Program Overview

Graduate Certificate Gerontology

Gerontology

The Graduate Certificate Program in Gerontology has been transferred from the College of Urban and Public Affairs to the School of Public Health. All AGE classes will now be listed under a PHE prefix. To find and register for gerontology courses, students can search for "PHE" in the course catalog. Current graduate students may add the certificate to their degree program using the GO-19 form by selecting "OHSU-PSU School of Public Health" > "Graduate Certificate" > "Gerontology" and following the prompts.

Course Offerings

The following courses are offered in the academic year 2025-2026: PHE 558 Perspectives on Aging, PHE 446/556 Health Aspects of Aging, SW 544 Midlife and Beyond, SW 574 Social Work with Older Adults, PSY 462/562 Psychology of Adult Development and Aging, SW 569 Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care, PHE 456/556 Health Aspects of Aging, PHE 416/516 Families and Aging, PHE 410/510 Social Justice and Aging, and PHE 354U/510 Social Gerontology. These courses are offered in the following semesters: Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026.

A Rapidly Changing Population and Career Possibilities in Gerontology and Aging Services and Research Areas and Opportunities for Students and Professionals in the Field of Aging Services and Gerontology and Career Opportunities and Research Areas

By the year 2030, Americans aged 65 and older will outnumber children, meaning 1 in 5 Americans will be of retirement age. This rapid change in the country's population is creating exciting opportunities for professionals with the expertise to create new ways of understanding and embracing aging in the twenty-first century. Students who earn their Graduate Certificate in Gerontology will be prepared for this shift because they will understand how to support, celebrate, and care for the older adults in our community. Promoting long, healthy lives is an important concern for individuals, families, local communities, and nations. For example, while Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia among older adults and the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S., we still have no cure or adequate treatments. In addition to bench science, we need policies, programs, and services that support the more than 5 million Americans with dementia as well as their family members. Students pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology will learn how and why we age, ways to reduce the stigma around aging and optimize the aging process, the purpose, strengths, and challenges of programs and services for improving the quality of life for older people and their families, and ways to take advantage of the resources that older adults represent.

A Flexible Learning Format and Opportunities for Students and Professionals in the Field of Aging Services and Gerontology and Career Opportunities and Research Areas

This certificate may be completed fully online or through both online and traditional classroom courses. It can also be completed as a stand-alone post-baccalaureate program or in conjunction with a graduate program at PSU. Courses may be applied toward PSU doctoral programs in Urban Studies and Planning, Public Affairs and Policy, Community Health, and Health Systems Management & Policy, and master's programs in Public Health, Public Policy, Social Work, Sociology, Public Administration: Health Administration, and other doctoral and master's programs, provided the courses meet the appropriate standards for use in the particular degree program. Employment possibilities in the field of aging services are vast, and there are myriad opportunities for entrepreneurship in this field that are yet to be discovered. They include positions at international, federal, state, and local levels of governments, as well as positions in non-profit and for-profit organizations. Our faculty are global leaders on the cutting edge of social science research on aging, including best practices in housing and long-term care, planning for age-friendly communities, behavior health, aging services, workforce development, work-life issues, and family caregiving.

Required Courses

• PHE 558 Perspectives on Aging
• PHE 446/556 Health Aspects of Aging
• SW 544 Midlife and Beyond
• SW 574 Social Work with Older Adults
• PSY 462/562 Psychology of Adult Development and Aging
• SW 569 Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care
• PHE 456/556 Health Aspects of Aging
• PHE 416/516 Families and Aging
• PHE 410/510 Social Justice and Aging
• PHE 354U/510 Social Gerontology