Behavioral and Cognitive Care, Gerontology (Technical Certificate)
Award: Technical Certificate
Program of Study: Gerontology
Specialization: Behavioral and Cognitive Care
Program Code: 1165
About This Program . . .
The Gerontology program is for individuals who wish to develop careers in the field of aging, those already employed or active in gerontology or related fields who wish to enhance their career paths, and those seeking challenging and meaningful career changes in response to new opportunities created by an aging society.
The coursework for this Technical Certificate provides an emphasis on gaining gerontology knowledge and application pertaining to the aging mind, dementia care, and mental health of older adults. It also provides applicable learning and relevancy as an additional certificate, valuable to Health Science and Social/Behavioral Science majors who want to specialize in working with the elderly population.
For more information on what you can do with this major, visit WCCC's Programs of Study page.
All CMU/WCCC technical certificate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, communication fluency, and critical thinking. In addition to these campus‐wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:
- Discuss and synthesize the aging process from a biological, psychological, and sociological perspective to build a foundation of gerontology knowledge.(Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning)
- Critically evaluate arguments regarding issues and controversies within the field of aging and present a position, supporting it with evidence. (Critical Thinking)
- Present and explain effective interventions, practices, or activities promoting an older persons' strengths and adaptations to maximize well-being, health and mental health. (Communication Fluency)
Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.
To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity.
Institutional Certificate Requirements
The following institutional requirements apply to all CMU or WCCC Technical Certificates. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- Consists of 5-59 semester hours.
- Consists of 100-200 level courses.
- At least fifty percent of the credit hours must be taken at CMU/WCCC.
- 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU/WCCC coursework.
- A grade lower than “C” will not be counted toward meeting the requirements.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed twenty-five percent of the semester credit hours required for a technical certificate.
- Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
- Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Certificate Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and certificate requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
- See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
Program Specific Certificate Requirements
(15 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GRNT 110 | Introduction to Gerontology | 3 |
| GRNT 175 | The Aging Mind | 3 |
| GRNT 176 | Cognitive Activity Design | 2 |
| GRNT 235 | Introduction to Dementia Care | 3 |
| GRNT 236 | Dementia Care Practices | 1 |
| GRNT 246 | Aging and Mental Health | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Semester Credit Hours | |
| GRNT 110 | Introduction to Gerontology | 3 |
| GRNT 175 | The Aging Mind | 3 |
| GRNT 176 | Cognitive Activity Design | 2 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 8 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| GRNT 235 | Introduction to Dementia Care | 3 |
| GRNT 236 | Dementia Care Practices | 1 |
| GRNT 246 | Aging and Mental Health | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 7 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a certificate. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and discussing the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for her/his intended certificate.
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a certificate and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their certificate requirements (for one-semester certificates, complete in the first week of class):
- Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
- Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
- Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
- Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.
Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found at http://www.coloradomesa.edu/registrar/graduation.html.
If a student’s petition for graduation is denied, it will be her/his responsibility to consult the Registrar’s Office regarding next steps.