What is gerontology? What does a gerontology career entail?
Gerontology is the study of how the aging process affects the human body. Unlike specialists in geriatric medicine, who examine disease among older adults, professionals in gerontology careers focus on the broader effects of aging. With a wave of Americans entering retirement, their desire to live well and to live longer has fueled a surge of new gerontology careers. As a result, employers in a variety of fields now focus on recruiting graduates from gerontology degree programs while including gerontology training in their professional development programs for existing staff.
Gerontology careers involve jobs in health science disciplines, including:- Nursing
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Biotechnology
For medical and scientific professionals with some training and experience in another field, transitioning to a gerontology career offers the opportunity to tackle fascinating and rewarding jobs. For instance, gerontologists with experience in medicine and technology work on research programs to study and potentially reverse some of the most dramatic signs of aging. Psychologists in gerontology careers help adults face the challenges of living longer and aging well. Nurses with gerontology training can perform extremely well in elder care or assisted living facilities.
Gerontology Career Training Offers Exciting Coursework Blends
Training for a gerontology career usually requires a combination of targeted classroom study, internships, and professional experience. Many of today's gerontology professionals entered the field by earning a master's degree in gerontology after completing undergraduate work in another profession. However, with more employers seeking to jumpstart gerontology careers, a growing number of training programs allow students to combine gerontology courses with classes from other disciplines at the bachelor's degree level.
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