GERON 218Psychology of Death and Dying
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Health
- Subject
- Gerontology
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Variations in the meaning and significance of death and dying will be considered from a psychological perspective, with particular attention to the contexts (e.g., cultural, familial, life-span developmental) in which these variations occur.
Prerequisites
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 3085 | 6 / 50 | T 18:30–21:20 |
Winter 2027 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 7574 | 0 / 25 | T 18:30–21:20 |
| LEC 701 | 8106 | 2 / 9999 | Online or by arrangement |
Reviewed on UW Flow
100% liked it42% easy33% useful
From 3 ratings and 3 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
I think this is a good course for people considering a field in health care but can't really see much of an application elsewhere. That being said, I found the content really interesting and there were lots of concepts I wouldn't have learned in any other class. I think there was less of a psychology focus than I was expecting but still enjoyed it. Evaluations consisted of 3 tests and a SONA bonus. Because of the niche topics they were more difficult but overall not too bad.
Dec 2021 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Professor is great, I think he is a smart, kind person. He really cares for his students and ensures course content is being delivered appropriately online by actually discussing lecture content, not just making a voice over video. The course content is really deep, pretty philosophical. Tests are the only reason why I had a hard time fully enjoying this course. There are only three tests that determine your overall grade, and a small SONA participation (worth 2% of your final grade). There are no papers, so if test-taking is your forté, have at it. But the tests are heavily detailed and incredibly difficult. I like the professor, though.
Dec 2021 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
A lot of readings although they are all course reserves, so no text book. Very interesting, but doesn't seem overly useful.
Jan 2017 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
4 posts and comments in 4 threads mention GERON 218, August 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2020
Syllabus for PSYCH Courses 1 point, 3 comments
u/6atalla: “Hey does anyone have the breakdown or syllabus for Psych 211,212,238,253,340,356,372 and GERON 218 for the online F2020 term? - If you have any, that'd be nice :) The ones online aren't updated and I'm trying to figure out what courses to take for W2021.”
Syllabus for GERON 218 0 points, 0 comments
Fall 2012
Favorite/most useful class you've taken? 13 points, 31 comments
“I'm just curious to know what you guys consider the most useful class you've taken - as in, a class you feel you've been able to apply in real-life situations. …”
u/GramTheDon: “… Favorite (and my go to course recommendation) is PSYCH/HLTH/GERON 218 - Psychology of Death and Dying. It was a really fun and interesting take on everything related to Death and the process of going through it from all angles. …”
Spring 2011
PHIL220? 4 points, 12 comments
“Hi Reddit, I'm looking for electives to take in the Fall term, and I was wondering if anyone has taken Philosophy 220 (Moral Issues) in the past. …”
u/GramTheDon: “pHIL 226: Bioethics It was an amazing course, if you are interested in that kind of stuff. Then again, who ISN'T interested in that stuff? Prof quality can vary, based on who you get. PSYCH/HLTH/GERON 218 is also a great fun/bird course, if you need something on that spectrum.”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them