Western Carolina University

Western Carolina University, in partnership with the Center on Health and Aging in Erwin, will offer a free drop-in “lunch and learn” information session about its graduate certificate program in gerontology on Wednesday, June 13.

The session will be held at Appalachian Christian Village, 2012 Sherwood Drive in Johnson City, from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Prospective students include individuals who work with aging adults in various fields, baby boomers who support aging family members, and scholarly older adults. The 15-hour certificate program offers a series of online assignments and two to four traditional class meetings per semester during non-working hours. Professors from WCU teach on-site at the Center on Aging and Health during the few traditional class meetings held each semester.

The introductory course “Healthy and Integrative Aging,” offered in late August continuing through fall semester, will focus on the implications of lifestyle choice on quality and longevity of life, aging research, trends and issues. Other courses offered at the center will include “Counseling Older Adults,” “Death and Dying and Palliative Care,” “Psycho-social and Spiritual Issues in Chronic Illness” and the “Gerontology Research Practicum.”

WCU representative Marcia Caserio will present information about the gerontology studies program and the application process. Prospective students should hold a bachelor’s or higher level degree.  Reservations for the “lunch and learn” session are recommended and can be made by contacting Lynn Brumby at (423) 232-5301.

For information about WCU’s gerontology program, call (828) 693-8375 or e-mail mcaserio@wcu.edu.