GERO 710 Global Aging – Gerontology in Japan
Students will take part in a two-week faculty-led travel experience in Japan. The course is informed by an interdisciplinary gerontological approach integrating visits to and engagement with academic (research centers and universities), business (biotech, pharmaceutical, robotics), health and medical (geriatrics, hospitals, preventative care), policy (local and prefectural government), and socio-cultural (cultural heritage, living environment, social network) sites. Japan is considered one of the healthiest countries in the world and improvements in public health, advances in medicine, and socio-cultural practices have given Japan the highest life expectancy in the world. This course explores and analyzes how broader cultural
norms and social institutions of contemporary Japan shape individuals’ experiences of growing older, life-stage transitions, and intergenerational relations through a life course perspective.
Population aging has had consequences for the health and social care of older people in Japan, which has led to societal innovations to promote health in older people. Cultural immersion and field visits will provide students with an understanding of the factors that affect health outcomes in Japanese society. Pre-departure class preparation is required that will include five (5) in-person class sessions during Spring semester
exploring the topic of Japanese culture, socio-cultural constructs of aging in Japan, and the social security system in Japan. There is one (1) domestic field trip to Washington D.C. exploring the Smithsonian Institution’s Japanese Art collection and the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum in the National Arboretum. Finally, there is one (1) in-person pre-departure and orientation session featuring staff from the UMB Center for Global engagement. Travel will occur during summer semester.
Standard Grade Mode