The Doctoral Concentration in Creative Longevity and Wisdom: Aging, Culture, and Society (ACS) provides focus and recognition to those students, alumni and faculty within HOD working for and with aging populations locally, nationally, regionally, and globally. Since 2002 an Initiative in Creative Longevity and Wisdom has resulted in regular events and gatherings, the publication of collected papers, recognition of six outstanding international scholars, and over thirty Student and Alumni Fellows. Through the concentration, these milestones of scholarship and practice with and on behalf of aging populations internationally gain focus and allow students and alumni to receive recognition of their achievements in the concentration.
The objectives of the concentration are for students, faculty, alumni and external colleagues to work collaboratively in order to contribute to knowledge, policy, and practice in important areas concerning older adults, including the unique developmental experiences and milestones of aging; the relationship between creativity, wisdom development, spirituality and positive aging; the development of organizations and social policies to combat poverty and promote wellness; issues of caregiving and caregivers; promoting barrier-free, sustainable and nurturing environments; and the fostering of active, wise aging populations who will in turn promote greater social and ecological justice worldwide for diverse aging populations and future generations.
In addition to the degree curriculum, the ACS concentration curriculum consists of the following requirements:
- Required Area of Specialization: Students will complete a required 4 unit KA 721 Area of Specialization: Aging, Culture and Society. Students will demonstrate scholarly knowledge of all of the components of the concentration. These include wisdom and consciousness development in aging, particularly the role of creativity in the life course. Critical examination of the works of the ACS Outstanding Scholars are included in this KA.
- Required KAs: Students will complete two in-depth papers in any KAs (4 units each) and two applied KAs (2 units each) demonstrating knowledge of the following:
- Aging, the Brain and Positive Psychology
- Aging and Wellness
- Social Policy, Social Justice and Diversity in Aging
- Creativity and Generativity
- Spirituality and Wisdom Development in Aging
- Sustainability and Nurturing Environments
- Research and Scholarship: Students will demonstrate ways in which older adults may themselves use methods of inquiry to improve their self-understanding (or in working with their organizations) in one or more components of the research and inquiry sequence or in applied components of KAs. Students will present a professional paper about their research and practice of positive and creative aging in an appropriate conference or organizational setting. Participation in conference presentations and planning is encouraged (e.g., the Positive Aging Conference in Los Angeles, California, December 8-10, 2010).
- Dissertation: Students will write a dissertation related to creative longevity and wisdom: aging, community and social justice. One or more members on the committee will be a concentration faculty member.
- Participation in the ACS community: Students are expected to attend three or more sessions and events in national or regional sessions devoted to CL&W and contribute to the online community, and are encouraged to apply for fellowships in ACS.