Doctor of Philosophy in Gerontology

For the Ph.D. in Gerontology, the student must complete all requirements established by the Office of Graduate Studies and by the Graduate Division of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. These include: residency, research skills, comprehensive oral examination, preparation of a dissertation, and the final oral examination.

Each student will design his or her own curriculum with the assistance of a Support Committee of three gerontology faculty members. All students are expected to enroll in the Gerontology Proseminar for at least one semester and to acquire multidisciplinary training in gerontology by taking courses in the sociology, psychology, and biology of aging.

Students may enter the program with a Master's degree from the University of Kansas or another institution. Upon application, the Admissions Committee will review students' master's level preparation for doctoral-level research. An acceptable level of Master's preparation includes basic training in statistics, program assessment, or policy analysis and completion of an empirical, research study or thesis.

Students entering the program without an acceptable master's degree are required to complete the M.A. in Gerontology prior to the Ph.D. The requirements for the M.A. in Gerontology are: 
Enrollment in the Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Gerontology & Aging (3 hours) 
6 hours of core courses in Gerontology (selected from at least two of the following areas: biology of aging, psychology of aging, social gerontology) 
12 hours of supplemental courses in Gerontology and related fields 
6 hours of basic statistics courses 
3 hours of methodology 
6 hours of thesis credit

For students who enter the program with an acceptable master's degree or who complete the M.A. in Gerontology, the minimum requirements for the Ph.D. in Gerontology are: 
Enrollment Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Gerontology & Aging (3 hours) 
At least 6 hours of core courses in Gerontology (selected from at least two of the following areas: biology of aging, psychology of aging, social gerontology) 
At least 12 hours of additional supplemental courses in Gerontology and related fields 
6 hours of advanced statistics courses 
6 additional hours of methodology 
Completion of written and oral comprehensive examinations 
6 hours of dissertation credit, completion of dissertation, and final oral examination

All students enrolled in the Gerontology Program are expected to be continuously involved in research in gerontology under the supervision of their Graduate Advisor and Support Committee. Research involvement is expected to include the design, execution, and dissemination of research on aging.

Students will have the opportunity to pursue research experience in a broad range of settings including academic laboratories on the Lawrence campus, clinical settings at the Medical Center, and community settings in Lawrence and surrounding areas. Students in this program will particularly benefit from opportunities to work with practitioners and observe care practices in clinical settings at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

The gerontology core courses should be completed during the first two semesters of study. Students are normally expected to complete the M.A. degree in two years. A maximum time limit of three years will be imposed for completing all requirements for the M.A. degree. Students are normally expected to complete the Ph.D. within three years of entering the program or within three years of completing the M.A. degree in Gerontology. A maximum time limit of six years is imposed for completing all requirements for the doctoral degree following admission to the doctoral program with an acceptable Masters degree or following completion of the M.A. degree in Gerontology.

The Gerontology Program is not currently admitting students. No applications will be accepted.