Location:

Chicago, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Gerontology

Program Overview

Program Description:

Recently designated as a “Program of Merit” by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education professional society, the master's degree program in gerontology is a multidisciplinary degree intended to provide both breadth and depth in the study of aging. The program has a “positive aging” perspective, and offers a balance of both applied and theoretical training in the field to optimize the career viability of its graduates. The program is designed to meet the educational needs of a variety of student groups: those already working with older adults, those contemplating a career change, and those working in other fields who wish to increase their knowledge of aging processes. All students complete a set of required courses providing a solid background in the concepts of gerontology; additional courses permit the student to gain expertise in counseling/clinical, administration/social policy, and other “tailored” tracks of training specialization (e.g., elder law, health education). Careers • Long-term care institutions • Federal, state, and local government agencies • Retirement communities • Public policy • Elder advocacy • Law and estate planning • Education and training • Research and grant writing • Clinical/counseling centers • Nutrition and health services • Activity programming • Nursing/medical services • Occupational/physical therapy • Social work • Dental/vision/hearing care The combination of required and elective courses prepares graduates to assume positions of responsibility in direct service, administration, social policy, and research with, or on behalf of, older people. Students can pick between a thesis and non-thesis option. PSYC 401 Gerontology: An Overview............................ 3 cr. PSYC 402 Developmental Processes in Later Life...... 3 cr. PSYC 403 Developmental Processes in Aging............ 3 cr. PSYC 408 Research Methods in Gerontology............. 3 cr. PSYC 418 Public Policy and Aging............................... 3 cr. PSYC 426 Values, Decision-Making, and the Elderly... 3 cr. PSYC 420 Seminar in Proposal Writing...........................3 cr. Field Experience or PSYC 415 & PSYC 416…………………..6 cr. PSYC 422 Thesis Seminar .................................................. 3 cr. Elective Courses…………………………………………………………. 6 cr.

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

The University has regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges. In addition, the university also is accredited through several disciplinary bodies.

Financial Aid:

Yes

Requirements:

Applicants must meet the general requirements for admission to the College of Graduate Studies and Research and must have completed 15 undergraduate credits in the social sciences (anthropology, psychology, political science, sociology, etc.) In addition, applicants must have completed one (3 credit) course in statistics. If applicants meet all other requirements, the statistics requirement may be fulfilled after conditional admission to the Program. The undergraduate statistics course does not count toward the 36 hours for the M.A. degree. GRE: Not required