Gerontology is the interdisciplinary study of aging and adult development. While most of us will experience being an older adult and engage with older persons in our personal and professional lives, many of us remain uninformed of the diverse realities and opportunities of aging and growing old.
Program Objectives
- Examine the normative and nonnormative biological, psychological, and social changes associated with aging.
- Demonstrate the ability to provide effective direct and indirect services that meet the diverse and evolving needs of older adults.
- Develop inclusive and equitable practices, processes, and programs that empower individuals and families through the aging process across the life course.
Career-Defining Curriculum
This online 3-course certificate is designed for professionals currently working in the field who wish to enhance their expertise in gerontology or for a student pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree at UW-Stout who wants to expand their employment opportunities. Certificate completers will be empowered to successfully enhance the lives of older adults in a changing environment as well as address related challenges in their local, state, national, and global communities.
Certificate Requirements
Certificate Courses
- Required (3 Credits)
- HDFS 340/540 Human Development: Middle to Late Adulthood (3 cr.)
- Selectives (6 credits)
- HDFS 332/532 Death & Bereavement (3 cr.)
- HDFS 345/545 Health Care Dilemmas & Decisions for Families (3 cr.)
- REHAB 350/550 Independent Living (3 cr.)
- REHAB 360/560 Assistive Technology & Reasonable Accommodations (3 cr.)
- SUMMER 2024 STUDY ABROAD: HDFS 396/596 Aging in Italy (3 cr.)
- Other courses or credit for prior learning as approved by the Certificate Coordinator
Apply Your Certificate to an Undergraduate Degree
Program Highlights
- 3 courses (9 credits)
- Complete the certificate in as little as 4 months
- Start on your schedule: courses available three times each year – spring, summer, and fall
- Courses earned may be applied toward related programs at UW-Stout
- Coursework may be taken for undergraduate or graduate credit, or, if you have work experience, you may explore earning undergraduate credit for prior learning experiences
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Demand for Training in Gerontology
The population aged 65 and older in the United States is expected to double from 46 million to 96 million by 2060 and the population aged 80 and over is expected to triple. In Wisconsin, a 72% increase in the population aged 65 and older is projected through 2040, with 18 counties having one-third or more of their total population in this age group.
According to the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education, “The demand for professionals with expertise in aging is growing rapidly…The field of gerontology and aging is very diverse, offering different employment opportunities… The relative newness of the field means that there are opportunities for innovative ideas, new programs and products.”
Related Fields of Career Enhancement
Professionals in the field looking to upskill in this area may include, but are not limited to, the following fields:
- Corporate managers and leaders
- Engineers, architects, and designers
- Government health and human services agencies
- Human resources
- K-12 educators and administrators
- Medical professionals
- Non-profit organizations
- Nursing homes and assisted living facilities
- Therapists and clinicians
- Any professional seeking to better serve older adults and leverage the opportunities of aging
Admission Requirements and Application Materials
To apply to the certificate program, please complete the online application form.
Tuition & Fees
- Tuition is $570 per semester hour graduate credit ($1710 for a three-credit course)
- Tuition is due per course, not the entire cost at the beginning.
- Tuition is the same for Wisconsin residents, out-of-state, and international students.
- Tuition Due Dates
Customized Tuition & Fees
UW-Stout degree programs using the customized instruction model are designed with the adult learner in mind. If you're comparing UW-Stout's online degree customized instruction (CI) tuition to our competitors, keep in mind:
- Customized instruction tuition rate includes the textbook rental fee.
- There are no additional or hidden university-based semester or technology fees.
- Students in customized instruction programs pay the same rate of tuition regardless of where you live--Wisconsin, California, Texas, or in a foreign country.
More Value for Your Money
Customized Instruction also provides:
- Program Director/Coordinator: Faculty with academic and industry expertise.
- Student Services Advisor: One point of contact, providing dedicated support throughout your degree program.
- Course Sequences & Matrices: Plan ahead with clear program outlines so you know what courses are offered when.
- Stackable Courses & Programs: Many of our courses and certificates can be applied to our degree programs.
- Flexibility: Courses are designed to offer the flexibility and convenience working professionals need to get ahead in their careers without sacrificing their current income and responsibilities.
Other universities will present costs and value differently, so make sure you're comparing apples to apples.