Although no longer the largest segment of society, having been overtaken by Millennials, Boomers began reaching retirement age in 2011. When you consider that 26% of the total population of the United States is comprised of people born between 1946 and 1964, a total of 76 million people, you are looking at a huge segment of the population requiring senior services in every aspect of life. Gerontology, the study of all aspects of aging, offers a wide range of career opportunities. If you are considering pursuing an advanced degree, here are five awesome reasons to study gerontology.

1) Amazing Career Opportunities

Recognized as the leaders who are setting the standard in gerontology education, the University of Southern California is preparing graduate students to specialize in the study of aging in all aspects of life. From mental health counseling, nursing, and senior assisted living administrators, and even advisors on senior legislation, the number of career opportunities is almost limitless.

2) A Growing Demand for Experts on Aging

Consider for a moment the fact that there were 76 million people born in a 19-year time span. Simple statistics show that more than 10,000 people a day, each and every day of the year will reach retirement age. How many fields of study necessitate experts who can serve more than four million new consumers each year? You can continue working in your field while pursuing a master’s degree in gerontology at the University of Southern California online and be a part of the solution to such a great need.

3) Better than Average Growth Potential

Since there is such a great need and so few experts in the field to date, the growth potential is tremendous. You can look forward to a career with better than average growth potential which can see you working in administration to service the growing needs of an aging population. Again, from administrating a senior assisted living facility to overseeing a staff of geriatric home healthcare nurses to serving as advisors on aging to government bodies, this field will experience tremendous growth in the coming decades.

4) Seniors Deserve Specialized Care

As the second largest generation alive on earth today, you are looking at mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers who raised successive generations. They helped to build America into the superpower it is today and have cared for us through some of the darkest moments in modern history. Now, they deserve specialized care to serve their needs, don’t they? A master’s degree in gerontology will put you in a position to give back to a generation that gave so much to us.

5) You Can Make an Impact on Quality of Life for Seniors

Finally, and most importantly, as a graduate with a master’s degree in gerontology, you can make a difference in the quality of life seniors live. Not only will many need specialized healthcare but they will need emotional counseling, therapy, better living conditions and even economic support. As an expert in the field, you can help our seniors live a better quality of life.

Give our seniors back the dignity they deserve by learning advanced techniques in gerontology. These are only five of the awesome reasons to study for gerontology, but if you needed yet another, perhaps you should look at your own family.