Best Gerontology Degrees

Overview

The sunny San Diego State University lands the number one spot on our list. A public research university, it claims the highest enrollment among universities in the county with over 30,000 undergraduates in attendance. SDSU has a vibrant campus with options in athletics, Greek life, and more.

Program Features

San Diego State University offers a robust and integrated BA in Gerontology. Beyond coursework, field experience and a study abroad requirement set this program apart. Youll complete two internships in a local organization. To prepare you for this, youll take engaging coursework like:

Notables

Numbers show that this program pays off. A recent survey revealed that 75 percent of graduates from this program found work in a gerontology-related position right after college. Even more, this degree program feeds into the local economy. Over 80 percent of graduates find work in San Diego.

Overview

Based near the Finger Lakes of New York, Ithaca College is a small liberal arts college that enrolls around 6,200 students per year. In U.S. News World Reports 2018 rankings, it listed Ithaca College as the 8th best Regional Universities of the North.

Program Features

Students will have the choice to enroll in the BS or BA in Gerontology at Ithaca College. Both are interdisciplinary degrees that draw from several other departments. This program makes sure students are prepared to pursue future graduate work in aging studies. Youll take a variety of focused classes such as:

Notables

The Gerontology Institute at Ithaca College incorporates two concentrations within the major: counseling or health promotion. Within the 120 required credit hours, 21 of those hours will be devoted to a concentration. This gives you a great opportunity to hone in on your specific passion within gerontology.

Overview

A fast-growing public research institute, the University of Nebraska at Omaha operates out of two metropolitan-based campuses: Dodge Campus and Scott Campus. Although it is growing, UNO still maintains an impressive 17:1 student to faculty ratio. UNO has been ranked in the top 10 Best for Vets schools by Military Times for the last six years in a row.

Program Features

This BS in Gerontology pulls together a curriculum from three core aspects of aging: physical, social, and psychological. Out of the 120 required credit hours, youll take 36 hours of the core gerontology classes. From there, you are required to add a minor, a second major, or a concentration area. The core gerontology classes include:

Notables

The University of Nebraska at Omaha offers two tracks of concentration for undergraduates in Gerontology: Administration or Pre-Health. This gives you options when it comes time to choose a career. For example, you could be a Long Term Care Administrator or a Hospice Nurse.

Overview

Located in the tiny town of Oxford, Ohio, Miami University-Oxford has a history that reaches back over 200 years to its founding in 1809. It has maintained its reputation for providing quality liberal arts education over the decades. This year, it ranked 78th among other national universities, according to U.S. News World Report.

Program Features

Miami University-Oxford emphasizes research in their BA in Gerontology. In fact, one of the three focus tracks is Applied Research in Gerontology. The other two are Aspiring Health Professions or Policies and Programs. Within your selection of core classes, youll take:

Notables

One highlight feature of this program is the internship requirement. Students select an area of aging studies that interests them be it long-term care or hospice and spend a semester in that role. A pre-internship class prepares you for a future career in gerontology by working on networking skills, resume building, and professional ethics.

Overview

California State University-Sacramento (or Sacramento State) proudly serves over 30,000 students in Californias state capital. Sacramento State does particularly well by transfer students, and welcomes over 4,000 community college transfers each year. Among public schools on the west coast, it ranks 20th.

Program Features

The Department of Gerontology at Sacramento State hosts a strong degree program in aging studies. Youll earn a BA in Gerontology and take 48 classes wholly devoted to the major. Between research courses, a practicum, and a wide-ranging list of electives, youll be in good hands here. A sampling of highlight coursework includes:

Notables

Sacramento State does a fantastic job of incorporating engaging electives into their curriculum. They take particular care in addressing multicultural issues with classes like Cross-Cultural Aging in America or Family Stress Coping: Multicultural Focus.

Overview

Tampa is home to the University of South Florida. It is a public research university that maintains three campuses: USF Tampa, USF St. Petersburg, and USF Sarasota-Manatee. Its immense student population (around 41,000 students) matches its academic reach. It offers over 80 undergraduate majors.

Program Features

The University of South Florida has been offering degrees in Gerontology since 1967, giving it a huge lead in its curriculum and offerings. You can choose from a BS in Aging Sciences or a BS in Long-Term Care Administration. Among the 36-39 major-related credit hours in each degree, youll take classes like:

Notables

Both of these degrees culminate in a capstone project. This could be one of three things: an internship, a directed research project with a faculty member, or a senior seminar. This gives you a chance to specialize your study to focus in on mental health, business, assisted living, or Alzheimers disease care just to name a few!

Overview

SUNY Oneonta is part of the larger State University of New York system. Enrolling around 8,000 students, it fosters a small but active campus life, with a number of honor societies, Greek organizations, and research opportunities. For the last ten years it has made it into Kiplingers 100 Best Values in Public Colleges list.

Program Features

The BS in Gerontology Studies at SUNY Oneonta brings together classes in sociology, anthropology, psychology, and human ecology, making this a truly interdisciplinary degree. Since it is housed within the Department of Sociology, this bachelors degree includes classes like:

Notables

Were not the only ones taking note of SUNY Oneontas Gerontology program. In fact, last year it was ranked #3 for Best Gerontology Colleges in New York by University.com. Part of its charm is that students receive one-on-one attention from faculty based on the small size of the department.

Overview

State pride is evident at the University of Northern Iowa, where over 90 percent of the student body is from Iowa. Based in Cedar Falls, this school enrolls around 11,900 students. Class sizes stay reasonable with over 90 percent of classrooms under fifty students.

Program Features

UNI is unique in offering the only Gerontology degree in the state of Iowa. You can choose between two concentrations: social sciences and long-term care administration. In both cases, youll end up with a BA in Gerontology. A sampling of the gerontology core classes includes:

Notables

The statistics for undergraduates in this program are impressive, to say the least. Over 95 percent of students studying long-term care administration passed their boards on the first try! Even more, 96 percent of last years graduates found work within the year.

Overview

Missouri State University-Springfield is a public institution that was founded in 1905. Among regional public universities in the Midwest, MSU ranks at the 31st. Although its main campus is in Springfield, MSU also has satellite campuses throughout the state, as well as in Dalian, China!

Program Features

The BS in Gerontology at Missouri State University-Springfield is one-of-a-kind. It was the first to receive the Program of Merit designation in 1999 by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. As such, youll be taking top of the line coursework in a range of areas, including:

Notables

One huge perk of the program at Missouri State University-Springfield is the option to earn a double major. Since the gerontology program is housed within the Department of Psychology, students can earn a double major in gerontology and psychology without taking any extra classes.

Overview

Winston-Salem State University is a historically black public research university that found its start in 1892. It shines when it comes to giving financial opportunities in higher education. In fact, WSSU was recently ranked #7 in the nation for its Social Mobility Index.

Program Features

Winston-Salem State University also is a designated Program of Merit for its gerontology curriculum. With a required 61 credit hours in the major, this BA in Gerontology designates over half of the curriculum to focused study. Youll take 15 credits of pre-requisites and then jump right in with classes like:

Notables

Winston-Salem State University stands out among other historically black colleges and universities for more than just its gerontology program. This year, U.S. News World Report listed it as the 27th best HBCU in the nation.