Abilene Christian University

Abilene Christian University is dedicated to preparing students for Christian service and leadership around the globe.

• Leaders produced by ACU think in a critical, global and missional sense.
• Innovative and specific programs will be offered by ACU.
• ACU draws students into the community through a unique, Christ-centered experience.
• ACU will increase its Christian influence and reach out more to educate people in the nation and around the world.

ACU offers students unique opportunities as they start on their career paths. Students taking up the undergraduate physics program are expected to participate regularly in association with members of the faculty at the laboratory of national nuclear physics enabling them to provide national and international presentations. Only graduate students are allowed to participate in this type of extraordinary assignment in most other universities. A twice-weekly newspaper that has received All-American honors every year since 1975, is produced by students in the journalism program.

Students that major in Communication regularly attain victory in national debate contests, when competing against established universities. Our English students have been winning writing competitions against strong competitors. Business majors have the opportunity to travel to Colorado for a one of a kind leadership institute. The mission of ACU is to prepare students, in every program, to become inspirational Christian leaders.

The university is composed of four colleges including Arts and Sciences, Biblical Studies, Business Administration and Education and Human Service, as well as five schools which are the Graduate School, the Graduate School of Theology, the School of Information Technology and Computing, the School of Social Work and the Patty Hanks Shelton School of Nursing.

The dynamic relationship that should exist between professors and their students is greatly valued at Abilene Christian University. Numerous institutions depend upon graduate assistants significantly, but ACU is different. Only qualified faculty members teach all the courses. It is possible to find undergraduate students working side-by-side with professors who work on research projects, which is rarely found at other universities.

How can we be sure this is a good philosophy? The country's top employers travel to ACU anually, to interview our students here on ACU's campus, for employment opportunities.

Master in Gerontology

Offered by the Pruett Gerontology Center through the Sociology Department, the Master of Science degree in gerontology is an interdisciplinary degree.

Upon completion of the gerontology program at ACU students are prepared for a wide range of opportunities in the field such as:

• the ability to assume leadership roles in residential care for the elderly
• proficiency in planning, coordination and the administration of both private and public programs
• eligiblity to teach gerontology at the college and university level
• the ability to serve the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of our growing population of senior citizens

Special care is taken to integrate each aspect of this interdisciplinary program in order to enhance the depth and balance of each student’s educational background. Such fields as sociology, social work, psychology, family and consumer sciences, biology, government, communication, administration and recreation provide the balanced and diverse requirements for these programs.

Graduate certificate

The Graduate certificate for gerontology is available for students who want to add to their academic instruction or practical skills. A nationally-recognized credential in the field of gerontology education, the certificate is an 18-hour program.

Intruduction

The Pruett Gerontology Center has devoted more than 20 years to developing a curriculum that focuses on the study of aging, responding to the service needs of both the community and the church, and establishing a resource center that is capable of serving the informational needs of organizations as well as individuals. Various workshops, conferences and short courses to address needs and issues, relating to aging, being faced by churches, families and communities are sponsored by the center.

Undergraduate Certificate

The rapidly expanding field of gerontology includes career opportunities as diverse as research environments, public service agencies, the retirement home industry and a multitude of other agencies and programs serving our aging population.

Each undergraduate pursuing a certificate in gerontology will consult with an advisor, who will help to match the student's particular need with an individualized program of study.

List of education programs offered by Abilene Christian University