LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT of SOCIOLOGY

SOCIOLOGY 3513 FA

SOCIOLOGY of AGING

Laurie Forbes                                                                                                              2005
Office: UC 0034                                                      Monday and Wednesday: 4.00 - 5.30
Phone: 343-8966                                                                                                  RB - 3046
E-mail: lforbes@lakeheadu.ca                               
Office Hours: Thursday 9.30 - 12.30

Required Text
Barry D. McPherson. Aging as a Social Process Canadian Perspectives. Fourth Edition

Course Description
Sociology of Aging provides an analytical framework for understanding the interplay between human lives and changing social structures. This course is designed to provide students with an overview of sociology of aging. Topics covered will include the following: aging as a social process, historical and cultural perspectives on aging, individual aging, population aging, theory and research, social inequality and social change, the lived environment, family ties, relationships, economic security, social networks and social participation in later life, social support and public policy for an aging population and health in later life. 

Course Requirements
Students are expected to attend class regularly and actively participate in class discussions. As well, reading assignments are to be completed and sources brought to class when requested. The reading list and dates and type of sources to be brought to class are attached to this syllabus. 

Evaluation				Marks			Due Dates	
Mid-Term Examination                      20                                October 19, 2005
Assignment                                         35                                November 15, 2005 
Final Examination                              35                                Set by the Registrar
Participation                                       10                                Throughout the course

Examinations
The examinations will incorporate lectures, class discussions, films and assigned readings. 

Assignment
The assignment is twofold - it will combine library research with hands-on research. 
Sociology of Aging            Fall  2005                                   Laurie Forbes               Page 2.

Each student will choose an area of inquiry that focuses on aging in contemporary Canadian society. Once you have decided on a topic you will complete library research and then conduct research that will enhance or refute the library research. For example, you have decided to examine housing for the elderly. After conducting library research on the topic you may decide to survey the amount of housing available for the elderly in Thunder Bay. Based on what you have learned you could argue that Thunder Bay is/is not meeting the needs of the elderly in this community. Perhaps you would prefer to take another avenue and assess the quality of housing for the elderly. 

Participation
Your participation mark is based on your contribution to class discussions.

Tentative Lecture and Reading Schedule

Monday, September 12 - Introductions and Course Outline

Wednesday, September 14 - Aging as a Social Process
			          Reading: McPherson Chapter 1							
Monday, September 19 - Aging as a Social Process
			    Bring in an article on issues and challenges for an aging society.  

Wednesday, September 21 - Historical and Cultural Perspectives on Aging
			          Reading: McPherson Chapter 2

Monday, September 26 - Historical and Cultural Perspectives on Aging
			     Bring in an article or traditional story on aging and culture.

Wednesday, September 28 - Individual Aging: Continuity and Change across the Life 				          Course
			          Reading: McPherson Chapter 3

Monday, October 3 - Population Aging: A Demographic and Geographic Perspective		          	          Reading: McPherson Chapter 4
		          Choose a topic for your group on television and the elderly.
	
Wednesday, October 5 - Understanding Older People and Aging Process: Theory and 				    Research
			    Reading: McPherson Chapter 5

Monday, October 10 - Thanksgiving - No Class

Sociology of Aging            Fall  2005                                   Laurie Forbes               Page 3.

Wednesday, October 12 - Understanding Older People and Aging Processes: Theory and			      	      Research Group reports on television and the elderly.

Monday, October 17 - Social Structures and the Life Course: Social Inequality and Social 			Change 
			Reading: McPherson Chapter 6

Wednesday, October 19 - Mid-term Examination			      	

Monday, October 24 - Social Structures and the Life Course: Social Inequality and Social 			Change 
			Come prepared to discuss a law or public program that at one point  			has or is presently affecting the elderly. We will not discuss elderly 			drivers.

Wednesday, October 26 - The Lived Environment: Community and Housing Alternatives 				     in Later Life 
			     Reading: McPherson Chapter 7

Monday, October 31 - The Lived Environment: Community and Housing Alternatives 				 in Later Life 
			 Bring in an article on driving and the elderly.

Wednesday, November 2 - Family Ties, Relationships, and Transitions
			        Reading: McPherson Chapter 8	

Monday, November 7 - Family Ties, Relationships, and Transitions
			  Bring in a newspaper article on grandparents.

Wednesday, November 9 - Work, Retirement, and Economic Security
			        Reading: McPherson Chapter 9

Monday, November 14 - Work, Retirement, and Economic Security
			    Come prepared to argue the pros and cons of mandatory 					    retirement. 
			    Assignments due.
						
Wednesday, November 16 - Social Networks and Social Participation in Later Life
			          Reading: McPherson Chapter 10

 
Sociology of Aging            Fall  2005                                   Laurie Forbes               Page 4.

Monday, November 21 - Social Networks and Social Participation in Later Life
			    Bring in a journal article on the elderly and quality of leisure
			    life

Wednesday, November 23 - Social Support and Public Policy for an Aging Population
			          Reading: McPherson Chapter 11

Monday, November 28 - Social Support and Public Policy for an Aging Population
			    Visit a website that focuses on support of the elderly as either a 				    public or private concern. Bring your findings to class for 				    discussion.

Wednesday, November 30 - Individual and Population Health in Later Life
			          Reading: McPherson Chapter 12

Thursday, December 1 - Individual and Population Health in Later Life continued
			    This class has been scheduled by the registrar to replace the 				    class missed on Thanksgiving.