Graduate Certificate Description & Requirements
Description
The curriculum toward a graduate gerontology certificate can be taken either as a free-standing program or in conjunction with various degree programs. An understanding of aging processes is needed in a wide variety of fields. Some of the graduate degrees that students have combined with the gerontology certificate in recent years include the following:
- Social Work
- Counseling
- Liberal Arts
- Sociology
- Public Administration
Requirements
The curriculum requires you to take 18 credits. It is recommended that you begin the 3-credit Colloquium on Aging, followed by 3 credits from each of the 3 core areas, 3 credits of electives, and a 3-credit practicum. These are described below in more detail.
Colloquium
A&S 5500, Interdisciplinary Colloquium in Aging
Core courses
- Sociology (choose one)
- Soc.Sci.411P--Aging in American Society: Past and Present
- Soc. 5500--The Sociology of Aging
- Psychology (choose one)
- Psych. 5543--Adult Development and Aging
- Psych. 5540--Psychology of Aging
- CPCE 5589GC--Counseling the Older Adult
- Health/Biology (choose one)
- Nat. Sci. 430PC--Biological and Ethical Issues in Aging
- A&S 5501--Experience of Health in Aging
Elective Courses (3 credit)
- Soc. 5560-Sociology of Death and Dying
- Soc. 5554--Sociology of the Aging Woman
- Soc. 5556/ 5557--Aging and Developmental Disabilities (with optional practicum)
- Pol. Sci. 5570--Politics of Social Security
- Phil. 401PC--Biological and Ethical Issues in Aging
Elective Courses (1 Credit) -- recently offered
- A&S 5501--ST: Literature, Film, and Aging
- A&S 5535--ST: The Creativity that Comes with Age
- Psych. 5580--ST: Psychology of the Aging Family
- Soc. 5580CG--ST: Family Caregiving and Social Policy: Is Everything Old New Again?
- Soc. 300CF--ST: The Changing Face of Aging in America: Best Practices in Elder Care
- Soc. 300RJ--ST: Dementia: Societal and Experiential Dimensions
- Soc. 300RG--ST: Age, Gender and Culture in Current U.S. Society
- Soc. 300NA--ST: Intimacy and Aging
- Soc. 300RH--ST: Forgotten Warriors--America's Aging Veterans
- Soc. 300AC--ST: Aging in the Community
- Soc. 300GF--ST: Grandfamilies: Raising the Children of High Risk Parents
Practicum
A&S 5592--Field Practicum in Aging
Advisement
Dr. Linda Breytspraak is the advisor for the graduate Gerontology Certificate. Students should contact her at 816-235-1744, to enroll in the program and for advice about which classes to enroll in each term. She will help students arrange a practicum experience, but this process must begin approximately 10-12 weeks ahead of the term in which the practicum will begin.
Go to Graduate Practicum Requirements