Master’s in Gerontology Degree Study Aging from Biological, Social, Psychological, and Human Perspectives

36

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Online,* 8-week courses

Some programs have courses that follow a full-semester schedule or are offered in specific terms only.

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: September 21, 2026 | October 26, 2026 | January 18, 2027

What does it take to support people well through the later stages of life? As the population of older adults grows, communities and organizations need professionals who understand aging from biological, psychological, social, and practical perspectives. Liberty University’s Master of Arts (MA) in Gerontology can help you build that interdisciplinary understanding while exploring ways to serve aging individuals and populations.

Gerontology is the study of aging and the experiences, needs, and opportunities associated with later life. Rather than focusing on a single area of care, the field considers factors such as physical and cognitive health, social environments, public policy, community services, research, and human development. Through an aging studies degree, you will examine these interconnected areas and consider how research and gerontological principles can inform health promotion, education, programming, and services for older adults. You can also develop a broader perspective on the individual and community factors that influence the aging experience.

Our MA in Gerontology is offered online through the School of Health Sciences. Through interdisciplinary coursework and a practicum, you can prepare to pursue gerontology career options related to aging services, healthcare administration, community health, program planning, advocacy, and other service-oriented settings.


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What Sets Us Apart?

  • Private Nonprofit University
  • 600+ Online Degrees
  • No Standardized Testing for Admission
  • Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
  • Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

As an online student at Liberty, you can access resources designed to support you throughout your graduate studies. The Jerry Falwell Library provides online access to scholarly journals, databases, research guides, and research assistance, while the Online Writing Center offers additional support for academic writing. You can also take advantage of services such as online tutoring, Supplemental Instruction for select courses, live webinars and tutorials, and career development resources through Liberty’s Career Services. 

You will also engage with faculty from a variety of multidisciplinary backgrounds. Their professional perspectives can help connect academic concepts with the types of questions and challenges encountered when serving aging populations. A practicum will give you an opportunity to apply gerontological knowledge in a supervised professional setting related to your program of study. 

Demand for knowledgeable professionals who can serve older adults is connected to a major demographic shift in the United States. Americans ages 65 and older are projected to increase from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050 – an increase of 42%.* By pursuing a master’s in gerontology online, you can develop knowledge relevant to areas such as aging services administration, program planning, public health, advocacy, and community-based services. 

Liberty’s degree in gerontology online can help you continue your education without relocating to campus. You will complete an online curriculum that brings together research, aging studies, contextual competencies, and applied experience within 1 graduate program. This format can help you pursue advanced gerontology education while balancing your studies with work, family, and other responsibilities, and your practicum can be completed at an approved location near you. 


To understand aging across the lifespan, you will examine the theories and conceptual frameworks used to study human development and aging. You will also investigate biological aging, including longevity, senescence, age-related disease, and the ways biological principles can help explain variations in the aging process. Alongside these topics, you will explore psychological and social dimensions of aging, including mental and cognitive health, adaptation, social context, inequality, and the varied experiences of older adults. 

Beyond these core areas, your coursework will address healthy aging, health risk factors, disease prevention, and strategies for promoting health among aging populations. You will consider how cultural and spiritual factors relate to aging, death, and dying while also examining the role of communities in supporting older adults.  

Liberty’s aging studies curriculum also reaches into the humanities, giving you opportunities to consider how literature can illuminate the experience of growing older. You will analyze literary works that address ideas such as vitality, perspective, meaning, relationships, regret, hope, faith, and loss. This perspective can help you consider the human experience of aging alongside the scientific, social, and policy-oriented dimensions covered elsewhere in the degree. 

Research and applied practice are also incorporated into Liberty’s online gerontology degree. You will examine how to synthesize existing research, interpret findings, and develop proposals for action-oriented research interventions, with attention to ethical principles in work involving older adults. Through community health topics, you will consider communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of programs and services for aging populations. Your practicum will include 120 hours of supervised experience in an organization, hospital, private care facility, business, or industry related to your program of study.  

Degree Completion Plan


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Graduate Full Time $600/Credit
Graduate Part Time $665/Credit
Military Graduate $310/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2026-2027. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.


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Military

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

  • Active Duty
  • Reserve/National Guard
  • Veterans/Retirees
  • Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
  • Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

  • Tuition discounts – $310 per credit hour for graduate courses
  • Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder*
  • 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Not applicable to certificates.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2026-2027. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.