The session will take place at Care Solutions, 208 E. Grover St. It is free and open to the public.

The 15 semester-hour certificate in gerontology is designed for those who provide care or guidance to older individuals. Potential students include health and allied health professionals, business and financial leaders, aging-related nonprofit staff, volunteers and clergy.

The program provides in-depth information and the latest research on healthy aging. Students attend two to four class meetings per semester during the evening or on Saturdays, while completing online discussions via the Internet. 

Prospective students must have a bachelor’s degree in any field and provide a copy of their transcripts.

Courses in the gerontology certificate program may be applied toward the master’s degree in health science, and also may count as elective credit toward other graduate degrees. Students typically take one three-hour course per semester.

The introductory course, “Healthy and Integrative Aging,” will begin in late August and continue through the fall semester. The course will focus on the implications of lifestyle choice on quality and longevity of life, aging research, trends and issues.

For more information about the program, contact Marcia Caserio, program coordinator, at (828) 693-8375 or via e-mail at mcaserio@wcu.edu.

Reservations for the lunch and learn information session are recommended and can be made by contacting Anzie Horne of Care Solutions at (704) 487-0968.