Graduate Certificate in Gerontology

The Graduate Certificate in Gerontology provides students with a broad overview of issues in gerontology. Applied Sociology students can earn this certificate by completing five substantive 3-credit courses in gerontology, in addition to completing the Sociology MA requirements. Only two of these courses can be counted toward the MA degree, so students seeking the Gerontology Certificate must complete three additional courses. All gerontology courses are offered through the University’s Ph.D. Program in Gerontology.

The following gerontology courses can be used to satisfy the graduate certificate requirements (enrollment is only with permission of course instructor).

GERON 611: Health and Physical Aspects of Aging
GERON 614: Issues Concerning Specialized Populations of the Elderly
GERON 621: Social Aspects of Aging
GERON 623: Issues in Aging Policy
GERON 626: Economic Issues in Aging Populations
GERON 628: Psychology of Aging
GERON 631: Families of Later Life
GERON 721: History and Political Economy of Social Policy Toward the Elderly
GERON 724: Ethnic and Racial Diversity in Aging Societies
GERON 734: Law and Health Policy for the Elderly
GERON 761: Advanced Policy Analysis
GERON 771: Seminar in Long Term Care

Interested students may also be able to design an internship and/or a capstone experience (thesis, research paper, or comprehensive exam) in the area of gerontology.

Students wishing to earn a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology must have completed at least one semester in Applied Sociology. In addition, they must receive a formal recommendation from the Applied Sociology Graduate Program Director as well as approval from the Gerontology Center.