Admission & Program Requirements

Chair
Janice M. Keefe, BA (UPEI), MA, PhD (Guelph), Professor

This program requires the completion of 3.5 units of coursework and a 1.5 unit thesis.

Admission Requirements

Students will normally have completed a four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited university in a social science area (e.g., psychology, sociology, family studies, gerontology, child and youth study, social work, education) with a minimum of a B average (GPA 3.0). Undergraduate courses in statistics, research methods and at least five courses (2.5 units) in family studies or gerontology are required by all applicants. Where there are deficiencies, students may be required to complete additional undergraduate and/or graduate coursework and obtain a minimum of B in these courses prior to acceptance.

Applicants must complete the Graduate Studies Application Package available online at msvu.ca/applyonline by February 15 for fall admission. Applicants are required to submit a sample of writing that demonstrates their research potential as a graduate student in the Department of Family Studies and Gerontology.

Program Requirements

Required Courses (4.0 units)
❏ GFSG 6606 0.5 unit
❏ GEPY 6608 or GEDU 6107 or GAHN 6675 0.5 unit
❏ GFSG 6609 or GFSG 6612* 0.5 unit
❏ GFSG 6613 0.5 unit
❏ GFSG 6633 0.5 unit
❏ GFSG 6691 1.5 units

Electives (1.0 unit)
❏ 1.0 unit of electives selected from the following:
GFSG 6610 0.5 unit
GFSG 6611 0.5 unit
GFSG 6614 0.5 unit
GFSG 6616 0.5 unit
GFSG 6644 0.5 unit
GFSG 6650 0.5 unit
GFSG 6658 0.5 unit
*If GFSG 6609 is chosen as a required course, GFSG 6612 may be taken as an elective, and vice versa.

Depending on the field of interest, students may take up to 0.5 unit of graduate coursework in other graduate programs at the Mount (e.g., Child and Youth Study, Education, Applied Human Nutrition, Women and Gender Studies) or from other universities (e.g., Dalhousie University’s programs in Health Administration, Community Health and Epidemiology or Social Work).

Elective courses should be selected in consultation with the graduate studies advisor in accordance with the student’s field of interest. Selected courses may be completed via Online Learning.

Contemporary families and an aging population present practitioners and policy makers with challenges that require innovative programs, services, and policies. The Master’s in Family Studies and Gerontology is a professional degree aimed at individuals who require broad-based professional knowledge in the fields of practice associated with family studies and/or gerontology.

This program requires the completion of 2.0 units of required courses, 1.0 unit of coursework in either family studies or gerontology, and 2.0 units of additional elective courses from within the program. Students are required to take 1.0 unit of either family studies content (GFSG 6610 and GFSG 6612) or gerontology content (GFSG 6609 and GFSG 6611), depending on their career focus.

To provide students with flexibility, 0.5 unit of electives may be taken outside of the program from graduate programs at Mount Saint Vincent University, such as Lifelong Learning, Child and Youth Study, Education, Applied Human Nutrition, Women and Gender Studies, or from other universities’ programs, for example Dalhousie University’s programs in Health Administration, Community Health and Epidemiology, and Social Work. Elective courses must be selected in consultation with the graduate studies advisor in accordance with the student’s field of practice.

Admission Requirements

Students will normally have completed an undergraduate degree in family studies, gerontology, sociology, psychology or related health profession (e.g., social work, nursing, health education, pharmacy) with a minimum of a B average (3.0 GPA) in the last 10.0 units of study. An undergraduate research methods course and an undergraduate statistics course will also be required as background preparation for GFSG 6606-required. As part of their application, students will also complete a “Statement of Intent” letter, which is part of the Supplementary Information package for graduate admission. In this statement, they will briefly outline their knowledge of and purpose in applying to our program, identify their future career goals, and comment on how completion of the program will help them achieve these goals. They will also comment on how their past work, volunteer, academic experiences may be helpful in their intended program of study.

There is a Senate approved process for recognizing prior learning to meet the admissions criteria.

Applicants must complete the Graduate Studies Application Package available online at msvu.ca/applyonline by February 15 for fall admission.

Program Requirements

Required Courses (2.0 units)
❏ GFSG 6606 0.5 unit
❏ GFSG 6613 0.5 unit
❏ GFSG 6633 0.5 unit
❏ GFSG 6680 0.5 unit
Family Studies or Gerontology Stream (1.0 unit)
❏ Family Studies Courses 1.0 unit
GFSG 6610 and GFSG 6612
OR
Gerontology Courses
GFSG 6609 and GFSG 6611

Electives (2.0 units)
❏ 2.0 unit of electives selected from the following: 2.0 units
GFSG 6609a 0.5 unit
GFSG 6610b 0.5 unit
GFSG 6611a 0.5 unit
GFSG 6612b 0.5 unit
GFSG 6614 0.5 unit
GFSG 6616 0.5 unit
GFSG 6644 0.5 unit
GFSG 6650 0.5 unit
GFSG 6658 0.5 unit
GEPY 6608 0.5 unit

a Elective for students in the Family Studies stream
b Elective for students in the Gerontology stream

General Information

The Graduate Certificate in Health Communication and Aging provides students with an understanding of the interplay between human communication, aging and health. This program will: (a) encourage students to develop a broad understanding of communication and aging theories; (b) contribute to the advancement of health communication and aging as an emerging field of study; (c) provide enhanced opportunities for students to study the contextual nature of health communication and aging in its various forms; (d) develop in students an appreciation of the processes that define human communication and aging; and, (e) develop within students an appreciation for and awareness of ethical communication.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Health Communication and Aging students must provide evidence of an undergraduate degree in a field that provides required background for the certificate, with a GPA of 3.0 (B) or better. If a required course for the credential has an undergraduate course as a prerequisite, successful completion of the undergraduate course may be set as a condition for admission to the graduate credential. Admission to the program may be assessed on a case-by-case basis to ascertain the relevance of students’ previous undergraduate degree as background for the proposed certificate program. A ‘relevant’ background could constitute Communication, Family Studies and Gerontology, or related fields.

Program requirements

This program is offered jointly through the Department of Family Studies and Gerontology and the Department of Communication Studies. Students must complete 2.0 units (1.0 unit from each department) with the following requirements:

❏ GPRL 6102     0.5 unit
❏ GPRL 6511     0.5 unit
❏ GFSG 6611     0.5 unit
❏ GFSG 6633     0.5 unit