Best PhD Programs in Gerontology

Students applying to any doctoral degree program in gerontology will need to follow their target school's instructions for admissions. Generally, this involves filling out the appropriate applications, including the necessary fees, and submitting their transcripts. Many PhD programs in gerontology do require applicants to take the GRE and have their test scores sent to the school. However, many schools do not have specific scores that students must reach in order to be admitted. It is common for students to also need to include supplemental materials, such as letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a resume. Several degree programs also require applicants to include an essay or writing sample to demonstrate their writing abilities.

It is most common for applicants to apply to a PhD in Gerontology program when they are finishing or have earned their master's degree. However, some programs do accept students who only have a bachelor's degree. Typically, students can have a degree in any field, but those with only a bachelor's degree could be required to complete the requirements for a master's degree. For example, students with a bachelor's degree may need to fulfill the requirements for a school's Master of Gerontological Studies (MGS) program. Depending on the school, students may need to meet a minimum GPA requirement, usually around a 3.0 or higher. Most doctoral programs in gerontology do not require applicants to have prior work experience.

While schools that offer doctoral degree programs in gerontology are often regionally accredited by various regional accrediting bodies, most PhD programs in gerontology do not have program-level accreditation in addition to the school's regional accreditation. Program-level accreditation is often preferred by employers because it is usually subject-specific and can indicate that graduates are well prepared for the field.

Although PhD in Gerontology programs usually do not have program-specific accreditation, there are some programs that offer gerontology as a concentration that may have program-level accreditation. For example, some Doctor of Clinical Psychology (PsyD) programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and offer a concentration in geropsychology.

The time that it takes to complete a doctoral degree in gerontology depends on the specific program. Some programs are designed to be completed in as little as 3 years but may offer a 4-year track for students who would like to take more time. Students who decide to earn a dual PhD in Gerontology and another field will also usually take longer to earn their degrees. Typically, students are able to finish their coursework in 2 to 3 years and spend the last year or two of the program working on their dissertation.

The coursework for doctoral programs in gerontology varies greatly and are unique to each program. For instance, students in a psychology program with a concentration in gerontology may take more developmental psychology courses than a student in a nutrition and gerontology program. Usually, doctoral programs in gerontology require at least 60 credits of coursework and do require some core courses in gerontology. Still, there can be some variation in the focus of these gerontology courses, depending on the type of degree.

Students may take gerontology courses that examine topics such as the sociology of aging, aging policy, psychology of aging, health and aging, diversity in aging societies, and more. Doctoral programs in gerontology also typically require a range of courses related to research methods to help prepare students for their dissertation and performing research in the field. Students may take courses such as qualitative research methods, experimental design, statistical methods and analysis, and data analysis strategies. Since these programs are often interdisciplinary in nature, students can commonly choose from a range of elective courses to finish out their degree program.

Preparing Your Gerontology Dissertation

Some of the required credits for finishing a doctoral degree in gerontology include work on a final dissertation. Typically, students need to first pass a qualifying exam after completing their coursework for the program in order to move to candidacy status and work on their dissertation. As mentioned, research methods courses and other seminars that students have taken leading up to this point generally help prepare them for the dissertation process. Students usually need to come up with a dissertation topic and then begin forming their dissertation committee. The committee helps the student turn the dissertation idea into a dissertation proposal, which must be approved by the committee. Then, students spend a significant amount of time conducting research for their dissertation and writing it. The committee can help them throughout this process as necessary. Finally, prior to graduation, students must formally defend their dissertation in front of their dissertation committee.

Gerontology Doctorate Concentrations

Although it is not common, there are some PhD programs specifically in gerontology that are interdisciplinary and allow students to focus their studies in various concentration areas. Some programs may offer concentrations in topics such as policy for the elderly, epidemiology of aging, and social, cultural, and behavioral sciences, but these concentrations are usually unique to individual programs. Most often, gerontology is offered as its own concentration for other kinds of PhD programs. For example, gerontology may be offered as a concentration for degree programs in leadership. There are also programs that offer dual PhD programs for gerontology and areas such as nutrition science, psychological sciences, communication, anthropology, and more.

Gerontology degree programs are available at both the undergraduate and graduate degree levels. These programs advance and build upon one another with each degree level to help prepare students for the next level of education and/or for working with the older generation. Gerontology degree programs are often available in flexible formats and may be paired with other subject areas to allow students to apply their knowledge in specific fields. Find out more about some available gerontology degree programs below.

Gerontology Associate Degrees

Associate degree programs in gerontology are often offered as Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. Some of these programs are offered in online formats. Graduates with their associate degrees qualify for entry-level positions, such as nurse and home health aides. These degree programs can also prepare students to work in a range of fields outside of healthcare, including business, social services, and marketing. Students typically complete at least 60 credits of coursework, which takes around two years, and can usually transfer easily to 4-year schools.

Gerontology Bachelor's Degrees

Most bachelor's degree programs in gerontology are offered as Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees. Students may be able to choose from various concentrations, such as pre-health, administration, or healthy aging. Programs that do not offer concentrations may still allow students to take gerontology-related courses in other areas, such as psychology and healthcare. Depending on the program, students may be required to complete an internship experience during their senior year to get hands-on training in the field.

Gerontology Master's Degrees

Students can commonly pursue a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS) degree in gerontology. Unlike what you can do with a master's in developmental psychology, graduates with a degree specifically in gerontology can still cross several different fields and disciplines, including healthcare and psychology. Some master's programs include a field practicum prior to graduation to help give students hands-on learning opportunities. Depending on the school, these programs may be available on-campus and online.

Gerontology Graduate Certificates

Similar to graduate certificate programs in behavioral science, graduate certificate programs can be helpful to professionals across a wide range of fields who want to better understand aging. Many of these programs are offered online and generally require 15 to 16 credits of coursework. Depending on the setup of the program, students may take some core courses and be able to choose some elective courses as well. Students may take courses in policy, ethics, caregiving, healthy aging, and more.

There are many different career opportunities for students with a background in gerontology, no matter the level of education. For instance, those with an undergraduate degree may become a gerontology aide, while those with a master's degree in gerontology can choose careers such as a gerontology nurse practitioner, depending on their training. Those with a doctoral degree in the field have even greater career options at this advanced level. Many jobs for doctoral students take on more leadership responsibilities and may have a research component. Here are just a few examples of possible career options for graduates with a doctoral degree in gerontology.

Become a Medical and Health Services Manager

Those who have a PhD in Gerontology and want to work in healthcare may decide to become some kind of medical and health services manager in a setting that works with the elderly population. For instance, some students may want to work as nursing home administrators. Master's degrees are common for medical and health services managers, but many positions only require a bachelor's degree. It is important for these managers to have prior work experience, but the experience could be clinical or administrative in nature. Depending on the position, these managers may also need a professional license or certification in their field. Nursing home administrators, for example, must meet their state's requirements for licensure, which usually includes passing a national licensing exam and/or a state licensing exam.

Nursing home administrators oversee the care of the patients in their facilities, as well as staff members. They are also responsible for managing the budget and admissions process for their facility. In 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the median annual salary for medical and health services managers was $104,280.

Become a Psychologist

Psychologists usually need a doctoral degree, although some positions may only require a master's degree. Those in research or a clinical setting generally need a PsyD or PhD in Psychology and those with a focus in gerontology may work primarily with elderly clients. Most practicing psychologists also need to hold a state license. This may require students to complete an internship and have several years of supervised work experience.

Psychologists who are focused on research study behavior and social processes by making observations and designing experiments. Their findings may be presented in scientific papers and reports. Those focused on the clinical side of the field may provide counseling sessions and provide treatments for their clients. The BLS reported that psychologists made a median annual salary of $82,180, as of 2020.

Become a Sociologist

Sociologists most commonly need a master's or doctoral degree, but some positions are available in related areas for those with only a bachelor's degree. These professionals may find careers in a range of fields, including education, social services, and public policy. Therefore, having various hands-on experiences through internships and prior work experience may be helpful.

Similar to psychologists, sociologists study behavior, but they focus on group, cultural, and social institutional behavior and interactions. They typically conduct research utilizing surveys, completing interviews, and making observations. Their findings are analyzed and presented in reports. Those with a background in gerontology may examine various aspects of the elderly population and how they interact with the rest of society. Per the BLS, as of 2020, the median annual salary of sociologists was $86,110.

Meeting with other professionals in gerontology, sharing ideas, and examining current news and events in the field is very important. These activities are best accomplished through professional organizations in the field. Some of these programs may have a specific field they are focused on, such as healthcare, while other groups may be open to professionals in a range of fields. Professionals can usually become a member of these groups and access an array of resources that are designed to help promote the field and further develop professionals' careers. A couple examples of gerontology organizations include:

• Gerontological Society of America- The GSA is open to professionals in a range of fields, including biology, psychology, social work, medicine, and more. The organization offers special interest groups and volunteer opportunities for members to stay connected with one another. Professionals can also take advantage of the group's mentor program, posted publications, and webinars.
• American Geriatrics Society- The AGS is a group designed for healthcare professionals that also provides a range of publications and online tools, such as a newsletter and social media guide. Professionals can also participate in conference series and other programs, including the Geriatrics Emergency Department Collaborative.

The specific dollar amount for earning a doctoral degree in gerontology will vary by school and program. However, students can expect to have to pay tuition, usually per credit hour, as well as any fees, books and material costs, housing costs, and living costs. Tuition rates vary greatly by school and some doctoral degree programs in gerontology may charge around $700 or as much as $2,000 per credit hour. Most schools have various fees in addition to tuition, such as technology fees or other student service fees. Books and materials may cost over $1,000, depending on the school.

The good news for students who may be looking at earning a doctoral degree in gerontology is that there are many ways to make it more affordable. Doctoral students are still able to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and take out federal loans, but many doctoral degree programs in gerontology work to provide students with funding. This usually comes in the form of assistantships, which commonly provide students with a tuition waiver, out-of-state tuition surcharge for non-residents, and a monthly stipend. In exchange, students usually work 18 to 20 hours a week as a teaching or research assistant. However, some assistantships may be competitive and may require students to fill out an application and meet minimum requirements.

Scholarships are also widely available and gerontology students are in a unique spot to qualify for gerontology-specific awards, as well as awards in applied areas, such as psychology or healthcare. Many different organizations that are related to gerontology will offer scholarships as well. For instance, the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging provides a scholarship to help students in the field. Applicants are ranked on criteria such as GPA, financial need, volunteer work, and connection to the SE AAA network.