10 Best Master’s Degrees in Gerontology 2020

If you’re looking for a job that puts you in a helping profession, delivers a solid job outlook, and works to protect a vulnerable population, look no further than the Best Master’s Degrees in Gerontology. Gerontology is a quickly growing and evolving field that considers the intricacies of the elderly population. As the U.S. â€Å"baby boomer generation† continues to age, a degree in gerontology is more needed than ever. The way that manifests into a career takes lots of different forms—from social work to the medical field to scientific research. What is a Master’s in Gerontology Degree? Gerontology is a truly unique field. What other profession combines psychology, social services, and graying hair? Okay, not necessarily the gray hair part. But truly, the big questions in life do not stop after we retire. Gerontology is a field that studies the trends, needs, and social implications of an older population.   During your Master’s in Gerontology program, you will most likely complete one to two years of coursework in areas like social psychology, applied policy, biology, and more. There is also often the opportunity to specialize within the degree. Some career-specific possibilities include: Geriatric Care ManagementPublic HealthGerontology and the FamilyMental Health and Aging Applicants are most successful when they have an undergraduate background in psychology, social sciences, or the humanities. One great thing about this degree, however, is that previous experience in the field is not required. Careers for Gerontology majors This degree has vast opportunities for a future career—probably because the need of the aging population is vast! Generally, folks who graduate with a degree in gerontology end up in a helping profession. A helping profession is anything that nurtures someone’s well-being, whether that is physically, emotionally, spiritually, economically, etc. Here are some common professions associated with a Master’s in Gerontology degree: Social WorkerHealth Services ManagerHome Health AideSocial ScientistPublic Health Director Clearly, you’ve got options with this degree. Your day-to-day could involve direct health care, data analysis, talk therapy, policy visioning, and more. Our aging population is every bit as active in society as other age brackets. As such, we need professionals in place in every sector to meet their specific needs. Master’s in Gerontology salary potential Since the career paths for this degree are varied and diverse, it can be hard to offer a ballpark salary for someone with a Master’s in Gerontology. However, here’s a snapshot of the general mid-career salary earnings for some of the most common professions in the field (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics):   Health Services Manager: $65,320Social Scientist: $82,050Health Social Worker: $56,200 One thing that is guaranteed for this field is job availability. Right now, there are 76 million baby boomers living in the United States, all aged between 55 and 75 years old. In the coming years, this population will increasingly depend on social services specifically catered to their needs.   That’s where you enter! Whether you approach this field from the medical or humanities angle, an advanced degree in gerontology is a guaranteed career. What are the Best Master’s in Gerontology Degrees? We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of CollegeRank utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following three aspects: 40% Potential Salary After Graduation: Average mid-career salary of school alumni   30% Institutional Accreditation: Regional and National Accreditation for the 2019-2020 school year   30% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school At CollegeRank, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at editor@collegerank.net. 1Miami University OxfordLocationOxford, OhioAverage Net Price$20,316More information Miami University Oxford has the funny nickname of â€Å"Mother of Fraternities.† WIth multiple fraternities having been founded at Miami University, the nickname is probably appropriate. However, this school isn’t impressive just for its wide offering of social organizations. In addition to more than 400 student organizations, Miami University offers masters degrees in an impressive 67 areas of study. Among them is the Master of Gerontological Studies, offered through the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship. This program prepares students for work in a variety of aging-related fields, such as research and academia, non-social work direct services, and policymaking. It provides learners with hands-on experience both domestically and abroad through individualized field practicums. It also allows candidates to interact with other professionals in the field of aging through informal mentoring and research opportunities. The degree even provides assistantships to full-time students with full tuition waivers and stipends. This program is supported and enhanced by the Scripps Gerontology Center, an Ohio Center of Excellence that offers a variety of externally funded research opportunities. As a result of these empowering hands-on opportunities, a recent survey showed that, of 100 alumni who graduated one year ago, 90% have secured jobs in the field.