Developing a master's degree program in Gerontology

The aging population is growing exponentially, and it is expected that soon the number of older adults within our population will outnumber the youth. To prepare for this shift in demographics, there is a need for educational programs in gerontology. The objective was to find out whether individuals in the community feel there is a need for a master's degree in gerontology and if so, what topical areas should be covered. Participants indicated that there is a need for a master's degree in gerontology and many professionals working with older adults would consider enrolling in the program. In addition, professionals, older adults, and undergraduate students shared many topics that should be covered in the programs, for instance, financial planning, caregiver stress, Medicare, and other social programs. In addition, findings indicate that an online program may be the best to meet the demands of the working professionals who would like to enroll in the program but are concerned about time and many other issues. The data collected from the present study, along with the core competencies put forth by the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) will be used to design a master's program at a university in New Jersey.