Department of Health Science

Applied Gerontology Master's Program

The Master of Science in Applied Gerontology at Towson University is designed for those who are currently or who will, in the future, work in community settings of the older population. The program provides a basic foundation of knowledge, education and skills to students so that they may move into positions in the fields of health, housing, social services, or private sector enterprises geared at meeting the needs of aging consumers

Gerontology is an interdisciplinary field that embraces theoretical and applied constructs from a wide range of disciplines, including the social sciences, health research and education, business, kinesiology, occupational therapy, and biology. To engage in the practice of gerontology requires an understanding of the population (current and future cohorts), the nature of human aging, socially constructed definitions of aging, public regulatory and financing systems, and public policy. The program is designed to address these key content areas through the inclusion of course work that introduces students to a divergent theoretical perspective.

The educational objectives of the master's degree

program in Applied Gerontology are based, in part

upon the standards promulgated by the Association of Gerontology in Higher Education: to provide students with the opportunity to synthesize the knowledge of the contexts within which aging can be examined and how applied research can be utilized to improve practice to educate students about the changing nature of aging cohorts, their differential needs and market demands, and the overall effect

of population aging upon the society to provide knowledge of the regulatory, financing and organizational factors and public policy trends influencing social and health services for older Americans to foster the skills necessary to work effectively with other professionals to apply and modify practice as cohorts change and new research emerges to foster the skills necessary to design and implement effective intervention strategies to enhance the independence and autonomy of older persons to foster the skills necessary to work effectively within an interdisciplinary setting, with diverse professionals and with families in a culturally sensitive fashion

Department of Health Science
Burdick Hall, Room 141

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Phone: 410-704-2637
Fax: 410-704-4670