Program highlights
- NAB Accreditation. BGSU was the first and one of just two NAB-accredited graduate long-term care programs in Ohio – and one of a select few in the U.S.
- Get a master’s in gerontology online. Courses are 100% online. The internship is the only face-to-face requirement.
- Fast-track your success. Most students can complete the program within 4 semesters or 1.5 years.
- Go far in your career. BGSU gerontology LTC programs are accredited as Health Service Executive (HSE) programs. HSE approval means not only can you take licensure exams for nursing home, assisted living and community-based services, your license will have more portability between states, professions and job promotions.
- Gain real-world experience. Complete a 1,000-hour, supervised internship on-site at a licensed nursing home serving older adults. The Administrator in Training (AIT) path provides additional practical training and experience in students’ local areas.
- Step right into supervisor roles. Pass the nursing home administrator exam to become licensed straight after college.
Career opportunities
Although older adults are living and working longer, the U.S. Administration for Community Living estimates 7 in 10 will still need long-term care services at some point in life. Coupled with declining youth populations (which means shrinking community and caregiver supports), the need for well-trained leaders in long-term care has never been greater.
Demand for long-term care administrators is expected to climb nearly 30% in upcoming years –a much faster rate than other industries.
Most students in the BGSU MSIG-LTC degree program began by asking, “How can I become a nursing home administrator?” With accreditation as an HSE, students can do just that – or branch out to other leadership roles in:
- Business offices
- Large healthcare systems
- Government agencies (such as the Administration on Aging)
- Hospice
- Social service and nonprofit agencies serving older adults
Median annual pay for medical and health service managers (including nursing home administrators) is currently $110,000 (source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Those with advanced degrees are at the higher end of the earning spectrum.
Career paths
- Nursing home administrator
- Health services executive
- Assisted living administrator
- Home health administrator
- Hospice care administrator
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
The online degree curriculum for the MSIG-LTC program involves a minimum of 36 semester hours beyond an undergraduate degree and includes the NAB-required Administrator in Training (AIT/Internship) hours.
There are a total of 12 online courses and 3 start dates annually. Full-time students can finish in 4 semesters, while part-time students can finish in 8 semesters.
Study areas include graduate-level general gerontology courses, as well as classes on management, health care finance and healthcare law.
Practicum/internship
Students specializing in LTC administration are required to complete an administrator-in-training (AIT) internship of at least 1,000 hours or as required by the NAB and CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid). Placements take place on site at an approved skilled nursing facility under the supervision of a licensed nursing home administrator with a minimum 2 years of experience.
Sample courses
- Current Perspectives in Gerontology
- Aging Policy and Programs
- Principles of Assisted Living and Home and Community-Based Services
- Health and Aging
- Principles of Nursing Home Administration
BGSU is the only university in Ohio and one of just nine in the nation to earn the Quality Matters Online Learner Support certificate for all of our seven-week online programs. The certificate recognizes that our programs provide the critical services needed for student success and that we use student feedback to continuously improve those services.
The gerontology program is part of the Department of Human Services in the BGSU College of Health & Human Services.
Updated: 10/04/2024 09:28AM