Aging Studies at MTSU

The Aging Studies Program at Middle Tennessee State University is an interdisciplinary program of research and education focusing on aging and the elderly. Faculty from nursing, nutrition, speech and language pathology, health, physical education, social work, psychology, and sociology conduct research and teach courses that provide students and aging professionals with the knowledge and expertise necessary to address challenges posed by an aging population. The Aging Studies Program serves the university and community through both educational and service programs, often combining the two through service-learning and practicum opportunities made possible by extensive collaborations and partnerships with community agencies and organizations. The program seeks to assist Aging Studies faculty achieve excellence in teaching, research, and scholarly activities by supporting research, faculty development, and encouraging participation in professional conferences. The program achieves its educational goals by offering an undergraduate Minor in Gerontology and a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology and advocating the integration of aging issues across the curriculum. The minor introduces students to the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging and complements a variety of majors. Students who complete the minor will gain the knowledge and personal skills required for working effectively with older persons. The graduate certificate provides advanced study in gerontology, allowing Master’s candidates to add a gerontological focus to their Master’s program and offering those working in the aging field an opportunity to enrich existing knowledge and skills while furthering opportunities for career advancement.

Why Study Gerontology?

Today there are more than 41 million Americans 65 or older, accounting for about 13.3 percent of the nation’s population. Due to the aging of the Baby Boom, these figures will increase dramatically over the next 25 years so that by 2040, there will be almost 80 million Americans 65 or older, about double the current number. One in five Americans, 20% of the total population, will be over 65.  Government agencies, healthcare institutions, businesses, and human service organizations will need leaders and employees who understand the biological, psychological, and social processes of aging and who have the skills necessary for working with an aging population. The interdisciplinary Minor in Gerontology and Graduate Certificate in Gerontology seek to provide students with the this knowledge and skill.

For more information about the Aging Studies Program, the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology, or the undergraduate Minor in Gerontology, please contact Brandon Wallace at brandon.wallace@mtsu.edu or call (615) 898-2509.