Older people form a significant proportion of the population. As a result, health promotion and health care services for older people are the core business of today’s health care.
The Master of Applied Gerontology (MAG) professional degree at Brock University is designed for health professionals who work in the field of gerontology and recent graduates from a range of undergraduate programs who intend to pursue a professional gerontological health career.
The goal of this program is to advance theoretical and applied gerontological practice knowledge and skills.
The MAG prepares graduates to positively influence gerontological health practice, gerontological program administration, and the health and well-being of the aging population through innovative policy and practice approaches in the field of gerontology.
The MAG program is delivered to full-time students over 12 months, including a
300 hour practicum course.
This interdisciplinary graduate program is grounded in a holistic approach to aging, health and well-being and has been designed for flexibility to personalize a curriculum of theory and application best suited to each student’s unique needs related to their profession.
The program is organized around key pillars of gerontological best practice knowledge and skills related to psychological, cultural, biological and cognitive aspects of aging, with a focus on both physical and mental health.
Learning experiences include:
- lectures
- laboratory
- seminar-based coursework, and
- a practicum experience with older people and the organizations that serve them.
In the practicum course, students will gain practical experience with a mentor, applying theoretical learning in a gerontological health setting.
Transferrable Skills
- Advocacy for older persons and communities
- Working in interprofessional and interdisciplinary teams
- Translating current research into practice and policy
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Written and oral communication skills
- Time management and organization
- Evidence-based leadership
The MAG degree includes:
- 10 half-credit courses
- One credit practicum course of 300 hours with a gerontological health program
- Core courses in gerontology, communication, physical and physiological aspects of aging, mental health, interprofessional practice, program planning and evaluation
- A variety of elective courses including mobility, community services, death and dying, health behaviour change, psychology, and specialized physiology topics related to aging
- Direct care for older persons and their families
- Program planning and evaluation
- Program management
- Municipal and regional government programs
- Provincial and federal government departments
- Social service agencies
- Community health centres
- Hospital-based programs
- Gerontological health research
- Providing gerontological expertise for private sector business and industry
- Health professional educator
- Four-year Bachelor’s degree in a health related field
- Minimum 75% (B) GPA
- Two letters of recommendation (at least one must be an academic referee)
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 15th.
ENTRY: September entry only
FUNDING: This is not a funded program. Students are eligible to apply for scholarships.
Last updated June 15, 2020
Professors
- Allan Adkin, Kinesiology
- Deborah O’Leary, Health Sciences
- Diane Mack, Kinesiology
- Philip Sullivan, Kinesiology
Associate Professors
- Jarold Cosby, Kinesiology
- Kimberley Gammage, Kinesiology
- Lynn McCleary, Nursing
- Miya Narushima, Health Sciences
- Lynn Rempel, Nursing
- Colleen Whyte, Recreation and Leisure
Assistant Professors
- Paula Gardner, Health Sciences
- Jenn Salfi, Nursing
- Arne Stinchcombe, Recreation and Leisure
Message from the Graduate Program Director
The Master of Applied Gerontology (MAG) at Brock University is a unique program in Ontario. It has been developed in consultation with professionals in the Niagara community who provide services to older adults.
In response, we have designed the MAG to meet the needs of the Niagara community and North America’s aging population.
The MAG program at Brock University will provide a highly skilled pool of graduates to businesses and agencies that provide health and social services to older adults. We are excited to offer another program at Brock that will allow our graduates to have a direct impact on people’s lives.
Due to the applied nature of the MAG in combination with its strategic health focus and practicum, we are confident our graduates will be well positioned to help meet the needs and existing gaps which have been identified by community as being of urgent importance.
I am pleased to share that there has been significant interest from students identifying a strong interest in this career path.
I encourage anyone with questions to contact me or Brock Graduate Studies.
I look forward to speaking with you.
Lynn McCleary, PhD
Contact information
Tracey Schenck
Master of Applied Gerontology Program Coordinator
Office: STH 351
905 688 5550 x4560
mag@brocku.ca
Lauryn Carrick
905 688 5550 x5197
gradrecruit@brocku.ca
