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Master of Science in Gerontology
We are extending a special scholarship, usually available only to VCU alumni, to ALL our new Fall 2026 Master's in Gerontology students: a $500 scholarship and a waiver of the application fee.
In addition, newly accepted students can receive up to $2,500 in scholarships in Fall 2026 based on your enrollment status. Multiple scholarships are available.
The M.S. in gerontology with the assisted living administration speciality area is the only National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards-accredited program in Virginia. Learn more about our concentration in Assisted Living Administration.
Program at a Glance
30 Credits & Affordable
Our M.S. in Gerontology program will give you a cost-effective competitive edge by teaching in demand, applicable skills to make a difference in people's lives. In only 30 credits, you can graduate prepared for high-impact, satisfying careers in aging services, health care leadership, community development, policy and more. Plus, our residency neutral tuition means online out-of-state students pay the same as in-state students.
Fully Online & Flexible
Our entire program can be completed online. Choose to enroll as either a full-time or part-time student. Our program is flexible and works with your schedule. Most courses are offered in the evenings to accommodate our students who need this extra flexibility due to family, work or life.
Complete in 2 Years*
*Time of completion is determined by the number of credits taken per semester and part-time or full-time enrollment status. The time limit for a graduate degree will not extend beyond a period of six years for graduate certificates and master’s degrees.
Alumni Testimonials
You'll be accepted as an expert. You'll be accepted as an individual who can contribute to the conversation. Just being a part of the Gerontology Program, there's a presence that comes with saying that you are a graduate from this program. There's also a sense of community, amongst your colleagues, who soon become friends, and if not family. The program is phenomenal.
Janei Lofty, M.S.
“I've always enjoyed working with the aging population and older adults. The degree sets a precedent that I understand the life course development, along with the knowledge and experience to provide empathy and insight on the aging process. If you have a passion for working with older adults, if you have want to enhance policies, work in healthcare and support families and caregivers or even build all inclusive communities, then enhance your knowledge and skills through the gerontology program.”
"The journey [of this program] itself ignited my curiosity. I learned to love research, and I learned the importance of advocacy and language and policy. I now value theory more than ever before because I see it in action. Now more than ever, we need people to move the needle on critical issues."
"This field is important to our society and it is also cutting edge. We're growing as a field, actively testing out new models of evidence-based programs and practices, and reconciling with new challenges and opportunities at all levels. It's exciting to be part of."
Program Goals
The Department of Gerontology serves the people of the commonwealth of Virginia and the nation by providing educational programs related to the understanding of aging and promoting optimal aging. The department encourages education through discovery of new knowledge, interdisciplinary interaction, professional behavior and service to the aging network.
The department’s primary focus is to prepare individuals for positions in the network of aging services. These gerontologists are educated to serve as supporters of optimal aging for older persons and families and caregivers. The master’s program provides quality education leading to careers as services providers, educators and researchers. The department’s assisted living administration concentration is NAB-accredited and will prepare students who seek licensure as an assisted living administrator. The department also provides assistance and services to the community and engages in research and scholarly activities related to gerontology.
The goal of the program is to ensure that students in the program will:
- Understand the biological, psychological and sociological underpinnings of aging in U.S. society as established by Association for Gerontology in Higher Education core competencies.
- Gain understanding and respect for the interdisciplinary team process in effective gerontological practice.
- Through a lifespan bio-psycho-socio-spiritual approach, gain understanding of empirically and theoretically based components contributing to optimal quality of life and performance in late life as well as knowledge and skills in best practices to promote optimal aging across the life span.
- Gain understanding of the existing aging network across federal, state and local levels. Thorough understanding will enable students to successfully identify their niche in the aging network, contribute to a growing field and deliver effective eldercare services.
A list of Gerontology courses can be found in the VCU Bulletin*
*The course list is not exhaustive of all topics that may be offered in the Department of Gerontology.
Student Learning Outcomes
Connect Gerontological Theory to Practice
Students will demonstrate a holistic theoretical understanding of adult development and elderhood from a biological, psychological, social and spiritual perspective and the ability to apply this knowledge to aging, using a strengths-based lifespan orientation.
- Measure: Capstone Course Deliverables
Completion of a capstone project demonstrating evidence of integration and application of gerontological principles to application through portfolio deliverables in Practicum (GRTY 607).
- Expected Benchmark: 90% of enrolled students will earn a grade of “Pass” on the portfolio deliverables in Practicum.
- Actual Performance: 100% of enrolled students earned a grade of “Pass” on the portfolio deliverables in Practicum.
- Measure: Core Course Completion
Evidence of mastery of theory by examination of final course grade in GRTY 604 (Problems, Issues and Trends).
- Expected Benchmark: 85% of students will earn a grade of B or higher as a final grade for GRTY 604.
- Actual Performance: 90% of students earned a grade of B or higher as a final grade for GRTY 604.
- Measure: Gerontology Comprehensive Exam
Students will exhibit an understanding of holistic aging by demonstrating integrative knowledge and theory of biological, psychological and social perspectives of aging to practice by developing and delivering a pre-recorded presentation as part of the Gerontology Comprehensive Exam. Student performance will be assessed as pass/fail by a faculty committee consisting of at least three members.
- Expected Benchmark: 90% of enrolled students will earn a grade of “Pass” on the presentation component of the Comprehensive Exam.
- Actual Performance: 100% of enrolled students earned a grade of “Pass” on the presentation component of the Comprehensive Exam.
- Measure: Practicum Assignment Reflection
Students will demonstrate learning gained on attitudes about aging, intersectionality and longevity using a biopsychosocial spiritual approach by completing a written reflection on four questions about how personal aging has changed through the program.
- Expected Benchmark: 90% of enrolled students will earn a grade of "Pass"on the reflection component of the Practicum (GRTY 607).
- Actual Performance: 100% of enrolled students earned a grade of "Pass"on the reflection component of the Practicum (GRTY 607).
Integrate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Gerontological Practice
Students will demonstrate knowledge of how discrimination, oppression and marginalization at the individual and institutional
levels based on age and intersectional identities impacts health and longevity. Students will demonstrate the ability to act as an advocate, by shaping authentic, person-centered attitudes (both their own attitudes and the attitudes of others) about aging and elderhood and to challenge institutional discrimination.
- Measure: Advocacy Platform Final Paper
Students will prepare a final advocacy platform paper that recommends how systems and the aging service network can better support holistic wellness for elders.
- Expected Benchmark: 90% of students will successfully complete and pass their final advocacy platform paper.
- Actual Performance: 90% of students successfully completed the advocacy paper.
- Measure: Alumni Survey
Alumni will provide responses to a survey asking how diversity, equity and inclusion content prepared them to act as an advocate.
- Expected Benchmark: 90% of alumni surveyed will report developing skills in diversity, equity and inclusion while completing the Masters in Gerontology.
- Actual Performance: All students who responded to the exit interview reported that they strongly agreed with developing knowledge and skills in recognizing discrimination (especially ageism).
- Measure: Practicum Demonstration of Mastery
Students will demonstrate learning gained on attitudes about aging, intersectionality and longevity by completing a written essay assignment as part of the student practicum.
- Expected Benchmark: 90% of enrolled students will earn a grade of “Pass” on the essay component of the Practicum.
- Actual Performance: 100% of enrolled students earned a grade of “Pass” on the essay component of the Practicum.
Develop Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Students will demonstrate the ability to apply critical thinking and problem solving using gerontological research to evaluate best-practice approaches and the effectiveness of policies and services that support elders, their family members and the community.
- Measure: Alumni Survey
Alumni will provide responses to a survey asking about skill development gained in critical thinking and problem solving during the Masters program.
- Expected Benchmark: 90% of alumni surveyed will report developing skills in critical thinking and problem solving while completing the Masters in Gerontology.
- Actual Performance: All who responded to the exit survey responded that they agreed or strongly agreed that they developed the ability to apply critical thinking and problem solving.
- Measure: Ethical Portfolio
Students in GRTY 606 will create a toolkit throughout the semester that will include a vision board of their professional ethical identity, a reflection of their critical thinking abilities and a personal care plan.
- Expected Benchmark: 90% of students will successfully complete and pass the student reflection portfolio assignment.
- Actual Performance: 90% of students successfully completed and passed the student reflection portfolio assignment.
- Measure: Research Methods Course Project
Students will develop a gerontological research question and will complete an application to the Internal Review Board (IRB) in the Research Methods course (GRTY 605).
- Expected Benchmark: 90% of enrolled students will earn a grade of c or higher on an IRB proposal for the GRTY 605 course.
- Actual Performance: Over 90% of students earned a C or higher on the IRB project.
Uphold Professional and Ethical Standards
Students will demonstrate the ability to engage in an on-going self-reflective process of their professional gerontological practice. Students will demonstrate the ability to uphold professional standards through individually and collaboratively applying ethical decision making processes.
- Measure: Checkpoint Assessment for Ethical Decision Making
All students in GRTY 606 will be presented with an ethical problem solving scenario that they must resolve using the 7-step ethical decision making method.
- Expected Benchmark: 90% of enrolled students will earn a grade of pass on the checkpoint assessment assignment.
- Actual Performance: 90% of enrolled students earned a grade of pass on the checkpoint assessment assignment.
- Measure: Practicum Survey on Professionalism
Students will complete a survey at the end of their practicum to reflect on their professional gerontological practice to include self ranking of professional competency items.
- Expected Benchmark: 85% of enrolled students will complete the survey prior to the end of their practicum.
- Actual Performance: We were not able to implement this outcome measure this cycle and did not gather data from a survey. The plan is to implement this in the next cycle.
Identify and Respond to Community Need
Students will demonstrate knowledge of Older Adult Services and will be able to make contributions to community identified needs through the successful delivery of services and effective communication with elders, their families, the community and the public. Community engagement will take the form of field work, research, grant writing, experiential learning opportunities, education and training.
- Measure: Capstone Project Proposal
Students will complete a capstone project proposal demonstrating knowledge of Older Adult Services (OAS) and community identified needs (GRTY 607).
- Expected Benchmark: 90% of enrolled students will earn a grade of “Pass” on the capstone project proposal.
- Actual Performance: 100% of enrolled students earned a grade of “Pass” on the capstone project proposal.
- Measure: Final Course Grade
Evidence of understanding of Older Adult Services and the Aging Network by examination of final course grade in GRTY 604 (Problems, Issues and Trends).
- Expected Benchmark: 85% of students will earn a grade of B or higher as a final grade for GRTY 604.
- Actual Performance: Over 90% of students received a grade of B or higher in the course.
- Measure: Gerontology Comprehensive Exam
Students will demonstrate knowledge of older adult services and effective communication with elders, families, the community and the public by developing and delivering a pre-recorded presentation as part of the Gerontology Comprehensive Exam. Student performance will be assessed as pass/fail by a faculty committee consisting of at least three members.
- Expected Benchmark: 90% of enrolled students will earn a grade of “Pass” on the presentation component of the
Comprehensive Exam. - Actual Performance: 100% of enrolled students will earned a grade of “Pass” on the presentation component of the Comprehensive Exam.
- Expected Benchmark: 90% of enrolled students will earn a grade of “Pass” on the presentation component of the
- Measure: Grant Proposal/Business Plan
Students will make a contribution to community identified need by identifying a funding source and preparing a grant proposal in the Grant Writing Course (GRTY 608).
- Expected Benchmark: 90% of enrolled students will earn a grade of c or higher on a grant proposal, business plan or grant application proposal.
- Actual Performance: 100% of enrolled students earned a grade of c or higher on a grant proposal, business plan or grant application proposal.