Personal Statement Guidelines
Graduate Certificate in Dementia
The purpose of this statement is to help determine if the EMU Dementia Education
Program is the right fit for you and if you are the right fit for the Program. The statement
will also demonstrate your writing abilities. This is important as graduate faculty
primarily evaluate a student’s mastery of course material through written assignments,
rather than exams or tests.
On a separate piece of paper, please thoughtfully reflect on the following points. One or
two pages in narrative form is recommended. The points below may be incorporated into
your discussion and do not need to be answered directly.
How did you become interested in the field of dementia care?
What personal experiences have you had with persons with dementia or their
families?
What professional experiences have you had with persons with dementia or their
families?
Have you taken any college courses in the area of dementia care?
What skills have you developed in working/communicating with individuals with
dementia?
Do you have any clinical or leadership experience in the field of dementia care?
What are the areas in dementia care that you wish to learn more about?
What types of care settings would you want to have experiences in? (Home care,
assisted living, adult day care, long term care, community-based service agencies)
Do you have interest in education or training others in dementia care?
What are your career plans in the field of dementia care?
Please send your Personal Statement to the Aging Studies Program Director via
email attachment to chhs_agingstudies@emich.edu