Senior Living

A graduate certificate in senior living is designed for professionals seeking advanced leadership positions in senior living. The curriculum provides an in-depth exploration of daily operations across the spectrum of senior living, care coordination, and hospitality principles critical to enhancing resident life and staff experiences. This program meets the industry's demand for well-rounded leaders prepared to serve residents, families, and staff in post-acute and senior living care settings.

This certificate will equip professionals with the skills needed to lead a growing industry, balancing business management with compassionate care for aging populations.

Curriculum Completion/Transfer

The curriculum can be completed within one academic year, with program entry available in both the fall and spring semesters. All 12 credit hours are fully transferable to the Master of Aging Studies program. Students may pursue the certificate as non-degree-seeking professionals or concurrently with a graduate program, such as the Master of Arts in aging studies or Master of Health Administration. The online certificate provides affordable, high-quality distance education with in-state tuition rates regardless of residency, enabling students to earn their graduate certificate from anywhere in the state or across the country.

Admission

To be admitted into the graduate certificate in senior living program, the applicant must:

• Be admitted to Graduate School in a degree program or in nondegree seeking A status. All Graduate School policies relative to admissions apply. International students will not be issued an I-20 for certificate programs alone. International students may obtain this certificate only while concurrently pursuing a graduate degree.
• A bachelor degree of any discipline will be considered for admission.
• Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.750 (on a 4.000 scale) or a 2.750 in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework.
• Submit a personal goals essay of 250 words or less which clearly articulates the applicant's reason for seeking the graduate certificate in senior living.
• Submit a current resume.

Application Deadlines

• July 15th for fall admission;
• December 1st for spring admission; and
• April 15th for summer admission.

Program Requirements

The graduate certificate in senior living is a fully online, 12-credit-hour program that provides an in-depth exploration of daily operations across the spectrum of senior living, care coordination and hospitality principles critical to enhancing resident life and staff experiences. This program meets the industry's demand for well-rounded leaders prepared to serve residents, families and staff in post-acute and senior living care settings. Students who complete the senior living certificate will have met the curriculum requirements to then pursue the Administrator-in-Training Practicum (AIT).

Classes completed in pursuit of the certificate can be applied to the graduate program of study for the Master of Arts in aging studies, senior living concentration. A student admitted to the master's program can apply all 12 certificate credit hours to the graduate degree, leading to completion of their MA within one year.

Courses started more than 10 years before the semester in which the master's degree work is completed may not be used as part of the degree program. The total number of credit hours required for the certificate in senior living is 12, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.000 or above and no grade that generates less than 2.000 credit points per credit hour.

The certificate can be completed within one year. Courses are offered on the following rotation:

In addition to the above requirements, students must meet the Graduate School’s requirements in order to earn this certificate.