Connect Your Career to Aging Studies
If you are eager to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, we invite you to explore how our program can elevate your career and prepare you to serve the aging population. Understanding the fundamental concepts of gerontology is essential for professions that engage with older people. Prepare to excel in the evolving field of aging services with our Online Master of Arts in Aging Studies program.
Study at your pace and on your own time with a fully online curriculum taught by industry experts and faculty trained in quality online instruction and course design. Program faculty include former long-term care managers, federally funded researchers, highly acclaimed faculty and well-respected members of the aging services community.
As part of the Aging Studies program, students can utilize credit for prior learning through educational experience and licensures to decrease the overall cost of the degree.
The program is designed to be completed entirely online offering you the flexibility
to learn on your own schedule (within a specific timeframe). Courses within this online
program are asynchronous, allowing you to login independently of a set time to participate
with instructional materials.
Some courses may be offered in 8-week sessions while other courses are in 16-week
sessions.
Completing the MA in Aging Studies degree depends on your schedule. A student studying at a full-time pace can complete the program in less than two years.
Students enrolled in the fully online Aging Studies program pay in-state tuition regardless of where residency, making it an affordable option, even for those out-of-state.
| College/Department | Description | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| College of Health Professions | for all courses taught by a department in the College of Health Professions | $20 |
| College of Health Professions - Public Health Sciences (PHS) | for all courses with a PHS prefix | $35 |
| College of Health Professions | for course instructional method of HYO, OHY, OLA or OLS | $72 |
| Total | $92 -$127 per CrHr |
The Aging Studies program has two dedicated fellowships for graduate students. Students are also encouraged to create a Scholarship Universe account to be matched with additional university scholarships.
The program offers flexible admission, admitting during fall, spring, and summer semesters. The program is barrier free: No GRE required, minimum 2.75 GPA, and a bachelor's degree of any discipline is considered.
Why Choose Wichita State?
Wichita State is the first institution of higher learning in Kansas to become a member of Age-Friendly University Global Network (AFU). Wichita State is committed to providing a full range of learning opportunities that include adults at all ages and stages in life as well as to generate new knowledge and innovations that address the second half of the lifespan through research.
Are you a working professional? At Wichita State University, a master’s degree in Aging Studies offers a flexible online experience tailored to meet the needs of working professionals like you. Our program provides the knowledge and skills you need to excel in the field of aging. Achieve new career goals and more challenging job opportunities.
- Completion on your time, 100% online.
- Diverse curriculum with concentration options.
- Pursue graduate certificates within your MA plan.
- Curriculum taught by industry experts.
- Faculty trained in quality online instruction and course design.
- Personalized program, flexible part- and full-time course of study.
- Affordable education, in-state tuition regardless of residency.
- Culminating experience options in coursework, thesis, or practicum.
Not ready to commit to a master's? Expand your marketability, enhance your expertise, and advance your career by adding a graduate certificate in a complementary focus. As a working professional, graduate certificates can contribute toward your master's degree when you're ready.
Interested in becoming a licensed nursing home administrator? The WSU AIT program meets the requirements of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Health Occupations Credentialing. Students who complete this placement are in a position to pursue a career as a licensed nursing home administrator in the state of Kansas.
If you're an undergraduate, graduate coursework in Aging Studies can replace your electives to accelerate your progress in our program. Shorten your graduate studies by one semester and save time and money by applying 9 hours of dual credit to your undergraduate and graduate degree.
A master's degree can open the door to higher-paying positions by moving individuals beyond entry-level positions. Stand out in a field where a bachelor's is the standard. Achieve new career goals and more challenging job opportunities.
The Aging Studies program is ideal for licensed social workers, nurses, physicians, dental hygienists, and those in the field of communication sciences, exercise science, psychology, business, and education.
Top occupations include:
- Long-Term Care Administrator
- Assisted Living Director
- Aging Services Administrator
- Senior Center Director
- Adult Day Care Manager
- Alzheimer's Association Program Manager
- Medicare Counselor
- Higher Education and Research
- Gerontological Specialists Across Disciplines
Career Insights
The number of Americans ages 65 and older will represent 21.6% of the population in 2040 (Profile of Older Americans, 2019). The need for professionals equipped to address the challenges and opportunities presented by this demographic shift has never been greater.