This program is designed for students whose interests and career goals include research or applied work in the field of gerontology. The curriculum is flexible so that students can pursue areas of individual interest. The MGS program provides students with: 

• A thorough background in theory and research in social gerontology, 
• Fundamentals of program management
• Hands-on experience through an individualized and supervised field practicum
• Opportunities to interact with professionals in the field of aging.

We admit 8-10 MGS students each academic year.

MGS students are not required to write a thesis. Instead, our master’s students write a culminating paper in their final semester in the program. Two faculty members will oversee and approve the paper. Following are examples of documents that could serve as a culminating paper for an MGS student:

• A systematic literature review
• A research paper
• A document detailing the scientific rationale and blueprint for the development of a “product” that benefits older adults or an agency/program that serves older adults
• Rationale and recommendations for the development or improvement of a policy or program
• A purpose-driven case study of an organization, program, policy, or practice in the field of gerontology. 

The doctoral program focuses and builds on three rich traditions of gerontology at Miami University:

• The multidisciplinary approach characteristic of the field
• Expertise in both quantitative and qualitative methods
• A critical gerontology perspective that emphasizes the social construction of age and aging

We admit 4-6 doctoral students each academic year.

Applicants to the doctoral program include those who have earned a bachelor's degree and those who have earned or are in the process of completing a master’s degree. Individuals with a bachelor’s degree may apply to the PhD program, but if accepted are required to begin their studies by earning the Master of Gerontological Studies (MGS) degree (43 semester hours). Admission of individuals with only a bachelor’s degree into the PhD program is highly competitive and relatively unusual. Students are accepted into the doctoral program from a range of disciplines. For students who enter with a master's degree from a discipline other than gerontology, the faculty will determine which MGS core courses must be taken as part of their doctoral studies.

The MGS and PhD are distinct programs; the MGS is considered a professional degree. MGS and PhD students often take courses together. Ultimately 50% of MGS graduates pursue a PhD in gerontology or another discipline.

Applications are accepted for fall admission only. Completed application and all accompanying materials must be received by January 15. We typically interview candidates in December and January and try to notify students about admission by mid-March, and those offered acceptance have until April 15th to accept admission into the program.

Yes, graduate assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis but we typically fund all full-time students. Continued funding is contingent upon satisfactory performance and availability of funds. The application for an assistantship is part of the Graduate School application process. Assistantships (9 months) for doctoral students are $22,938 and $17,138 for MGS students, but this amount varies each year and is not guaranteed.

Additionally, assistantships waive 93% of tuition and pay a stipend in exchange for working with faculty on research projects as a research assistant or on a course as a teaching assistant. Students with assistantships work 18-20 hours per week in the department. Here is more information on our funding support. 

Typically, we are able to support our full-time graduate students on graduate assistantships (GAs) that waive 100% of tuition and 33% of the general fee. The remaining 67% of the general fee is your responsibility (as a GA), which is shown in the table below. The per semester cost starts at $563.38 for the minimum 9 credits for full time study as a GA.

The One Stop will give you the costs per credit details (without a GA); please see the "Oxford Graduate Academic Year" section at the top of the page with the "Fall/Spring Semester Per Credit Hour" drop down.

The Graduate School minimum undergraduate grade point average is 2.75 out of 4.0. If you were educated outside of the United States, an equivalent U.S. grade point average will be calculated for you as part of the application review process. We do not require applicants to submit credential evaluations, such as WES or ECE.

GRE scores are not required.

International applicants to the MGS or PhD who have not received an undergraduate or graduate degree from a U.S. institution are required to take an English proficiency exam.

According to the Graduate School International Application website, the following information is required for international applicants:

• Applicants who study in a country where English is not the official language must submit proof of English proficiency. Test scores are valid for two years and must be valid at the time of application. 
• Students who study at an institution where the language of instruction is in English but the country's official language is not English, are required to submit English proficiency test scores. 
• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are accepting the Duolingo English Test for the 2021-2022 application cycle as an alternative to the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE test. Your Duolingo English Test scores must include the subscores. If you took the test prior to July 15, 2019, you will need to retake the test.
• Minimum test scores for admission consideration are:
  • TOEFL iBT ≥ 80
  • IELTS ≥ 6.5
  • PTE ≥ 54
  • Duolingo ≥ 110
• The Graduate School accepts unofficial score reports for TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE with the application. An official score report must be sent prior to studying at Miami University.
• An official Duolingo score report must be sent to Miami University - Oxford - Graduate Admissions for your application, unofficial scores are not accepted.
• Some graduate programs may offer Conditional Admission to applicants with English scores below the minimum requirement. 

For more information, go to the English Language Proficiency web page.

There are three fee waivers available:

• You have earned a graduate degree (masters or higher) from Miami University.
• If you are a Ronald E. McNair Scholar or Alum.
• If you are from a low-income country designated by the World Bank (countries listed at bottom of the page).

What are the disciplinary backgrounds of the departmental faculty and Scripps researchers?

• Departmental faculty are trained in demography, gerontology, psychology, public health, social welfare, social work, sociology. 
• Additionally, Scripps researchers represent education, exercise and health studies, and human development and social policy. 
• Scripps Gerontology Center Research Fellows represent the following departments from across campus: Anthropology, Art, Comparative Religion, Economics, Family Science & Social Work, Interactive Media Studies, Kinesiology & Health, Speech Pathology & Audiology, and Statistics.

Our MGS and PhD programs are offered on-campus only.

Degrees are granted through Miami University's Department of Sociology & Gerontology. The Scripps Gerontology Center provides administrative support to the graduate programs and offers opportunities for involvement in its many research projects. Scripps also hosts lectures, presentations, and events that are an important part of gerontology education at Miami University.