Gerontology / Management of Aging Services
Online Graduate Certificate Program

Award-Winning Program from Top Ranked University

The Gerontology Graduate Certificate with a focus in management of aging services is targeted to individuals in the aging network who are looking to upgrade their skills or advance in new directions within the field or for those looking to enter the field. The emphasis will be on making this an easily accessible program through use of online courses. Class scheduling will reflect the needs of a working student population. Students take five courses from an approved list of courses to earn the graduate certificate. Students must have earned an undergraduate degree to be eligible for the certificate. Students will have the option of applying these 15 credits toward the national award-winning 30-credit Management of Aging Services Master's degree program.

The Gerontology / Management of Aging Services Program is committed to providing an education that is characterized by:

• Excellence: Credit from this graduate certificate program can be transferred to the MAS track Master's Degree program, which has been nationally recognized and was named the Outstanding Credit Program for 2008 by the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA). The Program was cited for its innovation and creativity.
• Flexibility: The Program can now be completed totally online. Students can determine how many courses they take each semester. Courses are offered in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
• An Applied Approach: The Program is geared to preparing students for positions in the aging field. All our faculty members have strong academic backgrounds and are also currently working or have worked in key positions in various aspects of the aging network. Students are prepared for positions in areas including:
  • Elder housing
  • Senior centers
  • Assisted living
  • Geriatric care management
  • Nursing homes
  • State and federal agency administration and management
  • Adult day care
  • Companies marketing to elders
  With the growth of the aging population, there are increasing opportunities for those who have an understanding of aging issues and the management and administrative skills to implement and oversee programs for this population.
• Responsiveness to Student Concerns: Faculty members are committed to working with students to meet their individual needs and to make the educational experience valuable and productive.

Gerontology - Undergraduate Certificate

The Frank J. Manning Certificate in Gerontology provides students with an understanding of the aging network and aging process through direct service, research, field placements and legislative advocacy for the elderly. It is designed for individuals currently working in or new to the field of Gerontology. The courses in the Manning Certificate are fully integrated with the core curriculum of the UMass Boston College of Public & Community's Service's undergraduate program in Gerontology. Both programs are designed to help those interested in the field of Gerontology augment their current knowledge and skills and to pursue a rewarding career built around issues of aging and public service. Students will have the option of applying this 18 credit, four-course certificate program to the Bachelor's degree program in Gerontology. The Manning Certificate program has been approved for CEU credit by the Massachusetts Board of Registration for Nursing Home Administrators.

• Concepts & Practices with the Elderly
• Social & Economic Implications of Aging
• Legislative Process and the Elderly
• Elderly Action Research Project

UMass Online also offers:

• National Award-Winning Master's Degree in Gerontology / Management of Aging Services

Gerontology Health Care - Certificate
This post-bachelor's certificate is available to anyone looking to increase their understanding of gerontology. The changing demographics of the population requiring gerontology health care services are growing at a rapid rate with the Baby Boomers entering retirement age. Career potential is enhanced by the students' work experience and their application of education within the certificate. This program can be completed completely online and requires only 4 courses (12 credits).

• Gerontology - MHA

Gerontology - Graduate Certificate
The program is designed to serve professionals in diverse disciplines, in a variety of industries, who are interested in acquiring basic knowledge about gerontology and geriatrics, and specialized knowledge of aging and aging processes in their particular disciplines or occupations. Students will gain in-depth knowledge of the biological, psychological, and sociological aspects of an aging population as well as specialized knowledge in a chosen discipline. Students can choose a specialization track in Dentistry, Law, Mental Health, Nursing, Occupational Therapy/ Rehabilitation, Public Health, Social Work, or one of the multidisciplinary tracks (i.e., General; Prevention and Healthy Aging).

Health Issues for the Aging Adult - Undergraduate Certificate
UMUC's Undergraduate Health Issues for the Aging Adult Certificate is designed for students who seek the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively work with older adults in a variety of roles. The certificate integrates gerontology knowledge and skills from the fields of health/biology, sociology, psychology, and policy/services and provides the opportunity to apply these skills to work with older adults. Coursework may help students seeking a bachelor's degree in a variety of areas to integrate gerontology knowledge with their major area of academic study or prepare students who are vocationally oriented and not seeking a higher education degree to improve work skills. Through a practicum or Co-op experience, students work with professionals to apply knowledge acquired through coursework to practical experience with aging individuals or aging issues in different settings that address the needs of older adults (e.g., assisted living centers, retirement communities, nursing homes, hospitals, senior centers, companies producing products and services for seniors, or area agencies on aging). Core coursework includes: Introduction to Gerontology, Sociology of Aging, and Cross-Cultural Perspectives of Aging. This certificate requires 18 semester hours to complete.

UMUC also offers:

• Gerontology - BS

Geriatric Care Management - Certificate
The Geriatric Care Management Certificate is designed for health and human services professionals, including registered nurses, social workers, occupational and physical therapists, rehabilitation counselors, and physicians, who are interested in delivering quality care and optimizing the lifestyles of the elderly and their families.

Human Services / Gerontology - BS
The Bachelor of Science in Human Services program is designed to prepare you with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a rewarding career in a wide variety of helping professions. Students are taught to develop their talents, assess clients' needs, identify community resources, and problem solve and advocate for their client--all with the goal of making a difference in the life of those unable to help themselves. In the Gerontology concentration, the program focuses on the physical, mental, and psychosocial development of humans during the aging process. This emphasis area supports students with an interest in working directly with the growing aging population and as advocates for seniors in our society. The courses are designed to prepare graduates to work with the change process of aging and address how the aging population impacts social policy and program delivery.

Gerontology - MS
Capella's online degree specialization in Gerontology offers a comprehensive examination of the impact of aging on individuals, families, and communities. The curriculum covers such topics as the biological, epidemiological, psychological, and social changes caused by the aging process; cultural and social attitudes toward the aging; care and services that promote productive aging; multigenerational relationships; and the impact of an aging demographic on public policy. Individuals with degree specializations in gerontology can attain careers in many fields. People who choose this specialization may wish to pursue careers in management, education, or research with nonprofit organizations, public agencies, or health care facilities that work with an aging population.