Gerontology
The certificate program in Gerontology provides an in-depth exploration of gerontology and aging studies for students preparing for careers across industry, public sector, and nonprofit organizations. This program is also designed to give those already working in the field an opportunity to enrich existing skills and knowledge and to establish credentials for further career advancement.
Gerontology, Graduate Certificate
The certificate program in Gerontology serves students who are embarking on careers in research, policy, public outreach, social services, and health care serving aging populations, or are established professionals in the field seeking additional credentialing and career advancement. Gerontology is a growing field, as our population ages into the next decades, the need for skilled professionals will increase as the percentage of older adults in the population increases. According to the US Census Bureau, by 2035, adults over age 65 will outnumber children under age 18, and by 2060 nearly 1 in 4 Americans will be over the age of 65. This growing population will require health care, social services, and advocacy to retain independence and quality of life well into later decades. Graduates with a certificate in Gerontology will be poised to serve this demographic across many industries and will be leaders in the field of planning and innovation to meet the needs of this population as they come to outnumber the younger generations who care for them.
News Briefs
Partnership gives MTSU nursing students hands-on experience caring for older adults
As an MTSU professor in the School of Nursing with over four decades of experience in the field, Shelley Moore is always looking to expand hands-on learning opportunities for her students. “Participating in hands-on activities is a hallmark characteristic of our nursing program, but most of the community agency experiences are more ‘clinical’ in nature, such as working alongside nurses [ Read More ]
News Briefs
Partnership gives MTSU nursing students hands-on experience caring for older adults
As an MTSU professor in the School of Nursing with over four decades of experience in the field, Shelley Moore is always looking to expand hands-on learning opportunities for her students. “Participating in hands-on activities is a hallmark characteristic of our nursing program, but most of the community agency experiences are more ‘clinical’ in nature, such as working alongside nurses [ Read More ]
Gerontology, Graduate Certificate
Careers in gerontology are wide-ranging, including direct service to aging populations as health care providers, social services providers, mental health workers, agency representatives, case workers, geriatric care managers, and in the nonprofit sector as advocates and service providers. Gerontology specialists serve in administrative roles in health and hospital services, residential living facilities, hospice / palliative care, and in governmental agencies at local, state, and federal levels, including the departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and the Veterans Administration (VA). Gerontology certificate holders are in strong demand in the insurance, health care, and hospital industries for direct patient relations, provider relations, research and policy assessment/planning, program management, and marketing and communications. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2023, Health Care Services administrators – including those in gerontology – had a median annual salary over $110,000, with an expectation of 29% growth in the field from 2023-2033, adding over 160,000 jobs in that same period.
MTSU’s Career Development Center
MTSU offers a comprehensive Career Development Center that serves students throughout the full student experience and beyond. They collaborate with faculty and staff to equip students with the tools to be marketable to the world of work and continuing education.
Students can schedule an appointment or check online resources and job boards at mtsu.edu/career.
Students can find current internship opportunities by talking to faculty and visiting the University job and internship board called Handshake .
Wondering what you can do with your major? Check out our What Can I Do with A Major In guides.
Students with little or no experience working with the elderly are encouraged to complete SOC 6900 - Practicum: Applied Analysis. Special projects, independent study, and thesis research may also be counted toward the certificate with approval of the program director.
Students may transfer up to six (6) credit hours of approved coursework into the certificate program. The time limit for use of credit toward the certificate is six years from the date of enrollment in the earliest course applied toward the certificate, including transferred courses.
Adjunct Faculty:
Sandra Connell Jones
CONTACT US
Please fill in the form below and we will contact you very soon
