The Gerontology with Long-Term Care Specialization program is part of the Department of Human Services and College of Health and Human Services.

  • Masters Available
  • Masters Available

Gerontology: Long‌-‌term Care Administration | Master's

Set your management career in Long Term Care (LTC) administration on the right path, with the only NAB accredited Health Services Executive qualification (HSE) in Ohio, while gaining a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Gerontology (MSIG) with a specialization in Long-Term Care at BGSU.

The MSIG LTC program at BGSU is a flexible, professional degree that can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis through online classes in just four semesters. The program provides experience with skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and home and community-based services, which is necessary to be eligible for the new Health Services Executive credential.

The degree curriculum includes the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB)-required Administrator in Training (AIT/internship) hours.

Stand Out in courses

  • Health and Aging and Aging Policy
  • Programs Aging
  • Individual & Society
  • Health Care Law
  • Principles of Nursing Home and Assisted Living Administrationn

Nursing home administration is a growth career

By 2030 the U.S. may have as many people over the age of 85 as the current populations of New York City, Chicago and greater Los Angeles combined. 

There will be a tremendous need for professionals (trained gerontologists) who have been prepared to administer the care of the older adult population. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be a 32% increase in medical and health service management jobs between 2019 - 2029. This is compared to an average 4% growth for all careers.

The Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Gerontology (MSIG) program at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and the specialization in Long-Term Care is specifically designed for professionals, pre or post-experience, in administrative disciplines who are seeking to acquire advanced knowledge and specialized skills to work with older adults and their families.

Curriculum

The mix of management, finance, HR and gerontological courses will provide a solid platform for long-term care administration, leadership and delivering evidence-based care and advocacy for the welfare of staff, and residents. 

Graduates will be given the tools to integrate the latest proven research concepts and theories into their work and address current gerontological research topics. They will be able to critically identify appropriate research questions and issues to improve the discipline in practical ways. 

Program graduates will be able to apply classroom knowledge within organizations and agencies while helping to shape policy and advocacy regarding aging-related issues.

Individuals completing their Administrator in Training (AIT) must work a minimum of 35 hours/week at their approved site. The number of internship hours are determined by state and federal licensure and regulatory agencies such as BELTSS, NAB, and CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid). Interns must be placed in an approved skilled nursing facility under the supervision of an approved Licensed Nursing Home Administrator.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Wendy Watson (Graduate Coordinator of the MSIG program) at 419-372-1054 or wwatson@bgsu.edu.

First Semester (Fall)
GERO 6010: Current Perspectives in Gerontology (3)
GERO 6100: Aging Policy and Programs (3)
GERO 5105: Long-Term Services and Supports (3)
MHSA 6310 Human Resources and Leadership Development (3)

Second Semester (Spring)
GERO 6020: Health and Aging (3)
GERO 6530: Research Methods in Gerontology (3)
GERO 5110: Principles of Nursing Home Administration (3)
GERO 5500: Healthcare Finance (3)

Third Semester (Summer)
GERO 6250: Administration of Aging Programs (online) (3)
MHSA 6400 Healthcare Law and Ethics (3)
GERO 6860: Directed Practicum/AIT (3)

Fourth Semester (Fall)
GERO 6860: Directed Practicum/AIT (3)

HSA qualified by the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) logo

Fully accredited by National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) as a Health Services Executive Program which allows BGSU graduates to sit for licensure as nursing home, assisted living, and home and community based services administrators.

Career

Graduates of the BGSU Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Gerontology (MSIG) with a specialization in Long-Term Care program are prepared for careers as administrators of nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Graduates are also prepared to work for county aging services and Area Agencies on Aging as well as social service and non-profit agencies. Other professional opportunities will arise within healthcare organizations in the areas of outreach and policy, as well as local, county and state health programs.

Current students describe the value of working and studying at the same time: “To see the comparison of what I was doing at work with what I was learning in school was very helpful and allowed me to have a better understanding of the why” - Kaelyn Sack, Life Enrichment Director, Otterbein-Pemberville. 

Go Far with a career in...

  • Facility Administrator
  • Skilled Nursing Facility Administrator
  • Assisted Living Leadership
  • Hospice Care Administration
  • Residential Care Community Management
  • Adult Day Services Management

Internships and practicum

The practicum experience blends theory from the classroom with practical experience in an agency serving older adults. Students specializing in LTC administration are required to complete an internship of at least 1,000 hours or as required by Ohio's Board of Executives of Long-Term Care Services and Support (BELTSS) and/or our accrediting body, the NAB.

One of only three nationally-accredited nursing home administration master’s programs in the U.S.

BGSU Graduate College

The Gerontology with Long-Term Care Specialization program is part of the Department of Human Services and College of Health and Human Services.



* Job placement and salary information was compiled by the Office of Academic Assessment through the Graduation Survey from AY2015-2018. The data are gathered around the time of Commencement and a follow-up survey six months post Commencement. For the salary question, data for programs with fewer than fifteen responses are not included. Salaries for those programs are from the National Association of Colleges and Employers Summer 2019 Survey. For questions regarding the data, contact assessment@bgsu.edu.

Updated: 05/26/2021 01:41PM