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Faculty of Behavioural and Cultural StudiesGerontology, Health, and Care

Students enrolled in the ‘Gerontology, Health and Care’ degree programme apply multidisciplinary approaches to dealing with general and specialised issues related to ageing and age.

The academic programme ‘Gerontology, Health and Care’ includes scientific and methodological introductions to gerontology (the science of age and ageing), nursing studies, geriatric medicine and neighbouring scientific disciplines. The course focusses on gerontology and the professional field of (rehabilitative, palliative) care of old people while also considering legal, social and societal conditions and developments.

Special Features and Characteristics

The academic programme combines key elements of rehabilitative care with the main medical, psychological, sociological and ethical aspects of care, resulting in a multidisciplinary approach. 

Students in the Bachelor’s programme must additionally acquire a nursing qualification during their course of study. Besides the theoretical-scientific components of the course, students must also complete practical training, which is offered in cooperation with a state training college for nursing professions.  

Therefore, graduates of the degree programme receive a Bachelor’s degree as well as a nursing qualification. 

Furthermore, the Institute of Gerontology also has a comprehensive departmental library. Students also have access to a well-equipped PC pool for research purposes. 

Research

Research at the Institute of Gerontology focusses in particular on topics associated with demographic change and our ageing societies, and applies a wide range of social-scientific methods:  

  • age-related potentials and resources for societal and cultural development, for solidarity between generations and generational equity,  
  • interactions between physical, mental and social ageing processes to achieve a more in-depth understanding of ageing and age and to develop a comprehensive system for intervention strategies,  
  • quality of life of people who suffer from (physical and mental) diseases, 
  • development of intervention strategies that are based on objective and subjective criteria of quality of life. 

The various projects all have strong ties to real-life situations due to the involvement of geriatric care institutions, nursing homes, health insurance providers, town councils and political parties.

Occupational Areas

The majority of graduates of this degree programme find work in the education sector in vocational colleges. However, other professional options include careers in science, health management, the public or private sectors, and, in particular due to demographic change, in many other areas such as urban and community development.

Insights

Studierende Gerontologie, Gesundheit und Care Uni Heidelberg

I am a trained health care specialist and nurse and would like to teach in this area. Gerontology, Health and Care is the ideal complement to my Bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Claudia Wolff, 28, Gerontology, Health and Care, 1st semester Bachelor