Outcomes:

After completing this class, students should be able to:

• Identify culturally-specific aspects of coming of age and transitions in life from a sociological perspective;
• Explain the impact of an aging population on some of our major institutions, like government and the economy;
• Identify common portrayals and stereotypes of the aging process;
• Demonstrate an understanding of the social patterns and effects of ageism and age discrimination;
• Critically assess the ways in which the health care industry both supports and harms aging individuals and families;
• Illustrate how race, class, and gender influence the experience of aging; and
• Analyze contemporary social theories and policies regarding aging.