Comparison of Bachelor's and Master's Degree Gerontology Programs

Abstract

In this study, graduates of bachelor's and master's degree programs in gerontology completed the Standardized Survey Instrument for Graduates of Gerontology Programs developed by the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. In addition, employers were surveyed about the level of gerontological knowledge, skills, and work performance of these graduates. Findings suggest differences between master's and bachelor's degree graduates with regard to sources used to obtain positions, types of employment found, and job duties. Employers reported that the majority of the graduates had high levels of gerontology knowledge and skills and exhibited high performance levels in working for or with older

Survey of Master’s Gerontology Students Spanning Over 40 Years

“…The benefit of graduate gerontology education is wide reaching and ultimately improves care for older adults by promoting a biopsychsocial foundation that underlines diversity in aging (Haley & Zelinski, 2007). Graduate students in gerontology traditionally report satisfaction with their education and work in aging (Haley & Zelinski, 2007;Masunaga, Peterson, & Seymour, 1998;Roberto, Usita, Weeks, & Wacker, 1997), and the field is growing in popularity for students and employed professionals (Schneider et al, 2000). Current Issues in Gerontology Graduate Programs Alkema and Alley (2006) present a conceptual framework of gerontology as a discipline that highlights the biopsychsocial aspects of "individual, family, societal, and population-level behavior" (p. 579); the cultural, economic, environmental, historical, and political contextual elements of gerontological development of knowledge and its applications; and interrelationships among whole concepts to clarify the aging process.…”