Best Online Master's In Gerontology Degrees

Overview

The University of Southern California is an elite research-based university. It is located in Los Angeles and is a known leader in the areas of health care, business, law, social work, and engineering. Approximately 45,000 students attend USC.

Features

The renowned USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology offers a MS in Gerontology degree that can be earned online. This two year program introduces you to the research and policy behind aging as well as how to enact strong leadership in advocacy foundations and organizations. In addition to a field practicum you will take the following classes:

• Physiology of Development and Aging
• Life Span Developmental Psychology
• Social Policy and Aging
• Integrating Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Notables

Among all universities nationwide, USC is ranked 21st by U.S. News & World Report. It is also praised by USA Today, Reuters, and The Princeton Review, among others. USC is considered a “Top 10 Dream School” and one of the best universities on the West Coast.

Overview

The Omaha member within the wider University of Nebraska System is a public research-based school. It is designated an active research university by the Carnegie group and is known for its strengths in computer science, technology, and informatics. UNO is also a leader in healthcare.

Features

UNO’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service offers a unique degree opportunity: a MA in Social Gerontology. This program gives students two options for study and specialization. For those who want to go into research and teaching, students can enroll in the thesis track. And for those who want to go into direct client care, the non-thesis option provides hands-on experience. Either way, you will take core classes such as:

• Psychology of Adult Development
• Health Aspects of Aging
• Baby Boomers and the 21st Century
• Programs and Services for the Elderly

Notables

U.S. News & World Report ranks UNO well across several categories. For example, not only is the university ranked nationally, but its online and graduate programs are equally renowned. Also, its continuing education program is among the most highly regarded.

Overview

Nova Southeastern University is located in Davie, Florida. It is a large school organized into nearly 20 discrete colleges through which it offers more than 250 areas of study. Around 25,000 students attend NSU.

Features

The MA in Gerontology program at NSU emphasizes the social justice and humanitarian aspects of gerontological care. Therefore, students take unique classes on ageism, policy, and societal structures. Graduates from the NSU program have gone on to work in an array of settings, including though not limited to:

• Nursing homes
• Continuing care communities
• Home health care
• Mental health and family agencies

Notables

NSU is well-ranked by Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Monthly. It is designated an active research university. In addition to its academic reputation, NSU is praised for its graduate income averages and its diversity.

Overview

Iowa State University is a science and technology school. It is located in Ames, and is the largest university in the state of Iowa. Over 36,000 combined undergraduate and graduate students attend Iowa State.

Features

At Iowa State you can earn an MS in Family and Consumer Science with a Gerontology specialization. Furthermore, through a breadth of electives you can explore and specialize in everything from gender and aging to sexuality, spirituality, gerontechnology, and more. But you will also take core classes that provide a foundation in gerontology principles, such as:

• Aging in the Family
• Nutrition and Physical Activity in Aging
• Environments and Aging
• Adult Development

Notables

Iowa State is a flagship university as well as a land and space-grant institution. It is nationally and globally ranked across the board, though it is specifically strong in the areas of health, agriculture, forestry, and engineering.

Overview

The University of Florida is located in Gainesville and is the leading member of the larger State University System of Florida. UF is organized into 16 academic schools and colleges. And with more than 40,000 students, UF is a sprawling research institution and one of the largest schools in the state.

Features

This MS in Medical Sciences degree with a concentration in Gerontology is ideal for those who want to go into or advance their knowledge of direct-client care. The program provides students with a comprehensive overview of aging from clinical, psychological, sociological, physiological, and epidemiological perspectives. Classes include:

• Theories of Aging
• Geriatric and Age-Related Disease
• Population-Based Research on Aging
• Biology of Aging

Notables

UF is the site of vibrant, extensive research activity. Not only is the campus home to more than 150 research labs, centers, and initiatives, the school is known for its professional degree programs. UF is nationally ranked among the top 50 best schools in the U.S.

Overview

Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, Kansas. It was founded as the first public school in the state and today is home to more than 25,000 students. KSU is a flagship school and a land and space grant university.

Features

KSU’s Global Campus and the College of Human Ecology offer an MS in Gerontology that can be completed fully online. This program readies students to work in health promotion, counseling, management, and other direct-care settings. Classes you can expect to take at KSU include:

• Perspectives in Gerontology
• Public Policy: Economic and Social Impacts on Older Adults
• Aging in the Family
• Physical Health and Nutrition in Aging

Notables

An active research university, KSU is prominent in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, and conservation. Though over the years, the University has become strong in other affiliate areas, such as food safety, bioenergy, and health science.

Overview

The University of Indianapolis is a mid-sized school owned and operated by the United Methodist Church. Today it has over 5,000 students and more than 100 academic degree programs. UIndy is comprised of nearly 10 colleges that specialize in everything from physical therapy to applied behavioral science.

Features

The multidisciplinary MS in Gerontology program at UIndy sets students up for diverse career options. In addition to taking core classes on subjects such as the physical dimensions of aging, aging within communities, and the psychology of aging, you will also specialize in an area of your own choosing. Options include:

• Aging in Place: 21st Century Issues
• Programming in Health Promotion
• Applied Public Policy
• Ethics and Aging

Notables

UIndy is home to several renowned research and cultural centers. Among them are the highly regarded Professional Edge Center, the Richard G. Lugar Academy, and the Center for Aging and Community. The University is ranked among the best in the Midwest.

Overview

Wichita State University is a large university with more than 15,000 students and over 200 academic areas of study. WSU is organized into six colleges through which it offers programs at all degree levels, from associate to doctorate. It is a public, research-based university located in Wichita, Kansas.

Features

WSU offers an online Master’s in Aging Studies degree through their College of Health Professions. This program can be completed in as few as 12 months of full-time study, and it covers everything from the business aspects of gerontological care to holistic wellness perspectives. There are also three areas to specialize in:

• Administration
• Public Health
• Social Sciences

Notables

The National Science Foundation has ranked WSU among the top five schools in the U.S. for its research expenditures. In addition to its academic and research rankings, WSU is also known for its social mobility, its extensive library collections, and its commitment to providing student research opportunities.

Overview

McDaniel College is a liberal arts school located in Westminster, Maryland, just outside of Baltimore. The College offers around 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Just under 2,000 students attend McDaniel.

Features

When you earn your MS in Gerontology at McDaniel you will come to better understand the complex relationships between health and social structures. You will also learn how to communicate effectively with clients, how to develop your research, and how to assess and apply gerontological research data. Graduates have gone on to work in:

• Local, state, and federal agencies
• Healthcare and long-term care institutions
• Community organizations
• Academic and educational institutions

Notables

McDaniel College is most praised for The McDaniel Plan. This initiative gives students both creative license to design their academic experience as well as access to directed studies, internships, and practicums. U.S. News & World Report ranks the college among the top liberal arts schools in the nation.

Overview

The University of Utah is a flagship university based in Salt Lake City. It is among the nation’s most active research universities, as designated by the Carnegie Classification. More than 32,000 combined undergraduate and graduate students attend UU.

Features

Utah offers a MS in Gerontology degree that is notably interdisciplinary and can be completed online in as little as one year. Because this program crosses many departments and subjects, graduates have been able to secure careers in a range of fields, including recreational therapy, strategic policy analysis, grant writing, assisted living management, and so much more. Required coursework covers:

• Services and Programs for Older Adults
• Health and Optimal Aging
• Social and Public Policy and Aging
• Advanced Physiology and Psychology of Aging

Notables

Utah has graduated dozens of Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur Fellows, Pulitzer recipients, astronauts, Churchill scholars, and more. It is ranked among the top 50 U.S. universities by total research expenditure, and it is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Washington Monthly, and more.