(Formerly GERO 380.) An exploration of death, dying, and bereavement from social, cultural, psychological, biomedical, economic, and historical perspectives. The objective is to clarify one's personal perspective on death and dying, based on a better understanding of end-of-life planning issues, stages of death, and models of care for the dying. Topics include definitions of death, needs of the dying and their support systems, pain management, palliative and hospice care, end-of-life decision-making, cultural meanings and rituals, suicide, euthanasia, homicide, natural disaster, the economics of death and life-sustaining care, family conflict and coping, bereavement, and grieving. Students may earn credit for only one of the following courses: BEHS 380 or GERO 380.