Fisher Institute For Wellness and Gerontology

K. Segrist, Interim Director 

The Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology is an academic department within the College of Applied Sciences and Technology. The Institute offers two academic majors on the master’s degree level: wellness management and applied gerontology. The Institute offers undergraduate minors in gerontology and workplace wellness, and undergraduate course work in wellness management. Wellness courses emphasize worksite health issues and worker productivity.  

Gerontology is the study of aging. The gerontology program in the Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology is focused on aspects of aging well. The program offers hands-on experience working with aging adults at the Community Center for Vital Aging in downtown Muncie. Opportunities to interact with aging services and organizations are available through linkages with the aging network including service, policy, planning and program development agencies, education and training programs, and advocacy organizations. 

MINOR IN GERONTOLOGY, 21 hours

MINOR IN WORKPLACE WELLNESS, 20-22 hours

GERONTOLOGY (GERO)

392 Workshop in Applied Gerontology (1-6)
Preservice or inservice education in selected areas of applied gerontology using a workshop or independent study format of concentrated study, presentation, demonstration, and practice. Specific content depends upon the problems or interest area the format addresses. Learners are encouraged to work out programs of personal study with help from other resource persons. 
    Prerequisite: permission of the program director. 
    Credit may be applied to the minor in gerontology only with permission of the program director for gerontology at the Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology. 
    A total of 6 hours of credit may be earned.

398 Topical Seminar in Applied Gerontology (1-6)
Investigation of topics, problems, or issues in applied gerontology with discussion by all seminar participants under the guidance of the instructor. 
    Credit may be applied to the minor in gerontology only with permission of the program director for gerontology at the Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology. 
    A total of 6 hours of credit may be earned.

415 Technology in Aging (3)
Explores the impact of assistive and other technologies on the lives of aging adults. Identification of technologies, utilization by and for aging adults, and implications for service delivery will be explored.

430 Aging Well: Adaptations in Later Life (3)
Examination of adaptations of last half of the life span. Includes various theories of aging, multidimensional perspectives on changes in well-being and health, and strategies for coping with the change. Emphases are placed on developmental process, adaptations, and mental/emotional changes as people age.

435 Aging in Communities (3)
Focus on community aging as it applies to all dimensions of life: biological, physiological, sociological, psychological, political, occupational, economical, educational, familial, and societal.

440 Women and Aging (3)
Typical lifespan occurrences that largely impact women such as elder caregiving, familial systems maintenance, widowhood, health changes, and economic issues will be explored. Historical and theoretical perspectives; introduction to health, psychological, and living issues; introduction to racial and ethnic diversity; and social relationships will also be covered.

445 Health, Wellness, and Aging (3)
Will increase knowledge of health, wellness, and aging covering topics such as health status, health behavior, health risk factors, clinical preventive services, public health, and job opportunities in health and aging.

499 Internship in Gerontology (1-6)
Experience in one or more of the agencies, institutions, or programs now providing gerontological services or otherwise related to the field of gerontology. The internship is carried out under the joint supervision of the program director for gerontology and a practitioner representing the agency, institution, or program. Each student chooses the internship setting with guidance from a faculty sponsor and approval of the practitioner. 
    Prerequisite: permission of the program director for gerontology at the Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology. 
    A total of 6 hours of credit may be earned.

WELLNESS (WELN)

325 Community Collaboration and Service Learning in Wellness Management (3)
During this course, students assist in a community-based, professionally led wellness management project.

WORKPLACE WELLNESS INTERDISCIPLINARY (WWIN)

201 Improving Worker Wellbeing: A Multidisciplinary Approach (3)
Many workplace issues influence worker wellbeing. Designed to introduce how workplace culture, safety, and occupational health policies, personal health-related decisions, and other related practices have the potential of influencing worker wellbeing.

305 Introduction to Workplace Wellness Planning (3)
Using a systematic planning model when developing programs is important for program success. This course introduces students to a logic-model driven planning approach and to the concept of health and productivity management. 
    Prerequisite: WWIN 201.

310 Workplace Wellness Administration (3)
Improving the efficiency of administrative tasks and communication practices can greatly impact Wellness Management practice. Focuses on enhancing skills and technologies important for program administration. 
    Prerequisite: WWIN 201.

396 Civic Engagement: Workplace Wellness Program (3)
Students assist in an ongoing, community-based, professionally led workplace wellness program setting. A combination of class meetings and practical experience provides valuable insight into workplace wellness practices. 
    Prerequisite: WWIN 305, 310.

397 Civic Engagement: Workplace Wellness Project (3)
Participants will assist with delivering a short-term wellness campaign to help improve awareness. Students will learn how these short-term campaigns are vital in bringing new people into wellness programs and have different goals than seen in the day-to-day operations of a wellness program. 
    Prerequisite: WWIN 305, 310.

405 Workplace Wellness Coaching (3)
Introduces theory, skills, and techniques related to guiding groups and individuals through meaningful lifestyle changes by emphasizing motivational strategies and behavioral and holistic practices. Participants will be introduced to lifestyle assessments, wellness and lifestyle change models, and basic interviewing and referral skills.

496 Seminar in Workplace Wellness (1-6)
Seminar topics will be identified, focusing on current issues in workplace wellness. Using the seminar format, will include research, discussion, and dissemination of information gathered in a given topic.

498 Senior Seminar in Workplace Wellness (1)
Participants discuss issues, content, and practices encountered during their involvement in the workplace wellness minor. 
    Open only to individuals who have completed all other requirements of the workplace wellness minor. 
    Prerequisite: WWIN 396, 397.