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2021-2022 Graduate Catalog This is not the most recent catalog version; be sure you are viewing the appropriate catalog year.
Dementia [Graduate Certificate]
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The Graduate Certificate in Dementia (CDEM) is a program designed to accommodate the practical needs of several professional groups, including nurses, social workers, dietitians, interior designers, psychologists, occupational and speech therapists, health care administrators, and music and recreational therapists. It is also intended for graduate-level students interested in learning more about clinical and leadership issues in Alzheimer’s care and related illnesses. This 12-13 credit hour multidisciplinary Graduate Certificate program provides a theoretical framework and practical grounding in working with families and persons with dementia in the home, community-based programs, and 24-hour care settings. The program focuses on the social psychology of dementia, the changes in the person with dementia, changes in how they communicate, and ways they compensate throughout the states of dementia. Students learn techniques to accommodate these changes. Major themes of this program center on ongoing assessment of the person and his/her environment and the development of supportive interventions to increase the person’s well-being with dementia.
Fieldwork Opportunities
A unique feature of this program is the fieldwork experiences that have been integrated into most courses. Assignments are customized, enabling students from different disciplines to complete projects in their own work settings. The Alzheimer’s Education Program team makes on-site visits, when feasible, to see students’ work in progress and to offer concrete feedback and mentoring. The instructional team is committed to individualizing projects so that students can explore challenging issues in more depth in their own work settings. This hands-on approach to learning enables students to refine their clinical and leadership skills and become more effective clinicians/administrators.
The Alzheimer’s Education Program has affiliations with several local clinical programs, including Huron Woods, a residential dementia care program located at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, the Alzheimer’s Association, and The Silver Club, an adult day program designed specifically for persons with dementia.
Scholarship Opportunities
Several scholarships — the Edna Gates Scholarship in Dementia Care, the Mary Schroder Scholarship, and the Sarah Graf Scholarship — are available to students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Dementia program. Awards are generally granted for the fall term.
Online Education for Out-of-State Students
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Program Admission
Graduate School Application
After reviewing the admission requirements below, please select the appropriate application. The University is transitioning application platforms; pay close attention when selecting the application below.
The program you are applying to may not accept applicants every semester.
For additional information regarding the application process, please see Graduate Admissions or International Admissions.
Admission Requirements
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
A four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution. In addition, a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate program, is required for full admission. Applicants who do not meet minimum admission requirements may be considered for conditional admission. See International Admissions for international applicant requirements.
Applicants must also meet the following program requirements:
- Please submit a one-page personal statement describing their professional history and goals in dementia care (see guidelines below). Please send your Personal Statement to Admissions, along with your application to the Graduate School. Also, send a copy to the advisor of the Graduate Certificate in Dementia program.
- Have an interview with the certificate coordinator (schedule a Graduate Certificate Admission Appointment). For more information, please contact Cassandra Barragan at cbarrag1@emich.edu.
A student does not have to be enrolled in a graduate degree program. Please note that credit earned for the Graduate Certificate may count, subject to applicability, toward a graduate degree.
Personal Statement Guidelines:
- How did you become interested in the field of dementia care?
- What personal experiences have you had with persons with dementia or their families?
- What professional experiences have you had with persons with dementia or their families?
- Have you taken any college courses in the area of dementia care?
- What skills have you developed in working/communicating with individuals with dementia?
- Do you have any clinical or leadership experience in the field of dementia care?
- What are the areas of dementia care that you wish to learn more about?
- What types of care settings would you want to have experiences in? (Homecare, assisted living, adult daycare, long-term care, community-based service agencies?
- Do you have an interest in educating or training others in dementia care?
- What are your career plans in the field of dementia care?
Advisor Information
Cassandra Barragan, Ph.D., Director, Aging Studies Program, 206H Marshall, 734.487.5823, cbarrag1@emich.edu
Degree Requirements: 12-13 hours
The Graduate Certificate in Dementia is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 12-13 hours. This includes five required core courses, a 120-hour internship and enrollment in a practicum seminar.
The minimum acceptable grade in each required course is a B (3.0). Students scoring less than a B may repeat the course once before being dismissed from the program.
Required Courses: 10 hours
Gerontology Practicum: 2-3 hours
Choose one course from the following.
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