Applied Gerontology Track

Description and Career Opportunities:
Individuals interested in working with aging issues and the older population should consider the Applied Gerontology Track of the doctoral program. Students in the doctoral track in Applied Gerontology take 30 credits of coursework in Gerontology along with the 34 credit Human Development Core. The program follows the recommendations of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education for graduate training in Gerontology. However, there is no accrediting body for Gerontology graduate training. Students will gain skills in gerontological research and teaching and prepare for academic, research, and leadership roles in the field of Gerontology.

“Populations are aging worldwide. This means that people are living longer, and the number of older persons is increasing. These trends are evident in American society, as well as in many countries around the world. People born today can expect to live beyond their 75th year. In 1900 about one in 25 Americans was over 65; today one in eight is over 65. And the age group growing fastest in our society and in many other countries is the "very old," people aged 85 and over. The growth of the elderly population will continue into the future. By the middle of the 21st century, one in five Americans will be over 65, and there will be 15 to 18 million persons over the age of 85. These growth trends will result in a demand for professionals with knowledge and expertise in aging. Expanded career opportunities in gerontology and geriatrics are forecast in many disciplines and professions” (John Hendricks, CAREERS IN AGING: CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITIES. Association for Gerontology in Higher Education).

In our state and region, there is a larger proportion of elders in the population than the national average. Whereas North Dakota ranks 47th among states in total population, it ranks 11th in the percent 65+ of the state’s population. In some rural North Dakota counties, nearly one quarter of the population is over 65 (From Sanders and Bratteli, Aging North Dakota, 1994). These rural areas offer special challenges because of distance, lack of services and lack of trained professionals.

According to John Hendricks (CAREERS IN AGING: CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITIES. The (Association for Gerontology in Higher Education) two major directions for working in the field of Gerontology are available. The first involves working directly with older persons in such areas as health promotion programs, intergenerational activities for older persons, senior centers, or retirement communities. Direct care to frail elderly, counseling older persons and their families, and assisting persons with financial and personal preparation for retirement are also areas of direct service that need trained professionals.

As a second direction, Gerontologists can also work in education and research. This can include evaluating community-based services; conducting research on the aging process and social and developmental aspects of aging; teaching students, professionals, and older adults and their families about aging; aging policy development; and program planning and administration. Because of the expanding consumer market of older adults, there will be opportunities in both product development/marketing and consumer education. Professionals are also needed to work with business and industry on the issue of the aging work force.

The Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Doctoral program at the University of Southern California cites the following placement sites for graduates: