UW Certificate Program in Gerontology
The Certificate Program in Gerontology (CPG) is designed to prepare participants to better meet the needs of the rapidly growing aging population. A broad range of fundamental issues that comprise the elder experience are examined.
The CPG has a broad intended audience, including individuals who are already working in health and human services with older adults and those who plan to do so in the future, those who have interests in optimizing the elder experience through the delivery of personal services and products, and anyone who is interested in acquiring basic knowledge about gerontology and geriatrics. Students pursuing degrees in departments or universities not offering specialized courses in gerontology may also choose to supplement their studies by enrolling in some or all of the courses offered in the CPG. Note however that matriculated students must pay separate tuition for these courses that are part of the UW Extension program.
We are pleased to announce an exciting change to the CPG starting Autumn Quarter, 2009. For several years now this program has been offered completely online as a series of courses that are taken via distance learning. This allows working adults a great deal of independence regarding the scheduling of their “classroom time” and completion of assignments. However, one feature of the courses that allowed complete independence but prevented any “networking” and contacts with fellow students was the individual start option. That is, students could start the courses anytime it was convenient for them, and had 3 months to complete each course. In an effort to enhance the learning experience and encourage more contact with virtual “classmates,” we have converted all these online courses to a “group start” format. Students enroll for each course during a specific quarter, using the course website to download readings and assignments, to communicate with each other and with the course director via an ongoing forum on relevant topics, and to submit assignments. Each course is offered two quarters, except for the capstone course, UCONJ 413 (“Current Issues in Aging”), which can be taken any quarter.
The schedule for each course is shown in this chart.
Congratulations to 2009 CPG graduates!
The CPG currently has over 80 current enrollees, including 44 who entered the program in 2009. We would like to extend our congratulations and best wishes to six students who completed the Certificate in 2009. They are Ethel Jordan, Sharon S. Johnson, Jill Sherman, Sue Aksay-Severns, Dawn Lowell, and Ji Sun Kim. These recent grads are doing work in aging or related fields, and live in diverse regions of the U.S. (North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington). They enrolled in our program for many different reasons; read their comments about the CPG and how it has benefited them.
Ethel Jordan
WHY I entered the CPG program:
About 5 years ago I began coordinating the Older Adult Program in my community college's noncredit division. I initially took a couple of classes at a neighboring community college to gain some background in gerontology. It was while taking those courses that I fell in love with the field and decided I wanted to pursue a high-quality,
broad-based, upper division certificate program that I could complete online. I did an exhaustive search and determined that the University of Washington's program was the best match for me. I started the program in the summer of 2007 and completed it in September 2009.
WHAT I got out of it:
The CPG program at UW was everything I'd hoped for, and more. The texts and assignments were challenging and fulfilling. The professors were excellent and provided the support I needed. The flexibility of the online format was perfect for my schedule. The CPG program has definitely strengthened my ability to do my job, and it has given me a solid foundation on which I plan to build an "encore career" for retirement.
Current activities in gerontology:
I'm currently working with older adults in my role as coordinator of over 80 educational classes for seniors taught by over 30 part – time instructors. I'm also beginning to explore options to utilize my knowledge and experience in direct volunteer service to seniors in my community and to add additional depth and breadth to my background in gerontology.
Sue Aksay-SevernsSue Aksay-Severns is a pharmacist who entered the Certificate Program in Gerontology in order to help her be a more effective pharmacist with her elderly patients. The program was very useful and information gained in the CPG courses were applicable to her practice site. This new knowledge base and the skills she gained through the CPG enabled her to double up her patient count in seven months. More than half of her patients are elderly; she sees them not just for prescriptions, but for immunizations, hyperlipidemia and diabetes screening, MTM services, tobacco cessation and weight management issues.
Jill Sherman
Why I entered the program and its strengths:
"Although I have enjoyed a 20-year career in gerontology, I did not have university level credentials in the field. Ongoing professional training and seminars have kept me up-to-date; yet I have felt that something was missing. The UW CPG has challenged ways of thinking I had come to take for granted, as well as providing me with new insights into working with older adults. The professors in the CPG have been extremely responsive and supportive. It has been a wonderful experience."
Sharon Johnson
Why I entered the program:
"I wanted to test myself and use this process as a possible platform to acquiring a Ph.D. The CPG gave me an accelerated desire to always keep learning...and a recognition that there is more to know about healthy aging, and more is better!"
How the CPG has helped me in my career: "I am increasingly vigilant, able to ask better questions and delve into the answers more thoroughly."
Now that I have my CPG, what do I do with it?
Read how some program graduates answered that question.
For more information on the CPG, email kiyak@u.washington.edu or look online.
