ABOUT GERONTOLOGY

G e rontology is a human service profession with an interd i s c i p l i n a ry focus. The profession has developed in response to one of our most significantpopulation trends: growing numbers of people in theoldest age cohorts. These emerging generations of eld-erly are healthier, better educated and more economically secure than past generations. Even so,many older persons suffer a diminished standard of living. As this segment of the population increases, thedemand for services – housing, health care, counseling,l e i s u re activities, etc. – continues to increase as well.Thus, programs in gerontology pre p a re students forc a reers that will enable them to assist older people insignificantly improving the quality of their lives.

THE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN

GERONTOLOGY AT HOFSTRA

The 21-semester-hour certificate program is designed tomeet the needs of students from varied academic andemployment backgrounds who are interested in thefield of aging. Prospective students may come from thefield of counseling, allied health professions, sociology,business, marketing, home and interior design, cre a t i v ea rts therapy, etc. The post-baccalaureate certificate p rogram may be taken by students enrolled in master’sp rograms who wish to have a specialty in gero n t o l o g y,or students may use the certificate courses to completethe master of science in gero n t o l o g y. No more than 12s.h. may be taken on a non-matriculated basis.

The re q u i red courses in the certificate program comef rom the basic core for the M.S. in Ge rontology p rogram. An internship is re q u i red. This New York State-re g i s t e red certificate program meets theguidelines of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education.

GRADUATE STUDY AT HOFSTRA

General InformationGraduate programs may be completed on a part- or full-time basis. Required courses are normally off e red during the fall and spring semesters with special work-shops and other electives off e red during the Januaryand summer sessions. Most courses are held late in thea f t e rnoon or evening to accommodate those studentswho are employed. Courses generally meet once aweek for two hours. Thus, students can usually arr a n g eto take two courses in any one evening per week.

AD M I S S I O N RE Q U I R E M E N T S F O R T H E

CE RT I F I C AT E PR O G R A M I N GE R O N T O L O G Y

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited under-graduate program.

• A minimum grade point average of 2.5.

Application materials and procedures include:• Completed application form.• Three letters of recommendation.• Official college transcript(s).• Interview with the Program Coordinator.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION IN

GERONTOLOGY

Satisfactory completion of 21 semester hours ofgraduate study, including an approved internship.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

A limited number of partial scholarships are availableto both full- and part-time graduate students. Theseare awarded on the basis of academic excellence anddemonstrated financial need and are handled by thed e p a rtment in which the student is enro l l e d .Students interested in securing loans should call the Office of Financial and Academic Records at (516) 463-6680.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Certificate in Gerontology (21 semester hours)

Core Courses - 9 s.h.ANTH 215 Aging in American Life, 3 s.h.APS 244 Aging, Public Policy and the

Law, 3 s.h.MHAE 292 Health and Aging, 3 s.h.

Elective courses from related fields - 9 s.h.(selected under advisement)

G R O N 2 4 8 Lifelong Learning for the Aging, 3 s.h.G R O N 251, 252 Readings, 3 s.h. eachPSY 263 C u rrent Theory & Research in

Psychology of Aging, 3 s.h.GBUS 220 Applied Business Principles

& Aging, 3 s.h.MHAE 293 H e a l t h c a re Policies, Planning &

Administration for the Aging, 3 s.h.APS 245 Legal Aspects of Managing Healthcare

P rograms for the Aging, 3 s.h.MKT 250 H e a l t h c a re Marketing, 3 s.h.COUN 203 I n t roduction to Counseling, 3 s.h.COUN 225 Counseling for Death, Dying &

B e reavement, 3 s.h.COUN 237 Counseling Families of the Elderly, 3 s.h.COUN 244 I n t e rviewing & Therapeutic Counseling

with the Aging, 3 s.h.C AT 249 Therapeutic Art for the Elderly, 3 s.h.PSY 264 Aging & Human Behavior, 3 s.h.

Additional courses available under advisement - 3 s.h.

APS 294 Administrative Internship, 3 s.h.MHAE 263A S u p e rvised Externship: Community

Agencies, 3 s.h.COUN 294 I n t e rnship: Counseling, 3 s.h.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN GERONTOLOGY