Applied Gerontology – Helen Bader School of Social Welfare

Americans are living longer than at any other time in history. In the U.S. by 2035, there will be more adults over the age of 65 than children below the age of 18. This means that for the first time in history, older adults will outnumber children. There will be an increasing and ongoing need for professionals to help support older adults.

Aging is a dynamic field of study where demographic and generational shifts are impacting all disciplines and demanding innovations in how we care for older adults.

The graduate certificate in applied gerontology provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully pursue or advance careers within aging services organizations or conduct academic research in aging. The program focuses on the biological, psychological, social, policy and ethical aspects of aging.

There are many employment options that support older adults, including medical, hospice, long-term care, rehabilitation, home and community-based services, behavioral health, corrections, criminal justice, research and policy analysis, program development, advocacy, education and training.

Jump to Program Details

Program Type

Graduate Certificate

Program Format

On Campus, Online

Why Earn the Applied Gerontology Certificate

To increase knowledge, skills, and effectiveness in working with older adults
To develop an interdisciplinary perspective on aging
To enhance your professional marketability through graduate-level specialization in the field of aging

This graduate-level certificate is designed for two categories of students who are interested in a specialization in gerontology:

Graduate-degree seeking students in any field
Degreed professionals who wish to advance and refocus their career

Students wishing to earn the certificate must complete the required 18 graduate credit hours with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better. No student may complete all 18 credits within a single school or college.

Some credits may double count toward one’s degree program. The amount of credits to double count is at the discretion of the program.

What Makes This Certificate Unique

The gerontology certificate program encourages students to link practice and research to improve the quality of life of older adults. Our nationally recognized faculty are dedicated to mentoring students in their chosen paths through the field, whether that’s academic research and publishing in the field of aging or innovating practice methods in the care of older adults in the community.

Career Opportunities

This certification program provides students with the knowledge and skills to effectively meet the needs of the aging population in a wide range of careers. There are opportunities in nursing, teaching, service, administration and research that focus on the needs and interests of older adults. These opportunities also exist within government programs and agencies; public and private institutions that provide health, education, and social services; research centers; special interest groups; colleges and universities; and corporate human resources divisions.

Please note there is a three-year time limit to complete the certificate program from the point of initial enrollment.

Required Core Courses

Course Number	Course Name	Credits	Frequency
NURS 760	Processes of Aging	3	Fall (online)
SOC WRK 851	Social Issues and Policy Analysis: Aging	3	Spring (online)

Choice Core Courses (choose 6 credits)

Course Number	Course Name	Credits	Frequency
AD LDSP 547	The Educational Dimensions of Practice with Older Adults	3	Varies
NURS 670	Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults I *Open to Nursing students only	3	Spring
OCCTHPY 744	Advanced Occupational Therapy for Aging Adults *Open to Occupational Therapy students only	3	Spring
PSYCH 680	Psychology of Aging	3	Fall, Spring, Summer (all online)
SOC WRK 680	Death and Dying	3	Fall, Spring, Summer
SOC WRK 685	Social Gerontology	3	Fall
SOC WRK 855	Practice Skills and Concepts for Aging and Health	3	Fall (online)

Elective Courses (choose 6 credits)

Course Number	Course Name	Credits	Frequency
AD LDSP 667	Program Planning in Adult Education	3	Fall (online)
AD LDSP 757	Principles and Foundations of Adult Education	3	Fall, Spring (both online)
ARCH 791	Master’s Level Directed Research	3	Fall, Spring, Summer
ARCH 792	Master’s Level Independent Studies and Research	3	Fall, Spring, Summer
ARCH 794	Pre-Thesis or Master’s Project Research	3	Fall, Spring
ARCH 850	Advanced Design Studio: Vulnerability	6	Fall
ARCH 891	Master’s Project	6	Fall, Spring
COMMUN 672	Communication and Social Order	3	Varies
COMSDIS 713	Degenerative Cognitive Communication Disorders in Older Adults	2 *Please contact Certificate Coordinator Jen Kahn-Pettigrew before enrolling	Spring
ED PSY 747	Human Development: Study of the Adult	3	Spring
ENGLISH 749	Advanced Internship in Writing and Community Engagement	6	Fall
NURS 671	Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults II *Open to Nursing students only	3	Summer
NURS 702	Advanced Practice Nursing Adult-Gerontology Chronic Illness *Open to Nursing students only	3	Varies
NURS 779	Special Topics Seminar: Pain and Symptom Management	3	Summer (online)
OCCTHPY 625	Design and Disability	3	Fall (in person and online)
OCCTHPY 760	Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology *Open to Occupational Therapy Students only	3	Spring (online)
OCCTHPY 770	Assessment in Assistive Technology and Accessible Design	3	Summer
PSYCH 782	The Aging Brain	3	Spring (online)
SOC WRK 564	Social Services for the Aging	3	Fall
SOC WRK 811	Direct Social Work Practice II: Aging	3	Spring

Contact Jen Kahn-Pettigrew, Coordinator for Education and Programming (kahnpet2@uwm.edu or 414-229-6888), to set up an advising appointment.
Review the UWM Graduate School certificate information.
Apply to UWM’s Graduate School as a certificate student.
Complete the Certificate in Applied Gerontology declaration form.