The Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Gerontology was approved by the Kansas Board of Regents during the 1996-1997 academic year. The University of Kansas is one of only several universities nation-wide which offers the Ph.D. in Gerontology. KU's Graduate Program in Gerontology is unique in that it is an interdisciplinary research degree emphasizing social and behavioral gerontology. Faculty affiliated with the program include members of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Architecture and Urban Design, Allied Health, Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Social Welfare.
The program prepares students for academic and research careers in gerontology, as well as for professional careers in private and public institutions and agencies providing services to older individuals. Students seeking a terminal M.A. in Gerontology are not admitted; the M.A. in Gerontology is offered only to those pursuing a Ph.D. in Gerontology.
For the Ph.D. in Gerontology, the student must complete all requirements established by the Graduate School 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 Gerontology Proseminar (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 in the Gerontology Proseminar (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.
TopThe 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.
TopAny student who has completed at least a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree at an accredited institution of higher education may apply for admission to the Gerontology Ph.D. Program. Application forms are in .pdf format, which require Adobe Acrobat Reader, if you don't already have it you can download it here.
Required application materials include:
As of November 2007:
There are different application forms for domestic and international students. Both are available online and in paper form. Links to them can be found by visiting the Office of Research and Graduate Studies, where there is additional information for prospective students.
If you are applying online, please send the following documentation to the Gerontology Center:
All the above application materials should be sent to:
Admissions Committee
University of Kansas - Gerontology Center
Dole Human Development Center
1000 Sunnyside Ave., Room 3090
Lawrence, KS 66045-7555
If the on-line application is not accessible to you, please complete the paper version and mail it to: Graduate Application Processing Center, University of Kansas, Strong Hall, Room 313, 1450 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS 66045. All other supporting documents should be sent to the Gerontology Center. We strongly urge you to use the on-line application form if at all possible.
**Please remember the deadline for all application materials is February 1st**
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The University of Kansas Gerontology Center Dole Human Development Center 1000 Sunnyside Ave. Room 3090 Lawrence, KS 66045-7555 gerontology@ku.edu 785/864-4130 |
Photos © The University of Kansas Office of University Relations. This file was modified 09/01/09 04:51:49 PM |
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