Graduate students enrolled in the certificate program simultaneously pursue a major in an academic unit offering an advanced degree, whereas nondegree graduate students, typically, are either working with or seeking to work with older people.
Course work is evenly divided between required and elective courses.
For their electives, students choose courses from the gerontology-related offerings of several departments. Courses at the 400 level apply to graduate degree requirements when appearing on an approved program of study. However, 400-level courses are not graduate courses by definition and cannot be certified as such for purposes of employment or transferring to other institutions. See omnibus graduate courses that may be offered.