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Career ready
Enhance your skills for working with adults and older adults.
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Learn how to work with, plan for, and administer programs for older adults.
Across the country, long-term care providers are experiencing a shortage of qualified and committed direct-care workers to address the needs of America's aging population. The Center for Gerontology at Western Michigan University was initiated to address that need.
With support from University and community stakeholders, the center serves as a catalyst for health-related research in aging and provides educational programs and service-learning activities that offer lifelong learning for professionals, older adults and their families.
Through the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs at WMU, the center offers a gerontology minor and a graduate certificate in aging studies. In a related offering, we now also have a three-course "pathway" to prepare you for state nursing home administrator exams.
Offerings
Minor
The gerontology minor complements many majors at Western Michigan University. It begins with Gerontology 1000, which is also a WMU Essential Studies course.
Grad cert
You can complete this 9-credit graduate certificate in Aging Studies completely online. There are also many opportunities to meet with instructors and other students.
News and Announcements
Gernant Scholarship Recipients
In 1975, the Leonard and Frances A. Gernant Gerontology Scholarship Fund was created to ensure that gerontology have a place at WMU. The award provides funds for individuals dedicated to a career in health and human services with an emphasis on the aging. Meet the recipients.