Program Mission: The online Master of Science in Aging Studies program is designed to provide an interdisciplinary education for future and current professionals in aging/gerontology. Students will acquire specialized expertise in older adulthood, processes of aging, and later life stages through the study of gerontological theory, research, professional practice, policy, and the process of aging and cultural diversity. Students will be prepared for a wide range of careers in the field of aging/gerontology, including positions in human social services, program administration, residential long term care, geriatric health care programs, government services, and professional organizations, community outreach and education, and entrepreneurship. Two options include: (1) the M.S. in Aging Studies or the (2) the M.S. in Aging Studies: Long Term Care Administration.
Note: The M.S. in Aging Studies prepares students for beginning or continuing careers focused on but not limited to: administration and leadership in national, state, and local government or nonprofit aging-specific programs; human and social services resources for aging; aging research and/or policy; and case management services for older adults.
Degree Audit: The graduate plan of study is the EIU Degree Audit, which is generated automatically at the time of degree or certificate candidacy. Modifications of the standard EIU Degree Audit are submitted by the graduate coordinator to the certification officer in the Graduate School at the time modifications are approved. The Degree Audit serves as an unofficial summary of requirements for the program. Degree and certificate candidates are advised to review the comprehensive summary of the Degree Audit process specified on the " Requirements for All Degree and Certificate Candidates " section of the Graduate Catalog. Individual programs may require candidates to submit plans of study in addition to the Degree Audit, candidates should consult with the program coordinator.
Degree Requirements
Degree requirements include those outlined for the master's degree by the Graduate School (see "https://catalog.eiu.edu/content.php?catoid=43&navoid=2100#requ_for_the_mast_degr").
The courses for the degree must total a minimum of 33 semester hours.
Required Courses: 27 credits hours
EDF 5590
Educational Response to Third Age Learning (3 credits)
KSR 5225
Physical Activity and Aging (3 credits)
PSY 5540
Psychological Processes in the Aged (3 credits)
PUBH 4890
Health and Aging. (3 credits)
HSL 4846
Aging and the Family. (3 credits)
HSL 5100
Societal Theories of Aging (3 credits)
HSL 5400
Aging Policy in Action (3 credits)
HSL 5900
Research Methods (3 credits)
CMN 5155
Communication and Aging (3 credits)
Elective Courses
Select 6 credit hours from the following courses. A variety of elective courses are offered for students to specialize in the areas of Biological Sciences, Human Services, Political Science, Psychology, or Public Health.
BIO 4834
Neurobiology. (3 credits)
BIO 4835
Advanced Neurobiology (3 credits)
BIO 5434
Neurobiology (3 credits)
BIO 5435
Advanced Neurobiology (3 credits)
HCM 4910
Applied Health Communication (3 credits)
HCM 5610
Advanced Analysis and Development of Health Communication Campaigns (3 credits)
HSL 4775
Human Services Programs and Resource Management (3 credits)
HSL 4820
Death and Dying (3 credits)
HSL 4845
Family Stress and Resilience (3 credits)
HSL 4850
Human Services Programs: Community, Culture and Intersectionality (3 credits)
HSL 5450
Leadership and Administration in Human Services Programming (3 credits)
HSL 5846
Public Policy and Grant Writing for Human Services Programming (3 credits)
HSL 5950
Thesis (3 to 6 credits)
HSL 5985
Aging Studies Internship (3 credits)
HSL 5992
Aging Studies Independent Study (1 to 6 credits)
PLS 4793
Civic and Nonprofit Leadership (3 credits)
PLS 4893
Budgeting in Government and Nonprofit Organizations (3 credits)
PLS 4873
Human Resource Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 credits)
PSY 5545
Techniques for Geriatric Management. (3 credits)
PUBH 5600
Essentials of International Health (3 credits)
PUBH 5750
Health Program Planning and Evaluation (3 credits)
PUBH 5770
Leadership and Ethics for Health Professionals (3 credits)
PUBH 4770
Health Services Administration. (3 credits)
PUBH 4800
Drugs and Society. (3 credits)
PUBH 4810
Community Resources and Chemical Dependency. (2 credits)
PUBH 4830
Perspectives on Health and Humor (3 credits)
PUBH 5700
Theories and Principles of Health Behavior (3 credits)
PUBH 5765
Epidemiology in Public Health (3 credits)
Online Format
The graduate degree program is completed in the form of online courses to fulfill the required minimum total of 33 credit hours. All required courses are offered online on a regular basis. A limited number of courses are also available in the face-to-face, or hybrid formats.
Long Term Care Administration Option
The M.S. in Aging Studies: Long Term Care Administration prepares students for beginning or continuing careers focused on but not limited to the administration of nursing homes and assisted living, supportive living, and independent living residential and community care programs.
Required Courses: 33 Credit Hours
CMN 5155
Communication and Aging (3 credits)
EDF 5590
Educational Response to Third Age Learning (3 credits)
OR
HSL 5100
Societal Theories of Aging (3 credits)
HSL 4820
Death and Dying (3 credits)
OR
HSL 4846
Aging and the Family. (3 credits)
HSL 5400
Aging Policy in Action (3 credits)
HSL 5450
Leadership and Administration in Human Services Programming (3 credits)
OR
PUBH 5770
Leadership and Ethics for Health Professionals (3 credits)
HSL 5900
Research Methods (3 credits)
KSR 5225
Physical Activity and Aging (3 credits)
PLS 4873
Human Resource Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 credits)
PSY 5540
Psychological Processes in the Aged (3 credits)
OR
PSY 5545
Techniques for Geriatric Management. (3 credits)
PUBH 4890
Health and Aging. (3 credits)
PUBH 5750
Health Program Planning and Evaluation (3 credits)
EIU undergraduates can apply for admission to the accelerated M.S. in Aging Studies or M.S. in Aging Studies: Long Term Care Administration program options. Admission requires that students have completed a minimum of 60 hours of undergraduate course credit and have a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.25 or a minimum undergraduate major GPA of 3.75. To apply for the accelerated M.S. in Aging Studies or M.S. in Aging Studies: Long Term Care Administration, contact the Aging Studies Graduate Coordinator and also refer to the Graduate School's Accelerated Program website at: https://www.eiu.edu/graduate/accelerated.php.
Shared credit options for the accelerated M.S. in Aging Studies include a maximum of 9 total credit hours from the following:
CMN 5155
3 to 9 credit hours from:
Communication and Aging (3 credits)
EDF 5590
Educational Response to Third Age Learning (3 credits)
HSL 4846
Aging and the Family. (3 credits)
HSL 5100
Societal Theories of Aging (3 credits)
HSL 5400
Aging Policy in Action (3 credits)
HSL 5900
Research Methods (3 credits)
KSR 5225
Physical Activity and Aging (3 credits)
PUBH 4890
Health and Aging. (3 credits)
PSY 5540
Psychological Processes in the Aged (3 credits)
3 to 6 credit hours from
BIO 4834
Neurobiology. (3 credits)
BIO 5434
Neurobiology (3 credits)
BIO 4835
Advanced Neurobiology (3 credits)
BIO 5435
Advanced Neurobiology (3 credits)
HCM 4910
Applied Health Communication (3 credits)
HCM 5610
Advanced Analysis and Development of Health Communication Campaigns (3 credits)
HSL 4775
Human Services Programs and Resource Management (3 credits)
HSL 4820
Death and Dying (3 credits)
HSL 4845
Family Stress and Resilience (3 credits)
HSL 4850
Human Services Programs: Community, Culture and Intersectionality (3 credits)
HSL 5450
Leadership and Administration in Human Services Programming (3 credits)
HSL 5846
Public Policy and Grant Writing for Human Services Programming (3 credits)
PLS 4793
Civic and Nonprofit Leadership (3 credits)
PLS 4873
Human Resource Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 credits)
PLS 4893
Budgeting in Government and Nonprofit Organizations (3 credits)
PUBH 4770
Health Services Administration. (3 credits)
PUBH 5700
Theories and Principles of Health Behavior (3 credits)
PUBH 5750
Health Program Planning and Evaluation (3 credits)
PUBH 5770
Leadership and Ethics for Health Professionals (3 credits)
PUBH 4800
Drugs and Society. (3 credits)
PUBH 4810
Community Resources and Chemical Dependency. (2 credits)
PUBH 4830
Perspectives on Health and Humor (3 credits)
PUBH 5600
Essentials of International Health (3 credits)
PSY 5545
Techniques for Geriatric Management. (3 credits)
Shared Courses for the Option in Long Term Care Admin Accelerated Program
Shared credit options for the accelerated M.S. in Aging Studies: Long Term Care Administration include a maximum of 9 total credit hours from the following:
CMN 5155
Communication and Aging (3 credits)
EDF 5590
Educational Response to Third Age Learning (3 credits)
OR
HSL 5100
Societal Theories of Aging (3 credits)
HSL 4820
Death and Dying (3 credits)
OR
HSL 4846
Aging and the Family. (3 credits)
HSL 5400
Aging Policy in Action (3 credits)
HSL 5450
Leadership and Administration in Human Services Programming (3 credits)
OR
PUBH 5770
Leadership and Ethics for Health Professionals (3 credits)
HSL 5900
Research Methods (3 credits)
KSR 5225
Physical Activity and Aging (3 credits)
PLS 4873
Human Resource Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 credits)
PSY 5540
Psychological Processes in the Aged (3 credits)
OR
PSY 5545
Techniques for Geriatric Management. (3 credits)
PUBH 4890
Health and Aging. (3 credits)
Information sourced from the 2022-2023 EIU Graduate Catalog.
