Gerontology, M.A.

Specialization Areas

Areas of study for the M.A. in Gerontology include Long-Term Care Administration, Program Administration, and Aging Studies. For the Certificate in Gerontological Studies, areas of specialization include Nursing and Generalist.

Program Admission (M.A.)

In addition to the university requirements for admission to the Graduate School, all applicants for regular admission to the Master of Arts in Gerontology degree program must meet one of the following criteria:

1. A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 2.75 or 3.00 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate or combined undergraduate and graduate course work; or
2. A score of 400 on the Verbal portion and a score of 400 on the Quantitative portion of the Graduate Record Examination; or
3. A total of at least 1900 points determined by multiplying the cumulative overall undergraduate grade point average by the Graduate Record Examination General Test score (Verbal plus Quantitative).

In addition, all students must take the Graduate Record Exam prior to, or within the first semester, of graduate enrollment.

Applicants who fail to meet the above standards may be admitted on conditional status as recommended by the Gerontology Admission Committee and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Program Requirements (M.A.)

Requirements for a degree in Gerontology with a specialization in Long-Term Care Administration are Gerontology or BIOL 5010  , GERO 5012  , 5065 , 5067 , 5087 , 5088 , 5090 , MGMT 5007  or BMBA 5022 , three hours of Gerontology electives, and six hours of Gerontology or free electives for a total of 36 hours for the degree. Students in this specialization must complete the state required Administrator in Training (AIT) for their GERO 5090 - Internship in Gerontology  . Six hours of gerontology electives will be substituted for GERO 5090  if a student already possesses the Nursing Home Administrator’s license.

Requirements for the degree in Gerontology with a specialization in Program Administration are Gerontology or BIOL 5010  , GERO 5012 , 5067 , 5040 , 5045 , 5068 , GERO 5026  or CMST 5026  or Counseling 6050A, six hours of Gerontology electives, three hours of Gerontology or free electives, and GERO 5099  for a total of 36 hours for the degree. Students in this specialization may choose a non-thesis option instead of GERO 5099  and take an additional six hours of Gerontology electives. Persons already employed full-time in an agency providing services to seniors may appeal for a waiver of the thesis/non-thesis requirement and take six additional hours of Gerontology electives.

Requirements for the degree in Gerontology with a specialization in Aging Studies are Gerontology or BIOL 5010  , GERO 5012  , 5067 , 4052 , 5075 , SOCL 4051  or Psychology 4039, nine hours of Gerontology electives, three hours of Gerontology or free electives, and GERO 5099  for a total of 36 hours for the degree. Students in this specialization may choose a non-thesis option instead of GERO 5099  and take an additional six hours of Gerontology or free electives. Persons who are already employed full-time in an agency providing services to seniors may appeal to the department head for a waiver of the thesis/non-thesis requirement and take six additional hours of Gerontology electives.

Graduate Courses

Note: To receive graduate credit for a course designated ‘For Undergraduate and Graduates,’ a student must be in graduate admission status at the time credit is earned in the course. Credit earned in undergraduate admission status cannot be changed to graduate credit.