Purpose

The MA Gerontology program is a service-oriented program whereby students will be equipped to engage, evaluate, and interact with elderly populations with material understanding of the diverse skills necessary to promote health in this unique season of life. Students in this program will be equipped with both the theoretical and practical knowledge required to understand, disseminate, and build upon relevant life-stage-specific interventional research. To this end, students will be able to communicate intelligently with multiple stakeholders and demonstrate the foundational proficiencies needed to create relevant service-oriented programming grounded in a biblical ethos and pathos. 

Program Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to:

• Promote gerontological health to relevant populations and in accordance with the knowledge of the literature of the gerontology discipline.
• Explain systems of aging predicated upon the biological, psychological, and social aspects.
• Communicate best practices associated with gerontological research effectively to relevant audiences.
• Create relevant service/educational programs utilizing interdisciplinary and contextual competencies for gerontological audiences.
• Relate a biblical worldview to the study of aging and the service of aging people/populations.

Program Specific Admission Procedures

In addition to the General Admission Procedures outlined in this Catalog, applicants to the Master of Arts in Gerontology (M.A.) program must have:

1. An earned baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (e.g., SACSCOC, TRACS, ABHE, etc.);
2. Official college transcript documenting the minimum GPA requirement and course prerequisites should be submitted. Minimum GPA is 3.00.
3. Accept on caution
   1. For all new online graduate applicants who apply to the M.A. in Gerontology program and who do not meet the GPA or test score requirement, a cautionary acceptance can be considered on a case-by-case basis (by the department) for a student who has a GPA between 2.50 – 2.99.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to 50% credit hours of graduate course work from an accredited institution. In order to be eligible for transfer, course work must have a minimum grade of B-, and must have been completed in the past 10 years. Credits from a prior degree on the same academic level earned through Liberty University are considered transfer credits.

Delivery Format: Online Only

• Gerontologist
• Aging Services Manager
• Healthcare Administrator (in eldercare settings)
• Social Worker (with a focus on gerontology)
• Caregiver/Case Manager for Older Adults
• Elder Advocate (government or non-profit sectors)
• Public Health Specialist (with a focus on gerontology)
• Program Director (in senior services organizations)
• Ministry coordinator (for senior services facing ministries)