligibility for the FUNIBER Training Scholarship.