Graduate Certificate in Gerontology
The Official Certificate Program (OCP) in Gerontology provides an ideal foundation for future learning and professional growth. It offers graduates a solid foundation in gerontology that can be applied to a wide variety of careers including medicine and caregiving, mental health, social service and non-profits, policy and outreach, business and marketing, architecture and urban planning, law and advocacy, exercise science, and management and administration.
The certificate can be completed independently or combined with a master’s or other graduate program.
Why Study Gerontology?
The U.S. Department of Labor has identified careers in aging as a high-growth industry. People are living longer than ever before, including in Connecticut, which has the 7th oldest population in the country. By 2030, those over the age of 60 are expected to make up 26 percent of the state’s population. To ensure a society where we can maintain health and well-being across the lifespan, there is growing demand for professionals prepared to meet the needs of our aging population.
Why Study Gerontology at CCSU?
Our program is designed for those new to the field, thinking about making a career change, or those already working with older adults. Whether you want to focus on direct care, research, policy, or the aging process itself, CCSU’s program will meet your educational needs:
- Multidisciplinary faculty with expertise in the multidimensional aspects of aging
- Opportunities for both practical application and applied research in gerontology
- Evening and online formats accommodate busy schedules of working adults
- An equal balance between core and elective courses allowing for personalized learning.
You will:
- Learn about research on aging and enhance your research skills
- Learn how to effectively advocate for the needs of older adults
- Make a difference in the lives of older adults—and perhaps even your own.
What Can I Expect from the Classes?
- Engaging and practical content from faculty with expertise in the aging process and the diverse societal systems involving older adults.
- Assignments that enhance understanding and critical thinking of social policies and community-based interventions that benefit older adults and their families.
- Required courses offered online and in the evening.
- Small sections composed of students from diverse educational and experience backgrounds.
Required Courses (9 credits)
Required courses focus on interdisciplinary study of gerontology and the implications of aging in our society and examine social, cultural, psychological, health, economic, and public policy issues related to aging.
GER0 500 - Current Perspectives in Gerontology (3 credits)
GERO 510 - Policy, Aging & Ethics (3 credits)
PSY 511 - Psychology of Aging (3 credits)
Directed Electives (6 credits)
Elective courses are chosen with the help of a graduate advisor and cover a broad range of topics such as health psychology, community psychology, chronic illness, geriatric mental health, intimacy and aging, and entrepreneurship. Students also have the option of participating in directed research or internships to pursue their specific interests and goals.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education with an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher. Applicants with a GPA between 2.40 – 2.99 who demonstrate potential and whose coursework and/or experiences relate to gerontology can be considered for conditional admission.
To learn more and apply: www.ccsu.edu/grad