Applied Gerontology

Career potential

The populations of Texas, the United States and the world are growing older. By 2030, 71 million Americans will be at least 65 years old, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. As a professional in applied gerontology, you will be prepared to respond to older Americans' needs for specialized health care, housing, long-term care and other services.

With a bachelor's degree in applied gerontology, you may work in a nursing home or retirement center, or in a local senior citizens program. You also may work for a home health care agency, a hospice or a government agency such as the Social Security Administration in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

To advance in this field, you may want to earn a master's degree. Alumni of the master's degree program include the policy director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, a past president of the American Association of Homes for the Aging, and the executive director of the American Seniors Housing Association, as well as directors of several large retirement communities nationwide.

UNT's Career Center can help you prepare to pursue your career. The center has information about jobs and employers, and the staff can help you with resume and letter writing, job search strategies and interview preparation.

Majoring in applied gerontology

As an applied gerontology major, you will study the physical, psychological and social aspects of growing older in America. You also will become familiar with government programs and institution- and community-based services for the elderly. Other courses focus on the psychology of death and dying, the family in later life, and leisure and aging.

Applied gerontology faculty members research ethical issues in geriatric service delivery, images of aging in film and literature, mediation and conflict resolution, physical activity and the elderly, sustainable senior communities, senior re-engagement and volunteerism, and integrating community-based and residential programs for the aging. Faculty members are also involved in developing services for older people in Denton and other communities. Faculty members from the departments of psychology; sociology; rehabilitation studies, social work and addictions; and kinesiology, health promotion and recreation also teach courses in applied gerontology.

Getting hands-on experience

You will be required to intern at least one semester in an agency providing services to the elderly. A faculty member will help you find an internship.

After completing 12 semester hours at UNT with at least a 2.5 GPA, you may work in a job related to your major through UNT's office of Cooperative Education and Internships. This allows you to earn academic credit and money and gain valuable work experience. More than 800 employers work with the office to provide excellent learning opportunities, many of which become permanent full-time positions upon graduation. The office also assists with placing students in internships, which last for one semester or summer.

Preparing for UNT

If you are a high school student, we suggest you prepare for college by becoming computer proficient and taking:

• English … 4 years
• Math … 4 years
• Social science — economics, geography, government, history … 4 years
• Science … 3 years
• Foreign language … 3 years
• Fine arts … 1 year

Taking classes in health education, human biology, psychology, sociology as well as accounting, speech and advanced courses in math and English will be beneficial.

You will need to take courses in most of these subjects under the university core curriculum required of all undergraduates, in addition to your major courses. Talk with your high school counselor about preparing for college, including the entrance exams (SAT Reasoning Test or ACT) that you should take during your junior year. As a benefit for transfer students, UNT participates in the Texas Common Course Numbering System. This system makes it easier to transfer credits for general academic courses from one Texas institution to another.

If you're attending a Texas community college, you should consult the UNT Transfer Guide, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor to discuss your degree plan. Proper planning will help you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

Charting your path with academic advising

The College of Public Affairs and Community Service has full-time academic advisors to help you organize your class schedule each semester and select courses necessary to earn your bachelor's degree. You may obtain career advice from your professors. The Department of Applied Gerontology office is in Chilton Hall, Room 359.

Curious about courses and other features of this major?
See the current catalog.