Aging Studies Programs

Gerontology: the study of aging and older adults

Whether your career path has evolved toward working with older adults or you are looking to gain expertise in aging-related issues, the University of Indianapolis online Aging Studies programs provides several unique programs to meet your needs. Designed for working professionals and career changers from any academic background, our flexible multidisciplinary curriculum blends specialized knowledge with practical skills. Guided by expert interdisciplinary faculty, you can complete your degree online on a schedule built for real life.

UIndy offers six programs of study in aging:

• Master of Science in Aging Studies
  No matter your undergraduate area of study, you can couple it with a Master in Aging Studies to support, improve, and enhance the lives of the older adults where you live and work. We offer two pathways to the Master, including a traditional path and a design-your-own stackable certificate path.
• Graduate Certificate in Aging Studies
  This program is designed to meet the needs of professionals who have an interest in the aging population or who may currently work in the field of aging, but would like to increase or formalize their knowledge.
• Graduate Certificate in Healthy Aging
  This program is one of few in the country that prepares students to develop expertise in the rapidly expanding longevity and healthy aging industry.
• Graduate Certificate in Long-Term Care Services and Advocacy
  This program equips students with an interest in long-term care with the specialized expertise to lead, advocate, and make a lasting impact, whether they are entering the field or advancing within it.
• Undergraduate Certificate in Aging Studies
  Students with a certificate in aging studies may find themselves to be more employable in a marketplace that increasingly works to meet the needs of a growing older adult population.
• Undergraduate Minor in Aging Studies
  An undergraduate Minor in Aging Studies provides students with specialized knowledge to make them more competitive and highly sought after in a job market rapidly expanding to serve the needs of a growing older adult population.

Advantages of our programs

• Multidisciplinary program combines well with a variety of professional backgrounds.
• Online courses provide flexible, accessible education for traditional, nontraditional, and post-professional students, making learning achievable on your schedule.
• Opportunities for service and networking through membership in the UIndy chapter of the gerontology academic honor and professional society, Sigma Phi Omega.
• May be combined with other UIndy graduate programs, allowing for shared credits, and pursued as a dual degree.

Careers in Aging

Because UIndy's Aging Studies programs are multidisciplinary, careers in aging can be found in several industries, including social services, health care, government, academia, non-profit sectors, business, and industry.

Graduates of the UIndy Master of Science in Aging Studies program currently work in the following fields:

• Senior fitness
• Community health programs
• Community planning
• Social work
• Architecture
• Higher education
• Personal care for seniors
• Senior foster care 

Other career possibilities in the field of aging include:

• Estate and financial planning
• Elder law
• Volunteer management
• Human resources
• Housing and home modification
• Chaplain

See What Aging Studies is All About

If you're unsure whether or not an online program in aging studies is for you, you can take up to two courses as a guest student without being admitted into the program. Course fees apply.

UIndy junior- and senior-level undergraduates with a GPA of 3.5 or better can take up to two graduate AGST courses as electives. Permission from your academic advisor is required.