Social gerontology

Aging concerns us all. According to sociologist Anne Karpf, ageism is a type of prejudice that is absurdly aimed for one’s own future. She emphasized that one cannot be anti-aging or anti-living. However, old age does not have a unique meaning. It is constantly changing as a result of social, cultural, and biological factors. This program’s vision combines the biological with the social, avoiding both the rigid naturalization of old age and the denial of the body and specific vulnerabilities. Aging is understood as a complex process, influenced by policies, decisions, contexts and symbols. The program develops critical thinking and sociological imagination, preparing specialists capable of navigating between social intervention, demographic analysis and interdisciplinary research. The curriculum is focused on Social Work, valued for its role in supporting the autonomy, dignity and inclusion of older people. However, it also integrates demography, public health, neuroscience, queer studies, death studies, and more, offering flexibility for theoretical or applied specializations. If you are interested in:

working with older people and developing innovative social interventions to support their autonomy and well-being
understanding aging not only as a biological process, but also as a social, cultural and political phenomenon, a process that every human being is inherently affected by
contributing to changing reductionist perceptions of old age, promoting inclusion, dignity and equity, and celebrating diversity
developing social policies and practices that fight discrimination and promoting active and healthy ageing, as well as positive intergenerational relationships
exploring topics such as eldercare, dementia, LGBTQ+ aging, palliative care, and death as a social process and working on theoretical and applied research projects in these areas
being part of a positive social transformation, contributing to redefining the way society experiences and understands aging and old age and the ways in which it relates to the elderly

Than this is the program for you!

Objectives

Training specialists capable of approaching the aging process and old age from a multi- and interdisciplinary perspective, integrating theoretical knowledge, research skills, as well as understanding social and cultural practices. Graduates will contribute to the development of relevant research, equitable and sustainable social policies and interventions, which promote the empowerment and well-being of older people, leading to the transformation of social perceptions of old age in a positive way and to the proactive assumption of aging. By helping to develop pertinent research, equitable and sustainable social policies, and interventions that support older people’s empowerment and well-being, graduates will help to change societal perceptions of old age in a positive way and encourage proactive aging.

Specific objectives:

Building a solid theoretical foundation on the aging process, by integrating fundamental theories and critical perspectives from fields such as social work, neuroscience, sociology, medical and cultural anthropology, gender and queer studies, leading to an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of old age and aging.
Promoting an integrative perspective on aging as a biological, social and cultural phenomenon.
Acquiring advocacy and policy-making skills that promote inclusion, diversity, equity, empowerment and sustainability for the aging population.
Cultivating intercultural and intergenerational communication skills.
Developing the ability to critically interpret and use recent demographic data to assess the impact of population aging on contemporary societies.
Combating the stigmatization of the elderly by deconstructing ageist narratives and promoting an anti-discriminatory value grid.
Building the necessary skills to design and implement social interventions that support the inclusion, diversity and equity of older people in communities and families; promoting social policies and practices based on ethical values, sustainability and empowerment.
Encouraging the use of digital technologies (ICT) to support the active and autonomous life of the elderly, in residential and community contexts.
Developing a deeper understanding of the mental and cognitive health of aging individuals and the social dimension of public health.
Developing the capacity to conduct interdisciplinary research, using qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods.
Building the capacity to translate scientific information into a language accessible to the general public, contributing to the popularization of gerontological science and the involvement of citizens in discussions about aging.
Promoting the positive aspects of old age and supporting a proactive approach (with an emphasis on prevention) to aging, which encourages the inclusion, dignity and active participation of the elderly in society.

Acquired competencies

respecting and promoting the rights of the elderly to dignity and self-determination, within the context of the provisions of the law and in safe conditions.
applying ethical principles in decision-making on behalf of the elderly and showing special consideration for those with limited decision-making capacity.
showing respect and non-discrimination towards the diversity of older adults, families and professionals (cultural, spiritual, class, race, ethnicity, religion, gender and sexual orientation diversity).
promoting interdisciplinary knowledge of aging processes, connecting various perspectives, theories and concepts: biological, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual.
knowledge about, and the capacity to identify issues related to grief, loss, transitions, and adaptation to changes throughout the life course.
providing specialized support to older adults and their families in situations such as: end of life, death, bereavement, widowhood.
using standardized assessment tools and/or develop specific assessment forms to perform comprehensive functional assessments of older adults.

Courses

1st Semester

Etică și integritate academică / Ethics and Academic Integrity

Fundamente teoretice și perspective critice în gerontologia socială / Theoretical Foundations and Critical Perspectives in Social Gerontology

Politici sociale pentru vârstnici: incluziune, echitate și sustenabilitate / Social Policies for Older Adults: Inclusion, Equity, and Sustainability

Metode și tehnici de cercetare în gerontologie socială / Methods and Techniques of Research in Social Gerontology

Curs opțional 1 / Elective Course 1

Curs opțional 2 / Elective Course 2

2nd Semester

Calitatea serviciilor sociale pentru persoanele vârstnice / Quality of Social Services for Older Adults

Geriatrie, îngrijiri paliative și demnitate în îmbătrânire / Geriatrics, Palliative Care, and Dignity in Aging

Drepturile omului și asistența socială. Provocări în abordarea sărăciei, vulnerabilității și excluziunii sociale asociate cu îmbătrânirea / Human Rights and Social Work. Challenging Poverty, Vulnerability and Social Exclusion Related to Aging

Practică de specialitate 1 / Professional Specialized Practice 1

Curs opțional 3 / Elective Course 3

Curs opțional 4 / Elective Course 4

3rd Semester

Gerontologia digitală: practici sociale și TIC în îngrijirea vârstnicilor / Digital Gerontology: Social Practices and ICT in Elder Care

Vitalitate și bunăstare: perspective socio-medicale asupra îmbătrânirii active / Vitality and Well-Being: Socio-Medical Perspectives on Active Aging

Practică de specialitate 2 / Professional Specialized Practice 2

Curs opțional 5 / Elective Course 5

Curs opțional 6 / Elective Course 6

4th Semester

Stagiu de documentare bibliografică pentru elaborarea lucrării de disertație / Bibliographic Research Session for Dissertation Preparation

Redactarea textului științific / Scientific Writing

Stagiu de cercetare empirică în vederea elaborării lucrării de disertaţie / Empirical Research Session in Order to Write the Thesis

Curs opțional 7 / Elective Course 7

Curs opțional 8 / Elective Course 8

Elective Courses

PACHET OPȚIONAL An I, Semestrul 1

Îmbătrânirea dincolo de binar: identități queer și bătrânețea (în limba engleză) / Aging Beyond the Binary: Queer Identities and Later Life (in English)

Comunicare în îngrijirea vârstnicilor afectați de demență / Communication in the Care of Older Adults Affected by Dementia

Comunicare interculturală și intergenerațională în contextul îmbătrânirii populației / Intercultural and Intergenerational Communication in the Context of Population Aging

Etica imaginii. Dispozitive socio-culturale de dez-imaginare a bătrâneții / The Ethics of Representation: Socio-Cultural Devices for De-Imagining Aging

PACHET OPȚIONAL An I, Semestrul 2

Gerontologie narativă (în limba engleză / Narrative Gerontology (in English)

Socio-antropologia medicală a proceselor de îmbătrânire/ Medical Socio-Anthropology of Aging Processes

Societăți îmbătrânite. Analiza datelor demografice/Aging Societies: Demographic Data Analysis

Vârstnicii în contextul migrației/Older Adults in the Context of Migration

PACHET OPȚIONAL An II, Semestrul 3

Modele de intervenție în comunitate / Community Intervention Models – Conf. Dr. Cristina Baciu

Seminar avansat despre sănătatea publică și îmbătrânire (în limba engleză) / Advanced Seminar on Public Health and Aging (in English)

Metode și tehnici de asistență socială centrate pe familie / Social Work Methods and Techniques Focused on Family – Conf. Univ. Dr. Nicoleta Neamțu

Evaluarea politicilor şi programelor sociale (în limba engleză) /Evaluating Policies and Social Programs (in English)

PACHET OPȚIONAL An 2, Semestrul 4

O abordare dincolo de uman în îngrijirea bătrânilor: animale, plante, mediu, atmosfera, tehnologie (în limba engleză) / More-than-Human Care in Later Life: Animals, Plants, Environment, Technology (in English)

Îmbătrânire și muncă: tranziții și adaptări pe piața forței de muncă / Aging and Work: Transitions and Adaptations in the Labor Market

Îmbătrânirea cognitivă: o perspectivă neuroștiințifică (în limba engleză) / Cognitive Aging: A Neuroscience Perspective (in English)

Traiectorii de gen în îmbătrânire: experiențe, provocări, reprezentări / Gender Trajectories in Aging: Experiences, Challenges, Representations

Careers

Educational plan

Academic curriculum Social gerontology 2026-2027