Serve the Growing Aging Population by Earning your Gerontology Degree Online
As the population grows, so does the number of people who need aging services. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that 13% of the population in 2010 was 65 or older. Looking ahead, the estimates rise: By 2050, this group is expected to increase to 20% of the US population. Baby boomers will continue to place added demands on aging services and programs, increasing the demand for workers seeking gerontology careers.
With University of Michigan Science's Bachelor of Arts in Human Services with a concentration in Gerontology degree, you'll be well qualified for service positions in community-based organizations, healthcare and public health programs, senior centers, assisted living facilities, hospitals, home healthcare systems, nursing homes and other agencies that assist the elderly.
See Yourself Succeed in Aging Services
UMS’s gerontology degree has been designed to meet the challenge of caring for the nation’s aging population over the upcoming decades. You’ll develop strategies to enhance programs for the elderly and learn to improve care to effect positive change. Graduates of the program are ready to enter human services professions and advocate for a growing group that continually needs services and assistance.
As a private, nonprofit university, UMS has one mission – to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your human services degree online at UMS include:
- Affordability. Take advantage of some of the most affordable tuition rates in the nation
- Convenience. Attend class when it’s convenient for you – online education means 24/7 access
- Efficiency and flexibility. Complete your undergraduate degree at your own pace, over six 8-week terms per year
- Expert instruction. Learn from instructors with relevant, real-world experience
- Networking. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni for internship and career opportunities
- Simple application process. Just fill out an online undergraduate application, and we’ll retrieve U.S. transcripts from your previous institutions and automatically complete an official credit evaluation. Plus, there’s no application fee
- Student support. Count on the ongoing support of dedicated academic and career advisors specialized in your area of study
- Transfer-friendly enrollment. Transfer up to 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree
Career Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the need for social and community service managers will increase by 16% through 2026, faster than the average for all occupations.* As baby boomers age, more employers will feel the demands on their programs and services and seek out those qualified to enhance them. A gerontology degree gives you the edge you need in the job market.
You may be interested in providing services to individuals, families, groups or communities. A few positions related to gerontology careers include:
- Adult day care worker
- Case manager
- Community outreach worker
- Geriatric care manager
- Group home manager
- Home health administrator
- Life skills instructor
- Mental health aide
- Residential counselor
- Social service liaison
Curriculum
With a specialized gerontology degree, you'll develop new perspectives that will allow you to improve the quality of life for an increasingly important segment of our population. You'll take courses that offer a firsthand look into wellness and disease, issues and policies affecting the elderly, long-term care, and the biological, psychosocial and cognitive aspects of aging. Best of all, you'll learn from instructors with real-world human services experience.
Courses To Prepare You For Your Career
UMS's bachelor's in gerontology program includes:
- General education
- Degree-specific courses
General Education Program
Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:
- Writing
- Communication
- Analysis
- Problem solving
All bachelor's students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.
Courses May Include
Program Outcomes
- Analyze various perspectives on aging through clinical, public, and theoretical lenses for determining their impact on the well-being of aging populations
- Propose data-informed health plans that promote positive health and wellness choices for aging populations
- Evaluate the social, political, and historical milestones and trends in human services in relation to the human services professionals’ role in advocating for individuals, families, and communities in need
- Apply culturally responsive strategies across diverse populations to strengthen professional practice and enhance human services outcomes
- Apply legal and ethical standards in the administration and delivery of human services systems to provide comprehensive and well-informed care
- Employ professional, interpersonal communication skills in formal and informal networks to improve human services delivery
- Evaluate the policy development cycle for advocacy avenues, communication strategies, and coalition building opportunities to effect social change
- Develop knowledge and skills in inquiry, critical and creative thinking, and decision-making to create and implement appropriate assessment and intervention strategies
