Graduate Certificates in 2021

RESEARCH & LEARNING IN ALBERTA'S COMMUNITIES

BY DON MCSWINEY

IT’S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST requested graduate certificates over the last few years, so we’re pleased to announce that our graduate certificate in Clinical Gerontology Practice will be offered in 2021.

Graduate certificates have proven to be a popular way for professional social workers to gain knowledge in areas of practice most relevant to their work.

Increased expertise in gerontology is obviously a growing area of practice as our society continues to age. According to Statistics Canada, while those aged 65 or older are currently about 15 per cent of our population, in less than twenty years that percentage will increase to 23 percent, more than 9.5 million seniors.

“I think social workers who work with seniors in a variety of settings will find this certificate to be directly applicable to their practice,” says Dr. Jennifer Hewson, PhD, who leads the certificate. “We’ve designed this program to include both foundational theory as well as hands-on practice skills. Students will also have the benefit of learning directly from experts and experienced leaders in the field.”

The certificate will explore the elements of gerontology practice including diagnostic tools and interventions, social policy, legal and ethical issues and research, as well as theories related to practice with older populations.

“This certificate will certainly provide social workers with the knowledge and skills they need to work with diverse older adult populations,” says Hewson. “After taking the four gerontology courses, I think practitioners should feel more confident and comfortable in their practice.”

Certificates are offered mostly online, with four scheduled in-person residencies (dependent on COVID19) where students will practice the skills they’ve learned. Certificates are eight months long and begin in September.

We’re also offering the Advanced Social Work Practice certificate with residencies at our Edmonton campus in 2021. The advanced practice certificate provides professionals with social work models and change strategies to advance social work practice from micro to macro levels.

“This certificate provides you with the big picture,” says Dr. Anne-Marie McLaughlin, PhD, RSW, Associate Associate Dean of Graduate Programs. “You’ll get the tools you need to make change including powerful research strategies to examine structural issues of marginalization and injustice in local, national and global contexts. You’ll also explore the political, public policy context where social work and social welfare programs are delivered.”

Students who complete graduate certificates in Advanced Social Work Practice and Clinical Social Work Practice (such as the Gerontology certificate) will receive course credit should they choose to apply to the Master of Social Work program. The MSW is a competitive program and completing two certificates does not guarantee admisson.

Certificates are graduate education and provide formal credentials. To apply you’ll need to have completed a Bachelor of Social Work degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a four-point scale. You’ll also need to have the equivalent of two years of full-time paid work or a minimum of 3,000 hours of paid and/or volunteer work in the human services field.

DONALD MCSWINEY is the manager of Communications and Marketing in the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work.