Aging & Health Portfolio

Overview

The portfolio program in Aging & Health prepares students for research careers in aging. Increasingly, prospective employers nationwide are demanding a specialization in adult development or gerontology. There are growing and diverse needs for professionals with core knowledge and understanding of aging research and best practice approaches. The portfolio in Aging & Health is the graduate training component of the Aging Network.

This program requires 12 credit hours distributed between foundation courses and elective seminars. In addition, students may engage in aging research (basic or applied) or practicum with both well and frail older adults, and will receive credit for this course work as part of existing requirements in their major program of study (home department).

The program’s diverse faculty draws on the scholarship of faculty affiliates across graduate programs, including School of Human Ecology, College of Liberal Arts, College of Communication, College of Pharmacy, School of Social Work, School of Nursing, College of Education, College of Natural Sciences, College of Business, the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and College of Fine Arts, subsuming 22 academic departments. The wide array of graduate courses offered by this outstanding faculty provides exposure to cutting edge scholarship from multiple perspectives and offers students an unusual opportunity for cross-disciplinary inquiry at the graduate level.

Objectives of the Portfolio in Aging & Health

To promote dialogue among the many faculty and graduate students throughout the university who have research interests in adult development and aging;
To provide a forum for the exchange and interaction among the multiple and diverse perspectives on aging issues within the university;
To promote interdisciplinary collaboration among the many faculty and graduate students interested in meeting the increased demand for research and instruction that crosses traditional disciplines; and
To provide an organized curriculum of courses related to topics addressing adult development and health.
The Portfolio in Aging & Health conveys an understanding of:
- the nature and scope of social, economic, physical, educational, and behavioral issues of aging;
- conceptual, theoretical and institutional bases for the analysis of issues facing an aging population;
- key methodological issues in the study of age related processes.

Master’s Portfolio Program Course Requirements

Completion of three (9 semester hours) courses in the list of approved graduate level Aging & Health courses with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in these courses. At least one of these courses must be offered in the department outside of the student’s home department. In addition to courses listed above, relevant methods courses that directly advance a student’s thesis or dissertation research in the field of aging may also be counted toward this requirement, pending approval from the portfolio advisor.
Electives cannot be taken as a conference course.
Completion of a course in the critical evaluation of research methods is also strongly recommended, but not required.
Candidates for the master’s portfolio will be encouraged to engage in an aging-related practicum or scientific research as part of their regular degree program course work.
If a student is enrolled in a master’s program that requires a thesis or report, the student must conduct a supervised research project on a topic in the field of aging and health.
Students must submit a 1-page essay describing the focus of their current and future research or work on aging. Please include a description of how your master’s thesis addresses topics in the field of aging. Students in master’s program that do not include a thesis may describe internships or other requirements that pertain to aging.

Doctoral Portfolio Program Course Requirements

Completion of four (12 semester hours) courses in the list of approved graduate level Aging & Health courses with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in the course. In addition to the courses listed above, relevant methods courses that directly advance a student’s dissertation research in the field of aging may also be counted toward this requirement, pending approval from the portfolio advisor.
Of the four courses, no more than one course may be taken as an independent study, except in unusual circumstances. Taking more than one independent study course requires permission of the Aging & Health adviser.
Students interested in developing a portfolio in Aging & Health must complete an application form which will be reviewed by the Aging & Health adviser. The application must also include the signature of the student’s graduate adviser. An integral part of the application process is the submission of a one-page essay describing the importance of the work in aging and health to the student’s doctoral program and career goals. This one-page essay must describe the focus of your current and future research or work on aging. Please include a description of how your dissertation addresses topics in the field of aging.
Students can enter the portfolio program at any point in their doctoral work; the application will typically be submitted in the student's final semester.
Doctoral students in the portfolio program in Aging & Health must attend at least 4 lectures sponsored by the Aging Center (please keep track of lectures and dates and report those on the form) OR participate in the Graduate Council for at least 3 semesters.
A written scholarly report must be presented to the Aging & Health adviser, and be approved by the Aging & Health faculty, before the program is complete.

Application Process and Forms

To apply, please download and complete the appropriate form (found below), and keep it updated throughout your graduate career. You will submit this form, along with your essay, early in the final semester of your graduate program—ideally within the first month. Students enrolled in programs that confer both master’s and doctoral degrees should apply in the final semester of their doctoral program. Submitting materials at this stage ensures sufficient time to review your eligibility before graduation. Once your materials are submitted to aging@austin.utexas.edu, they will be reviewed by the current portfolio adviser. The formal application to the Graduate School will be submitted by the portfolio adviser/administrator toward the end of the semester, following approval of your materials.

Contact

For more information about this portfolio program, contact aging@austin.utexas.edu.

The Portfolio in Aging & Health is one of many programs provided by the Graduate School. To learn more about other Graduate School programs, visit the UT Austin Graduate Portfolio Programs web site.