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Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration

The Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration is available to any interested master's or doctoral student who is enrolled in the Faculty of Graduate Studies and whose graduate work focuses on aging.

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A variety of people of varying ages seated on the ground in a white room reading and discussing papers.
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    Faculty

    • Faculty of Graduate Studies

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    Degree

    • Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration

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    Expected duration

    • 6 credit hours plus a thesis or practicum

  • What students and faculty say about the Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration

    “It is very exciting that my university transcript will officially recognize my master’s-related work in aging through the Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration. This extra credential should help make me more competitive when looking for a job in an aging related field upon graduation.” 

    - Megan Campbell, graduate student and co-lead for the Students Targeting Aging Research (STAR) group

    “This opportunity for students aligns with the fact that the University of Manitoba has endorsed the Age-friendly University principles as developed by Dublin City University, making us the first university in Canada to do so.  Amongst other principles, the new concentration will go a long way to increase the understanding of students of the longevity dividend and the increasing complexity and richness that aging brings to our society."

    - Dr. Michelle Porter, director of the Centre on Aging

  • A Centre on Aging student stands with a sign which says 'Careers in aging are important because we all get older'.

Program details

Expected duration: 6 credit hours plus thesis or practicum

The Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration requirements include:

  • Six credit hours of graduate (7000-level or higher) courses that focus on aging and are approved by the student’s advisory committee
  • A thesis or practicum on an aging-related topic
  • Having at least one advisory committee member who is officially affiliated with the Centre on Aging as a research affiliate
  • Participating as a poster presenter in the annual Centre on Aging's Spring Research Symposium 

Aging-related courses

Any aging course offered during the academic term will be listed in the current graduate course calendar. There is no specific list to consult, as course offerings vary from year to year. Review the course offerings and discuss with your advisor the options that best fit with your program of study. The following courses (not an exhaustive list) have been offered in the past and may be suitable for your program of study. Please check the graduate course calendar.

  • CHSC 7232: Families and Care Across the Life Course
  • CHSC 7710: Social Aspects of Aging
  • CHSC 7720: Health and Aging
  • COMP 7570: Advanced Topics in Computer Science 1-Technology and Older Adults
  • DS 7040: Selected Topics in Disability Studies: Healthy/Active Aging and Disability
  • PHED 7080: Community Environments and Healthy, Active Aging
  • PSYC 7192: Psychology of Health and Aging
  • PSYC 8040: Psychology of Aging
  • PSYC7930: Clinical Geropsychology Specialty Practicum
  • REHB 7060: Gerontology

Special topics or readings courses on aging can be used (with permission of the student's committee and FGS) to count towards the required credit hours, so long as the course content has a substantial aging component.

Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration on the transcript

Upon graduation, a student who has met all the requirements will have the Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration noted on their transcript. It is not a gerontology degree program.

Gain a competitive edge

With the increasing number of people 65 years and older, work opportunities in the field of aging are expanding to meet the growing demand of this population. Students interested in working in aging-related fields can expect to work with a diverse population in a variety of fields such as financial planning, recreation and travel, elder law, fitness, housing, arts, and health care. With a fast-growing field, the need for experienced professionals to meet the needs of older people continues to grow.

Admission requirements

The Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration is available to any student interested in aging who has been admitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and whose master's or doctoral graduate work allows them to meet all Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration requirements.

How to apply

Once a student starts their graduate degree program and has a plan in place to complete the requirements of the Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration, they are asked to submit the Student Intention to Receive the Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration form to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Graduate students who are not in a thesis or practicum-based program will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Graduate students may be able to attain their 6 credit hours of courses within the existing course requirements of their graduate program. Students must attain a minimum grade of C+ (or higher, if stipulated in the department/unit supplementary regulations), for the required 6 credit hours of aging courses.

Student progress in the Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration would usually be discussed with the student’s advisory committee, and progress documented on the Student Intention to Receive the Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration form which must accompany the Progress Report form submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The final Graduate Focus on Aging Concentration Completion form must be submitted no later than at least one week prior to the FGS deadline for graduands to submit theses or practica and other reports.

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Admission and application inquiries

Faculty of Graduate Studies
Room 500 UMSU University Centre
65 Chancellors Circle
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

graduate.admissions@umanitoba.ca
Phone: 204-474-9377

Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.