As the number of Americans over the age of 65 grows, the opportunities for careers in fields related to aging also continue to grow. A background in gerontology will be a valuable asset whether your field is pharmacy, nursing, fitness, nutrition, finance, or a host of other disciplines related to aging populations.
The Gerontology Graduate Certificate requires 12 credit hours taken for a letter grade (“B” or better) in courses approved for gerontology credit. Credits may not be transferred from another institution, and courses taken for completion of the Certificate may not be applied toward any other certificate. Credit hours while enrolled in Purdue University Graduate School from approved courses prior to admission to the Certificate program may be counted toward completion of the Certificate (maximum of six credit hours). The maximum time allowed for completion of the Certificate is three years from the time of entry into the program. The certificate requires in-person enrollment at the West Lafayette campus. We do not offer an online option for the Certificate. Completion of the graduate certificate will appear on the student’s transcript.
The following courses are required for the Gerontology Graduate Certificate.
- HDFS 64900 Multidisciplinary Gerontology (3 credit hours)
- GRAD 59000 Biology of Aging (3 credit hours)
What are the benefits?
By enrolling in this program, you will receive several benefits: increased gerontology expertise, the "Aging Exchange" newsletter of the Gerontology Program, participation in CALC’s community engagement programs, and opportunities to participate in university and national gerontology conferences and seminars. The Gerontology Graduate Certificate will appear on your Purdue transcript, and you will receive a hard-copy certificate.
Who can enroll?
The Certificate is open to current Purdue graduate students as well as non-degree seeking practitioners in the field.
Admission to the certificate program requires an application to the Graduate School and an application fee. Admission requirements for the Certificate may be viewed here.
Applicants are required to show evidence of completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, and must show evidence of a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0.
It is important to recognize that although satisfaction of these basic requirements does not guarantee graduate admission, failure to satisfy these requirements may lead to automatic denial of admission.
For more information about admissions procedures for non-degree seeking students, consult the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars at https://www.purdue.edu/academics/ogsps/.
For more information about the Gerontology Graduate Certificate or graduate minor, email: calc@purdue.edu