Program Overview

Program Overview

The Contemporary Topics in Aging certificate is uniquely tailored to support the development of advanced skills and knowledge in the care of older adults. This certificate offers the opportunity to advance nursing practice and tailor learning to meet particular needs.

Program Structure

The online approach focuses on learning within the context of practice and is flexible to meet student learning needs. The certificate covers theoretical understandings of aging and care of older adults across multiple contexts, geriatric assessment, focused study opportunities, and quality improvement (theory and practice).

Required Courses

• NURS 602 - Fall 2025: Theoretical Perspectives in Older Adults and Aging Societies Overview of contemporary and emerging issues associated with aging populations. Students consider the provision of health and possible systems transformation across different care continuums and explore their roles in the care of older adults at individual, community, and population levels.
• NURS 604 - Winter 2026: Comprehensive Assessment and Care of the Older Adult Philosophy and principles of assessing and caring for the aging person. The impact of age-related changes that contribute to older adults’ presentation and the responses to therapeutic management will be explored. Students utilize this knowledge and explore how it relates to advanced practice. Prerequisite(s): NURS 602
• NURS 606 - Spring 2026: Focused Studies in Aging: Enhancing Quality Initiatives in Practice for Older Adults Explores contemporary clinical issues of significance to an older adult population. Students select a current challenge to address. Also covers principles of practice development and practice improvement using a quality improvement framework and initiates development of a practice project plan. Prerequisite(s): NURS 604
• NURS 608 - Summer 2026: Specialized Practice Demonstration: Quality Initiative Plan for Older Adults Integrates content knowledge with practice development or improvement processes, in order to enact a specialized workplace practice demonstration. Students are supported by faculty to undertake their practice demonstration and to evaluate the effects of change on key stakeholders. Prerequisite(s): NURS 606

Connect Dates

All courses in this program require students to attend instructor-led Connect Days, which are delivered online at scheduled dates and times.

• Sept. 20, 2025: NURS 602
• Sept. 21, 2025: NURS 602
• Jan. 17, 2026: NURS 604
• May 9, 2026: NURS 606
• July 27, 2026: NURS 608
• July 28, 2026: NURS 608

Application Information

Applications are open from March 1 to June 30. Applicants are encouraged to submit early as classes fill quickly.

Graduate Programs FAQs

For further clarification, refer to the Graduate Programs FAQs and Graduate Certificate FAQs.

Acknowledgement

The University of Calgary acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda, and recognizes the city of Calgary as home to the Métis Nation within Alberta. The University strives to learn together, walk together, and grow together “in a good way” on this land.