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2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog This is not the most recent catalog version; be sure you are viewing the appropriate catalog year.

Experiences in Aging Studies [Micro-credential]

Academic micro-credentials help students showcase a specific set of skills and experiences attained while at Eastern Michigan University. The micro-credential curriculum creates a pathway for student learning and knowledge creation to capture/acknowledge a student’s interdisciplinary learning beyond traditional University structures. Having satisfied all micro-credential curriculum requirements, a student is awarded a digital badge that is officially noted on the student’s academic transcript.

Aging Studies is an interdisciplinary area of expertise. The courses for this micro-credential will introduce you to the fast-growing older adult population and will also give you an opportunity to learn from experts in a variety of disciplines. Working with older adults is a growth field and having skills and knowledge working with this population are sought after in a variety of professions.

This micro-credential will require two courses plus a presentation of the student’s experience at the Annual Aging Studies Lecture and/or on the Aging Studies website. You will work closely with a faculty mentor to prepare for your presentation. Lastly, you will write a short reflective piece on the entire experience (out-of-the-classroom experience, presenting, and working a faculty mentor) that will be available to the EMU community through the Aging Studies Newsletter and website.

School Information

Health Sciences | Colleen Croxall, Ph.D., Director | 313 Marshall, 734.487.4096, ccroxall@emich.edu

Faculty Advisors and Reviewers

Lead Faculty Member and Reviewer

Cassandra Barragan, cbarrag1@emich.edu

Faculty Reviewers

David Thomas, dthomas@emich.edu

Kristine Ajrouch, kajrouch@emich.edu

Component I - Academic Coursework

The academic coursework will include (2) courses. For the first course, you will choose from one of two courses that will introduce working with older adults.  For the second course, you will choose from one of three courses that include an activity working with older adults in the community in various ways.

Component II - Applied Experience

Students will have the opportunity to interact directly with faculty and peers by presenting the out-of-the-classroom experiences with older adults. The applied experience will explore their experiences with older adults from AGIN 310 /THRC 310 , AGIN 423 /THRC 423 , or SOCL 311W  beyond what was required in the course.

Students will create a reflection poster displayed at the Annual Aging Studies Lecture and/or in a public space on campus, or create a video describing their poster. The video is shared on the Aging Studies Program website.

Students will meet with at least one faculty reviewer before creating the poster to determine what they would like to highlight and learn what they gained from the experience.

Component III - Comprehensive Reflection

Students will write or otherwise synthesize their experiences while completing this micro-credential. Students will meet with a faculty mentor to outline the final reflection to describe changes in attitudes and feelings towards working with older adults. The final reflection piece will be available on the Aging Studies website and through the Aging Studies newsletter.

  1. Submission of a written paper not to exceed 1000 words
  2. Submission of a creative reflection subject to the approval of a faculty mentor. Examples might include a poem, creative essay, art piece, or other formats that might fit the student’s expression of the experience.

The reflection will consider the following:

  • Describe your attitudes and feelings towards older adults before and after this experience. Please use your own experiences (positive and negative) to reflect your perceptions. Discuss how these perceptions might influence your professional work. 
  • What is your biggest take-away from this experience?