- While the Social Work Aging Program is not fully active at this time, the groundwork established by the program from 1999-2004 continues to motivate the University of Oklahoma School of Social Work toward its original goal of preparing social workers to provide essential services for older persons in Oklahoma. Continuing efforts include the infusion of aging content in foundation courses and active involvement as a part of the Interdisciplinary Gerontology Certificate Program.
The School of Social Work recognizes that Oklahoma needs many more social workers with special abilities in assisting older persons. The School of Social Work seeks to assure that all students earning the degree of Masters of Social Work have met essential educational objectives relating to older persons.
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Gerontology
In response to trends in the demographics of a growing aging population and the anticipated educational needs for professionals to prepare for service to this population, the Social Work Aging Program was instrumental in the development of the University of Oklahoma Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Gerontology Program. This program is intended for current students and professionals in various disciplines, including social work, who are seeking to acquire basic knowledge and specialized skills needed for working with older adults. An interdisciplinary team model is the focus of this program.The Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Gerontology Program is housed at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. The Graduate Certificate requires completion of 18 graduate credit hours. Five required courses and one elective course are designed to provide basic knowledge needed to work with older adults.
Courses are delivered by the College of Allied Health, College of Nursing, School of Social Work, College of Pharmacy, College of Public Health, Department of Geriatric Medicine, and Department of Health and Exercise Sciences. This program is administered by the College of Allied Health with oversight by a committee with representatives from the participating academic units.
Specialized Courses: Specialized courses in aging are offered for MSW students who are preparing for careers in gerontology. These courses, SWK 5173 and SWK 5193, will assure that students meet advanced educational objectives in gerontology or geriatric practice.
Geriatric Field Practicum: Advanced field practica in geriatric settings are available to all MSW students who are seeking to specialize in practice with older adults. In addition to their primary placement, students are encouraged participate in a variety of educational activities to supplement their practice education.
Consortium: The consortium (1999-2004) is no longer active. However, it is still important that social work and other professionals with special expertise in services for older persons continue to guide the School of Social Work in its aging initiatives. It is important that the School is responsive to current requirements for social workers specializing in aging throughout the continuum of care and in a variety of settings impacting older adults. For this to occur, the involvement and advocacy of working aging professionals continues to be important.
Other Initiatives: From time to time the School seeks and acquires special grants to promote gerontology or geriatric education. The School has received a new grant for 2007-2010:
The Masters Advanced Curriculum (MAC) Project is funded by a grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation to the CSWE Gero-Ed Center. The MAC Project is designed to enhance advanced MSW specialty practice areas with aging-related competencies.
Geriatric Practicum – Enriched GeroEd Foundation Courses – Advanced Practice Aging-Related Competencies We’re on our Way – Please Join Us!
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