Gerontology Schools and Programs in The United States

Gerontology Studies in The United States

Gerontology is the study of ageing and of older people: how the body and mind change in later life, how ageing affects families, work and communities, and how health and social services, housing and public policy can respond. It draws on sociology, psychology, biology, health sciences and public policy. The subject matters more every year in the United States. According to the 2020 Census, the population aged 65 and over reached 55.8 million, or 16.8% of the total, and about 1 in 6 people in the country were 65 or older. SpainExchange lists 30 colleges and universities in the United States that teach gerontology.

How the degree is organised

At undergraduate level, gerontology is often taught as a minor, a certificate or a concentration within sociology, psychology, human development, social work or public health. Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, is a good illustration: its Department of Sociology and Gerontology offers undergraduate and graduate programmes in gerontology, criminology, sociology and related fields, and its gerontology minor has tracks in Health and Aging Practice, Policy, and Administration, and Leadership and Innovation in an Aging Society. A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study, and because US undergraduate education follows the liberal arts model, students also take classes in many other subjects. Each institution sets the number of credits needed to graduate.

Much of the specialised training happens at graduate level. The two main graduate degrees are the master's degree, usually about two years, and the doctorate. Miami University offers a Master of Gerontological Studies (MGS), which prepares students for work in a wide variety of aging-related fields, and a doctorate in social gerontology that combines research methods from the behavioural and social sciences. Research institutes add training and practice: the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University in Detroit focuses on research, pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training, community outreach and continuing education for health care providers, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Integrative Center for Aging Research hosts two centres funded by the National Institute on Aging.

Community colleges, such as American River College in Sacramento and Gateway Community College in New Haven, appear on our list too. Community colleges offer two-year associate degrees, and earning credits there, which is usually cheaper, can lower the cost of a later bachelor's degree.

Admission, language and costs

Teaching is in English, and US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. For a full degree, international students need a student visa; the F visa is for study at an accredited US college or university. Once accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the international student office issues the Form I-20 or DS-2019 used in the visa application. If a programme is offered online or part time, ask the university whether it can be combined with a student visa.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees at 4-year institutions in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public institutions (the in-state rate) and $40,700 at private nonprofit institutions, so check what each university charges students from outside the state.

Where to study gerontology

Gerontology programmes are spread across the country rather than concentrated in one city; New Haven is the only city with two schools on our list. Examples include Miami University in Oxford (Ohio), Wayne State University in Detroit, the University of Alabama - Birmingham, San Diego State University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, UMBC in Baltimore, Colorado State University in Fort Collins and Albertus Magnus College in New Haven.

Recognition of the qualification

US degrees are not awarded by a ministry. The recognition of credits and degrees by other institutions and by employers in the US and abroad is linked to the institution's accreditation, so check that a college is accredited before applying. Some jobs in the field are regulated: social workers, for example, may need a state licence.

Careers

Gerontology graduates work in senior services and community organisations, care management, long-term care and housing for older people, health administration, advocacy and public policy, and research. Many combine gerontology with a professional degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), social workers typically need a bachelor's or master's degree in social work and may need a licence, with requirements that vary by state; their employment is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035. Medical and health services managers, who run facilities such as nursing homes, typically need a bachelor's degree, and their employment is projected to grow 24 percent over the same period, much faster than average.

Frequently asked questions

Is gerontology a bachelor's degree or a graduate degree in the United States?

Both exist, but gerontology is often a minor or certificate at undergraduate level and a master's or doctorate at graduate level. Miami University, for example, offers a gerontology minor, a Master of Gerontological Studies and a doctorate in social gerontology.

Why is gerontology a growing field in the United States?

The population is ageing. According to the 2020 Census, about 1 in 6 people in the United States were 65 or older.

What can I do with a gerontology degree?

Graduates work in senior services, care management, health administration, policy and research. The BLS projects 24 percent employment growth for medical and health services managers from 2025 to 2035.