Of particular interest, the University offers an interdisciplinary graduate minor in gerontology. The department was founded in 1953 and has a long history of graduate student training in gerontology and medical sociology. The section on health and aging was first organized by Robert L. Eichhorn, professor emeritus of sociology. Debra Street, Ph. The University offers an interdisciplinary minor in gerontology for graduate students.
Emphasis is placed on understanding the process of growing older from a life course framework.
Students must complete 15 hours of coursework related to aging from at least three different departments. Over 50 faculty are affiliated with the gerontology program and a variety of research projects offer opportunities for graduate student experience. The department is housed on the second and third floors of Stone Hall on Purdue's West Lafayette campus. The building contains faculty and students offices, classrooms, the departmental offices, a conference room, lounge, and research rooms. The laboratory is also used as a classroom.