Master of Arts - Gerontology

Program Description

The Master of Arts in Gerontology program at San Francisco State University (SF State) was established in 1986 and is the first, and thus the oldest, graduate program in Gerontology in the California State University and University of California systems. The program is dedicated to the higher education of professionals using an interdisciplinary approach to serve the present and future needs of society in meeting the multiple challenges of an aging population; the conduct of applied research to increase the body of knowledge about issues and processes of aging; and the application of the discipline of gerontology in the community to advocate for improving the quality of care and quality of life for the aged.

The Master of Arts in Gerontology program emphasizes an applied, skill-based approach to professional education. To do this, it draws upon the strengths of the University and community as well as the expertise of the faculty.

The program resides in a richly diverse, multicultural environment which provides a natural laboratory for understanding and developing competencies around the aging experiences of different ethnic groups.

Students obtain knowledge of the discipline and its theoretical foundations. Students are prepared with tools which allow them to use quantitative and qualitative methods in applied research for examining issues pertinent to older adults.

Gerontology at SF State includes advocacy for the aged in the continuum of care and actively engages in activities through links with other professionals to provide a comprehensive model of consumer-driven health and human services. Students can participate in learning and service where skills of needs assessment, program development, implementation, and evaluation directly contribute to the community's well-being.