Which Schools Offer Gerontology Degrees Online?

Are you interested in working with the elderly? Would you like to study the scientific and cultural aspects of the aging process? Gerontology has become a growing field, and many universities, including the University of Southern California and Brenau University, offer online master's degree programs in gerontology. Read on to learn more about these distance education programs. Schools offering Gerontology degrees can also be found in these popular choices.

University of Southern California

Established in 1880 and situated in Los Angeles, the University of Southern California is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast. The school enrolled more than 37,000 students and awarded over 6,000 advanced degrees in 2010. The school's Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Gerontology program online.

Master of Arts in Gerontology

This 28-credit gerontology program includes classes in psychology, biology and sociology. You'll study the scientific process of aging and how different cultures view the elderly. You might also look at specific policies affecting senior citizens, such as legislation or government programs for the elderly.

During the M.A. program, you'll communicate online with your teachers and classmates through discussion boards, and you'll complete Internet exercises and quizzes. Lectures are presented online through visual components and videos. You'll remain on the same class schedule as on-campus gerontology students. To properly engage in the courses, you'll need a word processor, a sound card and a Web browser that meets the school's requirements.

Brenau University

Located in Gainesville, Georgia, Brenau University was established as a women's seminary school in 1878. The university still contains a women's college, but its online programs are available to both men and women. Brenau University offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in Applied Gerontology through distance learning. The program is housed within the school's psychology department, but covers a variety of other non-psychology subjects related to aging and elderly care.

Master of Science in Applied Gerontology

The applied gerontology program, comprised of 30 credits, includes six core courses that borrow from the disciplines of psychology, sociology, communications, health and public policy. The M.S. program emphasizes the direct application of class principles to careers that involve the elderly. You can complete the graduate program in one year. Classes cover both the physical and psychological aspects of aging and allow you to take four electives in fields related to your career goals.

You might choose to study health care issues for the elderly in preparation for entering social work or medicine. You might even learn about interior decorating and fashion for senior citizens, if you wish to become a designer. You can learn entirely online and log on to your courses at any time. You'll communicate with your class members through discussion boards and Blackboard course tools. To participate, you might need to use a Web browser, a cable or DSL Internet connection, and a printer.

To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:

  • 1. Degree Options:

Popular Schools