Gerontology
Master of Arts

Online Degree Program
The USC Davis School
Nation's Premier School of Gerontology

The M.A. in Gerontology provides an opportunity to acquire skills and formal training in gerontology. The online program requires 28 units of course work. Most courses are offered online and on campus. Continuous registration in the program is required. Leaves of absence are available for limited times and are excluded from the total time limit. In order to participate in the online courses, students will be required to have access to a multimedia computer with modem, printer and CD-ROM drive; an Internet provider with email and an Internet browser; and word processing software. Specific details regarding the computer requirements will be provided by the department.

• Perspectives on a Changing Society: An Introduction to Aging
• The Mind and Body Connection through the Lifespan
• Life Span Developmental Psychology
• Life Span Developmental Sociology
• Social Policy and Aging

• Counseling Older Adults and Their Families
• Administration and System Management in Programs for Older Adults
• Complementary Medicine for Health and Longevity
• The Aging Family
• Case Studies in Leadership and Change Management

Gerontology / Management of Aging Services - Graduate Certificate
The Gerontology Graduate Certificate with a focus in management of aging services is targeted to individuals in the aging network who are looking to upgrade their skills or advance in new directions within the field or for those looking to enter the field. The emphasis will be on making this an easily accessible program through use of online courses. Class scheduling will reflect the needs of a working student population. Students take five courses from an approved list of courses to earn the graduate certificate. Students must have earned an undergraduate degree to be eligible for the certificate. Students will have the option of applying these 15 credits toward the national award-winning 30-credit Management of Aging Services Master's degree program.

Gerontology - Undergraduate Certificate
The Frank J. Manning Certificate in Gerontology provides students with an understanding of the aging network and aging process through direct service, research, field placements and legislative advocacy for the elderly. It is designed for individuals currently working in or new to the field of Gerontology. The courses in the Manning Certificate are fully integrated with the core curriculum of the UMass Boston College of Public & Community's Service's undergraduate program in Gerontology. Both programs are designed to help those interested in the field of Gerontology augment their current knowledge and skills and to pursue a rewarding career built around issues of aging and public service. Students will have the option of applying this 18 credit, four-course certificate program to the Bachelor's degree program in Gerontology. The Manning Certificate program has been approved for CEU credit by the Massachusetts Board of Registration for Nursing Home Administrators.

• National Award-Winning Master's Degree in Gerontology / Management of Aging Services

Gerontology - Master of Health Administration
This program specialization is designed to provide health care professionals with diverse interdisciplinary backgrounds with the knowledge and process of aging. Content is designed to provide students with relevant information related to the physical, mental, and social aspects of gerontology as well as human services, economic and legal factors that influence elders.

For program dislosure information, click here

Human Services / Gerontology - BS
The Bachelor of Science in Human Services program is designed to prepare you with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a rewarding career in a wide variety of helping professions. Students are taught to develop their talents, assess clients' needs, identify community resources, and problem solve and advocate for their client--all with the goal of making a difference in the life of those unable to help themselves. In the Gerontology concentration, the program focuses on the physical, mental, and psychosocial development of humans during the aging process. This emphasis area supports students with an interest in working directly with the growing aging population and as advocates for seniors in our society. The courses are designed to prepare graduates to work with the change process of aging and address how the aging population impacts social policy and program delivery.

Gerontology - MS
Capella's online degree specialization in Gerontology offers a comprehensive examination of the impact of aging on individuals, families, and communities. The curriculum covers such topics as the biological, epidemiological, psychological, and social changes caused by the aging process; cultural and social attitudes toward the aging; care and services that promote productive aging; multigenerational relationships; and the impact of an aging demographic on public policy. Individuals with degree specializations in gerontology can attain careers in many fields. People who choose this specialization may wish to pursue careers in management, education, or research with nonprofit organizations, public agencies, or health care facilities that work with an aging population.