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[Introduction] [Program of Study] [Oversight] [Admission]
Introduction
The Graduate Certificate in Gerontology is offered by the Graduate School in collaboration with the College of Education and Health Professions and the School of Human Environmental Sciences of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.The Graduate Certificate Program is an interdisciplinary program designed to meet the need for focused study in gerontology on this campus and in this region. With the rapid growth of the aging population of Northwest Arkansas and the nation, area practitioners in diverse disciplines need additional academic and practical experiences that will prepare them to work more effectively with older adults. Students already enrolled in specific graduate programs may wish to pursue additional specialized preparation in gerontology.
The Graduate Certificate in Gerontology is offered through the Graduate School at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and is administered jointly by the Graduate School and the Office for Studies on Aging. It consists of 18 hours of graduate level coursework.
Students already pursuing a graduate degree program on this campus must apply separately for the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. Only the student's graduate degree program faculty can determine whether or not courses taken in fulfillment of the Graduate Certificate Program can be counted towards the student's graduate degree in a specific discipline.
Overview of course requirements
The Graduate Certificate in Gerontology Program will require 18 hours of courses:
1. GERO/HESC 4443, Gerontology
2. One course in each of the following categories, from an approved list of courses and with approval of the advisory committee:
3. GERO 5013, Field Experience in Gerontology
4. GERO 5023, Critical Issues in Aging (capstone course experience)
Courses can be taken over a period of up to six years
No more than six hours of coursework can be taken before a student requests admission to the Graduate Certificate Program
Specific coursework
The specific courses taken in fulfillment of Graduate Certificate requirements must be approved by the student's Advisory Committee prior to completing any course.
The following existing courses can fulfill the requirement of #2, above:
Psychosocial Aspects of Aging:
Physiological/Health Aspects of Aging:
Practice/Policy Aspects of Aging:
It is anticipated that available coursework in these three broad aspects of aging will change over time, and students should check with their Advisory Committee and with this web site for updates. In addition, a student may identify a course not on the current list as a possible option for fulfilling Requirement #2. In that instance, the student must request Advisory Committee approval of this course as satisfying requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology.
Capstone and Field Experience
Field Experience in Gerontology (GERO 5013). The Field Experience in Gerontology course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to be involved in applying knowledge of gerontology gained through prior academic and professional experience and 12 hours of gerontology course work in the graduate certificate program. The Field Experience is relatively loosely configured to allow for opportunities including, but not limited to, the following: a research project designed and completed by the student; participation in an ongoing research product in an active role; program design/development; service project implementation in conjunction with agencies and programs within the community; creation of training and/or other educational materials; development of assessment instruments for practical use in service to the elderly; and community resource development. All field experiences must involve some component of hands-on work with older adults or in settings serving older adults.
Certificate students will enroll in a section of GERO 5013 assigned to one member of the Advisory Committee. It is the responsibility of the student to identify the type of project, possible sites, and faculty member who will oversee the experience. This faculty member will monitor the progress of the Field Experience throughout the semester of enrollment.
Critical Issues in Aging (GERO 5023). The Critical Issues in Aging course serves as a capstone experience for the Graduate Certificate Program in Gerontology. The seminar will be team taught by Contributing Faculty on a rotating basis.
Steering Committee
The Graduate Certificate in Gerontology Program will be administered and reviewed by Dr. Pat Koski, Associate Dean of the Graduate School.
In addition, a Steering Committee is responsible for developing and implementing guidelines for the Graduate Certificate Program, as well as for program review and change. Members of the steering committee are:
Advisory Committee
Each student will have a Advsiory Committee, consisting of two members of the Graduate Certificate Steering Committee (Drs. DiBrezzo, Shadden, Turner and DeCoster), as well as a faculty member from a related content area of particular interest to the candidate.
Contributing Faculty
Faculty for the Graduate Certificate Program in Gerontology will be those faculty members who have expressed interest in participating in the program and who have expertise in some aspect of gerontology.
It is anticipated that faculty will serve an important role in advising graduate certificate candidates, as well as being actively engaged in the field experience in gerontology.
To see a list of contributing faculty, please click here:
Requirements
In order to be admitted to the Graduate Certificate Program in Gerontology, applicants must have obtained a baccalaureate or graduate degree from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, or from a regionally accredited institution in the United States with requirements for degrees substantially equivalent to those of this university, or from a foreign institution with comparable requirements for the degrees. The requirements for regular admission to graduate standing are outlined in the Graduate School Catalog and are available on line at:
http://www.uark.edu/depts/gradinfo/prospective/catalog/index.html
How to Apply
Prospective students should apply using the Graduate School Admission form, indicating the program of studies as the GERO Certificate. The form can be downloaded from the Graduate School's web site at: http://www.uark.edu/depts/gradinfo/
Applicants must submit:
Who Reviews Applications
Applications will first be reviewed by the Graduate School, then forwarded to the Office for Studies on Aging for final approval of admission to the certificate program.
For information….
Office for Studies on Aging
Graduate School
College of Education and Health Professions
School of Human and Environmental Sciences
University of Arkansas
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Contact: Phone: (479) 575-5262 // Fax: (479) 575-2853 // email:aging@www.uark.edu