Gerontology Master's Degree & Job Opportunities: As Population Ages, More Gerontology Schools Offer Classes, Programs

Author: Diane Rutherford
Published: Aug 9, 2009

The University of Southern California Davis School of Gerontology and other colleges are offering master's degrees on campus & online to address the needs of the aging.

The oldest and largest gerontology school in the United States is getting ready to offer a master’s degree that will help students break into some of the fastest-growing job markets in America.

This fall, the University of Southern California Davis School of Gerontology will offer graduate courses in its new Aging Services Management program. The courses, which are available on campus and online, combine training in business and leadership with sensitivity to the needs of an older population.

In an August 6, 2009 email interview, Maria Henke, Assistant Dean at the USC Davis School of Gerontology, said the college likes to think of the master’s program as a way for entrepreneurs to work on products that are easier to use for senior citizens and also allow for greater long-term independence.

Growing Demand for Jobs in Gerontology

Three of the top 10 fastest-growing job markets are in aging services, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Here’s how the list of markets ranks:

• #2 – Statistics show 74 percent of new jobs will be in services for the elderly and disabled
• #4 – Home health care will grow with 55 percent of new jobs
• #6 – Community care for older people will create 50 percent of new employment opportunities

According to Henke, one in six people in the United States will be over 65 in the next decade. Between 2005 and 2030 the number of adults aged 65 and older will almost double, from 37 million to over 70 million.

“This demographic shift brings with it a surge of people who will depend on social services, affordable housing and a healthcare system that will be incapable of shouldering the burden without reform,” said Henke.

Henke says Social Security reserves will be exhausted by 2041, according to recent estimates. She also says growing annual deficits are projected to exhaust Medicare reserves by 2019. Other industries in the private and non-profit sector face similar shortfalls, according to Henke.

“Fields such as financial services, housing, elder care, and transportation must all be reevaluated and in many cases overhauled in order to better serve an older population. Our program equips professionals to be able to understand and prepare for the changes at hand that will affect their work environments,” said Henke.

Gerontology Classes Offer Variety

Henke says the students who participate in the new master’s program come from backgrounds including business, communications and planning. The courses are designed for seasoned executives as well as entry and mid-level managers.

“If they are coming into the program with years of experience in management, they may elect to take a marketing course or a course on end of life care. For students who desire to start a career in aging services management, we have courses that focus on the fundamentals of business operations, as well as core competencies in aging,” said Henke.

The school plans to invite leaders in specific fields to guest lecture. Henke says students will have the chance to interview professionals in industries like senior housing and home care.

“Students enrolled in our Technological Innovations in Aging course will have the opportunity to learn about cutting edge research and design in communications and robotics that they can apply to serving the needs of older persons,” she said.

Gerontology, Travel, Tourism & Recreation

Henke says that with people living longer and staying healthier, there will be a need for new products and services that will appeal to an older population.

“The travel and tourism industries will have new opportunities to appeal to healthy older adults whose idea of adventure travel may not be the same as it was in their 20s, but are still looking for opportunities to travel abroad and experience the natural environment, perhaps in a less rugged mode,” she said.

Henke says students will be exposed to effective ways of marketing to the elder market. If adventure tourism for older adults turns out to be a worthwhile endeavor for an entrepreneurial student, they will be equipped with the knowledge to pursue the idea, she said.

Gerontology Courses & Senior Entrepreneurs

Many older people will also likely work longer. A recent report indicates the U.S. might be on the verge of an entrepreneurship boom, where many seniors themselves will be involved in commercial ventures.

“We may see a need to create products and services that will assist people working on their own in their later years for as long as possible. For example, devices that accommodate loss in hearing and vision, as well as products that enhance memory, will become highly sought after. We may see a number of senior business to senior business models emerge in the next ten to 15 years,” said Henke.

Other Schools Offer Gerontology Programs

Similar programs are offered at other facilities, including the Erickson School at University of Maryland Baltimore County and University of Massachusetts Boston.

As the elderly population increases, more colleges will offer gerontology courses to train workers for some of the fastest-growing job markets.