Dementia and Aging Studies MS

Program Overview

In response to the critical need for a competent workforce for the aging population, Texas State created the Master of Science (M.S.) in Dementia and Aging Studies program. The curriculum emphasizes knowledge of dementia, aging and the person-centered model of care.

Course Work

This program offers three concentrations emphasizing different coursework and providing distinct career outcomes.

• The practitioner concentration offers a wide variety of elective courses tailored to the interests of those who wish to become dementia and aging specialists. They can serve in the workplace and in the community as educators, advocates or consultants, applying an innovative and rights-based understanding of issues such as dementia care, aging in place, and hospice, to help improve the lived experiences of families and individuals.
• The research concentration focuses on advanced research knowledge to accompany the cutting-edge information offered in the core dementia and aging courses, preparing students for doctoral programs.
• The dementia and long-term care concentration combines long-term care and sociology courses to provide a social model of care approach to students aiming to work in extended living environments upon graduation

Program Details

The Master of Science in Dementia and Aging Studies program at Texas State is ranked 10th among online gerontology programs in the United States.

Program Mission

The mission of the Master of Science (M.S.) in Dementia and Aging Studies program is to educate from a global, interdisciplinary, and human rights perspective to create compassion and understanding for persons with dementia and older adults.

The department accomplishes this mission by preparing students for dementia-and aging-related careers in teaching, advocacy, research, and leadership to empower care partners and foster autonomy for persons with dementia and older adults.

Career Options

Graduates will make an immediate positive influence in their profession or be able to pursue further graduate studies leading toward research-related careers. Most will pursue advanced management and leadership opportunities in professional settings related to long-term care, hospices and hospitals, while others will develop new approaches to support persons living with dementia.

Program Faculty

Faculty conduct research on topics including, but not limited to, dementia, cognitive impairment, long-term care workers, caregiving, aging-in-place and dementia-friendly environments. They present their research at national and international conferences, including the Gerontological Society of America, American Society on Aging, International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics World Congress and the Association for Gerontology and Higher Education. Faculty have published books, book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles in top venues in their field, such as Innovation in Aging, Aging and Health, The Gerontologist, Social Science and Medicine and the Journal of Gerontology.