Graduate Certificate in Gerontology

A Graduate Certificate in Gerontology is offered for students preparing for careers in the aging field and for professionals already working in areas such as health care, social services, recreation and leisure, government, and business. The certificate program is a 21-semester-hour, interdisciplinary curriculum that provides an in-depth exposure to the issues, knowledge, and research about the aging processes and older people. It is designed to integrate knowledge of gerontology into students' own disciplinary fields and may be earned concurrently with a master's or doctoral degree or independently by those who hold a bachelor's or advanced degree.
Students throughout the university may specialize in gerontology by planning their programs of study to include the certificate. Nursing, nutrition, physical therapy, social work, counseling, health administration, exercise science, public administration, and urban policy studies students, as well as those in the natural and social sciences, the humanities, and the arts find the certificate to be a valuable adjunct to their degree program.

Contact Us

Mailing Address
Gerontology Institute
Georgia State University
PO Box 3984
Atlanta, GA 30302-3984

Campus Address
605 One Park Place

Phone
404-413-5210

Fax
404-413-5219

E-Mail
gerontology@gsu.edu

Website
www.gsu.edu/gerontology
 

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology

(All courses are three semester hours)

1. Core courses (12 hours)
 GERO 7200  Health and the Older Adult
 GERO 8116  Sociology of Aging
 GERO 8320  Psychology of Aging

Select one of the following courses:
 GERO 7110  Aging Policy and Services
 GERO 7260  Aging Practice, Policy, and Research

2. Elective courses (6 hours)
 GERO 6475  Communication and Aging
 GERO 7110  Aging Policy and Services (If not taken in core)
 GERO 7260  Aging Practice, Policy, and Research (If not taken in core)
 GERO 8102  Life Course Sociology
 GERO 8119  Global Aging and Social Policies
 GERO 8122  Death, Dying, and Loss
 GERO 8124  Ethnicity and Aging
 GERO 8200  Aging Program Administration
 GERO 8330  Mental Health and Aging
 GERO 8340  Dementia
 GERO 8700  Special Topics in Gerontology
 GERO 8800  Directed Reading in Gerontology
 
 
3. Internship (3 hours)

 GERO 8910  Gerontology Internship or an approved alternate internship course

Application Process

Internal applicants, students currently enrolled in graduate degree programs at Georgia State University, should contact the Gerontology Institute, 404-413-5210 or gerontology@gsu.edu, for advisement about applying to the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology.
External applicants, those not currently enrolled who plan to pursue the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology independently of a degree program at Georgia State University should seek admission to GSU by following the application process outlined below.
How to Apply (External applicants only)

The Office of Graduate Studies of the College of Arts and Sciences handles all applications for the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. Please go to the college website to Graduate Programs,  http://www.cas.gsu.edu/grad.html, to apply for admission online. Applicants should follow the instructions outlined in the Application Guide, http://www.cas.gsu.edu/docs/grad/application_booklet.pdf, and have on hand the required information prior to accessing the online application.  

When to Apply

Although July 1 is the application deadline for fall semester, and November 15 is the application deadline for spring semester, applicants to the graduate certificate program are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Applications will be reviewed by the admission committee as they are received. 

What to Submit

In addition to completing all GSU application forms, submitting official transcripts, and paying the required application fee, applicants to the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology must provide the following items:

1. Two letters of recommendation.

2. A statement of educational and career goals.

3. A current resume.