Fact Sheets

Gerontology @ MSUM

The Study of Gerontology

The Gerontology major prepares students to understand issues related to aging. It ismultidisciplinary, requiring classes from several departments. Students, working with the faculty advisor, have significant flexibility to choose their course work. Students are required to take a core of five gerontology courses and to choose a discipline concentration from one of the following: anthropology, biology, economics, health, political science, health services administration, psychology, social work, or sociology. There is a six-credit research methods requirement, and students must take courses that total at least 15 credits from a list of electives related to gerontology. The total number of credits required for this major is 48.

The major is intended to provide students with a broad understanding of the aging process, including knowledge of biological, social, economic, cultural, political, and psychological aspects. It is meant to prepare students for a variety of occupations in an increasingly important area of society. Students will learn about the characteristics of the elderly as a population, the social changes that occur as the population ages, the special problems associated with aging, and the various occupations needed to meet the needs of the elderly.

The major is also designed to facilitate students taking a complementary second major if they choose. Sociology, social work, health services administration, psychology, anthropology, nursing, business, biology, economics—and even education, music, art, and physical education—majors can be combined with this interdisciplinary major to benefit students concerned with career placement.

Career Opportunities
American society is undergoing a dramatic demographic transformation that will lead to occupational opportunities that we are only beginning to recognize. Professionals in the field of aging work in many different settings, including nonprofit human service organizations, business and industry, religious organizations, and professional organizations. Some work directly with older adults, such as in senior centers, retirement communities, nursing homes, businesses, and schools. Others work on behalf of the elderly doing research, writing reports related to relevant policy issues, teaching about the elderly, and advocating for the elderly to legislatures and businesses. Some emerging areas of employment include consulting, program evaluation, proposal writing, geriatric case management, and marketing for companies targeting elderly consumers. Like all liberal arts majors,students will need to be creative in finding a niche for themselves in the occupational world. With a major in gerontology, however, students seeking a job related to aging will have an advantage over other liberal arts majors.

Careers of Some Gerontology Majors
Minnesota State University Moorhead has had a minor in gerontology since 1987, and a major since Fall 1998. Some examples of careers that students with the major have followed include: nursing home social worker, nursing home activities director, consultant for long-term care facilities, older adult protection, YWCA employee working with older adults, operator of a senior center, and coordinator of volunteers at a nursing home. Often, these majors or minors were combined with a social work, sociology, or psychology major.

Several students who majored in both gerontology and health services administration have landed careers in nursing home administration. Other students who majored in both gerontology and social work are now outreach workers for a local provider of senior services.

Several gerontology students have advanced to related graduate programs in Business Administration, Child Development and Family Science, Gerontology, Social Work, Sociology and Organizational Development, among others.

Benefits of MSUM’s Gerontology Major

  • The only gerontology major in the states of Minnesota and North Dakota.
  • A major that makes it possible to take a second related academic major, if the student wishes.
  • Sufficient flexibility to accommodate unique student interests.
  • Excellent faculty contacts with local and state agencies, and national aging organizations. Some examples include:  

North Star Regional Geriatrics in Education Center
Retired Senior Volunteer Program
Senior Companion Program
Minnesota Area Geriatrics in Education Center (MAGEC)
Minnesota Gerontological Society
American Society on Aging
Gerontological Society of America
Association for Gerontology in Higher Education
Upper Midwest Association of Gerontology/Geriatrics Educators

  • F-M Coalition of Service Providers to the Elderly
  • Available computer labs, student tutors, and study lounges.
  • A faculty coordinator who helps students plan a major that is sound and appropriate to each individual.
  • An opportunity to take a broad range of classes in several departments related to a societal concern that is bound to become much more important in the next ten years.