Gerontology Graduate Certificate

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus
Nashville Campus
Distance Education

Graduate Certificate Type

Add-On

Admissions Standards/Procedures

Students will receive information about the certificate program at the time of their admission to the MSSW program.

To be admitted to this program, students must

• Meet the Graduate Admission requirements for a certificate program.
• Submit a departmental application at the time of their admission to the MSSW program, or as early as possible in their degree program, and agree to program requirements.

The application includes a brief personal statement describing 1) their reasons for participating in the certificate program, 2) their professional career goals, and 3) acknowledgement that they understand there are additional credit hours to be taken beyond the credits required for the MSSW.

Students selected for admission must be formally admitted to the certificate program through the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Credit Hours Required

15 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• SOWK 555 - Psychological Development and Mental Health in Later Life
• SOWK 566 - Social and Cultural Aspects of Aging
• SOWK 572 - Evidence-based Policy and Practice with Older Adults
• One of the above may be substituted for another MSSW or other graduate course as approved by the Gerontology Certificate Chair

•  

  For MSSW Students: Field Practice (at least 6 credit hours)

• SOWK 542 - Generalist Field Practice I and
• SOWK 544 - Generalist Field Practice II (6 credit hours),

• OR

• SOWK 584 - Advanced Field Practice Extended (taken 3 times),

• OR

• SOWK 586 - Advanced Field Practice Full Time (taken 2 times) to equal 12 credit hours
• At least 6 credit hours in a gerontology focused field placement
• The field placement must be approved by the MSSW Field Coordinator

•  

  For Non-MSSW students:

• SOWK 593 - Independent Study (6 credit hours), focused on working with or on behalf of older adults.

• Must be approved by the Gerontology Certificate Chair.

Additional Course Requirements

All graduate certificates require 3 credit hours (1 course) over and above that which is required for the MSSW program.

Non-Course Requirements

To receive the certificate, students must:
1) complete the Graduate Certificate Course Verification Form (located on the Graduate School webpage under the Forms Central tab) and
2) through MyUTK, apply to graduate from the certificate program.