Gerontology Degrees in Arkansas - AR

As the population, and specifically, the number of elderly people increases, so too does the need for skilled medical professionals to care for them.  As a gerontologist in Arkansas, you’ll be on the frontlines of this fight, in one of the fastest growing careers in the medical health field.

If you’re looking into getting a gerontology degree in Arkansas, the place to start is by researching schools and programs in your area that offer an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree, in gerontology.  Arkansas is home to many schools, both online and campus-based, that offer such programs. Each type offers it own advantages; a college or university offers a more traditional education, while online schools offer increased flexibility, and a more diverse educational offering.

Whichever school you choose to go too, you’ll find the curriculum more or less follows these general guidelines. They generally start with a semester or two of a liberal arts program, intended to give you a well-rounded general education. Gerontologists have to be able to do many different things, and this basic education is an important cornerstone on which to build the foundation of your career.

Soon, however, the meat of your education begins. You’ll study all the various ways aging effects the body, physically as well as mentally. Gerontologists learn about the medical needs specific to the elderly, from nutrition and proper diets, too how to deal with, and help others cope, with things like Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Your education will shift depending on what type of Gerontological career you intend to pursue. Social workers will study more about sociological factors affecting the elderly, such as the depression that can come about with a decreased amount of mobility and retirement, as well what their legal, ethical, and medical responsibilities are as they begin directing programs and taking care of people. Caregivers, on the other hand, will study a basic and standard medical curriculum geared towards the specifics of treating, diagnosing, and interacting with the elderly.

Internships, usually a huge factor in an allied health education, are here less prevalent. Bachelor’s degree programs typically terminate with a year of required practical experience, but the years spent in an associate’s and master’s are usually more focused on intensive study. Likewise, not all gerontologists will need to, or be required too, undergo an internship. A social scientist and policy maker, for example, hoping to advocate for the elderly at the governmental level, will maybe only see a few externship opportunities, but probably won’t be required to complete any sort of practicum.