Palliative and End-of-Life Care
Overview

Online Post-Master's Certificate Program
This certificate program provides an integrated sequence of courses to promote the interaction of theory and practice. The program will also enhance clinical practice knowledge; expand assessment and clinical intervention skills; examine assessment and treatment needs of patients and their families; use a biopsychosocial-spiritual framework; and provide opportunities to develop leadership skills.
This certificate program is part of NYU Silver's Zelda Foster Studies Program in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (PELC), which encompasses a range of initiatives designed to develop and mentor PELC social work leaders at all stages of their careers.
Program Highlights:
Interaction of theory and practice; clinical practice knowledge
Assessment and clinical intervention skills
Biopsychosocial-spiritual framework
Modules
- Module 1: Ethical Issues in Palliative Care/Pain and Symptom Management: Multidimensional Perspectives (20 CEs)
- Module 2: Theories of Attachment, Loss, and Bereavement (15 CEs)
- Module 3: Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Leadership Development (15 CEs)
- Module 4: Practice Seminar (20 CEs)
"In this program, the faculty treated students as peers, and the collegial atmosphere allowed students—at all levels of experience—to feel comfortable participating in our own learning. The faculty’s enthusiasm and commitment to teaching, as well as their own work in this field, was a highlight of the program."
- Nicki Weiss, MSW Pathways to Care program at Westchester Jewish Community Services, Hartsdale, NY
Program Requirements
This certificate requires the completion of 18 two-hour sessions over the course of two semesters. Assignments include weekly readings and a final learning assessment in the form of a project.
An MSW and at least 2 years of post-Master's experience in or related to Palliative and End-of-Life Care (PELC) is required to apply to this program. We hope that students will draw from that experience while in the classroom setting.
*** To enroll in the Practice Seminar and the Leadership modules, the student must be currently working in a position that is in or related to the PELC field and one of your reference letters must be from a current supervisor. If you are unsure about your current position qualifying for this module, please contact Dr. Susan Gerbino at susan.gerbino@nyu.edu.
Program Schedule
The program runs online on Thursday evenings from 6:00–8:00pm ET, over the course of the 2023-24 academic year.
Fall 2023
- August 24, 31
- September 7, 14, 21, 28
- October 5, 12, 19, 26
- November 2, 9, 16, 30
- December 7, 14, 21
Spring 2024
- January 4, 11, 18, 25
- February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
- March 7, 14, 28
- April 4, 11, 18, 25
- May 2
About the Director

Susan Gerbino, PhD, MSW
Susan Gerbino is a Clinical Professor at NYU Silver and is the Director of the School’s Zelda Foster Studies Program in Palliative and End-of-Life Care, which encompasses a range of initiatives designed to develop and mentor PELC social work leaders at all stages of their careers in the areas of clinical practice, education, research, publication, and administration. Dr. Gerbino teaches in the MSW program as well as in the Zelda Foster Studies Program. She has a private practice specializing in work with people with chronic or life-threatening illnesses and complicated bereavement.
From the Director:
"The Post-Master’s Certificate Program in Palliative and End-of-Life Care is based on the belief that the people with whom we are privileged to work are the experts. Our approach to teaching echoes that collaborative belief, with faculty moving fluidly between the positions of ‘expert’ and ‘co-learner.’ We are committed to creating a safe and respectful environment that acknowledges the role of practice wisdom and validates emotion and spirituality in the learning process."
Continuing Education Contact Hours
70 NYSED and ASWB/ACE Continuing Education Contact Hours will be awarded for this program.
New York University Silver School of Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers {#SW-0012}.
NYU Silver School of Social Work, 1415 is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. NYU Silver School of Social Work maintains responsibility for the program. ASWB Approval Period: 11/11/19 - 11/11/22. Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval for continuing education credits.
New York University Silver School of Social Work is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors {#MHC-0083}.
For Mental Health Practitioners: Please check with your state, if you are not licensed in New York, to determine if these credits will be accepted for licensing renewal.
55 jurisdictions accept ACE-approved provider CE contact hours. ACE is not an approved Continuing Education provider in the states of New York (though NYU Silver is NYSED CE approved in NYS) and West Virginia, unless the event is outside of West VA. ACE only approves individual courses in New Jersey, though NYU Silver is CSWE-accredited and therefore accepted for licensed NJ professionals. Here is a full list of statutes related to social work CE.
Application
The application for Fall 2023 is now closed. Please check back for the 2024 application and schedule information.
Fees & Refund Policy
The full cost of this certificate program is $3,500. Students must complete all four modules to receive a certificate of completion and CE Contact Hours. The cost of this program includes the registration fee and cost of an online compendium of readings. There is an application fee of $50.
- Ethics/Pain (20 CEs): $1,150 (due in the fall semester)
- Leadership (15 CEs): $750 (due in the spring semester)
- Theories (15 CEs): $900 (due in the fall semester)
- Practice (20 CEs): $700 (due in the spring semester)
Total: $3,500
Available discounts include:
- 25% discount for NYU Silver School of Social Work MSW/DSW/PhD alumni
- 25% discount for practicum instructors currently working with NYU Silver School of Social Work graduate students.
- 15% discount for applicants who have already completed one NYU Silver certificate program.
- 50% discount for veterans.
Please note: discounts may not be combined.
Deposit: Upon acceptance into the program, a $250 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place. This deposit is applied to the total cost of tuition.
The $250.00 program deposit is non-refundable. Students that withdraw before the first class will be refunded 100% of their fees (minus the deposit). Students that withdraw after up to and including two (2) sessions will be refunded 70% of their fees (minus the deposit). Students who withdraw after up to and including four (4) sessions will be refunded 55% of their fees (minus the deposit). Students who withdraw after four (4) sessions will receive no refund.
Please note: although the tuition payments are broken down into deposit, fall, and spring installments (a practice meant to create smaller, easier payments for students), the term 'sessions' refers to the entire program. Students who withdraw after four sessions, even if they have not begun the spring semester, are still required to pay their spring semester bills.
Withdrawal Session |
Refund Rate |
Before the first session |
100% (minus deposit) |
Up to/including two sessions |
70% (minus deposit) |
Up to/including four sessions |
55% (minus deposit) |
After four sessions |
0% |