Full time or part time - September through August
ONLINE - In-class + practicum
Admission requirements: There are no specific prerequisites that need to be taken prior to applying.
$555 per course + ancillary fees
Application deadline: March 1
What is the Certificate in Grief & Bereavement?
What are the minimum admission requirements?
When will I know if my application has been accepted?
How long do I have to complete the program?
Is this program eligible for OSAP?
Can I take certificate-credit courses before being admitted to the program?
How many letters of reference do I need and who should write them? Who should I contact if I need more information?
What are certificate-credit courses and how do they differ from degree-credit courses?
What is the Certificate in Grief & Bereavement?
Grief & Bereavement Studies is offered by Continuing Studies in cooperation with King’s University College. The program examines death and dying as a principal aspect of the human experience. The program considers the grief process, including influential factors and intervention strategies, and helps prepare graduates to assist the dying and bereaved in a variety of settings. What are the minimum admission requirements?
Students have only five years from the time of acceptance to complete the entire program. If a student does not have the required degree-credit courses at the time of application, those courses will be included in the five year time frame. The certificate may be taken concurrently with an undergraduate degree. This program may be taken on a part time or full time basis.
When do I apply?
The application deadline is March 1. Applicants who must apply for admission to the University first are encouraged to begin the application process as soon as possible. Application forms are typically available by November.
When will I know if my application has been accepted?
All decisions regarding admission to the program are communicated in writing. Admission decisions may take approximately 6-8 weeks after receipt of all application documents. Applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure all pieces of both the supplemental application, as well as the OUAC application (where applicable), arrive well before the application deadline. Decisions will not be communicated over the telephone.
How long do I have to complete the program?
This certificate must be completed within five years from acceptance into the program. Most degree-credit courses are offered every year, whereas only one certificate-credit course is offered every term for a total of three (3) courses per year.
Is this program eligible for OSAP?
Yes, online OSAP applications are available at http://osap.gov.on.ca
Can I take certificate-credit courses before being admitted to the program?
Yes, prospective students may take up to two (2) certificate-credit courses before being admitted to the program. Please Note: Grief & bereavement certificate-credit courses taken prior to admission into the program are not eligible for OSAP.
I have been working in a grief & bereavement related field for a few years, do I still need the undergraduate degree credit courses? Yes, the degree-credit courses offered through King's University College are required in order to graduate with the certificate.
How many letters of reference do I need and who should write them?
With the supplemental program application, we require two (2) letters of reference. Based on the study/work nature of our Post-Degree Diploma and Certificate Programs, we ideally would like to receive one (1) reference from an academic source and one (1) from an employment source. We will accept two (2) reference letters from academic sources, but request that one (1) of your referees be able to speak to your skills/employability in the field. Failure to submit letters of reference will prevent the timely processing of your application. There is no official form for reference letters; however, letters should be written on the referee’s letterhead if possible. Letters of reference tend to be more helpful when the referee is aware of the information in your application. For example, the program you are applying to, as well as why and how you would be an ideal candidate for this program. Letters of reference must be sealed by the referee with his or her signature across the seal and may be mailed to Continuing Studies either directly from the referee or with the supplemental application.
Who should I contact if I need more information?
Prospective students are encouraged to contact the Continuing Studies office at 519 661 3658 or email post-degree@uwo.ca
What are certificate-credit courses and how do they differ from degree-credit courses?
Certificate-credit courses refer to the courses that are offered through Continuing Studies at Western, degree-credit courses refer to the courses that are offered through Kings University College.
The certificate-credit course offered are:
GRBV 6001 Crisis Response Teams
For those who must respond to a death related crisis, this course examines programs that use prior planning, education, and identification of sources of support to assist those who must face such crises. Specific issues to be examined are suicide, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence and world issues. Attention will be paid to the spiritual issues arising from these problem
GRBV 6002 Communication with the Dying and the Bereaved
This course focuses on the different communication skills specific to the field. Topics covered include communicating with the terminally ill, communicating with bereaved families, the ethical aspect of communication, as well as dealing with children.
GRBV 6003 Grief Support Groups
For those who work in a professional or non-professional capacity in helping the bereaved, this course will explore various orientations toward healing after a death. Special emphasis will be placed on the roles of grief support groups in facilitating healing including the distinction between different types of groups and their appropriate use for given contexts. Attention will be given to group process, cross-cultural issues, emotional and spiritual needs of the bereaved and the needs of special populations.
GRBV 6004 Applied Principles and Practices
This course is designed for students interested in special topics related to palliative care and focuses on: palliative care as a profession, palliative treatment systems and settings, assessment, treatment, and treatment issues among different populations; palliative care within the health care system, the legislative context of palliative care, and ethical and professional issues.
GRBV 6005 Creative Responses to Death and Bereavment
In this course, students will have an opportunity to learn about the interplay of the arts - music, literature, drama, visual art - and the role of creativity in responses to death and bereavement. Students will be able to increase their awareness of the creative arts for both creator and the person privileged to share the creation.
GRBV 6006 Personal and Professional Issues
This course will cover ethical issues, organization of agencies, fund raising, cross-cultural issues, and care of the caregiver. Emphasis will be placed upon the multidisciplinary nature for palliative care including issues of multiculturalism and the emotional and spiritual needs of the dying; and the ethical issues faced by service providers including euthanasia.
GRBV 6007 Loss Across the Lifespan
This course will examine concepts relevant to a variety of losses across the lifespan and will review key concepts such as resilience, risk, adaptation, coping, chronic sorrow, meaning making, transcendence, and other related frameworks.
