How to Get a Master's Degree in Gerontology
Students come to the gerontology master's degree from a range of educational and work experience backgrounds. Your experience may lie in management, business, medicine, social work, public health administration, or a similar field. With a master's in gerontology, you add on to your existing experience with focused training and education in the scope of caring for the elderly.
Career Paths for Gerontology Master's Degree Graduates
A master's degree in gerontology gives you an advanced level of research ability and professional insight into the aging process. Graduates of gerontology master's degree programs go on to a range of fields, including:
- Education & higher education
- Community service
- Non-profit organizations
- Research & advocacy groups
- Hospital and long-term care
A master's in gerontology gives you the leadership skills and targeted expertise to work in management positions in health care facilities or to conduct research and develop policy related to caring for the elderly.
How to Apply for a Master's Degree in Gerontology
Long before you start to fill out your first application, you need to spend time learning about individual gerontology programs. The research process can take time, but you'll enjoy the rewards when you find a short list of programs that suits your needs and preferences as a student.
In this guide, you'll learn how to apply for a master's in gerontology. From the different specializations and coursework you can complete to the importance of accreditation, begin your degree search by gathering a broad range of information before narrowing down your options. Start your research by learning about the basic degrees you can earn when you enroll in a gerontology program.
Step 1: Explore Majors and Specialties Within Gerontology
Unlike the wide-ranging coursework you complete in a bachelor's degree program, a master's degree in gerontology is designed to offer focused study and training in the specific specialty that interests you. A campus-based or online master's in gerontology can typically be completed in two to three years of full-time study. Choose between the following degrees:
- Master of Arts (MA): The broad-based MA degree offers professional training for individuals with some gerontology experience. Many professionals working with the elderly have not had formal training in gerontology--this degree provides a theoretical and academic framework for gerontology professionals.
- Master of Science (MS): While similar to the MA in terms of student experience, the MS in gerontology typically uses research and scientific study in its approach to the discipline. Students leave an MS program with the power to develop methodologically sound procedures in gerontology.
The MA and MS in gerontology are considered equally academically rigorous. Both degrees typically require you to complete a thesis focusing on a specific area within gerontology. What's more, some schools may offer specialization opportunities within the gerontology major. Among those specialties, you might find the following options:
- Administration of long-term care and retirement facilities
- Administration of aging organizations
- Applied gerontology
The path you choose within gerontology depends on your career objectives. Would you rather work in a hands-on setting with elderly adults or are you interested in analyzing data and developing policy in an office environment? Look for schools that fit your specific requirements as a student, or choose a program that offers a broad base of training with a range of applications to provide you with maximum career flexibility later.
Step 2: Consider Typical Gerontology Coursework
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Coursework requirements vary by school and specialization. In general, you should expect to choose among courses dealing with research techniques, social impact, psychology, health care management, and more. Here is a list of coursework you might find when earning a MA or MS in gerontology:
- Social gerontology
- Psychology of adulthood and aging
- Intergenerational family care giving
- Family development
- Techniques in research in family and consumer studies
In addition to class-based coursework, some gerontology programs require their graduate students to complete an internship in a facility serving older people, such as a long-term care facility or a community center. Think about the general coursework you'd like to complete in a gerontology master's degree program before you've started looking at specific schools.
Step 3: Choose Between Campus-Based and Online Gerontology Master's Degrees
After you've considered the potential majors and specializations within your gerontology degree, think about how you'll earn the degree itself. You'll need to choose between campus-based and online master's in gerontology. The degree is popular in online education, which means you'll have a choice in which schools to attend. Think about the benefits of each style of learning:
- On-campus gerontology degree: The traditional environment of a campus-based gerontology degree means you'll enjoy face-to-face interaction with professors and your fellow students. Hands-on research, group work, and personal interaction are hallmarks of the campus-based degree.
- Online gerontology degree: Earn a master's degree online and enjoy the flexibility of logging on to complete gerontology coursework from anywhere. Full-time workers, students who travel or work away from home, and self-motivated students often thrive in the online master's degree environment.
- Hybrid gerontology degree: The hybrid degree combines online and campus-based education. Students spend some time working together on campus, and complete their coursework online. This combination degree method is more rare, but appeals to students who want the benefits of both styles of learning.
Your individual learning style, schedule, and preferences all come into play when you consider your degree method. Whether you earn a master's degree online or on-campus, you should choose the method that works best for you. Find out more about online degrees by checking out WorldWideLearn.com's guide to online degree programs.
Step 4: Establish a List of Gerontology Master's Degree Programs
At this point, you should have considered degree types, majors, your personal learning type, and coursework within the environmental science major. Now it's time to start thinking about individual programs. Use these resources as you begin your search:
- U.S. News and World Report maintains a listing of top health schools. Rankings include top social work programs, top health care management programs, and top public health programs. Research gerontology programs at these top health schools.
- Use WorldWideLearn.com's directories for listings of online gerontology degrees as well as campus-based master's degrees in gerontology. Make contact with potential programs and learn more about each school.
- The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) maintains a database of over 750 institutions at all educational levels. Search their program database and connect with a program that's right for you.
- Browse the AGHE's Program of Merit page for a listing of programs meeting a higher standard of quality in the field of gerontology education.
Begin to compile a list of gerontology programs that fit your basic categories of major, specialization, and learning type. The pages above should help you begin to understand the range of colleges that fit your requirements. From there, can begin to narrow your options down based on more specific criteria.
Step 5: Determine Gerontology Master's Degree School Accreditation
Help ensure the quality of your gerontology master's degree by confirming the accreditation status of each school on your list. The accreditation process requires a third party to review schools, judging them on faculty, funding, academics, and other criteria. There are many benefits to ensuring your school is accredited:
- Hiring managers and other schools recognize credits and degree training
- Students at accredited schools are eligible to obtain federal loans and grants
- You receive training from faculty who have met certain standards in the field
Even if a school's name sounds familiar to you, you should make sure that it holds current accreditation. Fortunately, it's easy to check the accreditation status of each of your prospective schools. Simply search for each school on your list using the U.S. Department of Education's searchable database. Find more information on accreditation of degree programs with WorldWideLearn.com's accreditation answers page.
Step 6: Focus Your List of Gerontology Master's Degree Programs
By now, you should have a basic list of accredited gerontology schools that match your specialization, major, and learning method preferences. Now, focus your list by considering each school in terms of categories you'll find important as a student.
Your gerontology degree should be personalized to your exact preferences. Once you've considered multiple elements of each school, you'll know much more about your future degree, and more about each school on your list. Start to narrow down your options with the following categories:
- Application : Each gerontology degree program comes with its own application requirements. Be prepared to provide undergraduate transcripts, GRE or TOEFL scores, work experience listed in a resume, multiple letters of recommendation, and a personal essay. The highest-ranked schools typically require the most from applicants.
- Rankings: School rankings, like those published by U.S. News and World Report, are important to both students and hiring managers. As you search, however, remember that rankings aren't the final word on a school's quality. Consider rankings information along with cost, location, and other elements.
- Location: Whether you hope to remain in the area after graduating or you hope to work while you're in school, think about where each school is located. Look at each location as if you were searching for a job, seeking out nursing homes, hospitals, research organizations and more. The more opportunities you see for work, the more likely you are to be successful when you live in the area.
- Cost: Think about the cost of education for in-state and out-of-state graduate students. With the cost, consider financial aid promises each school is willing to make. Some schools might offer scholarships, while others offer teaching stipends or waive out-of-state tuition. Weigh the cost of each program in comparison to the salary you hope to make when you graduate.
- Faculty: Consider the faculty members at each school on your list. Read their resumes and learn where faculty member are presenting papers and publishing. While it may be tempting to base your application on the strength of one faculty member, go for a well-rounded approach and seek out strong teams of professors. If one faculty member leaves, you'll still be happy in your degree program.
- Extras: Think about the additional perks offered by each gerontology department. You could be encouraged to complete an internship in the community, travel to do interesting research, or assist professors with their own work. Consider these extras as your final step, once you only need to remove a few schools from your shorter list.
Once you've thought about gerontology schools in each category above, your top schools should begin to emerge. This step of the process takes time and effort, but the rewards should be obvious when you see your long list of colleges whittled down to a manageable few. From there, you can begin the application process with only the strongest schools on your list.
Step 7: Apply for Gerontology Master's Degree Programs
At this point, you should be ready to apply to the gerontology master's degree programs that best fit your goals. Whether you hope to earn a master's degree online or on-campus, you'll need to apply to each program. Begin the process and keep the following in mind:
- Requirements: Be prepared to provide everything from transcripts and resumes to letters of recommendation and test scores. Each gerontology program has different requirements. See each school for more details.
- Personalize: Make a bold statement and personalize your gerontology application. Focus each application letter to the school's personality. This personal touch helps you impress department chairs with your research and knowledge.
- Deadlines: You've gone to the trouble of researching different schools; don't waste your effort by missing important deadlines. Each gerontology department has different deadlines, and staying organized is key to your success. Make a calendar with key dates in red.
In the search for the ideal gerontology school, the research process is essential. Learning about colleges and universities beforehand helps you save time and money on applications. It also helps ensure you earn your master's in gerontology at a program that matches your career goals.
Sources
- Accreditation Search U.S. Department of Education
- Admission to the Master's Degree Program University of Utah
- Database on Gerontology in Higher Education Association for Gerontology in Higher Education
- Degree Requirements University of North Texas
- Master's Degree in Gerontology Kent State University Masters Programs - MS Degree in Gerontology University of Massachusetts Boston
- Online Master of Arts in Gerontology UC Davis
- Online Masters Program in Gerontology Kansas State University
- PROGRAM OF MERIT The National Review of Educational Programs in Gerontology Association for Gerontology in Higher Education
- Rankings: Health U.S. News and World Report
- The Gerontological Society of America
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