Program Prerequisites and Admission Requirements

• Admission to the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences as a B.A. in Tourism, Recreation and Sport student
• Minimum GPA: 3.0
• At least 75 completed undergraduate credit hours prior to starting graduate courses
• Completion of the application found at https://uncw.edu/chhs/shahs/academic/graduate/gerontology/index.html
• One letter of recommendation from a faculty member with whom the student has taken a 300 or 400-level course
• Cover letter describing interest in the program and career goals related to gerontology
• Unofficial UNCW transcript

Rationale for Program

This program is an opportunity for students interested in working with older adults to develop knowledge, skills, and experience with and about the most rapidly growing segment of the population.  Drawing on the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education’s competencies as a framework, our goal is to educate gerontologists who will improve quality of life and promote well-being of persons as they age within their families, communities and societies through research, education and application of interdisciplinary knowledge of the aging process and aging populations.

The purpose of the combined Bachelor of Arts degree in Tourism, Recreation and Sport and Master of Science degree in Applied Gerontology is to offer an accelerated path toward a Master of Science degree that prepares graduates with knowledge, skills, and competencies related to the leisure industry and gerontology. These educational experiences prepare graduates to serve as qualified professionals providing leisure opportunities and experiences for individuals of all ages and from all walks of life to enhance their overall health, well-being and quality of life.  Furthermore, student outcomes emphasize critical thinking and evidence-based practices as means of assisting older adult and organizations that serve them in reaching their goals and maximizing quality of life for older adults.

The combined program will benefit students by:

• providing invaluable knowledge and experience working with older adults
• allowing 12 graduate credits to satisfy undergraduate and graduate requirements
• reducing costs of graduate education due to the ability to enroll in graduate courses during an undergraduate degree program at the undergraduate tuition rate

Curriculum

Students must meet all requirements for the B.A. in Tourism, Recreation and Sport.  Students may count 12 credits of 500-level courses in the MGRN curriculum toward requirements for their undergraduate program of study. The courses available are:

• GRN 501 - Aging and Society Credit Hours: 3

• (instead of REC 359 - Research and Evaluation in Recreation, Sport Leadersip and Tourism)

• GRN 503 - Investigative Inquiry in Gerontology Credit Hours: 3
• GRN 525 - Health and Aging Credit Hours: 3

For students who are admitted to the MGRN program:

Remaining requirements to complete that degree can be found at: https://uncw.edu/chhs/shahs/academic/graduate/gerontology/index.html

Timeline

• Once students are enrolled in the Tourism, Recreation and Sport major and are completing their 75^th credit hour, they can apply for admission into the 4+1 combined program.
• After completing at least 75 undergraduate credit hours, those admitted to the 4+1 program can enroll in the 12 designated graduate courses.
• Students who successfully complete the 12, 500-level credits and all remaining Tourism, Recreation and Sport degree requirements are awarded a B.A. in Tourism, Recreation and Sport.
• In the final semester of their bachelor’s program, students may apply to the MGRN program for summer or fall admission. Applicants must meet all Graduate School admissions requirements and submit their application by the stated deadline. Admission to the 4+1 combined program does not guarantee admission to the MGRN program upon completion of the bachelor’s degree.
• If admitted to the MGRN, the 12 credits earned at the 500-level will count toward the degree requirements of the M.S. in Applied Gerontology degree.
• The following schedule details the progression to completion of the master’s degree in one year (note that only one of the two summer terms is required):

• Students who do not go on to the M.S. in Applied Gerontology program may apply for admission to the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Gerontology and have the 12 credits earned at the 500-level count toward the degree requirements of the Certificate.