Many community colleges offer two-year associate’s degrees in gerontology leading to entry-level jobs in the field. To be a gerontologist, you will need a professional degree in Gerontology – at least a Masters degree. Online gerontology degrees and certificates are offered by colleges and universities at the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels. Whether you enroll in a gerontology bachelor's degree online or in a campus-based program, your studies will include an introduction to the field, theoretical approaches to adult development, an overview of healthcare and social services designed for the aging population, and public policy analysis. If you’re a student with a background in nursing, you may wonder about the possibilities offered in advanced practice nursing and what you can do as an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. What do you do with a gerontology degree? The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology prepares you for opportunities in this growing field. Even students who enroll directly through "The U" will get a clear medical understanding of geriatric development. A degree in gerontology prepares students for careers in healthcare, social and human services, and community settings. Gerontology professionals may work within healthcare facilities as nurses and nursing assistants, physicians, and other medical providers. I was part of the Hartford Gero Nursing faculty at OHSU. The University of Southern California, home to the oldest and largest school of gerontology in the world, the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, and ASA have joined forces to offer an opportunity (exclusively available to ASA members) to take online gerontology courses in a convenient, affordable and safe online format. Earning a gerontology degree online can lead to lucrative careers, especially considering the number of aging citizens. 5) University of Nebraska - Omaha, NE. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 617.1 million people in the world were at least 65 years old in 2015. Gerontology is a field with near guaranteed job security involving both social services and the healthcare industry. I am waiting for suggestions and information. Professionals with an online master's degree in gerontology work in residential centers, outpatient facilities, nursing … Sometimes people will interchange gerontology with geriatrics, but geriatrics is a medical specialty that focuses on the health of the older population. You can do quite a few things with a gerontology degree. Similarly, if you have previously completed a minor or major in gerontology, you can have the first core course of three credits waived off. A great deal, depending on your area of specialization. For many elders, the “golden years” are fraught with multiple losses, such as health, mobility, income, and loved ones. What can I do with a degree in gerontology? What can I do with a degree in gerontology? What is geriatrics? Research. Did you know this number is currently growing by 3.38%. Thanks for the A2A. By learning about the options available with a doctoral degree in gerontology, students can be more strategic in developing skills and experiences that they need to make critical contributions as gerontologists and programs can use this information in the evaluation and revision of their career preparation curriculum for doctoral students. Apply to Executive Director, Social Worker, Adult Medicine Specialist and more! Gerontologists work directly with older persons in a wide variety of programs and services in the community. You will find many different specialized career fields under this umbrella. You have confused the medical model of geriatrics with gerontology. Gerontology related to social and community career paths oversee programs linked to community organizations. In fact, the percentage of older adults is projected to jump to nearly 17% of the world’s population by 2050 — that’s 1.6 billion. You can then put your skills to use and research the ageing process and the various diseases associated with aging. Posted: (2 days ago) Online gerontology degree programs can lead to a number of rewarding jobs, but students must find the best school for their needs first. The elderly are the fastest-growing population in the United States. Many schools offer a bachelor's in gerontology in both online and on-campus … What can you do with a gerontology degree? Coursework covers topics like advanced physiology, health and optimal aging, and … What can you do with an adult gerontology – acute care nursing degree? Masters degree programs in Gerontology can educate students on topics relevant to the health-related care, social functioning, and services geared towards the aging population. 2,588 Gerontology jobs available on Indeed.com. Whatever your career path, earning a degree in gerontology shows that you share a genuine concern for maintaining the health, productivity, and independence of the aging population. A master's degree in gerontology qualifies you for a career working directly with older people or indirectly for their benefit. What Can You Do With a Degree or Minor in Gerontology? Experts project this number to increase to about 1.6 billion by 2050, approximately 16.7% of the projected population. Gerontologists may work one-on-one with patients in a hospital or nursing home environment, or they may research in a lab with limited patient interaction. With your degree, you may seek immediate employment in health care, academia, research, government or policy. Others work on behalf of older persons in areas such as advocacy and teaching about aging. The most obvious places of employment would of course be retirement communities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and long term care facilities. With a specialization in acute care, you will most often be working with inpatients at hospitals. Although you don't need a nursing degree to apply, the school does operate an exchange program that allows nursing grad students at other colleges to enroll in its gerontology courses. A gerontological specialist is someone who has a minor or certificate in gerontology. Gerontology is a rich, diverse field with many career paths to choose from. People want to live long, healthy lives. Could anybody suggest to me how can I can utilize my degree for betterment of the elderly people? As an academic discipline, gerontology is fairly new, having emerged over the past several decades. Adult-gerontology acute care is a nursing specialty. You'll learn theories combined with real-world applications and practical skills you can apply on the job right away. Gerontologists work directly with older persons in a wide variety of programs and services in the community. Many applicants to an AGNP program have worked as an RN for several years before pursuing an advanced degree. So, what can you do with a Master’s in Gerontology? Program Offered: Master of Arts in Social Gerontology. Some professionals find that their advanced understanding of aging allows them to tap into broader market segments with more success … * What’s more, in just a few decades the elderly are projected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. With an increasing lifespan, the country’s aging population is on the rise. I became a gerontologist by obtaining my Master’s of Science degree in Applied Gerontology from the University of North Texas in 2004. A Bachelor’s in Gerontology will make you a godsend for seniors and their families. This is a growing area. Gerontology Degrees Online: Best Accredited Programs in 2020. Adult gerontology – acute care nurse practitioners diagnose and treat medical conditions in adults, sometimes in collaboration with a host of other medical professionals. Aging care career options are not just limited to the … home, community, health care, university, research, institutional). Associate, Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral degree) and in a wide variety of settings (e.g. By obtaining an in-depth education, you’ll help them manage such hardships and enjoy their lives more. The Master of Arts in Medical Gerontology prepares you for a rewarding career in meeting the health needs of older people. What Can You Do With a Gerontology Degree? Those with this degree can pursue jobs with assisted living facilities, gerontological research, senior recreation, and the like. How Can You Benefit from a Gerontology Degree Online? There are universities and institutions that offer this program for free or offer the possibility of a scholarship. How can I choose the best gerontology degree program? So- First, a PhD is a research degree. 3. The first doctoral programs emerged in the late 1980s and only seven additional programs have developed since that time. An advanced gerontology degree might qualify you for a position in one of these types of organizations. Gerontology career paths are separated into three categories: Social/Community, Medical/Health, and Research/Academia. Gerontology is a broad field focused on helping an aging population with their needs in healthcare, psychology, economics, and socialization. Learn about our master’s degree and convenient online degree options. For Graduate Students. You can help make sure they do. My degree will be complete in January 2014. Conducting research on the aging process might be another option for those who hold higher degrees in gerontology. -- Mohammad H. anon70968 March 16, 2010 . You will also see that women are more likely to hold gerontology degrees. When choosing a gerontology program, it’s important to decide what career track is right for you. Footnotes . Most masters-level programs in the field of social work may also contain some leadership-oriented courses that can help you with learning how to manage a large team of social work professionals. Others work on behalf of older persons in areas such as advocacy and teaching about aging. With a gerontology degree you can find work in almost any field that involves taking care of elderly individuals. As of 2017, you will find there were over 893,759 people working in careers involving gerontology. Career options in aging and gerontology include all levels of training (e.g. If you are already a graduate student, check out our Careers in Aging: A Guide for Graduate Students and get unique advice. Our curriculum is designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars. You could also work in government agencies. Gerontologists have a formal education degree in gerontology. What can you do with a degree in gerontology? Gerontology and Aging Services Bachelor's Degree Requirements. Because gerontology is a specialized field rather than a general healthcare administration program, the majority of people work as health services assistants, social workers, nurses, health services managers, or other health care top professionals that directly work with the aging. Indeed, you can choose to undertake a research project tackling a real-world problem as part of your degree. As an AGNP, you can specialize in acute care or in primary care, and the focus is totally different in both designations. A master's degree in gerontology can open up more advanced career options for aspiring professionals, such as geriatric nurse, geriatric psychologist and tai chi and yoga instructor. Entry-Level jobs in the field economics, and socialization totally different in both.! 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