The Graduate Certificate in Gerontology is offered by the College of Health and Human Development to prepare a qualified workforce to address the needs of our aging population. The certificate provides an opportunity for those who have completed a bachelor’s degree in another discipline to acquire an understanding of the issues and problems of aging and to provide services for an older population. The certificate program complements many other graduate degree programs and can be taken concurrently since many of the courses satisfy requirements or electives for graduate programs. The certificate program is a rigorous and demanding educational experience, designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to pursue a career in the field of aging.

For those who lack sufficient foundational knowledge in archaeological method and theory, the CSUN Foundations of Archaeological Knowledge curriculum provides excellent preparation for entry into the master’s degree program in Archaeology or Anthropology. Students will complete coursework in the method and theory used by anthropological archaeologists, as well as topical work in the archaeology of North America generally or California specifically. Up to 9 units of credit earned in this certificate program can be used to satisfy the degree requirements of the CSUN Master of Arts in Anthropology or the CSUN Master of Arts in Public Archaeology.

For those who lack sufficient foundational knowledge in anthropological method and theory, the CSUN Foundations of Anthropological Knowledge curriculum provides excellent preparation for entry into the master’s degree program in Anthropology. Students will complete coursework in general anthropological method and theory, as well as topical work in three of the core subfields of anthropology: archaeology, biological anthropology and sociocultural anthropology. Up to nine units of credit earned in this certificate program can be used to satisfy the degree requirements of the CSUN Master of Arts in Anthropology or the CSUN Master of Arts in Public Archaeology.

The Educational Therapy post-M.A. degree certificate program, designed in collaboration with the Association of Educational Therapy (AET), provides M.A. degree students an opportunity to develop expertise and professional skills related to educational therapy. Completion of the certificate program, which includes courses and field experience, leads to the award of the Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Therapy. The program combines educational and therapeutic approaches for evaluation, remediation, case management and communication/advocacy on behalf of children, adolescents and adults with learning disabilities or learning problems. Graduates of the certificate program meet the academic course requirements to achieve AET’s Associate Professional level of membership. Moreover, 150 supervisory hours for the professional level of membership are met by the internship, which is the culminating experience in the certificate program.

Contact the department office at (818) 677-2596 for more information about the following certificate program.

The Certificate of Dietetic Internship (DI) program enables students to complete the required hours of supervised practice and coursework necessary for eligibility for the Registered Dietitian (RD)/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) exam.

Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU, and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., Social Security number or taxpayer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees or any associated costs to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements. Information concerning licensure and credentialing requirements is available from the department. See Notice to Students: Licensure and Certification for more information.

The field of complex systems is relatively young and evolving, encompassing a wide range of disciplines in the sciences, engineering, computer science, and mathematics. In this context, a “complex system” is defined as an engineered or natural system that is characterized by dynamical properties and unobservable interactions that may not be apparent from observations of its emergent behaviors. Moreover, those dynamics can be intelligent and potentially adversarial. With a strong emphasis on the application of mathematical theory, computational techniques, and modeling in the program, students and faculty will engage in research on complex systems.

The goals of this certificate are to:

- Train and prepare the next-generation scientists and engineers to formulate and solve complex systems problems.

- Advance CSUN’s mission to engage students in creative activities, particularly those from underrepresented in STEM.

- Provide the needed background training for prospective Ph.D. students in complex systems.

- Generate opportunities for industry employees to continue their interdisciplinary education and advance their careers.

This program will prepare students to apply mathematical theory, data-enabled modeling, and computational techniques to the study of complex systems in the natural and engineered world. Coursework will focus on the theoretical foundations of complex systems analysis with an emphasis on applications.

The Specialist Certificate program in College Counseling and Student Services is designed to prepare students for career opportunities and advancement in higher education with particular emphasis upon those positions that serve university and community college students on urban campuses. Special attention is given to working with diverse student populations, including returning, minority and disabled students. The College Counseling and Student Services program is designed for two types of students: (1) Those individuals who desire training for entry-level positions in student affairs. (2) Those who have already experienced professionals in student affairs and wish to increase their experience.

The purpose of this certificate is to provide students who have previously completed a master’s degree or Pupil Personnel Services Credential or who are concurrently enrolled in a master’s degree or credential program in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling with knowledge and professional skills in career counseling theory, applications and program development; organizational theory; career and educational information; individual and group vocational assessment; and career counseling for special populations. These areas have been identified by the National Career Development Association (NCDA) as essential competency areas for National Career Counselor Certification (NCCC). Students completing the program will earn a Certificate in Career Education and Counseling, and they will be prepared for employment as career counselors in educational settings, including schools, business, industry and government, community-based agencies and organizations, and career counseling/consulting firms.

Urban Studies and Planning is an interdisciplinary program providing an undergraduate course of study that focuses on solutions to the major problems stemming from the complexities of contemporary urban life. The Urban Studies and Planning curriculum is designed for students who:

1. Want to enter professional graduate schools in such fields as urban planning, urban design, environmental planning, social welfare, law and public administration, and international development;
2. Intend to begin their professional careers at the end of their baccalaureate education through employment in various governmental agencies, private firms or nonprofit organizations concerned with urban issues, regional planning, real estate development and community development; or
3. Desire a social science degree that emphasizes the study of the historical and modern city.

The major in Urban Studies and Planning requires all students to complete a set of lower division introductory courses and upper division core courses. This part of the curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the urban environment and training in the appropriate principles and methods of planning and urban analysis. In addition to the lower division and core course requirements, students must complete a set of elective courses.

As a complement to the coursework, students are required to complete supervised field research and an internship with a public agency, a nonprofit organization or a private-sector organization conducting planning-related work. These experiences help to provide students with professional experience to begin careers in planning and with the skills to find solutions to urban problems and situations.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. Know the key forces responsible for urban development in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of current principles and practices of urban planning relevant at multiple levels of government from local to global.
3. Demonstrate the ability to work with diverse communities to advance social justice.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate methods and techniques to accomplish urban-related research.
5. Demonstrate an ability to apply principles of sustainable development using a participatory approach to decision making.
6. Participate in various forms of civic engagement.

Tourism, Hospitality, and Recreation Management (B.S. degree program): Tourism, Hospitality, and Recreation professionals can make a difference in the quality of life for all citizens by encouraging and facilitating the positive use of leisure time, whether that is while at home, traveling, engaging in recreation, recreational sport or entertainment. The Tourism, Hospitality, and Recreation Management degree program educates students in leisure and play theory, event planning, leadership, management and working with diverse groups while embracing sustainability of resources while participating in leisure-time pursuits. Students complete practicum and internship experiences in various leisure service settings in the for-profit, government and nonprofit sectors.