Academics

Gerontology, PhD

  • The PhD in Gerontology program at UMass Boston is designed to prepare students for leadership roles as educators, researchers, policy analysts, and policy makers
  • The program’s approach reflects the urban mission of the UMass Boston and gives special attention to the needs of low income elderly, and to issues of racial and cultural diversity
  • It is the only gerontology PhD program in the northeast United States, and the second oldest in the world
  • Teaching and research assistantships that provide a stipend, tuition waiver, and fee waiver are available

Degree Requirements

  1. Course work totaling at least 69 credits
  2. Empirical research policy paper
  3. Qualifying paper exam
  4. Doctoral dissertation

1. Course work

  • Students are expected to maintain a B average in courses. It is possible that two grades of C or one grade of F will result in expulsion from the program

2. Empirical Research Policy Paper

  • By the end of the fourth semester of study, Gerontology doctoral students are expected to complete an empirical research policy paper, comparable to an article that would be published in a professional academic journal
  • The research paper contains all the elements of a scholarly article:
    • statement of the problem
    • literature review
    • research design or analytic framework
    • presentation of findings
    • conclusions

3. Qualifying Paper Exam

  • Each student must complete a qualifying paper exam to be accepted into candidacy for the PhD
  • The qualifying paper provides students with the opportunity to do a critical review of a body of theory and literature related to their dissertation topic
  • The paper serves as evidence of the student's readiness to begin doctoral work and as a pathway into the broader literature surrounding her/his dissertation topic
  • In consultation with the Graduate Program Director (GPD), the student selects a faculty chair to guide the exam. Together with the commitee, the student will identify a topic, a set of organizing questions and a reading list. Two additional committee members are assigned by the GPD
  • The qualifying paper exam is normally taken after the completion of course work

4. Doctoral Dissertation

  • Students in the PhD in Gerontology Program are required to complete a doctoral dissertation that reflects an original and independent scholarly contribution to the state of knowledge in the field of gerontology
  • A doctoral dissertation proposal may be prepared upon successful completion of the preliminary examination
  • Following development of a proposal, a dissertation committee is established and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies
  • Candidates develop the dissertation proposal with guidance from the dissertation committee and complete 9 credits of Dissertation Research (Geron 899)