Gerontology Certificate (GER)
2018-2019
Type: Career, Certificate (C1)
Open Admissions
Division: Health And Human Services
This program provides a basic credential to those working in the field of aging without previous academic training or credentials. The one-year certificate program leads directly into the two-year Human Services Practitioner Associate Degree program.
Students interested in participating in an academic program that involves working with children, the disabled, or the elderly, or which includes a clinical affiliation, internship, or field placement with a private or public healthcare provider, may be required to undergo criminal background checks, including a national as well as local check (i.e. Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Record Information (SORI)). Depending on the contents of these criminal background check(s), a student's participation in an academic program that involves working with children, the disabled, or the elderly or which includes a clinical affiliation, internship or field placement with a private or public healthcare provider may not be allowed, and therefore may impact a student's ability to complete program requirements. Furthermore, please note that eligibility to participate in the program and/or clinical affiliation, internship or field placement as a result of screening requirements, such as criminal background checks, is not a guarantee of eligibility to sit for professional credentialing examination(s) or employment upon graduation.
First Year
Fall
| CMP101 | Composition 1 | 3 |
| HUS101 | The Human Services Worker | 3 |
| HUS130 | Life Changes and Crisis: Adaptation and Intervention | 3 |
LA-ELECTIVE
| Liberal Arts Elective | 3 |
| PSY112 | Introduction to Gerontology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring
| HUS102 | Helping Skills in Human Services | 3 |
| HUS137 | Field Placement & Seminar 1 for Human Services Practitioner | 3 |
| SWG104 | Nutritional and Health Aspects of Aging | 3 |
| SWG203 | Advocacy for Elders | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Program Notes
Communication and Mathematics proficiency required to graduate.
See guided pathway sheets for advising information specific to your area of focus.
Total Credit Hours: 27
Program Student Learner Outcomes
- Establish positive therapeutic relationships with elders and their families that promote constructive change.
- Demonstrate an understanding of cultural competence; provide ethical and culturally sensitive care.
- Develop and utilize a variety of conflict resolution and problem solving techniques in a variety of environments with elders and their families.
- Identify, evaluate and utilize effective verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills.
- Identify factors associated with crisis prevention and intervention when working with elders.
- Engage in ongoing self-assessment and self care to maintain attentiveness to professional competence.
- Utilize a strength based, resilience and humanistic perspective.
Occupational Skills required
- Active listening
- Empathy
- Intercultural competency
- Actively seeking to help people
- Social perceptiveness
- Oral communication
- Documentation
- Ethical decision making
- Critical thinking
- Judgement and decision making
Experiential Learning Required in Program
- HUS 137 Field Placement & Seminar 1 for Human Services Practitioner
Experiential Learning Optional in Program
- HUS 130 Life Changes and Crisis: Adaptation and Intervention
Most Common Linked Occupation Title – All Education Levels
- Counselor and Case Manager
Most Common Linked Occupation Title – Associate’s or Less
- Social and Human Service Assistants
Average Annual Growth (10-Year Projection)
- US - 1.80%
- Boston MSA - 2.10%
- Essex County - 2.10%
- Boston MSA - Average Entry-Level Wages (2016) - $24,600
- Boston MSA - Median Wages (2016) - $32,200