Student Programs

Research/Practicum Experience


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Research/Practicum Experience

All students are required to complete three hours in a research or practicum experience. Students whose discipline is focused on research may submit a thesis or dissertation which they completed to fulfill Master’s or Doctoral requirements within their academic department, or they may complete an individual research project for not less than three hours of credit. The thesis, dissertation, or research project must focus on some aspect of aging, and the project must be approved by the Institute of Gerontology’s Director or Assistant Director in writing, prior to development of the project, in order to qualify for the Certificate.

When the project has been completed, the Completion form must be completed and submitted to the Assistant Director of the Institute of Gerontology. When the credit for the thesis, dissertation, or practicum is awarded by any academic unit other than the Institute of Gerontology, the responsibility for evaluating the quality of the work resides solely in that department.

Students whose discipline has a practitioner’s emphasis may complete an approved practicum in a gerontological setting for not less than three hours credit. The practicum experience must be approved in writing by the Institute of Gerontology’s Director or Assistant Director before beginning.

The student should describe the research project or practicum plan in a letter to the Assistant Director of the Institute of Gerontology or complete the corresponding form. The student will receive a written response regarding the suitability of the proposed plan for the Gerontology Certificate. Additionally, the student and his or her advisor must submit written documentation to the Center that the project has been approved through the specialty department, and that the project was completed as proposed.

The Assistant Director of the Institute of Gerontology must approve the practicum before it begins and will be listed as course instructor. However, the student will be free to collaborate with any supervising faculty member who is appropriate to supervise their project. It is the responsibility of the student to identify the practicum opportunity and the prospective supervisor. The supervising faculty member will assign the grade (Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory) through the Assistant Director and will retain complete autonomy in their relationship with the student. A letter addressed to the Assistant Director of the Institute of Gerontology is required from the supervisor for verification that the practicum has been completed as proposed.

The University of Georgia and the Institute of Gerontology do not provide liability insurance coverage during a student practicum. If a student chooses to carry liability insurance, or if coverage is deemed necessary by the supervisor at the practicum site, this issue should be discussed with the student’s advisor in his or her academic program.