VCU’s Department of Gerontology in the College of Health Professions was founded in 1976 and remains the only MS in Gerontology in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our mission to promote optimal aging for individuals and communities is evident through our innovative graduate and continuing education, scholarship, and university-community partnerships. Our graduates further our person-centered, transdisciplinary mission all over the country and globe. Request information about our programs: click here.

Schedule a meeting with faculty to discuss your goals and application. Contact Program Director Jen Pryor at pryorjm@vcu.edu.

Apply now: Graduate school application portal

Past 2024 info sessions:

VCU Program Focus: Justice and Equity in Gerontology and Aging Studies 
June 11, 2024, 12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.

VCU Gerontologists are changemakers and trailblazers in the field of diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice. Join us to learn how our students and graduates focus their program of study and post-graduate careers on justice and equity. VCU Gerontology leads justice and equity projects and programs such as age inclusivity, the Virginia Memory Project, the movement for person-centered, trauma-informed practice, and more. Find out how you can get involved as a student and make justice and/or equity your focus area as you pursue your master's degree or certificate.

Get Your 30-Credit Gerontology Master’s Degree or 15-Credit Certificate as a VCU Employee (For current  VCU employees) 
January 30, 2024, 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.  

Tuition reimbursement is a benefit of VCU employment that you should not squander, and VCU Gerontology is a great place to take part in this excellent program. A degree in gerontology provides key professional and personal development for your career and life. Gerontology is the study of aging, and VCU Gerontology has a strong commitment to viewing aging as a lifespan journey toward elderhood. Come join us!

What is Gerontology and Why Should I Become a VCU Gerontologist? 
February 7, 2024, 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.

VCU’s Department of Gerontology in the College of Health Professions was founded in 1976 and remains the only Master of Science program in Gerontology in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our mission to promote optimal aging for individuals and communities is evident through our innovative graduate and continuing education, scholarship, and university-community partnerships. Specific areas of gerontological expertise are in high demand within a variety of professions, and this need will continue to grow -- fast. Join us to learn about the field of gerontology and why VCU Gerontology is the top choice for anyone looking to join this field or enhance their career.

Ram Opportunity: Using the RAM Opportunity to Get Your Gerontology Master's Degree (For recent VCU graduates)
February 14, 2024, 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

The Recent Alumni Master’s Opportunity is designed to help VCU graduates further their education by pursuing a master’s degree at VCU. We are here to prepare you at VCU Gerontology, and launch you in an amazing career path. Master's students can customize their program of study with specialty areas that are relevant to their career goals. Our students have a wide diversity of undergraduate majors, which makes for rich and dynamic learning. VCU Gerontology has a strong positive relationship with the wider community, which provides students many opportunities for networking, learning, engaging, and applying knowledge and skills acquired from courses.

Assisted Living Administration: Open the Door to this Career
March 13, 2024, 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Be the change and usher in a new era of leadership in the field of assisted living. VCU Gerontology is the top choice for anyone looking to join this field or enhance their career. With licensed Assisted Living Facility Administrators who are also faculty members in the VCU Department of Gerontology, VCU Gerontology has the only NAB accredited degree program earning a Master’s in Gerontology with an Assisted Living Administration emphasis in the United States.

Dementia and Brain Health Learning Opportunities for Students at VCU Gerontology
March 19,  2024, 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Learn about exciting research and ongoing initiatives at VCU Gerontology and the Virginia Center on Aging related to brain health, cognitive decline, and dementias. Myriad opportunities for students exist within our VCU Gerontology Brain Health Research Lab -- join us to learn more!

Make a Difference: Become a Geriatric Care Manager 
April 17, 2024, 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Our communities need more certified Geriatric Care Managers, and now is a great time to jump into this fast growing field. You can complete the program at your own pace as either a full-time or part-time student. The entire program can be completed either in person, online, or a hybrid of both. And now for online students, our programs are residency tuition neutral! Online out-of-state students pay the same as in-state students.

VCU Program Focus: Elder Abuse
May 15, 2024, 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Is a master's degree or certificate in gerontology right for you? If you are interested in the field of elder abuse, VCU Gerontology is where you should apply. Join us to learn more about abuse in later life / elder abuse at VCU Gerontology, and how our students are able to make this important issue their area of focus. VCU is home to the Elder Justice Learning & Research Hub and the Abuse in Later Life Research Lab, with many opportunities for gerontology students to focus their program and launch a career.