CERTIFICATE OF GRADUATE STUDY IN GERONTOLOGY
The Certificate of Graduate Study in Gerontology is designed to address the needs of professionals who are currently engaged or will be engaged in activities that include planning, administration, and the provision of services for older citizens. The program provides knowledge about biological, health, psychological, social, and economic as well as public policy issues related to program delivery.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants to the Certificate Program who also wish to pursue either the MPH or MHA in the Department of Health Services and Policy Management must first be admitted as regular degree candidates. Those admitted as non-degree students are ineligible to apply to the Certificate Program until they reach candidacy, Applicants must then be interested in pursuing the Certificate of Graduate Study in Gerontology should contact the Coordinator of the Gerontology Program, SC Gerontology Center, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, phone 803-777-4221.
COURSES
The Certificate of Graduate Study in Gerontology is interdisciplinary in nature and is to be granted upon completion of a structured program of 21 semester hours of graduate courses, 12 hours of required courses and 9 hours of approved electives. At least 12 of the 21 hours must be earned in courses at the 700 level or above.
The Gerontology Certificate has no on-campus residence requirement. The Graduate School permits six years to complete all requirements for a master's degree. The normal time for completion of the Gerontology Certificate Program is four years. Therefore, in the case of students wishing to combine the Gerontology Certificate with their MPH in Public Health Administration, it is recommended that a substantial portion of the public health core be completed before beginning the prescribed courses in the Certificate Program. For MHA students, it is recommended that at least 12 hours of required course work be completed before beginning the prescribed courses in the Certificate Program. There is no transfer credit provision from other universities and colleges for certificate programs, unlike some degree programs.
CURRICULUM - MASTER STUDENTS:
| Curriculum Requirements (21 hours) |
| Core Courses (12 hours) |
| PSYC 700 (equivalent to SOWK 771) -
Psychosocial Approaches to Gerontology Introduction to gerontology from the fields of demography, biology, psychology, sociology, social welfare aspects, and economics. Co-prerequisite to all of the Certificate courses. |
| MEDI 700 -
Health Aspects of Aging A review of the aging process and its implication to health. Co-prerequisite to all of the Certificate courses. |
| SOWK 772 -
Programs and Services for the Elderly An examination of the policy/planning issues relating to the elderly including current trends in services, basis for social service development, and evaluation of services for the elderly. |
| HSPM 764 - Long Term Care Administration |
| Electives (9 hours) |
| approved electives |
| Residency |
| Three of the six hour residency requirement for the master's degree also count toward the Certificate. Accordingly, approval of the residency is required from the Certificate Director as well as from the faculty advisor and preceptor. |
| HSPM 797, Management Residency (6 hours) or HSPM 798, Public Health Residency (6 hours) |
STANDARDS:
Academic standards are the same as those for all graduate students in both graduate programs and are in accord with Graduate School regulations. Candidates must achieve at least a "B" average on all (USC) courses taken for graduate credit before being awarded the certificate. No more than 6 hours of "C" or "C+" may be applied toward a certificate. Nine hours of course work with grades of below "B" will render the student ineligible for the certificate.
CONTACT:
For further information about this program, please contact Mitchell Taylor, phone: (803)777-1627.