Gerontology
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Types of Degrees Gerontology Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many gerontology graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
| Education Level | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 416 |
| Graduate Certificate | 199 |
| Doctor’s Degree | 30 |
What Gerontology Majors Need to Know
People with careers related to gerontology were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.
Knowledge Areas for Gerontology Majors
According to O*NET survey takers, a major in gerontology should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Skills for Gerontology Majors
When studying gerontology, you’ll learn many skills that will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs - even those that do not require a degree in the field. The following is a list of some of the most common skills needed for careers associated with this major:
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Abilities for Gerontology Majors
As you progress with your gerontology degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
What Can You Do With a Gerontology Major?
Below is a list of occupations associated with gerontology:
| Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 13.4% | $84,810 |
| Transportation Planners | 6.7% | $81,340 |
Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Gerontology?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of gerontology majors is as follows:
| Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Asian | 13 |
| Black or African American | 49 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 55 |
| White | 182 |
| International Students | 89 |
| Other Races/Ethnicities | 28 |
Geographic Diversity
Gerontology appeals to people across the globe. About 21.4% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- China
- Nepal
- South Korea
- India
- Thailand
How Much Do Gerontology Majors Make?
Master’s Degree Starting Salary
The median early-career salary of gerontology students with a master’s degree is $47,500 a year according to 2017-2018 data from the U.S. Department of Education. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $44,000 (25th percentile) and $47,500 (75th percentile).
We don’t know for sure if all of these people took jobs related to gerontology so take that into consideration.
Salaries According to BLS
Average salaries range from $85,750 to $96,420 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to gerontology. This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Gerontology
Some careers associated with gerontology require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.
Find out what the typical degree level is for gerontology careers below.
| Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 34.6% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 0.7% |
| Master’s Degree | 22.4% |
| First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession. | 0.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 16.6% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 26.0% |
Online Gerontology Programs
In 2018-2019, 200 schools offered a gerontology program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
| Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 56 | 8 |
| Certificate (1-2 years) | 10 | 0 |
| Certificate (2-4 Years) | 2 | 1 |
| Associate’s Degree | 17 | 3 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 74 | 16 |
| Post-Baccalaureate | 56 | 8 |
| Master’s Degree | 51 | 14 |
| Post-Master’s | 20 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 14 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
| Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Gerontology Worth It?
The median salary for a gerontology grad is $85,750 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 115% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $917,000 after 20 years!
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Majors Related to Gerontology
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to gerontology.
| Major | Number of Grads |
|---|---|
| Other Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 2,661 |
| Nutrition Science | 1,439 |
| Sustainability Science | 1,184 |
| International Studies | 1,182 |
| Computational Science | 763 |
| Behavioral Science | 724 |
| Museum Studies | 710 |
| Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution | 630 |
| Biological & Physical Science | 611 |
| Human Computer Interaction | 562 |
| Dispute Resolution | 522 |
| Systems Theory | 460 |
| Historic Preservation | 292 |
| Interdisciplinary Studies | 213 |
| Mathematics & Computer Science | 189 |
| Science, Technology & Society | 187 |
| Cognitive Science | 152 |
| Multicultural & Diversity Studies | 131 |
| Natural Sciences | 94 |
| Marine Science | 92 |
| Cultural Studies & Analysis | 69 |
| Medieval Studies | 49 |
| Classical & Ancient Studies | 30 |
| Holocaust Studies | 30 |
| Maritime Studies | 20 |
| Accounting & Computer Science | 10 |
| Human Biology | 8 |
| Biopsychology | 1 |
References
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
- Image Credit: By Photo by Chalmers Butterfield under License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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