Gerontology — MS General Track

The Master’s of Science Program in Gerontology trains students in research and policy issues that will assist the city of Boston, the state of Massachusetts, and the nation to address a number of issues surrounding a diverse aging population. The MS Program will serve the needs of students who are committed to the aging field and who wish to pursue a master’s degree. The curriculum of the MS Program is designed to give graduates command of a broad body of specialized knowledge in aging and social policy, as well as the capacity to develop methodologically sound procedures to expand that base of knowledge and understanding. The MS Program employs social science theories, research techniques, and content to provide students with the tools to accomplish basic research in a range of substantive areas. Students are also introduced to the major policy issues affecting older persons in the United States and enabled to engage with these issues in the public and private spheres.

Students in the MS Program are required to complete 30 credit hours, including the capstone course, which allows students to employ their experiences and training in the production of a research project and report.

The MS Program is designed to be a terminal degree. However, on occasion students in the MS Program may be admitted into the PhD Program. It is also possible that students who are admitted into the Graduate Certificate Program may subsequently be admitted into the MS Program.

To apply to the MS in Gerontology Program, students should submit an application portfolio to the UMass Boston Graduate Admissions Office, for review by the Gerontology Admissions Committee. The application should include official scores from the general (verbal and quantitative) Graduate Record Exam (GRE), official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended by the applicant, a personal statement explaining the student’s goals and experiences, and all standard UMass Boston application requirements (completed application forms, fees). The Graduate Program Director has the discretion to waive the GRE requirement. The application deadline is June 1. Full- and part-time students are accepted into the Program. For full-time students, the MS Program will take three to four semesters to complete.

Course Requirements

Students in the Gerontology Master’s of Science Program must accumulate 30 credits, through taking courses as listed below:

1. Foundation Courses

Social Aspects of Aging (GERON 621)

Issues in Aging Policy (GERON 623)

Economics Issues in Aging Populations (GERON 626)

Psychology of Aging (GERON 628)

(Total: 12 credits)

1. Research Methods and Statistics

Research Methods and Experimental Design (GERON 601)

Statistical Methods in the Analysis of Social Problems I (GERON 603)

  or

  approved substitutions

(Total: 6 credits)

1. Electives*

A combination of three courses selected from the following Gerontology courses:

Statistical Methods in the Analysis of Social Problems II (GERON 604)

Qualitative Methods and Field Research (GERON L609)

Families of Later Life (GERON 631)

Health and Physical Changes in Aging (GERON 611)

Internship in Gerontology (GERON 798)

Independent Study (GERON 796)

and/or

Approved graduate courses from the following programs: Applied Sociology, Nursing, Dispute Resolution, Public Policy, and Public Affairs

(Total: 9 credits)

1. Capstone Project

Capstone Course (GERON 691)

(Total: 3 credits)