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University Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR)

Introduction

In response to the current and anticipated educational needs in the area of aging, members of the University Council on Aging have collaborated to create a graduate program in gerontology. The program is designed to serve professionals in diverse disciplines—in a variety of industries—who are interested in acquiring basic knowledge about gerontology and geriatrics, and specialized knowledge of aging and aging processes in their particular disciplines or occupations.

The program leads to a graduate-level certificate in gerontology.

Contact Information

Jennifer Bissell
Program Coordinator
University Center for Social and Urban Research
121 University Place, Room 205
412-624-1019
Fax: 412-624-1009
E-mail: bissell@pitt.edu

Admission Requirements

Students should satisfy all requirements for admission to the corresponding graduate degree from which the certificate program is drawn. Nondegree students who demonstrate potential and motivation for doing graduate work may be admitted provisionally. Course work completed on a nondegree basis that satisfies the course requirements of a graduate program within the University may be applied toward that degree with the exception of the JD program offered through the School of Law.

Requirements for Certificate

The student will complete the required core curricula for the program (6–7 credits). The remaining three or more courses (8 or 9 credits depending upon the chosen specialization) will be selected from a prescribed pool of elective courses within dentistry, law, nursing, public health, social work, health and rehabilitation science, and a multidisciplinary track. A minimum of 15 credits is required for certification in the Gerontology Certificate Program.

Required (Core) Courses Credits
DENT 2111 Gerontology: Perspectives in Aging* 3 cr.
or BCHS 2532 Dimension of Aging, Culture and Health 2 cr.
or SWBEH 2077 Human Behavior: Adult Development and Aging 3 cr.
GERON 2001 Ethics and Aging 3 cr.
ANAHS 2150 Seminar Series on Aging* 1 cr.

Specializations

Specialization in Dentistry (Select 8 or 9 credits)
RESTD 5921 Dental Care for the Geriatric Population 3 cr.
ANAHS 5913 Aging and Oral Health 1 cr.
OMP 5916 Medical and Therapeutic Considerations of Geriatric Dental Patients 1 cr.
PROSTH 5918 Clinical Geriatric Dentistry 3 cr.
ANAHS 5942 Age-Related Changes in the Tissues of the Oral Cavity 1 cr.
Specialization in Law (Select 9 credits)
LAW 5201 Administrative Law 3 cr.
LAW 5259 Estate and Gift Tax 3 cr.
LAW 5330 Employee Benefits 3 cr.
LAW 5347 Elderly and the Law 3 cr.
LAW 5395 Health Law and Policy 3 cr.
Specialization in Nursing (Select 8 or 9 credits)
EPIDEM 2980 Biology and Physiology of Aging 1 cr.
EPIDEM 2900 Epidemiology of Aging 2 cr.
NURNP 2526 Management of Geriatric Health 3 cr.
NUR 1829 Contemporary Issues in Cross-Cultural Health Care 3 cr.
Other approved elective 2 cr.
Specialization in Public Health (Select 8 or 9 credits)
EPIDEM 2980 Biology and Physiology of Aging 1 cr.
EPIDEM 2900 Epidemiology of Aging 2 cr.
HPM 2203 Financing and Regulation of Long-Term Care Services* 1.5 cr.
BCHS 2533 Issues in Long-Term Care 3 cr.
BCHS 2541 Research Methods on Aging 2 cr.
Specialization in Social Work (Select 9 credits)
SWINT 2030 Direct Practice with the Elderly 3 cr.
SWWEL 2039 Social Policy and Gerontology* 3 cr.
Approved Electives:
SWINT 2004 Death and Dying* 3 cr.
LAW 5347 Elderly and the Law 3 cr.
SWINT 2007 Social Work Practice in Psychopharmacology 3 cr.
BCHS 2533 Issues in Long-Term Care 3 cr.
Specialization in Occupational Therapy/Rehabilitation (Select 8 or 9 credits)
HRS 2484 Issues in Long-Term Care Services 3 cr.
HRS 2480 Dimensions in Aging: Culture and Health 2 cr.
HRS 2501 Functional Assessment* 3 cr.
HRS 2502 Human Performance: Analysis* 3 cr.
HRS 2503 Human Performance: Adaptation* 3 cr.
HRS 2594 Specialized Preceptorship: Research* 1–6 cr.
Multidisciplinary (Select 9 credits)
Examples of eligible courses:
NUR 1829 Contemporary Issues in Cross-Cultural Health Care* 3 cr.
PSY 1230 Psychology of Death and Dying* 3 cr.
SWWEL 2039 Social Policy and Gerontology* 3 cr.
GERON 2000 Directed Study* (Prerequisite: all core courses) 3 cr.
Other electives upon approval of advisor 3 cr.
Multidisciplinary—Prevention and Healthy Aging (select 8 or 9 credits)
Required Course Work:
GERON 2002 Prevention and Healthy Aging* 2 cr.
GERON 2003 Intergenerational Studies 3 cr.
GERON 2004 Mental Health and Illness 3 cr.
Approved Electives
EPIDEM 2980 Biology and Physiology Aging 1 cr.
EPIDEM 2900 Epidemiology of Aging 2 cr.
EPIDEM 2260 Epidemiological Basis for Disease Control 2 cr.
TBD Epidemiology of Aging—Methods 2 cr.
*Denotes available during evening/weekend/Web-based

Multidisciplinary—Prevention and Healthy Aging


GERON 2002 Prevention and Healthy Aging 2 cr.
Prevention and Healthy Aging is an online course that provides the guidance and rationale for promoting health, prevention, and effective risk factor management in the adult population (50+) in respect to rising healthcare costs, decreasing benefits, and the aging of our population. This course offers a general overview of various aging issues (physical, cognitive, social, cultural, and economic) that impact the individual community and society. This course will prepare student to integrate optimal preventive practice into their professional context and translate evidence-based strategies into community outreach services that are designed to prevent or delay the common conditions of aging and ones that emphasize the importance of healthy behaviors throughout the lifespan.
     
EPIDEM 2980 Biology and Physiology of Aging 1 cr.
Course objective is to learn current concepts and theories of the biology and physiology of normal human aging, contrasted with disease and stability. Complements EPIDEM 2900, Epidemiology of Aging.
     
EPIDEM 2900 Epidemiology of Aging 2 cr.
Teaches epidemiological methods pertinent to research on aging individuals and the current state of the art knowledge of epidemiology of diseases that primarily affect aging individuals.
     
EPIDEM 2260 Epidemiological Basis for Disease Control 2 cr.
This course provides the student with an introduction to the epidemiological basis for designing and evaluating prevention programs in the community, the epidemiological basis of evaluating healthcare services and analysis of health care and design of community programs.
     
EPIDEM Epidemiology of Aging Methods 2 cr.

 

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