Many gerontology bachelor degree programs include courses in human services, as many students studying gerontology will go on to work in this field. Gerontology is a broad field focused on helping an aging population with their needs in healthcare, psychology, economics, and socialization. Undergraduate students should take courses in subjects like the physical sciences, math, and life sciences. Bureau of labor statistics notes that related degrees may be acceptable. This bachelor s degree is recognized as the entry level degree to get started in a career in the gerontological services. The best online bachelor s in gerontology programs of 2020. Top 10 online graduate degree programs in gerontology. According to the census bureau, there are now over 34 million people who are over the age of 65 and make up about 12 percent of the american population.
Gerontology is the study of the social, biological, cultural, psychological, and cognitive impacts of aging within human beings. Gerontology is a multidisciplinary science that involves interaction with a variety of other fields. As the needs of elder people are specialised, dedicated attention within the training. The uncg gerontology program offers three 3 degreescredentials. Schools offering gerontology degrees can also be found in these popular choices. Bachelor s degree programs cover similar topics and also look at ways to help older. A gerontology degree program prepares its graduates to enter the workplace with the knowledge and skills to improve and maintain the wellbeing and quality of life of.
The bachelor of arts in gerontology degree program can prepare you to work with an aging population in a wide variety of settings including nursing homes, retirement centers, senior centers, and community mental health agencies. Students complete training at a longterm care facility and a hospice as well as a gerontology internship. You can earn an undergraduate certificate, a graduate certificate, a bachelor s degree or a masters degree in gerontology via distance learning. Find the best, fully accredited online gerontology masters degree and learn the variety of ways you can help the elderly. Earning a dual degree may permit you to pursue a phd in gerontology alongside a medical degree, such as an m. Bachelor of arts in gerontology gerontology is the interdisciplinary study of aging and is a rapidly growing field. Prehealth concentration, long term care administration concentration, or health aging concentration.
Masters of science in gerontology 30 credit hours plus a research project or internship, online. Bachelor of science bs degree in gerontology regent university. The best bachelors degrees in gerontology equip you with the skills needed to help those transitioning into old age. Possible roles after graduation may include program manager, program and policy analyst, housing and. Undergraduate gerontology certificate university of south alabama. Bachelor of interdisciplinary studies gerontology institute. Download a list of required courses with course descriptions pdf. Gerontology and aging services bachelors degree umgc. Weve ranked the top online bachelors in gerontology programs. University of nebraska offers additional gerontology degrees not all are online options including a phd in gerontology, a dual degree option, certificates and bachelor s degree programs. Gerontology is a study of the aging process beginning at middle age. Gerontology professionals find a number of career opportunities in retirement communities, nursing homes, health care, human services, government agencies, and longterm institutional care. If you have an interest in the effects of aging and want to have a career providing care for the elderly, you may want to consider earning an online bachelor s degree in gerontology.
Take classes online, your choice, or in the traditional classroom format. As a student of a gerontology program, you will learn about direct service, advocacy in legislation, and a wide variety of research areas from which to choose from. Getting a gerontology degree opens the doors to many possible career paths. The gerontology institute offers several programs for undergraduate student interested in the field of gerontology. After all, earning a doctorate degree requires commitments of time, financial resources, and energy. You can make the most of those commitments if you are perfectly clear that the effort is worthwhile. Our curriculum is designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars. Students interested in these programs should contact the school as early as possible in their career at the university of south florida. This degree typically focuses on clinical skills, not just research. The goal of these courses is to provide an understanding of the role human services plays in the lives of aging adults, and the.
With a bachelor s degree in gerontology you should expect to be able to provide care for senior citizens i. In 1957, fiftyseven university programs offered at least a onecredit course in aging donahue, 1960, and today there are well over 1,000 academic gerontology. Gerontology degree online accredited bachelors program. Regents bachelor of science in gerontology, offered exclusively online, blends the disciplines of biophysical sciences, healthcare management and psychology to prepare you to create and coordinate services that benefit seniors. Experts project this number to increase to about 1. Accelerated gerontology online courses ashford university. You have a heart for seniors and a desire to serve them in your chosen career. Because of this, you will study a long list of different subjects in your mission to earn your degree. In 2015, 99 students graduated in the study area of gerontology with students earning 75 masters degrees, 11 bachelor s degrees, 8 certificates degrees, and 5 doctoral degrees. That usually means earning a bachelor s degree in biology, chemistry, or a similar area. Prerequisites typically, candidates complete undergraduate studies before pursuing a graduate gerontology degree online. Online degree and certificate programs in gerontology with. Bachelor of arts in gerontology lorain county community. Some of those positions require a masters degree in a related field, including physical therapist and counselor, for which a bachelor s degree in gerontology may serve as a solid foundation.
Best online bachelors in gerontology programs of 2020. Gerontology bachelors degree programs pennsylvania major. Postbaccalaureate certificate in gerontology 12 credit hours, online. Prospective students who searched for certificates in gerontology found the. Gerontology is technically a field within the broad discipline of psychology. This amount can vary from state to state, as well as between healthcare settings, such as hospitals and senior care facilities.
Bachelors in gerontology programs guide bestcolleges. Gerontological education in undergraduate nursing programs. Regents bachelor of science in gerontology, offered exclusively online, blends the disciplines of. Aius online gerontology program is a targeted degree program designed to help students develop a comprehensive core of knowledge about the u. For bachelormasters program in applied gerontology. An advanced online gerontology program, such as an online masters or doctorate, may be required to teach at a college or administer a community aging project. This masters degree can be completed in as little as two years. Since aging is a multifaceted, complex phenomenon, an interdisciplinary training in gerontology will give students an edge in working with the aging population. Gerontology aging services professional classes are offered on all four campuses ashland, new richmond, rice lake, superior and the three outreach centers balsam lake, hayward or ladysmith. Gerontology is the interdisciplinary study of aging and is a rapidly growing field. A bachelor s degree program in gerontology examines the human aging process from multiple perspectives. Courses taken as part of a graduate certificate program in this field can usually be transferred into a masters program.
Likewise social and community service managers only require a bachelor s degree to begin work. For more information about the programs, please contact dr. Gerontology and aging services bachelor s degree requirements. The degree is a core healthcare program which provides focus on the various wants and needs of the aging population. Ba gerontology overview sdsu school of social work. Learn about degree requirements, courses, online options, employment possibilities and salary info for related careers. While social workers generally hold a bachelor s degree in social work, the u. The bachelor s degree is a careeroriented course of study that can accommodate both full and parttime students, students with or without professional experience, and incoming freshmen and transfer students. This online degree gives you a comprehensive and personalized curriculum in gerontology. Associates degree bachelor s degree postbaccalaureate certificate masters degree postmasters certificate doctors degree researchscholarship. The department of gerontology conducts research involving end of life planning, aging prisoners, resiliency and public policy. Students who wish to earn an undergraduate certificate in gerontology must complete 18 semester hours, including an internship that will expose the student. A bachelor s degree in gerontology is typically the minimum educational requirement for work in the field of gerontology.
Bachelor of science bs degree in gerontology regent. Students currently enrolled in the approved bachelor masters degree program in applied gerontology may use a maximum of 12 graduate credit hours that will be doublecounted for both the bachelor s degree in exercise science, public health, or recreation therapy, and the masters degree in applied gerontology. Coastline colleges major and certificate in gerontology was developed using the. The first two years of a 4year program will be focused on studying general courses so that you can move on to studying your major coursework.
Gerontology degree programs and careers what is gerontology. The rapidly ageing population in singapore, and concomitant need for trained professionals in the health, social and psychological services have given rise to an imperative need for graduate certificate in gerontology, graduate diploma in gerontology, master of gerontology and phd in gerontology programmes. Other electives may be taken from the students degree discipline with approval by the students graduate advisor, the gerontology program director, and the graduate school examples. Three specialty tracks including geriatric care management, psychosocial gerontology, and medical physiology cover clinical, physiological, epidemiological, sociological.
The degree requires 120 semester credits, including 42 credits of gerontology course work. Youll learn theories combined with realworld applications and practical skills you can apply on the job right away. Certificate programs in gerontology can be found online and on campus at both. The gerontology major prepares the students for a career in the field of aging. Online gerontology degrees and certificates are offered by colleges and universities at the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels. The term was first created and used by iiya llyich mechnikov in the year 1903 and comes from the greek word, or geron, meaning old man. Earning a gerontology degree online can lead to lucrative careers, especially considering the number of aging citizens. Phd in gerontology singapore university of social sciences. Degree programs in gerontology provide students with an understanding of the aging process and also where and why professionals in the field of gerontology employ their talents. University of southern california offers 4 gerontology degree programs. A bachelor s degree should allow you to work in gerontology, while a graduate certificate or masters can help push you further into the field. Online masters in gerontology degree programs offer a flexible, easily accessible alternative to traditional college education. The university of maryland offers an online bachelor of science degree program in gerontology that provides students with an understanding of the psychological and physical.
Just a few of the many professional careers that often begin with a bachelor of arts in gerontology include. These healthrelated courses, the core components of ashford university s bachelor of arts in gerontology, explore the life cycle and how aging impacts society. What kinds of online gerontology programs are available. Gerontology programs at hacc include credit diploma 0231, certificate 3300 and. Your classes will cover all facets of gerontology, including cognitive research, social policy, ethics, mental health, and end of life decisions. A bachelor s in gerontology unlocks career opportunities in an array of settings, including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation and nursing facilities, and social service agencies. Students can download course lectures and readings, participate in virtual discussions with other students, submit written assignments, take exams and communicate with their professors on their own schedule. Many students are able to earn a bachelor s degree. Download the ba gerontology prospective student information packet, 20192020. The school of aging studies offers a bachelor of science in longterm care administration and a bachelor of science in aging sciences, as well as a minor in gerontology. The university of utahs interdisciplinary gerontology program caters to students with a strong interest in nursing. No clinical experience is necessary to apply for this degree program. Online gerontology degree programs gerontology certificates.
Most jobs in gerontology require an advanced degree, yet an associate degree in gerontology may qualify you for entrylevel work in the field. Students seeking the bachelor of arts in gerontology meet the college of arts and science writing in the major requirement by completing gty 318. Choosing to pursue a masters in gerontology, however, will grant you access to higherpaying positions and more gratifying work. The bachelor of interdisciplinary studies in gerontology will provide undergraduate students an opportunity to gain knowledge of aging across the life course through a diverse perspective. Although you dont need a nursing degree to apply, the school does operate an exchange program that allows nursing grad students at other colleges to enroll in its gerontology courses. Ask most people what gerontology is and youll likely be met with a number of blank expressions. Bachelor s of arts in gerontology and aging services. Bachelors in gerontology online gerontology bachelor degrees. Students may choose any approved uno minor or from three gerontology approved concentrations. Gerontology professionals find a number of career opportunities in health care, human services, retirement communities, nursing homes, government agencies, and longterm institutional care. For more information download coastlines gerontology program brochure. Affordable online masters in gerontology degree programs. Gerontology bachelor of arts gerontology majors are required to take at least one 400 level gerontology course in addition to gty 440r or gty 440p. Students may also complete a double degree or double major to fulfill this.