Certificate Name and Number:  Graduate Gerontology Certificate – CTGERG

Department(s)/Unit(s):  Department of Interdisciplinary Health Studies

Delivery Mode:  Athens Campus

Terms of Entry:  Fall, Spring, Summer

Enrollment Eligibility:  Degree-seeking students

Certificate Overview:  The multi-disciplinary graduate certificate in gerontology addresses the educational needs of graduate students and professionals not only in health care but a variety of disciplines who work with the aging or elderly population who have already earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree. The Graduate Gerontology Certificate allows students in any graduate program within the university to gain knowledge and skills related to working with the elderly, and it provides an opportunity for those who possess a bachelor’s or an advanced degree to gain the same knowledge and skills even if they are not currently seeking an advanced degree. It is appropriate for students planning to continue doctoral preparation in gerontology or related areas. The typical or expected time to completion is two semesters.

Opportunities upon Completion:  This certificate is applicable to many career options including business, exercise physiology, family studies, government, health sciences, hearing, speech language sciences, medicine, nursing, physical therapy, psychology, recreation, sociology, or social work.

Completion Requirements: 

Select at least 12 hours from the following courses, along with a three credit hour required practicum (HLTH 6921), for a total of 15 credit hours.

• CFS 5660 - Transitions in Development: Middle and Later Life (3)
• CFS 5800 - Death, Dying and Bereavement (3)
• CFS 6890 - Self, Aging, and Society (3)
• CFS 6901 - Thanatology (3)
• CLWR 5820 - Thinking about Death: Belief and Practice (4)
• CSD 5000 - Aging and Disorders of Communication (3)
• CSD 6935 - Aging and Communication in the Developing World (3)
• EDCE 7380 - Gerontological Counseling (2)
• HLTH 6130 - Aging and Health (3)
• HLTH 6791 - Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control (3)
• REC 5210 - Principles of Aging, Physical Activity, and Recreation (3)
• SW 5233 - Counseling Older Adults (3)
• SW 5293 - Aging in American Society (3)

Financial Aid Eligibility Information:

• Degree-seeking students may use federal financial aid only for 1) coursework fulfilling requirements of their degree, including required elective hours, or 2) coursework toward a second financial aid-eligible program.
• Students receiving federal financial aid may not take courses for this certificate unless they are also enrolled full-time (9 hours) in their degree program during the same academic term. Financial aid may be used for courses that count toward both degree requirements and the certificate.

Admission Requirements:  No additional requirements beyond university graduate admission requirements.

International Students:  This certificate program does not permit full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 cannot be issued based on admission to this program alone.