THE GRADUATE LEVEL CERTIFICATE IN GERONTOLOGY is offered to students who:

• are interested in pursuing careers in the field of aging,

• have completed an undergraduate degree and wish to begin specialized study in the field of aging, or

• wish to specialize in gerontology in conjunction with a graduate degree, or

• have already completed graduate degree(s) and wish to add specialized study in the field of aging. 

The course of study provides a base of knowledge and skills applicable to a wide range of professional roles in the field of aging.

If you are interested in earning a graduate-level Certificate in Gerontology, please fill out the ENROLLMENT FORM and email it to: GERONTOLOGY COORDINATOR. The coordinator will contact you and schedule a time when you can discuss further details about the certificate.

REQUIREMENTS

The eighteen (18) credit hours required for completion of this certificate include:

• Interdisciplinary Colloquium in Aging (3 credit hours);

• Three credit hours in each of three aging core disciplines (sociology, psychology, and health/biology), for a total of 9 credit hours;

• Three credit hours of electives; and

• A three-credit hour field practicum in aging. ^*

For those students pursuing a graduate degree, it may be possible to apply all or part of the hours from the gerontology certificate toward the elective slots of that degree program.  In some cases, though, it will be necessary to take additional credits beyond those accepted by the graduate degree program in order to also fulfill the requirements for the Gerontology Certificate.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE COURSE OPTIONS:

Arts & Sciences 5500, Interdisciplinary Colloquium in Aging (3 cr. hrs.)

(This required course is recommended as the entry point for the Graduate Certificate.)

Sociology:

Sociology 410, Aging in Contemporary Society (3 cr. hrs.), or

Sociology 5560, Sociology of Death and Dying (3 cr. hrs.), or

Sociology 5580, Sociology of the Aging Woman (3 cr. hrs.)

Psychology:

Psychology 5540, Special Topics: Psychology of Aging (3 cr.hrs.)

Psychology 5543, Adult Development and Aging (3 cr.hrs.)

Psychology 5580, Counseling the Older Adult (3 cr.hrs.)

Health/Biology:

Nursing 5530A, B, & C, The Experience of Health in Aging (Total of 3 cr.hrs.)

Natural Science 430 PC, Biological and Ethical Issues in Aging (3 cr.hrs.)

Practicum:

Arts & Sciences 5592, Field Practicum in Aging (3 cr.hrs.)

(Consent number required for registration in this course)

In special cases, a Field Practicum in Aging may be approved for up to 8 cr. hrs.

ELECTIVES

Note:  It is possible to choose a second selection from the core areas for an elective, however, please check with the Gerontology Advisor prior to doing so.

Many of the following elective courses are not offered on a regular basis, but rather as interest or timeliness of the topic merits. Please check the current semester’s UMKC Class Schedule, www.umkc.edu/ or university catalog for options.

 Electives may include three (3) credit hours from the following:

Class identification numbers and letters may change each semester. For further details and descriptions of courses, please refer to our web page of Current and UpcomingClasses.

Arts and Sciences 490, Literature and Aging (2 credits.)

Health Administration 5577, Health Services Administration and the Health Professions (3 credits)

Health Administration 5576, Managed Care Institutions (3 credits)

Health Administration 5571 Financial Management Issues in Health and Human Service Organizations (3 credits)

Philosophy 401PC, Biological and Ethical Issues of Aging (3 credits)

Political Science 380, Public Policy and Aging (3 credits)

Psychology 5580, The Psychology of the Aging Family (1 credit)

Sociology 300, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: The Skip-Generation Families (1 credit)

Sociology 300, Aging American Veterans: Their Issues and Their Stories

Sociology 5580, Social Security: Dispelling the Myths (1 credit)

Sociology 5580, Legal, Medical, and Ethical Issues of Aging (1 credit)

Sociology 5580, Volunteerism (1 credit)

Sociology 300, Elder Abuse (1 credit)

Sociology 300, Intimacy & Aging (1 credit)

Sociology 300, The Dynamics of an Aging Workforce (3 credits)

Sociology 5560, The Sociology of Death and Dying (3 credits)

Sociology 5580, The Sociology of the Aging Woman (3 credits)

Sociology 5556, Aging and Developmental Disabilities (2 credits)

Sociology 5557, Aging and Developmental Disabilities Practicum (1credit)

Sociology 5580, Caregiving: Paradigm and Paradox (1 credit)

Sociology 5580, Successful Aging (1 credit)

Sociology 5580. Substance Abuse and the Elderly (1credit)

Sociology 5580, Aging in the Movies (1 credit)

(Please refer to UMKC Class Schedules and Classes by Semester Offered  websites for further details on courses)