About Us

​Meeting the challenges of an aging population

The Department of Gerontology at the University of Massachusetts Boston—housed in the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies—features globally renowned academic programs in the study of aging. As one of the oldest doctoral programs in the world, we have produced more gerontology PhDs than any other institution—including our 102nd and 103rd graduates in spring 2022. The program provides advanced training and research in gerontology within an interdisciplinary framework, bridging theories, concepts, and research methods drawn primarily from the social and behavioral sciences. Our department also offers a Management of Aging Services master's degree, a gerontology graduate certificate, and undergraduate classes in Aging Studies.

The Gerontology Institute, established in 1984 by the Massachusetts legislature and then-Governor Michael Dukakis, serves as the research, policy, and public service component of the gerontology program at UMass Boston. Four centers located within the Institute bring special expertise to targeted areas: Pension Action Center; Osher Lifelong Learning Institute; Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging; and LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston.

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Our alumni: Global leadership

Our gerontology alumni live across the United States and across the globe, including in Canada, China, Israel, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and Thailand. They work at universities as educators, researchers and administrators; in health care settings; for local, state, and federal government agencies; as well as for nonprofit and private sector organizations that address aging issues. 

Want to learn more?

We're happy to answer your questions and offer more information about our degrees, research activities, potential partnerships, and other areas of interest.