Learn by Doing
All gerontology students have the opportunity to participate in a practicum and gain valuable real-world experience before graduating.
Our practicum opportunities will help you develop relevant career skills while earning college credits. This will put you a step ahead as you start your career. We also have research opportunities where you can work with faculty on cutting-edge gerontology research.
The UNO Department of Gerontology has established practicum opportunities with dozens of organizations associated with aging in Omaha, Lincoln, and surrounding areas. Out-of-state students may complete a practicum in their local area.
Whether your interest is in senior housing, hospice, advocacy, community programming, politics, administration, activity programming, social services, or other related areas, you will receive valuable experience and contacts in the field to enhance your career development.
Qualifications
- Must be a gerontology major or certificate student.
- Must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours in gerontology before starting the practicum.
- Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 at the end of the semester preceding the start of the practicum.
Requirements
Our current practicum coordinator at UNL is Bede Bolin (bbolin2@unl.edu). Please contact him the semester prior to beginning your practicum.
- After you are accepted by an agency for an practicum, you will receive a permission code to enroll in GERO 494/894.
- A minimum of 156 work hours must be applied to the practicum during the semester (approximately 10-12 hours per week).
- Work out an acceptable schedule with your agency supervisor.
- Provide your own transportation.
- Keep a log of hours and activities that will be turned in throughout the semester to the practicum coordinator.
- Write a paper integrating your practicum experience with what you learned in the classroom.
