Program Overview

Introduction to the Applied Gerontology Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Applied Gerontology is an interdisciplinary program designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to successfully pursue careers within aging services organizations, or to conduct academic research in the field of aging. The program focuses on the biological, psychological, social, and policy aspects of aging, and encourages students to link practice and research in order to improve the quality of life of older adults.

Admission Requirements

• Application deadlines vary by program; please review the application deadline chart for specific programs.
• Students wishing to obtain this certificate must declare their intention by applying to the program office or director.
• All graduate certificate applicantseven those already enrolled in a UWM graduate programmust apply to the Graduate School through the Panthera Admission Application.
• Graduate degree and previously admitted graduate non-degree students who decide to pursue a certificate program must submit the Panthera application before completing 6 credits in the certificate sequence.
• Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to be admitted into a certificate program.

Credits and Courses

Students wishing to earn a Graduate Certificate in Applied Gerontology must complete 18 graduate credit hours. No student may complete all 18 credits within a single school or college.

Course List

• Core:
  • NURS 760: Processes of Aging (3 credits)
  • SOC WRK 851: Social Issue and Policy Analysis: Aging (3 credits)
• Choice Core: Select two of the following (6 credits)
  • AD LDSP 547: The Educational Dimensions of Practice with Older Adults
  • NURS 670G: Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults I (*open to Nursing students only)
  • OCCTHPY 744: Advanced Occupational Therapy for Aging Adults (*open to Occupational Therapy students only)
  • PSYCH 680: Psychology of Aging
  • SOC WRK 680: Death and Dying
  • SOC WRK 685: Social Gerontology
  • SOC WRK 855: Practice Skills and Concepts for Aging and Health
• Electives: Select 6 credits
  • AD LDSP 667: Program Planning in Adult Education
  • AD LDSP 757: Principles and Foundations of Adult Education
  • ARCH 791: Master's Level Directed Research
  • ARCH 792: Master's Level Independent Studies and Research
  • ARCH 794: Pre-Thesis or Master's Project Research
  • ARCH 850: Advanced Design Studio: Vulnerability
  • ARCH 891: Master's Project
  • COMMUN 672: Communication and Social Order
  • COMSDIS 713: Degenerative Cognitive Communication Disorders in Older Adults
  • ED PSY 747: Human Development: Study of the Adult
  • ENGLISH 749: Advanced Internship in Writing and Community Engagement
  • NURS 671G: Nursing Care of Adults and Older Adults II (*open to Nursing students only)
  • NURS 702: Advanced Practice Nursing Adult-Gerontology Chronic Illness (*open to Nursing students only)
  • NURS 779: Special Topics Seminar: Pain and Symptom Management
  • OCCTHPY 625: Design and Disability
  • OCCTHPY 760: Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology
  • OCCTHPY 770: Assessment in Assistive Technology and Accessible Design
  • PSYCH 782: The Aging Brain
  • SOC WRK 564: Social Services for the Aging
  • SOC WRK 811: Direct Social Work Practice II: Aging
• Total Credits: 18

Additional Requirements

Transfer Credit

No more than 20% of the required credits may be taken at an institution other than UWM. These courses are subject to Graduate School transfer policy and must be approved by the director of the certificate program.

Grade Point Average Requirement

A minimum cumulative 3.00 grade point average in certificate courses taken at UWM is required.

Articulation with Degree Programs

1. Credits and courses required for a certificate may double count toward meeting UWM graduate degree requirements subject to the following restrictions:
   • Degree programs must approve the courses from certificates that can double count toward the degree.
   • All credits taken in completion of certificate requirements may count towards a UWM graduate degree as long as they do not contribute more than 90% of the total credits needed to obtain the degree.
   • Certificate courses used toward meeting degree requirements must be completed within the time limit for transfer credit.
2. Courses completed for a degree may be counted toward a subsequent certificate, subject to all certificate policy requirements.
3. A course may count toward no more than one certificate and one degree.

Time Limit

Certificate program time limits shall be established as follows:

• 18 or fewer credits: Three years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
• 19 or more credits: Four years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence. For certificates that are designed as add-ons to degree programs and are awarded concurrent with the degree, the time limit shall be the same as that of the degree program.