About This Program

Admissions Contact

Danielle Clough
Senior Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions
dclough@springfield.edu
(413) 748-3729

Program Contact

Sara Namazi, PhD
Assistant Professor of Gerontology and Health Sciences
snamazi@springfield.edu
(413) 748-3320

Want to learn more? Schedule a meeting now

Curriculum

  • 16 credit certificate
  • Gain community experience in the field of aging
  • Experience an interdisciplinary curriculum
  • Prepares you to seek employment in various organizations serving older adults

View the curriculum checklist

Start Dates and Duration

  • Start in September and January
  • Complete the program in one year

Course Delivery

Flexible courses offered online and on campus are designed to fit the busy schedules of professionals

Learn more about the School of Health Sciences

A group of seniors smiling together while in a retirement home.

The Gerontology Post-Baccalaureate Certificate at Springfield College is designed for the working professional who wants to expand their knowledge and skills in the field of aging. The program provides an applied, interdisciplinary education in the field of aging, plus real-life experience working with older adults in a community setting.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, career growth in aging-related professions is expected to grow at an unprecedented rate in the next several decades. As such, understanding aging from multiple perspectives can be helpful in a variety of professional settings, such as social services, health care, and finance, and as an important professional credential to add to one's resume. 

The program will provide all students the opportunity to:

  • Work as an interprofessional/interdisciplinary team member in fields involving interactions with and services to support older adults
  • Develop competencies in positive approaches to aging and in anti-ageism
  • Demonstrate affirming, strengths-based interpersonal and professional skills with older adults as well as with professionals within older adult venues
  • Describe how age-related political, social, economic, and cultural dynamics impact older adults in the United States
  • Describe how physical, emotional, and cognitive age-related changes impact older adults
  • Effectively engage with older adults in developing meaningful interactions and intergenerational communication
  • Meet many of the core competencies for undergraduate and graduate education as recommended by the Academy of Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE, 2021), from the Foundational and Interactional competencies and at least two from the list of eight selective competencies (1-Wellbeing, health and mental health; 2-Social health; 3-Program service development; 4-Education; 5- Arts and humanities; 6-Business and finance; 7-Policy; and 8-Research, application, and evaluation)
  • Work with the gerontology certificate program coordinator to develop a plan to meet the requirements for the gerontology certificate
  • Gain community experience through internships, practicums, clinicals, fieldwork, or service-learning courses with the approval of the gerontology certificate program coordinator

In Demand Career

Careers in the field of aging in one of the fastest growing fields due to the aging population nationally and globally. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth in gerontology-related professions (Medical and Health Services Managers 28%, Social Workers 9%, Speech-Language Pathologists 21%, Registered Nurses 6%) are expected to grow through 2028.

Admissions Requirements

Admissions Requirements

  1. Complete the online application
  2. An official transcript from each college/university you have attended is required.

In order to be considered official, transcripts must be received directly from the original source, by email to graduate@springfield.edu, or mailed to the college address:

Springfield College
Office of Graduate Admissions
263 Alden Street
Springfield, MA 01109

I. Certificate Requirements (16 credits)