Undergraduate Certificate in Healthy Aging
College of Health Sciences
About the Undergraduate Certificate The Center for Aging & Translational Research created the Undergraduate Certificate in Health Aging in 2015 in order to prepare students with the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and experience to better meet the needs of the increasing older adult population. After completing the certificate, students will: •
Have foundational knowledge in the processes of aging, misconceptions about aging, and the opportunities and challenges of older adulthood.
•
Understand the interdisciplinary and integrative nature of aging studies and services.
•
Have engaged in meaningful contact with older people.
What is Gerontology? Gerontology is the multi-disciplinary study of the aging process from middleto later-life. It includes: the study of physical, mental, and social changes in people as they age, the investigation of the ways our society is adapting to meet the needs of older adults, and the application of this knowledge to policies and programs with real impact in daily life.
How would this help my career? Demand for professionals with specialization in gerontology will continue to rise, as new specialized markets for serving older adults continue to emerge. Some examples include: •
Patient Advocacy and Health Coaching (Social Work and Nursing)
•
Elder Financial Planning (Business and Law)
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Motivational Wellness (Health Administration and Therapy)
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Aging in Place (Architecture and Accessible Design)
•
Public Safety (Civil Engineering and Urban Planning)
Who should apply? Any student interested in exanding their understanding of age-related issues! The certificate is open to undergraduate students in any major. Scholarships may be available!
Curriculum
Core Curriculum Courses
Choose 3 (9 credits).
COMMUN 285
Communicating with Older Adults
HCA 203
Human Life Cycle
NURS 203
Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan
PSYCH 680
Psychology of Aging
RELIGST 250
Spirituality and Aging
SOC WRK 300
Aged to Perfection: An Introduction to Aging (REQUIRED)
SOC WRK 685
Social Gerontology
Correlate Courses
Choose 2 (6 credits).
AD LSP 547
Educational Dimensions of Practice with Older Adults
COMMUN 313
Human Communication and Technology
COMMUN 381
Health Communication
COMMUN 665
Introduction to Mediation
COM DIS 250
Interprofessional Communication in Health Sciences
HCA 307
Epidemiology for the Health Sciences
JAMS 280
Health and Media
KIN 290
Health and Wellness As We Age
PHILOS 244
Ethical Issues in Health Care
PSYCH 578
Psychology of Race, Ethnicity and Health
PSYCH 611
The Aging Brain
SOC WRK 564
Social Services of Aging
SOC WRK 680
Death and Dying
SOCIOL 282
Sociology of Aging
THEATRE 260
Storytelling: Elder Tales
Practicum, Field Placement, Internship or Service Learning
Choose 3 credits.
Students should meet with their Certificate Coordinator to discuss options.
Enrollment To declare this certificate and discuss scholarships, contact the Center for Aging & Translational Research at catr@uwm.edu and schedule an appointment with the Certificate Coordinator. It is also recommended that you meet with your Academic Advisor from your home school/college before declaring the certificate.
Why study aging? Due to huge medical advances over the past century, Americans are living longer and healthier lives. Despite the public perception, many older adults experience good health and personal growth. And the vast majority report that later life brings new opportunities for learning, contribution, and self-expression. In the U.S., life expectancy currently stands at 78.8 years, and the number of people over age 65 will nearly double by 2030. Virtually every field will be impacted by these demographic changes, and older Americans’ welfare over the next decades depends heavily on younger generations. There has never been a greater need for innovative professionals driven to support the aging population and change attitudes and policies about aging. As a result, enrollment in this certificate program has increased steadily since its establishment.
If you are interested in any of the following fields, this certificate could positively impact your work:
communications
nursing technology & design
kinesiology
psychology
economics
social work
education
business
occupational & physical therapy
politics
architecture & urban planning
public health
For more information, go to
uwm.edu/catr