About Graduate Programs

* How many hours is the program?

The master's degree program with a major in Administration of Community-Based Programs in Aging or a major in Applied Gerontology requires 45 semester hours. The master's degree with a major in Administration of Long-Term Care and Retirement Facilities requires 46 semester hours.

* Can I use the courses I've taken at other schools on my degree at UNT?

A maximum of 12 semester hours of work taken for graduate credit at other accredited institutions of higher education may be applied to the master's degree. Courses offered for transfer must be approved on an individual basis by the DAG advisor.

* When are classes offered?

Most graduate courses in gerontology are offered once a week in the evening (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday), from 6 to 9 pm. Some courses are offered on six Saturdays, from 9 am to 4 pm; and a few are offered in a weekend format (Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Friday, Saturday, Sunday) on three weekends.

* Do you have any off-campus or internet classes?

We currently offer two internet classes per fall and spring semester and one internet class each summer.

* How large are graduate courses at UNT?

Graduate class size typically ranges from 5 to 40 or more students. The range for gerontology classes is usually 5 to 30 students.

* How many students are in your program?

We have about 60 part- and full-time graduate students.

* Are scholarships available?

DAG has several scholarships available to master's degree candidates. Some are designated for students majoring in Administration of Long-Term Care and Retirement Facilities, some are designated for students majoring in Administration of Community-Based Programs in Aging or Applied Gerontology, and some are open to students in all three majors. A student must complete DAG's departmental scholarship application in order to be considered for a scholarship award.   A list of general (university-wide) scholarships available to graduate students can be found on the following UNT Website page:

Graduate Scholarship List

* How about teaching fellowships/assistantships and research assistantships?

DAG does not use teaching fellows or assistants because we offer only one lower-division undergraduate course. The need for research assistants is determined by the research projects in which faculty are engaged at any given time. Research assistantships are usually offered to students after they have enrolled in the master's degree program and faculty have the opportunity to get to know them and evaluate the quality of their academic work.

* Are there any prerequisites for the master's degree program?

Three hours of social gerontology are a prerequisite for all majors.

* I'm interested in your Specialist Certificate, but I don't have a bachelor's degree. Can I still get the certificate?

At the present time, the Specialist Certificate program is limited to graduate students.

* My undergraduate degree is in an unrelated field. Can I still get a master's degree in gerontology?

Yes. We have had students with undergraduate majors in many different disciplines, ranging from the social sciences to business administration to music to religion. The multidisciplinary nature of DAG's master's degree program facilitates our acceptance of students with a variety of academic backgrounds.

* I don't have any experience working with the elderly. Will this put me at a disadvantage?

The internship that is required for the DAG master's degree will ensure that students have experience by the time they finish the program, even if they have little or none at the time they start it.

* I'm already employed in the field of gerontology. Do I still have to do an internship?

Regular course work can be substituted for the internship if a student has three years or more of relevant professional experience. Requests for internship waivers are considered by DAG faculty on an individual basis.

* How long do I have to complete the degree?

Students have seven years to complete the master's degree. The seven-year time period begins with the oldest course applied to the degree.

* I want to finish the program quickly so I can get a job in the field. How quickly can I complete all requirements for the master's degree?

It is possible for master's degree students who come to UNT with prerequisites already completed to finish the course work (exclusive of internship) in one academic year (fall, spring, and summer), but to do so they must take very heavy loads. Three long semesters and a summer (e.g., fall, spring, summer, and fall) may be more realistic.

* How long is the internship?

For ADLR students, the internship is a minimum of 1,000 clock hours served over a period of at least six months, for which the student receives six semester hours of credit. For ADAO and AGER students, the internship is a minimum of 500 clock hours with no minimum time period over which they must be served, for which the student receives three semester hours of credit.

* Is a thesis required?

No. Rather than a thesis, the DAG master's degree requires a capstone seminar in which students attend regular class meetings while preparing a paper or other project that demonstrates the application of research to practice in gerontology.

* How large is your faculty, and what are their research interests?

DAG has nine full- and part-time faculty. Their research interests include images of aging in film and literature, ethical issues and aging, accessibility of the health care delivery system for older adults, international aging, sustainable communities, mediation and aging, needs assessment and service planning, and self-managed work teams in nursing homes.

Updated
04/02/02