Frequently Asked Questions
- Am I required to have any special
computer skills for these online courses?
- Can I continue on to a University of Florida degree after I complete the certificate?
- Can I enroll in courses without being accepted into the certificate program?
- Do I need to come to Gainesville, Florida
to participate in this program?
- Does the GCM Certificate provide national
or state certification or licensing?
- How are the courses delivered?
- How do I apply?
- How long does it take to complete the certificate program?
- How many courses are in this program?
- How much does the program cost?
- I already work as a Geriatric Care Manager. How would this program or curriculum benefit me?
- Is the clinical experience required if I already work in the Geriatric Care field?
- Is there a clinical practicum or internship involved?
- Is transfer work accepted for this program?
- What computer programs and equipment do I need?
- What institutions or private practices would be available at the local level for completing the clinical experience?
- What internet browser will I need to take these online courses?
- What order do the courses have to be completed for the certificate?
- Where can I go for computer support?
- Will a slow typist get behind in class?
- Will I need a Univeristy of Florida e-mail account for these online courses?
- Will I need an extra phone line for online classes?
Am I required to have any special computer skills for these online courses?
Not at all. The computer skills necessary for successful participation in these online
courses are quite basic. You must have regular access to a computer and be
familiar with routine computer skills, such as Windows, e-mail, basic typing, and
Internet browsing.
Can I continue on to a University of Florida degree after I complete the
certificate?
Presently this University of Florida program is for a certificate only. You may apply
for a graduate degree program at The University of Florida or a university that accepts credits from the University of Florida.
Can I enroll in courses without being accepted into the certificate
program?
Yes, individual courses may be taken outside of the certificate program.
Do I need to come to Gainesville, Florida to participate in this program?
No, this program is taught entirely through the internet. You will never need to
physically come to The University of Florida.
Does the GCM Certificate provide national or state certification
or licensing?
No, there currently is not a state certification or license in Geriatric Care
Management. Our program provides you with a certificate from the University of
Florida. It also prepares participants academically to sit for certification
examinations from various certifying organizations. For example the National
Academy of Certified Care Managers certification.
Review the NACCM certification requirements.
How are the courses delivered?
The courses are delivered through WebCT Vista. Students will log on to the internet
and the WebCT Vista site. On the WebCT Vista site students can get their
assignments, interact with their instructor and classmates and submit assignments.
How do I apply?
To apply, go to: http://gcm.dce.ufl.edu/reg.shtml.
How long does it take to complete the certificate program?
This program was designed to accommodate working professionals. If you take
one course per UF semester you may complete the courses in 5 semesters or
roughly 18 months. This doesn't include the 60 hour clinical experience required
for the graduate level certificate.
How many courses are in this program?
There are 5 graduate and 5 undergraduate courses in this program. The graduate
level certificate program requires a 60 hour clinical experience.
How much does the program cost?
Tuition is set annually during the summer by the state legislature.
Review our current tuition rates.
I already work as a Geriatric Care Manager. How would this program
benefit me?
This program has been designed with an interdisciplinary approach by experts
at the University of Florida. The courses cover areas such as interpersonal
communication, financial, ethical and legal information and training. This material
may not have been covered in a traditional nursing or social work program.
Is the clinical experience required if I already work in the Geriatric
Care field?
The clinical experience is required by The University of Florida. It is a
demonstration that the participant has internalized the course work. It is not an
option to wave this requirement.
Is there a clinical practicum or internship involved?
Yes, following the completion of the five graduate courses you are required to
participate in a clinical experience of 60 hours. You can choose a professional
Geriatric Care manager in your area to act as a mentor, provided they meet the
University of Florida standards. Mentors will also be identified by the University of
Florida through partnerships with national professional organizations involved in
care management. See Clinical Experience.
Is transfer work accepted for this program?
One course, up to 3 credit hours may be transferred and accepted into this
program to replace one of the required 5 courses, pending approval of the Director
of the Center for Gerontological Studies.
What computer programs and equipment do I need?
Consult the official University of Florida computer and software requirements for
general reccommendation and a sample computer configuration. A computer with
Microsoft Windows operating system and Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher will be
sufficient for these online courses. Online students will also need a connection to
the Internet through phone lines with at least a 56k modem (most people with
internet access have a modem that is at least this fast). Additionally be sure that
your computer is equipped with a CD-ROM. Our courses contain Microsoft Producer
2003 presentations. For specific software requirements to view these presentations,
visit Microsoft's Producer 2003 system requirements page.
What instituitions or private practices would be available at the local level
for completing the clinical experience?
It is the student's responsibility to identify the clinical site and preceptor.
See Clinical Experience Information. Assistance is always available by emailing
gcm@dce.ufl.edu.
What internet browser will I need to take these online courses?
Students that use the later versions of Internet Explorer normally experience the
least amount of problems. Although WebCT does not completely support the
Netscape or AOL browsers, an AOL connection can be used in conjunction with the
IE 5.0 or higher browser. A few versions of the Netscape browser are compatible.
Configuration settings and advice on how to use the AOL connection and advice on
how to use other browsers is available from WebCT (the course management
software used for these courses).
What order to the courses have to be completed for the certificate?
- Issues & Concepts in Gerontology
- Medical & Health Management Issues in Aging
- Social Services & Aging
- Interpersonal Communications within the Aging Network
- Overview of Geriatric Care Management
Where can I go for computer support?
Online help for WebCT (the computer application used to run the online courses)
is available at: http://www.webct.ufl.edu/resources.html
For more computer trouble shooting tips and login advice, please contact the
UF Help Desk (392-HELP or helpdesk@ufl.edu).
Will a slow typist get behind in class?
The only time a slow typist may have a little trouble is in a chat session, but even
this disadvantage is not a big deal. Otherwise, slow typists should do fine, even
though they may of course require a little more time to finish some assignments
and/or projects.
Will I need a University of Florida e-mail account for these online courses?
Yes. You be given instructions on how to create your UF email account once you
have been registered for the course.
Will I need an extra phone line for online classes?
All you will need for participation in these online courses is a computer and an
Internet connection with at least a 56K modem (most people with internet access
have a modem that is at least that fast).
