Graduate Certificate - Gerontology

Graduate Certificate - Gerontology

The certificate program in Gerontology serves students who are embarking on careers in research, policy, public outreach, social services, and health care serving aging populations, or are established professionals in the field seeking additional credentialing and career advancement. Gerontology is a growing field, as our population ages into the next decades, the need for skilled professionals will increase as the percentage of older adults in the population increases. According to the US Census Bureau, by 2035, adults over age 65 will outnumber children under age 18, and by 2060 nearly 1 in 4 Americans will be over the age of 65. This growing population will require health care, social services, and advocacy to retain independence and quality of life well into later decades. Graduates with a certificate in Gerontology will be poised to serve this demographic across many industries and will be leaders in the field of planning and innovation to meet the needs of this population as they come to outnumber the younger generations who care for them.

Career Path

Careers in gerontology are wide-ranging, including direct service to aging populations as health care providers, social services providers, mental health workers, agency representatives, case workers, geriatric care managers, and in the nonprofit sector as advocates and service providers. Gerontology specialists serve in administrative roles in health and hospital services, residential living facilities, hospice / palliative care, and in governmental agencies at local, state, and federal levels, including the departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and the Veterans Administration (VA).