Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Required for Gerontology AAS Degree and most Gerontology Career Pathways Certificates. Should be taken in first term in the Program. Includes access to the Gerontology Homeroom in Desire2Learn, through which students will track their progress and create their ePortfolios for professional and learning outcomes assessment purposes.

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

1. Conduct labor market and career option research in the field of aging to develop and prioritize desired career pathways.
2. Develop SMART career and educational/training goals, objectives, and plans.
3. Create a reflective and professional ePortfolio to track and adapt their career and educational/training goals.

Students will embrace a life of optimal aging, a commitment to person-centered and person-directed service, and a vision of diverse and inclusive communities in which the development of every person's potential is supported and the realization of every person's creative passion is celebrated.

Students take the Geronaut pledge: 

• To explore the strange new world of extended longevity
• To seek out new lifestyles and new culture changes
• To boldly go where no Geronaut has gone before

The course is taught in a workshop-online format, supported by the online Gerontology Homeroom, access to Program Advisors, and optional Gerontology Monday meetings that include Job Skills Workshops and Ageless Network Presentations and Interactive Workshops with innovators and activists in the field. The online discussions provide a supportive environment for self-assessment and exploration of career pathways in this emerging and exciting field.

Student progress in meeting the intended course outcomes are measured by a range of assignments and discussions including

• Personal Assessment Activities
• Review of Jobs/Roles and Job-Skills Analysis
• Market Research on Careers, Education/Training & Credentials Options
• Career Pathway Prioritization & Research
• Informational Interviews, Site Visits & Networking
• Planning and Goal Setting for Education/Training for Identified Priority Career Pathways
• ePortfolio Assignment 1 (ePA1) Profile & Advising Status Report

Content includes:

1. Overview of the field of gerontology, the distinction between gerontology and geriatrics, and the top 20 emerging career areas
2. The implications of aging demographics and population characteristics for options and emerging subfields within the field
3. Internships, certification and training opportunities in the range of subfields or specializations within gerontology
4. Informational interviews, site visits and professional networking with professionals working in areas of greatest interest to the student
5. Exploration of volunteer opportunities, potential internships, job shadowing and mentorships
6. Career and educational/training goal setting and planning