Health and Aging
Health across the life course
Build practice skills for health, wellness and aging.
The Health and Aging Certificate prepares MSW students to work with individuals, families, groups and communities navigating wellness, illness, disability and aging. Launched in fall 2022, it brings together and advances MSU’s former Social Work in Health Care and Levande Gerontology certificates.
Practice focus
Develop an integrated view of health and aging.
Students gain hands-on experience in health and aging settings while strengthening the interdisciplinary knowledge needed to support people and communities across the life course. Students may apply during their first program year or specialization year.
Aging-track opportunity: Students who select the aging track may be eligible for a $1,000 Levande Gerontological Social Work Scholar stipend.
Program components
Connect coursework, field practice and interprofessional learning.
- 01
Health and Social Work
Complete SW 891 or SW 472, offered synchronously online during fall semester.
- 02
Aging and Social Work
Complete SW 877, offered synchronously online during spring semester.
- 03
Relevant elective
Complete one elective aligned with health, aging, wellness, illness or disability.
- 04
Specialized field placement
Complete one field placement in a health care or aging practice setting.
- 05
Interprofessional simulation
Participate in one simulation event, offered once each semester in person or online in partnership with the MSU College of Nursing.
Certificate contact
Fei Sun, PhD · sunfei@msu.edu
Program history
Built on MSU’s longstanding commitment to gerontological social work.
The School’s gerontology initiative was strengthened through a three-year John A. Hartford Foundation grant beginning in 2009 and through an endowment established by Diane Levande. The current certificate carries that work forward within a broader health and aging framework.