Oct 07, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Gerontology, B.I.S.


Return to: 3030.30 Interdisciplinary Studies  

The BIS in Gerontology will provide undergraduate students an opportunity to gain knowledge of aging across the life course through a diverse perspective. Gerontology-related courses are designed to draw on a variety of disciplines to expose students to the issues, knowledge, and research about aging processes, older people, and the complex needs of our rapidly aging society. The overarching objective is to offer a major that will provide students with a gerontological knowledge base and skills that will prepare them for career opportunities in the field of aging (e.g., entry-level professional jobs in direct services to older persons in nutrition programs, senior centers, volunteer programs, nursing homes, and residential and assisted living facilities) and/or admission to graduate and professional degree programs (e.g., such as gerontology, medicine, nursing, psychology, public administration, sociology, and social work) in which they plan to pursue a specialization in gerontology. Students interested in pursuing the BIS in Gerontology major can select either the Behavioral and Social Sciences or Health and Health Services Allied Field.

Program Admission

Students may enroll in a concentration upon admission to Georgia State University. Students who wish to change their major to this degree program should select a concentration in consultation with their academic advisor and the faculty coordinator. A 2.0 Georgia State University GPA is required.

Students who enroll in a concentration will be required to submit a course plan checklist to demonstrate their understanding of the degree requirements. It is highly recommended that students develop a course of study with their specific faculty coordinator before taking coursework in the degree program to avoid taking courses that will not count towards graduation.

Academic Advisement for Undergraduate Students

Academic advisement for undergraduate students is provided through the University Advisement Center (freshman through junior status/fewer than 90 hours) and the college’s Office of Academic Assistance (senior status/90 or more hours). See Office of Academic Assistance  for additional information.

Degree Requirements (120 Hours)


Please refer to the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies section 3030 of this catalog for academic regulations for this program.

Students must complete coursework in at least three disciplines (defined by course prefixes) in the Major Area and in at least two disciplines in the Allied Studies Area. The Major and Allied Studies areas should be constructed so that students take courses in distinct disciplines in each area (with some overlap expected); that is, the same prefix should not predominate in both the Major and Allied Studies areas.

In addition, Per Georgia State University’s requirements, all undergraduate students must satisfy a common core curriculum. The requirements can be found in the current university Undergraduate Catalog (see Office of Academic Assistance  and 1400 University Degree Requirements and Graduation ).

University Grade-Point Average and Grade Requirements

Georgia State University undergraduate students must achieve an overall institutional grade-point average of 2.0 and a major GPA of 2.0 in the Major and Allied Studies areas to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university. Grades of C- can be used to satisfy graduation requirements. However, some courses have prerequisites that require a grade of C or higher. (See 1460 GPA Requirement  for additional information.)

Field of Study Area (18 Hours)


Required Courses (3-6 Hours)


World Language Requirements (3 Hours)


  • World language 1002 or higher course 3 Hours

Field Electives


Select additional elective courses from the following to complete 18 hours in the Field of Study Area:

Major Area (27-29 Hours)


Interdisciplinary Course Selection

Students must complete coursework in at least three disciplines (defined by course prefixes) in the Major Area.

Students are strongly encouraged to take the statistics and methods courses in sequence. Specifically, a course in section 1 below should be taken prior to the course selected in section 2 below. Several courses in section 2 have a prerequisite from section 1, and in this case sequencing is not optional. Students may not take courses in section 1 and 2 below during the same term.*

Allied Studies Area (15 Hours)


Select five courses from one of the two groups below. Students must complete coursework in at least two disciplines (defined by course prefixes) in the Allied Studies Area.

Behavioral and Social Science Group


Select five courses (15 hours) from the following:

Health and Health Services Group


Select five coures (15 hours from the following). The Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions may require authorization from the instructor prior to registration.

Additional Courses Area


Students take elective courses beyond those specified in the Major and Allied Studies areas to reach the 120 hours needed to earn a bachelor’s degree (including 39 hours at the 3000-4000 level taken at Georgia State University). The following courses are recommended as elective options for students pursuing the BIS with a concentration in Gerontology if additional hours are needed to reach 120 hours.

Graduation with Distinction in the Major


This program offers undergraduate students with the opportunity to earn the designation of graduation with distinction in the major. Please contact the undergraduate director for the specific criteria for this honor.