Exercise Science and Applied Gerontology, Bachelor’s/Master’s Combined Program

Overview

Objective: This combined bachelor’s/master’s degree program is designed to provide qualified students the opportunity to complete both degree programs in as little as five years. The successful student will earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Exercise Science and a Master of Science (M.S.) in Applied Gerontology (MGRN).

Undergraduate students in Exercise Science must apply for admission to the 4+1 B.S. in Exercise Science / M.S. in Applied Gerontology Combined Program.  Students should apply to the 4+1 combined program in the semester in which they are completing their 75^th credit hour so that they can begin graduate coursework the semester thereafter; undergraduate students can begin the 4+1 combined program in the fall or spring semester.  Twelve hours of courses taken at the 500-level will be dual counted towards both degrees.  Students then have the option to apply to the graduate school and continue progress towards the MGRN degree upon completion of the bachelor’s degree.

Requirements: Completion of all degree requirements for both the B.S. in Exercise Science and the M.S. in Applied Gerontology, with twelve credits of graduate-level courses that will count toward undergraduate requirements.

Program Prerequisites and Admission Requirements

• Admission to the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences as a B.S. in Exercise Science 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 combination Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and Master of Science degree in Applied Gerontology program is to offer an accelerated path toward a Master of Science degree that will prepare graduates to practice in health-care and community-based settings that serve older adults, and be leaders in the intersection of exercise science, gerontology, and wellness. The combined program prepares students to pursue further degrees in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other health-care related fields. It also prepares those students to work in wellness programs in retirement communities, recreation programs, and senior centers, or as an exercise physiologist or fitness trainer focusing on working with older adults. This preparation places a priority on the development of skills through in- and out-of class applied learning experiences, internships, and community engagement. Furthermore, student learning outcomes emphasize critical thinking and evidence-based practice as means of assisting older adult clients in reaching their goals, and maximizing their quality of life.

Curriculum

Students must meet all requirements for the Exercise Science, B.S.   Students may count 12 credits of 500-level courses in the MGRN curriculum toward requirements for their undergraduate program of study. Undergraduate students in a combined program taking GRN 503 will receive credit for three University Studies categories: Information Literacy, Writing Intensive and Critical Reasoning. The courses available are:

• GRN 501 Aging and Society  
• GRN 503 Investigative Inquiry in Gerontology  
• GRN 525 Health and Aging  
• PSY 524 Psychology of Aging   (Instead of PSY 324 Psychology of Aging)

Timeline

• Once students are enrolled in the Exercise Science 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 Exercise Science degree requirements are awarded a B.S. in Exercise Science.
• 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 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.