Graduate Diploma (GDip) | School of Rehabilitation Therapy

Program Overview

GDip in Aging and Health students now have the option to complete the program in any two consecutive terms: i.e., fall and winter terms; or winter and summer terms; or summer and fall terms. Prospective students can now review the proposed timetable of courses, which is available in the program requirements section below, and apply to enter for the two consecutive terms that maximizes their ability to take courses of interest to them.

Program Learning Outcomes

GDip in Aging and Health graduates will be able to:

Prepared to work in positions that require a comprehensive knowledge of society and normal healthy aging,
Able to analyze research and other forms of knowledge that inform efforts to support healthy aging of individuals in a diverse array of personal, community and societal circumstances and contexts,
Able to provide critical analysis of policies, programs and/or systems that support healthy aging and/or those who care for older adults in society.

Program Requirements

GDip in Aging and Health students are required to take 5 courses (15 credits) over two consecutive terms. The program schedule for the fall 2025 term through to summer 2026 is indicated below. Please be aware that this schedule could be subject to change.

Fall 2025 term

Winter 2026 term

Summer 2026 term

AGHE 802 – Ethics and Aging

AGHE 803 - Demography and Geography of Aging

AGHE 811 - Normal Aging Processes

AGHE 812 – Religion, Spiritiual Health and Aging

AGHE 800 - Evaluating Aging-Related Programs & Services

AGHE 810 - Epidemiology of Aging

AGHE 816 - Pharmacology & Aging

AGHE 831 - Social Justice in Aging and Health

AGHE 804 – Health and Social Systems for Older Adults

AGHE 815 – Chronic Conditions and Self Management

AGHE 821 – Aging & Mental Health

*Updated May 13, 2025

Course Descriptions

Courses listed in the Aging and Health Graduate Calendar represent the range of Aging and Health (AGHE) graduate course offerings in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy.

Program Delivery

AGHE 800, AGHE 802, and AGHE 811 (see table in program requirements section for course titles) are all core courses for the Master of Science (MSc) in Aging and Health. GDip in Aging and Health students that choose to take the program when these courses are being offered are able to enroll. Students who choose this option should be aware that AGHE 802 and AGHE 811 are partially taught at the August in-person intensive in Kingston and will need to pay a program fee that covers the costs associated with the accommodation. Similar, AGHE 800 is partially taught in the late March/early April in-person intensive in Kingston and students will need to pay a program fee that covers the costs associated with the accommodation. For more information on the program fee please go to the Admission & Fees section.

Those students that choose to take exclusively other courses will not have to pay a program fee and only the tuition. Depending on course selection, GDip in Aging and Health students could take the program completely online.

Transfer between the GDip and MSc

Students who successfully complete the GDip in Aging and Health can be considered for advanced standing in the MSc program. Those wishing to enter the MSc in Aging and Health program following completion of the GDip program must apply directly for entry into the MSc program (and pay the applicable application fee). In order to be accepted with advanced standing, the application must be made to the MSc program within 5 years of completion of the GDip program. Once accepted, the student will complete up to three additional courses, plus a project course (AGHE 898), provided there have been no substantive changes in the MSc program requirements in the intervening years. Number of courses required is dependent on course selection during enrollment in the GDip program.

Admission & Fees

There are two routes of entry into the GDip in Aging and Health program each academic year:

For admission to the Graduate Diploma, applicants must have a B+ average or above from any four year undergraduate degree program or equivalent.

1. Official transcripts from all current and previous universities attended:

At the time of application, official transcripts for all current and previous universities attended can be uploaded to the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (SGSPA) online application site.

Note: If you receive and accept an offer of admission to the program, we will require you to make arrangements for us to receive an official hard copy transcript that shows that the degree has been granted and the date of graduation, for each degree completed, from the university’s Registrar’s Office (or equivalent).

The transcripts should be mailed directly from the issuing institution to the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (SGSPA), Queen’s University, Gordon Hall Room 425, 74 Union Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7L 3N6.

2. Two references (submitted via the online application system):

Two reference letters are required. At least one of these reference must be an academic reference for applicants who have graduated from university less than five years prior to application. Applicants who have graduated from their most recent degree more than five years prior may submit exclusively professional references if they wish. Referees should be either previous or current supervisors of the applicant's work (professional or academic). An applicant's relationship to a professional referee could be collaborative in nature (e.g., having worked on a project or team together); however, the relationship should not be personal in nature (e.g., a family member, friend, or any other conflict of interest).

Your referees will be contacted by the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs via email, and asked to provide their reference using an online reference form. The referees listed will NOT be contacted until your application has been successfully submitted and the application fee has been received.

3. Resume - submitted to Graduate Assistant:

4 pages maximum. Applicants are required to list any skills and abilities that you feel are relevant to your area of study. Please include any leadership experience, continuing education, community involvement, volunteer experience etc. in this section. Additionally, applicants should provide employment information in order of relevance to your area of study. Applicants are required to send their resume to the Graduate Assistant (aghe@queensu.ca).

4. For international applicants, proof of acceptable competency in English is required:

Satisfactory results in an accepted English language proficiency test must be confirmed as part of the application process. The list of accepted tests of English language proficiency and the minimum score(s) required for admission into graduate programs can be found on the Queen's School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs web site.

Tuition and Fees

If GDip in Aging and Health students chose to take the courses (AGHE 800, 802, and 811) which are partially taught at one of the in-person intensives they will need to pay an annual program fee that will cover the cost of accommodation and meals during the in-person intensives, as well as some course-related learning materials throughout the program.

Information on tuition, the program fee and other fees are available through Queen’s University Office of the University Registrar website.

Please note that the program fee amount is available in the fall/winter Graduate and Professional Programs Fee Schedules.

How to Apply?

Complete applications are reviewed and offers are made on an on-going basis by the program. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.

When you have completed all the sections, you can submit your application. At this point, you are asked to pay the non-refundable application fee on-line. Remember, you must be able to pay the fee on-line with a Visa or MasterCard number, in order to complete your application on-line.

To continue your application process please proceed to
» School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs Studies website.