A gerontology student assists an older woman in reading at her care facilityGerontology offers challenging and rewarding careers in an area growing rapidly which needs people with a broad range of skills, that will improve people's lives.
- Master's degree. The Masters of Family and Consumer Sciences with Gerontology specialization is 36 credits and completely online. It is designed to prepare professionals who are either working directly with the aging population or are involved in education and research related to older adults.
- Graduate certificate. The graduate certificate with Gerontology specialization is a 15 credit subset of the master’s degree program.
Why study gerontology?
Ongoing demographic need
We live in an aging society, one in which the older population is growing both in absolute numbers and in proportion to all other age groups. Businesses, government agencies, service organizations, educational institutions, and self-employed professionals from every economic sector are recognizing the need for specialized knowledge and skills to meet the needs of this changing demography.
Diverse career specializations
People who are interested in this diverse field come from many disciplines, professions, and clinical areas, such as:
Nursing Counseling
Recreation
Long-term care administration
Medicine
Architecture
Adult education
Rehabilitation therapy
About the program
University partnerships
Iowa State is a member of Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GP-IDEA), a consortium of universities that have come together to offer fully online degree programs. Gerontology through Iowa State University and the partnership of Great Plains IDEA means you interact with leading faculty nationwide.
Curriculum
Master's program - 36 credits total
Required courses: 24 credits (8 courses)
- Geron 530: Perspectives in Gerontology
- Geron 534: Adult Development
- Geron 540: Nutrition and Physical Activity in Aging
- Geron 545: Economics, Public Policy and Aging
- Geron 563: Environments and Aging
- Geron 577: Aging in the Family
- Geron 584: Program Evaluation and Research Methods
- Geron 594: Professional Seminar in Gerontology
Elective courses: 12 credits
Elective courses are offered in areas such as biological aspects of aging, gender and aging, spirituality, creativity, cognitive aging, sexuality, mental health and aging, long-term care, gerontechnology, and contemporary concepts in design.
Practicum experience. Up to three credits of practicum experience may be included as part of elective credits.
Graduate certificate program - 15 credits total
Required courses: 6 credits (2 courses)
- Geron 530: Perspectives in Gerontology
- Geron 534: Adult Development
Elective courses: 9 credits
These credits are taken from core courses listed above or from other electives.
Gerontology Great Plains IDEA Course Planner
You may consider following one of the two following graduate certificate tracks. Consult with your major professor for a different set of courses that will fit your needs.
| Design Track | Long-Term Care Track |
| Perspectives | Perspectives |
| Adult Development | Adult Development |
| Environments & Aging | Long-term Care |
| Long-term Care | Policy and Aging |
| Conceptual Design | Aging in the Family |
| Policy and Aging | Cognitive Health |
Electives
In addition to the 24-credit core, you will select 12 credits of electives to fulfill the 36-credit requirement for the master's program. The GP-IDEA campus coordinator will notify students of special topic gerontology courses offered throughout the year. These courses cover topics such as:
Grandparent-grandchild relations
Adult learners
Study tour
Leadership in aging organizations
Arts and humanities
Advanced theories on aging
Current topics
Ethics
Rural aging Statistics
Regularly offered courses that may serve as electives are:
Additional courses may cover topics such as:
- Spirituality
- Creativity
- Sexuality
- Gerontechnology
- Contemporary concepts in environments and design
Other possibilities: In addition, other GP-IDEA courses relevant to aging exist on topics including financial well-being and grant writing. Additional Iowa State courses (online and on-campus) may be pertinent to your studies. Please check with the campus coordinator and your major professor.
Non-degree credits
You may take up to nine graduate credit hours as a non-degree-seeking student before being formally admitted to the program. If you are interested in taking courses as a non-degree student, please start with the Admissions Office and contact gpideainfo@iastate.edu.