Master’s in Gerontology Degree Study Aging from Biological, Social, Psychological, and Human Perspectives
36
Credit Hours
Online,* 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Dates: September 21, 2026 | October 26, 2026 | January 18, 2027
Prepare to Serve an Aging Population with a Master of Arts in Gerontology Online
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.
For students enrolling today, who are placed on the current academic year’s degree completion plan, the officially conferred degree name will be Master of Arts (MA) in Gerontology. Degree details, including name, may be subject to change between academic terms.
*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.
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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
Why Choose Liberty’s Master’s in Gerontology Degree Online?
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.
*Population Reference Bureau, at Fact Sheet: Aging in the United States (viewed online Aug. 31, 2026).
What Will You Study in Liberty’s MA in Gerontology?
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.
Potential Gerontology Career Opportunities
- Aging services manager
- Caregiver/case manager for older adults
- Elder advocate
- Gerontologist
- Healthcare administrator (in eldercare settings)
- Ministry coordinator (for senior service-facing ministries)
Featured Online Gerontology Courses
- HSCI 550 – Theories and Frameworks for Aging
- HSCI 602 – Biological Aspects of Aging
- HSCI 604 – Social Issues and Aspects of Aging
- HSCI 644 – Literary Reflections on Aging
Course guides coming soon
Course Format
We offer both 8-week and full-semester sub-terms each semester. While many online courses can be taken in the 8-week format, some programs require courses that must be taken in the full-semester term. Some courses may require additional approvals or information prior to registration.
In addition to these formats, some courses may be required to be taken in intensive or alternative formats, which may include scheduled meeting times, travel to campus, or required login sessions.
You can view specific sub-term offerings and requirements in the Course Registration Tool.
Degree Information
- This program falls under the School of Health Sciences.
- View the Graduate Health Sciences Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan
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Tuition & Aid
At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Many of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2026 when compared to our leading online competitors.
| 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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Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Our Gerontology Master’s Degree Program
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
- Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
- If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.
Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy
Please see the Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses Policy page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.
Transcript Policies
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
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Submit your application online or over the phone.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Liberty’s Gerontology Master’s Degree Online
What is gerontology?
Gerontology is the study of aging and the experiences associated with growing older. The field examines aging from multiple perspectives, including biological, psychological, social, cultural, and community factors. Unlike fields focused primarily on medical care, gerontology also considers topics such as cognitive health, public policy, economics, research, health promotion, and services for older adults.
What does a gerontologist do?
A gerontologist works with or on behalf of aging individuals and populations, but specific responsibilities can vary considerably by role and professional background. Depending on the position, gerontology career options can involve aging services, community programs, health promotion initiatives, advocacy, eldercare organizations, research, or program administration.
Liberty’s curriculum can help you develop an understanding of aging that incorporates biological, psychological, social, research, and contextual perspectives. The degree is not designed to meet state certification or licensure requirements, so positions requiring a separate professional license will have additional requirements.
What’s the difference between gerontology and geriatrics?
Gerontology broadly examines aging and the experiences of older adults from social, cultural, policy, and community perspectives. Geriatrics, by contrast, refers more specifically to the medical care and treatment of older adults. In Liberty’s program, you will study health-related aspects of aging while also exploring research, social issues, community health promotion, the humanities, cognitive health, and policy.
What jobs can I get with a gerontology master’s degree?
A gerontology master’s degree can support several career directions involving older adults, aging services, healthcare, public health, advocacy, and community programming. Potential areas include gerontology, aging services management, healthcare administration in eldercare settings, case management for older adults, elder advocacy, public health, senior services program direction, and senior services ministry coordination.
Do you need a bachelor’s degree in a related field for a gerontology master’s?
No. Your bachelor’s degree does not need to be in gerontology or a related field to pursue Liberty’s Master of Arts in Gerontology. The program is open to students with a bachelor’s degree in any field who meet the admission requirements, allowing individuals from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds to pursue graduate study in gerontology.
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