What Can I Do With a Doctoral Degree in Gerontology? Expanding Your Options |
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| Authors: | Kara Bottiggi Dassel Heidi Ewen Dawn Carr Lydia Manning Corinne Leach Kelly Fitzgerald |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA;2. Departments of Sociology and Gerontology, Miami University of Ohio, Oxford, Ohio, USA;3. SCRIPPS Gerontology Center, Miami University of Ohio, Oxford, Ohio, USA;4. Stanford Center on Longevity, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA;5. Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA;6. American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia, USA;7. Center for Gerontology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;8. Center for Gerontology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA |
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| Abstract: | An endless number of career trajectories are possible for gerontologists. With a growing aging population, our skills and areas of expertise are of high value to numerous industries. The purpose of this study is to describe the professional development and career trajectories of alumni of U.S. doctoral gerontology programs obtained through the Gerontology Education Longitudinal Study (GELS). Specifically, the authors examine how professional identification, doctoral program career preparation, and perception of job prospects affect alumni decisions to pursue “traditional” (i.e., academic) versus “nontraditional” (i.e., non-academic) careers. Results from the GELS revealed a fairly even split in the alumni sample of careers in traditional and nontraditional settings. The decision to pursue a traditional versus nontraditional career was not significantly associated with personal identification, doctoral program career preparation, or perception of employment options. These results suggest that the skill set obtained in doctoral gerontology programs is useful and is in demand in a variety of careers; therefore, doctoral programs may want to consider tailoring training to meet students’ future career goals in both academic and non-academic settings. |
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| Keywords: | academic gerontology career advancement postgraduate training survey |
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