Meet the Needs of an Aging Population
Join a program that prepares professionals to understand the aging process and issues related to an aging society. Learn from experts who value an interdisciplinary approach, and leave the program equipped to be a leader in the field of aging.
Explore aging through a broad and inclusive academic lens.
- Designed for students from all academic backgrounds—no healthcare or nursing experience required
- Learn to approach aging from biological, psychological, social, and policy perspectives
- Prepare for roles across service programs, nonprofits, government, long-term care, and beyond
Graduate with the knowledge and skills to lead in the field of aging.
- Understand healthy aging as a dynamic, lifelong process
- Analyze aging from micro, meso, and macro levels using ecological models
- Gain tools to apply technological innovations in educational gerontology
- Choose between a master’s project (33 credits) or thesis (34 credits)
Choose a timeline that fits your life and career goals.
- 100% online—no need to relocate or pause your career
- Full-Time Option: Complete in 3–4 semesters (approx. 1 year)
- Part-Time Option: Complete in 6 semesters (approx. 2 years)
- Start in any semester, including summer
Invest in your future with transparent, nationwide pricing.
- $735 per credit hour, regardless of residency
- No additional fees for out-of-state students
- Total program cost varies by completion path (33–34 credit hours)
- Flexible tuition payment plans available (4- or 5-month options)
Program Information
The Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program Master of Science degree program is an online program available in both full-time (9-12 credit hours per semester) and part-time (6 credit hours per semester) options.
- The full-time program of study is completed in 3-4 semesters – 1 year, including the summer semester.
- The part-time program of study is completed in 6 semesters – 2 years, including summer semesters.
A total of 33 - 34 credit hours are required to complete this program, depending on the project/thesis option selected (33 for the master's project, 34 for masters thesis).
All gerontology courses and degrees are open to ALL students from ALL academic disciplines and professions. This is a gerontology degree, NOT a nursing degree. No nursing or medical background is needed; the degrees are not nursing - or medicine-related.
- Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental biological, psychological, and social dimensions of the aging process.
- Demonstrate an understanding of major concepts, theories, and approaches to research in the study of the aging process, including the understanding of an interdisciplinary approach and the use of multi-methods in the study of the aging process.
- Demonstrate an understanding of healthy aging as a life course process involving the interplay of hereditary, behavioral, environmental, social and economic influences in conjunction with the role of the biomedical / healthcare systems. Students are encouraged to view aging as a phenomenon fraught with variability, consisting of opportunities for continued developments and growth, as well as the challenges associated with chronic conditions frailty, and potentially stressful life transitions faced by some aging individuals.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the macro (e.g., social-demographic), meso (e.g., home and community), and micro (e.g., physiological/biological) influences on the aging process and the interaction among all levels through the use of the ecological conceptual model.
- Be able to identify, analyze, and assess information from a variety of sources and perspectives and indicate the ability to apply technological advancements (e.g., social media) in the various domains of educational gerontology.
- Be prepared to work directly with older adults in a variety of service program settings, long-term care facilities, government agencies, community-based non-profit organizations, lifelong learning programs, and in private care management practices.
Program of Study
Accreditation
Faculty and administrators of the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program, the College of Nursing, and the University of Utah are proud to announce the inaugural accreditation of the interdisciplinary Master of Science in Gerontology (MS) program. The accreditation, granted by the Accreditation for Gerontology Education Council (AGEC), affirms the program’s commitment to rigorous academic standards, a comprehensive interdisciplinary curriculum, and a forward-thinking approach to aging studies. The MS in Gerontology program at the College is now one of six accredited gerontology programs worldwide.
