Aging Minor
Older adults are living longer than at any other time in history — by 2035, they will outnumber children.
The Social Work Minor in Aging provides the opportunity for undergraduate social work students to obtain skills and knowledge in gerontology.
UWM offers an Undergraduate Certificate in Healthy Aging for students in majors other than social work.
Program Type
Minor
Program Format
On Campus
Social Work Minor in Aging
This Social Work Minor in Aging is housed within the Helen Bader Office of Applied Gerontology and offers students a community through events and student-led groups.
The Helen Bader Age and Community Scholarship provides financial support for students pursuing a minor focused on gerontology.
The Aging Minor strengthened my BSW by giving me specialized knowledge about older adults, dementia care, and long-term care systems. It helped me connect classroom learning to real-world practice and enhanced my confidence as a future social worker.
Students in the Social Work Minor in Aging combine classroom learning with real-world experience at an agency that serves older adults. During their field experience, students are supported by field instructors that guide them as they apply knowledge learned in the classroom. Students interact with clients and acquire valuable direct practice skills that they can use after graduation.
This minor prepares students to serve older adults in these settings:
- medical, including hospice, long-term care and rehabilitation facilities
- home and community-based services
- behavioral health
- corrections (criminal justice)
- and more!
Videos about the Minor in Aging
| Required Courses | Credits |
| SOC WRK 250: Human Behavior and the Social Environment | 3 |
| SOC WRK 421: Field Education & Integrated Field Seminar I | 5 |
| SOC WRK 422: Field Education & Integrated Seminar II | 5 |
| Electives (Choose three courses from those listed below) | 9 |
| SOC WRK 300: Aged to Perfection: Introduction to the Study of Aging | |
| SOC WRK 564: Social Services for the Aging | |
| SOC WRK 680: Death and Dying | |
| SOC WRK 685: Social Gerontology | |
| Total Credits | 22 |
Student Advising & Support Services
Northwest Quadrant D 3800
414-229-4852
ccep-advising@uwm.edu