Program of Study

Core Courses (21 credit hours) 

• Biology of Aging
• Epidemiology of Aging
• Issues in Aging Policy
• Psychology of Aging
• Sociocultural Gerontology
• Theories/Methods I
• Theories/Methods II

Research Methods/Statistics (min. 12 credit hours)

• Foundations in statistics/methods (min. 6 credit hours)
• Advanced disciplinary analytical courses based on track research specialization (min. 6 credit hours)

Track Specialization (9 credit hours) 

• In consultation with an academic advisor, students will select courses that will deepen their knowledge within their track.

Electives (6 credit hours)

• Courses to be selected from the remaining pool of applicable courses in aging in consultation with the major advisor.

Ethics course (1 credit) 

• CIPP 907- focuses on professional and research ethics. Student then attends an additional session focused on ethics in aging research.

Aging Forum

• Sessions (maximum of 8 per semester) on the “nuts and bolts” of research and life in the professional world.
• Mandatory attendance the first two years of the program.

Comprehensive Examination (end of 2nd year for full-time students) 

• An examination of core gerontological knowledge, focusing on the content of core courses.

Dissertation (12 credits UMB/18 credits UMBC: both equal min. of 2 semesters)

• Research on doctoral dissertation under the direction of a faculty advisor.

Seminar Series 

• Mandatory attendance while in the program.

The Policy track provides students with an understanding of the policy-making process and the forces affecting it; the tools and concepts for analyzing policies; and an understanding of how to conduct research designed to inform policy.

Students learn to apply this body of knowledge to policy issues in aging, including health and long-term care, economic security, work and retirement, and housing.

Aging Policy Track Courses

Core courses (21 credit hours)

Research Methods/Statistics Courses

Foundation (6 credits)

waived with approval, based on sufficient prior graduate training; taken first year

• PUBL 600** Research Methodology
• PUBL 604** Statistical Analysis

or

• SOCY 600** Research Methodology
• SOCY 604** Statistical Analysis

Advanced Analytical Courses* (6 credits)

Please be certain to discuss with your advisor so that you take courses appropriate to the dissertation research you plan to undertake.

• ECON 611/612 Advanced Econometric Methods I /II
• PUBL 607 Statistical Applications in Evaluation Research
• PUBL 608 Applied Multivariate Analysis
• PHSR 701/702 Research Methods I and II
• SOCY 608 Advanced Statistical Methods
• SOCY 619 Qualitative Methods

Track Specialization Courses* (9 credits)

• ECON 600*** Policy Consequences of Economic Analysis
• PUBL 603*** Theory and Practice of Policy Analysis
• PUBL 601*** Political and Social Context of the Policy Process
• ECON 652 Health Economics
• PUBL 652 Politics of Health
• PUBL 618 Issues in Health Care Finance and Service Delivery
• SOCY 632 Work and Retirement (this is not currently offered but may be offered again in the future)
• SOCY 698 Adv. Selected Topic: Aging and Health in Diverse Context (this is not currently offered but may be offered in the future)
• SOWK 726 Aging and Social Policy (only to be taken if you are unable to take GERO 672)

Electives (6 credits)

Courses also selected from track courses, research and methods courses, or other courses in consultation with the faculty advisor.

*Track courses and Electives are not offered every year. Courses selected in consultation with the faculty advisor. Courses may be substituted with approval (see Handbook)

**Required for policy track

***Two of these three courses, ECON 600, PUBL 603, PUBL 601, are required.

Permission is required for all PUBL courses. Please contact the instructor.

Students completing the Epidemiology of Aging Track will be prepared to address questions on the incidence and prevalence of disease and disability and the use of health and long-term care services in older persons; the causes and consequences of these diseases, disabilities and use of services; and the identification and evaluation of strategies for preventing disease and disability, and maximizing appropriate use of health and health care services. 

Epidemiology of Aging Track Courses

Core Courses (21 credit hours)

Research Methods/Statistics Courses

Foundation (min 6 credits) 

• PREV 600 Principles of Epidemiology
• PREV 620 Principles of Biostatistics
• PREV 619 Biostatistical Computing

Advanced Analytical Courses* (3 courses required) 

• PREV 720 Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
• PREV 721 Regression Analysis
• PREV 723 Survival Analysis
• PREV 801 Longitudinal Analysis

Track Specialization Courses* (9 credits)

• PREV 659 Observational Studies in Epidemiology
• PREV 716 Chronic Disease Epidemiology
• PREV 758 Health Survey Research Methods
• PREV 803 Clinical Trials and Experimental Epidemiology

Electives* (5-6 credits)

• PREV 613 Nutritional Epidemiology
• PREV 701 Cancer Epidemiology
• PREV 702 Advance Quantitative Methods
• PREV 705 Pharmacoepidemiology
• PREV 711 Genetic Epidemiology
• PREV 716 Chronic Disease Epidemiology
• PREV 723 Survival Analysis 
• PREV 749 Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• PREV 801 Longitudinal Analysis
• PREV 802 Statistics for Molecular Biology

*Track courses and Electives are not offered every year. Courses selected in consultation with the faculty advisor. Courses may be substituted with approval (see Handbook).

If earning the dual degree in Epidemiology, refer to the dual degree page for courses.

Students in the SCB track develop a biopsychosocial perspective. In this view, individuals’ actions, as well as influences at the group, structural and societal levels lead to understanding aging from an integrated, interdisciplinary perspective; this approach also enables linking research from the macro-societal level, through behavioral and psychological levels, to underlying biological and physiological phenomenon.

Social, Cultural and Behavioral Sciences Track Courses

Core Courses (21 credit hours)

• GERO 672 Issues in Aging Policy
• GERO 681 Epidemiology of Aging
• GERO 700 Sociocultural Gerontology
• GERO 711 Biology of Aging
• GERO 786 Psychological Aspects of Aging
• GERO 750 Theories/Methods I (taken first semester of first year)
• GERO 751 Theories/Methods II (taken second semester of first year)

Research Methods/Statistics Courses

Foundation (min. 6 credits)

Substituted with approval, based on adequacy of prior graduate training

• SOCY 600 Research Methodology and
• SOCY 604 Statistical Analysis

or

• PSYC 611 Data Analytic Procedures I** and
• PSYC 710 Data Analytic Procedures II***

Advanced Analytical Courses (min. 6 credits)

Selected in consultation with advisor. For some courses, permission required.

• ECON 611 Advanced Econometric Methods I
• ECON 612 Advanced Econometric Methods II
• NURS 814 Design and Analysis for Non-Experimental Nursing Research
• NURS 815 Qualitative Methods in Nursing Research
• NURS 816 Multivariate Analysis in Social and Health Care Research
• NURS 817 Longitudinal Designs in Health Care Research
• PSYC 713 Longitudinal Data Analysis***
• PSYC 715 Measurement***
• PSYC 717 Structural Equation Modeling***
• PUBL 607 Statistical Applications in Evaluation Research
• PUBL 608 Applied Multivariate Regression – An Introduction
• PUBL 611 Causal Inference in Program Evaluation
• SOCY 605 Advanced Research and Evaluation Techniques
• SOCY 608 Advanced Statistical Methods
• SOCY 618 SAS for Social Scientists
• SOCY 619 Qualitative Methods in Social Research
• SOWK 783 Qualitative Cross-Cultural Research

Track Specialization Courses* (9 credits)

• SOCY 606 Social Inequality and Social Policy
• SOCY 611 Constructing Race, Class, Gender
• SOCY 620 Social Epidemiology
• SOCY 630 Sociology of Aging
• SOCY 631 Family and Aging in Society
• SOCY 632 Work and Retirement
• SOCY 634 Gender and the Life Course
• SOCY 651 Health and Illness Behavior (being renamed: SOCY 651 Social Dimensions of Health, 9/23)
• SOCY 658 Sociology of Mental Health
• SOCY 670 Social Ties Across the Life Course
• EDUC 605 The Adult Learner (consent req.)
• GERO 742 Economics of Aging
• GERO 710 Global Aging: Gerontology in Japan 

Electives* (6 credits)

Students can take a combination of Electives and/or additional Track Specialization courses)

• SOCY 652 Healthcare Organization and Delivery
• SOCY 680 Applied Sociology
• SOCY 681 Social and Institutional Roles of Nonprofits
• SOCY 685 Nonprofits, Internal Operations and External Relations
• SOCY 698 Social Networks, Crime, and Health****
• PUBL 610 Special Topics in Public Policy (depends on topic focus) 
• PUBL 618 Issues in Healthcare Finance & Service
• SOWK 726 Social Policies and Programs for the Aging
• THAN 605 Palliative Care *****
• THAN 606 Caring for the Bereaved*****

*Track courses and Electives are not offered every year. Courses selected in consultation with the faculty advisor. Courses may be substituted with approval (see Handbook).
** Instructor permission required.
***PSYC 611: Instructor permission required.
If earning the combined degree in Sociology refer to the SOCY dual degree page for courses.
****New SOCY course number being assigned 9/23
*****PhD students can take no more than ONE course 

Gerontology PhD and Applied Sociology MA

Gerontology doctoral students may simultaneously earn an MA in Applied Sociology. This program is only available to students who are accepted into the Gerontology PhD Program and remain in the program in good standing. Students taking the SCB track would be required to take an additional 3 credits. If interested, contact the program coordinator.

Gerontology PhD and Epidemiology MS

Gerontology doctoral students may simultaneously earn an MS in Epidemiology and Clinical Research (Epidemiology Track), with their PhD in Gerontology. This program is only available to students who are accepted into the Gerontology Doctoral Program and remain in the program in good standing. Students will be required to take 1 more class (3 credits). Contact your program coordinator to apply.