PittOnline
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Certificates Gerontology: Graduate

 

Brochure     Inquire     Admission Form     Spring 2007 Courses    

 

The national phenomenon of an aging population creates a substantial demand for professionals who understand the needs of older consumers. Stay competitive in your field with specialized knowledge of aging and aging processes. The Graduate Certificate in Gerontology is a 15 to 16 credit interdisciplinary program that arms participants with an understanding of the biological, psychological, and sociological aspects of aging as well as specialized knowledge in the discipline of their choice. Designed to serve professionals in a wide range of disciplines and occupations, the certificate offers six specialization tracks:


In addition, a multidisciplinary track blends coursework across disciplines to allow for a more broad-based educational experience.

Working students can complete their coursework using weekend, evening, or web-based courses. Courses are offered through six graduate schools at the University of Pittsburgh. Credits earned in this program that satisfy course requirements of a graduate program within the University may be applied  toward a graduate degree, with the exception of the JD program offered through the School of Law.

This program is a collaboration of the University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging (UPIA), the University Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR), and the University of Pittsburgh Learning Solutions. 

Who should participate: Upon completion of this certificate, participants will be able to:

These competencies may be applied to positions such as: medical and healthcare social workers, health educators, social and human services assistants, nutritionists, pharmacists, physician assistants, registered nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, dental hygienists, dentists, home health workers, hospice workers, lawyers, and legal assistants.

Admission requirements

An undergraduate degree is required for admission to this
program. Admission does not require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or any other graduate school entrance examination. However, students will need to meet other admission criteria based upon their chosen track or specialization within the certificate program.

To Apply:
 The Gerontology Certificate requires a different application than that found on this web site. Download our application and return it to the address listed on the last page of the application document.

Fees and Tuition

Current tuition rates are available at http://www.ir.pitt.edu/tuition/index.html

Tuition rates for the Gerontology Certificate correspond to the School of Arts and Sciences graduate student tuition rates. 


Payment plans
MasterCard and American Express are accepted for tuition payment.

If employed, check with your company's human resources office to see if you qualify for company tuition benefits.

Deferred tuition payment plans are available for participants who wish to extend tuition payments over a longer period of time.

Curriculum (15 credits)

Many courses are offered in the evenings, on Saturdays, and at off-campus locations. Click here  to check the University schedule of classes for courses offered each term. (Not all courses are offered every term.)
* denotes courses available evenings, weekends or web-based

Required Courses

Core Courses (6 or 7 credits)

 Gerontology: Perspectives in Aging * 
3 cr.
DENHYG 2111
 This course will provide the student with an introduction to the aging process in our society. It will examine the aging phenomena by focusing on; lifespan development, person-environment interaction, optimal quality of life, cross-cultural considerations, how aging is studied, and access to resources in a new age.

or

Dimensions of Aging, Culture and Health   
2 cr.
BCHS 2532
 Provides an overview of the aging experience from a cross-cultural and a public health perspective.  The ways in which people cope with and adapt to the aging process is the major theme.


or

Human Behavior: Adult Development and Aging   
3 cr.
SWBEH 2077 (required for Social Work specialization)

This is an in-depth human behavior and social environment course focusing on development during the adult years (early and middle age) and on old age.  This course offers a framework for understanding adult life stages from a lifespan developmental perspective.  This includes an examination of developmental tasks, dilemmas, and challenges influenced by a complex environment of cultural, economic, and political forces.


and

Bioethics Seminar * 
3 cr.
BIOETH 2664
Survey of major topics and methods in bioethics, including informed consent, treatment refusal, transplantation, resource allocation, genetics, and public health.   Additional aging related issues of particular interest include: competence assessment, advance directives, and health disparities.

and

Seminar Series on Aging * 
1 cr.
ANAHS 2150
 This course provides a student with the opportunity to study independently, and in detail, some aspect of aging in which he or she has a particular interest.

Dentistry Specialization (select 8 or 9 credits)

Age Related Changes 
1 cr.
ANAHS 5942
 This course identifies the age-related changes that occur in the oral cavity of human and other mammalian species. Structural changes are described in both hard and soft tissues. The functional properties of these affected tissues are considered. The clinical implications of such changes manifested in older age are emphasized. The effect of pharmacological agents, disease states and behavioral modifications associated with aging are considered to demonstrate their potential impact on the tissues of the oral cavity .

Aging and Oral Health  
1 cr.
ANAHS 5913
 Seminar in gerodontology featuring presentations and discussions with geriatric dentistry researchers and practitioners.

Medical and Therapeutic Considerations
of Geriatric Dental Patients
  1 cr.
OMP 5916
 Provides a comprehensive review of oral medicine, dental therapeutics, and general physiologic pharmacology applicable to an older population of dental patients

Clinical Geriatric Dentistry  
3 cr.
PROSTH 5918
 Clinical experience in complete denture treatment for nursing home residents.

Dental Care for the Geriatric Population  
3 cr.
REST 5921
 Provides clinical experiences to senior dental students in treating the geriatric population in non-traditional settings such as long term care facilities or in the patient's home.

Law Specialization (select 9 credits)
Administrative Law  
3 cr.
LAW 5201
 Administrative Law chiefly comprises the procedural law that regulates how government agencies implement statutory programs, such as those relating to environmental protection, workplace safety regulation, securities regulation, the regulation of collective bargaining, veterans' benefits administration, social security administration, and so on. This course will focus almost entirely on federal constitutional law as applicable to both federal and state agencies, and federal statutory and judicial law as applied to federal agencies.

Estate and Gift Tax  
3 cr.
LAW 5259
 This course primarily involves a study of the unified system of federal gift and estate transfer taxes imposed by Chapters 11 and 12 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Employee Benefits  
3 cr.
LAW 5330
An examination of the federal regulation of private pension plans and other employment related benefit plans.

Elderly and the Law  
3 cr.
LAW 5347
An examination of the federal regulation of private pension plans and other employment related benefit plans.

Health Law and Policy  
3 cr.
LAW 5395
This is a broad survey course of the legal regulation of the health care industry. In general, it examines how concerns by patients, health care providers, and health care payers about cost, quality and access affect the way in which health care is provided. The topics covered are the legal regulation of the quality of health care through mechanisms such as professional licensure, hospital privileges, and institutional licensure; common-law and statutory obligations to provide care; state and federal regulation of insurance and managed care; healthcare fraud and abuse; and healthcare antitrust.

Nursing Specialization (select 8 or 9 credits)

Biology and Physiology of Aging  
1 cr.
EPIDEM 2980
Course objective is to learn current concepts and theories of the biology and physiology of normal human aging, contrasted with disease and disability. Complements EPIDEM 2990, epidemiology of aging

Epidemiology of Aging  
2 cr.
EPIDEM 2990
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.

Management of Geriatric Health  
3 cr.
NURNP 2526
Focus is on the theories and principles from the sciences central to the delivery of health care to the elderly. Emphasis is on assessment and health promotion, management of common health problems, nutrition and aging, geriatric pharmacology, psychosociology and psychopathology of aging, geriatric health issues.

Contemporary Issues in Cross-Cultural Healthcare  
3 cr.
NUR 1829
Purpose of course is to increase awareness of how delivery and acceptance of health care may be influences by social, cultural, and environmental factors. It will provide an overview of how these factors influence a person's response to stressors, daily health and living needs. The goal is to help students increase their understanding of culturally congruent care by utilizing cultural concepts, theories, and research. Students will analyze factors that facilitate/hinder communication about health needs, acceptance of the health care regimen, and access to health care systems.

Other electives upon approval of advisor 2 cr.

Occupational Therapy/Rehabilitation Specializa-tion (select 8 or 9 credits)
Dimensions in Aging: Culture and Health  
2 cr.
HRS 2480
Provides an overview of the aging process from a cross-cultural and a public health prospective. The ways in which people cope with and adept to the aging process is the major theme.

Issues in Long-Term Care for the Elderly  
3 cr.
HRS 2484
The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the patterns and modes of health care delivery in the long term care setting. Services and delivery systems in nursing homes, home health care, hospices, ambulatory long-term care, rehabilitation and mental health will be introduced and examined. The work of the accrediting, licensing, and certifying agencies will be examined in relation to financial reimbursement, legal and ethical issues, personnel administration, medical record policies and quality of care.

Functional Assessment * 
3 cr.
HRS 2501
This course focuses on diagnostic decision making from the perspective of the evidence for the validity and reliability of selected functional assessment instruments. Instruments that focus on the consequences of pathologies at the levels of impairment, activity limitation, and participation restriction will be reviewed.

Human Performance: Analysis * 
3 cr.
HRS 2502
This course focuses on diagnostic decision-making from the perspective of diagnostic reasoning and the relative validities of various functional (disability) assessment methodologies: self report, proxy-report, clinical judgment, performance testing.

Human Performance: Adaptation *  
3 cr.
HRS 2503
This course focuses on the evidence supporting compensatory occupational therapy interventions, including task and environmental adaptations, job modifications, and assistive technology.

Specialized Preceptorship: Grantsmanship * 
1-6 cr.
HRS 2594
This course provides experiential learning in coordinating occupational therapy research, including obtaining IRB approval, getting informed consent, participating in data collection, and managing data quality.
Public Health Specialization (select 8 or 9 credits)
Biology and Physiology of Aging  
1 cr.
EPIDEM 2980
Course objective is to learn current concepts and theories of the biology and physiology of normal human aging, contrasted with disease and disability. Complements EPIDEM 2990, epidemiology of aging

Epidemiology of Aging  
2 cr.
EPIDEM 2990
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.

Financing of Long-Term Care * 
1.5 cr.
HDM 2203
This course is designed to provide the student with an overview of the financing and regulation of long term care services. Students will understand the interrelationship between the methods chosen to finance health care services, state regulations about quality & quantity & the structure of long term care that has evolved. Students will understand the role of demonstrations as a method to inform policy makers on how to change LTC policy. Students examine the traditional role of insurance & characteristics of the markets that inhibit growth of insurance programs for LTC.

Issues in Long-Term Care  
3 cr.
BCHS 2533
Long-term care is a system of institutional and community based services for the aging population. Using this framework, services and delivery systems are analyzed for adequacy and appropriateness; system-wide issues identified and discussed; and selected components of the delivery system examined for administrative problems.

Clinical Aspects of Dementia Care  
2 cr.
BCHS 2534
This course is designed as an independent study for students in the public health and aging program. Its focus is on the methods and technology for diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Research Methods on Aging  
2 cr.
BCHS 2541
This course is designed to familiarize students with methods for conducting research on aging populations. Through lecture, discussion and examples of current research the instructors will provide a basic understanding of the appropriate methods for data collection and the problems and issues related to the conduct of research on older adults. Students are required to have taken some courses in aging, or be familiar with the basic concepts on aging theory and research design.

Social Work Specialization (select 9 credits)
Required:
Direct Practice with the Elderly  
3 cr.
SWINT 2030
Social Policy and Gerontology *
3 cr.
SWWEL 2039
This course is designed to examine the dynamics and procedural steps in social policymaking and implementation first in a general context and then more specifically in relation to the older population. The last half of the course is devoted to the identification of major issues in social policy for the aged and intensive analysis of selected policy decisions.
 

Electives

Death and Dying * 
3 cr.
SWINT 2004
Methods of intervention with the suicidal and terminally ill patient and his family, covering ethical problems related to right to life and right to death issues, explication of Kubler-Ross' five stages of dying, religious orientations to death and dying, and pathological and normal grief reactions.

Social Work Practice in Psychopharmacology  
3 cr.
SWINT 2007
This course is designed to familiarize students with the basic terminology and models of pharmacokinetics and the role of social workers in medication management. The development of psychopharmacology from a historical and sociological perspective as well as an overview of neurochemistry and biological-psychological functioning will be addressed. Emphasis will be placed on the development of a range of techniques and strategies in collaboration with clients, families, and other providers in order for social workers to be responsive to the comprehensive needs of their clients.

Elderly and the Law  
3 cr.
LAW 5347
In this course we will examine the areas related to aging that have particularly impacted on law and public policy, including Social Security, private pensions, Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care financing, guardianship and mental capacity, health care decision making, housing and the abuse and neglect of the elderly.

Issues in Long Term Care  
3 cr.
BCHS 2533
Long-term care is a system of institutional and community based services for the aging population. Using this framework, services and delivery systems are analyzed for adequacy and appropriateness; system-wide issues identified and discussed; and selected components of the delivery system examined for administrative problems.

Multidisciplinary - Prevention and Healthy Aging Specialization (select 8 or 9 credits)
*Track offered in Spring term
Required:
 Prevention and Healthy Aging*
2 cr.
GERON 2002
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 health care 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 students 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.

Biology and Physiology of Aging
 1 cr.
EPIDEM 2980
Course objective is to learn current concepts and theories of the biology and physiology of normal human aging, contrasted with disease and disability. Complements EPIDEM 2900, Epidemiology of Aging.

Epidemiology of Aging
2 cr.
EPIDEM 2900
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.

 Epidemiological Basis for Disease Control
2 cr.
EPIDEM 2260

 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 health services and analysss of health care and design of community programs. 

Epidemiology of Aging - Methods
2 cr.
EPIDEM
Contemporary Issues in Cross-Cultural Healthcare * 
3 cr.
NUR 1829
Purpose of course is to increase awareness of how delivery and acceptance of health care may be influences by social, cultural, and environmental factors. It will provide an overview of how these factors influence a person's response to stressors, daily health and living needs. The goal is to help students increase their understanding of culturally congruent care by utilizing cultural concepts, theories, and research. Students will analyze factors that facilitate/hinder communication about health needs, acceptance of the health care regimen, and access to health care systems.
  
Psychology of Death and Dying *   
3 cr.
PSYCH 1230

Social Policy and Gerontology * 
3 cr.
SWWEL 2039
This course is designed to examine the dynamics and procedural steps in social policymaking and implementation first in a general context and then more specifically in relation to the older population. The last half of the course is devoted to the identification of major issues in social policy for the aged and intensive analysis of selected policy decisions.

Directed Study (prerequisite: all core courses) *  
3 cr.
GERON 2000
A student-initiated educational experience, guided by a faculty member that significantly supplements the core curriculum of the certificate and provides specialized focus training in aging.

Other electives upon approval of advisor

Institute on Aging

The University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging is dedicated to improving the health and well being of the elderly by develop-ing and enhancing educational programs offered by the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC, the Geriatric Education Center of Pennsylvania (GEC), and public and private organizations. Evidence-based geriatric and gerontologic education includes training programs, certificate programs, and other professional educational opportunities.

University Center for Social and Urban Research
The University Center for Social and Urban Research (UC-SUR) serves as a resource for researchers and educators inter-ested in the basic and applied social and behavioral sciences. As a hub for interdisciplinary research and collaboration, UCSUR promotes a research agenda focused on the social and economic issues most relevant to our society.
The Gerontology Program acts as a catalyst and coordinator for the multidisciplinary study of aging. In collaboration with faculty in more than a dozen different disciplines (e.g., Psychiatry, Anesthesiology, Rheumatology, Nursing, Epidemiology), Gerontology Program faculty and staff play an active role in the development of proposals for research focused on psychosocial, behavioral, cognitive, and physical aspects of aging.

Learning Solutions

Learning Solutions provides adult and continuing education programs that are designed to address changing employer and student needs. The high quality, flexible programs include courses, certificates and degrees. Learning Solutions provides a single point of access to innovative programs and services of the College of General Studies and its partner schools and de-partments at the University of Pittsburgh that both enrich lives and promote the economic health of the region.


For more information, contact:
 University of Pittsburgh
Learning Solutions
412-624-6600

 

You are using an older browser that does not support current Web standards. Although this site is viewable in all browsers, it will look much better in a browser that supports Web standards.