Gerontology

Gerontology is the study of the social, cultural, psychological, cognitive, and biological aspects of ageing. The word was coined by Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov in 1903, from the Greek γέρων, geron, "old man" and -λογία, -logia, "study of". The field is distinguished from geriatrics, which is the branch of medicine that specializes in the treatment of existing disease in older adults. Gerontologists include researchers and practitioners in the fields of biology, nursing, medicine, criminology, dentistry, social work, physical and occupational therapy, psychology, psychiatry, sociology, economics, political science, architecture, geography, pharmacy, public health, housing, and anthropology.

The multidisciplinary nature of gerontology means that there are a number of sub-fields which overlap with gerontology. There are policy issues, for example, involved in government planning and the operation of nursing homes, investigating the effects of an ageing population on society, and the design of residential spaces for older people that facilitate the development of a sense of place or home. Dr. Lawton, a behavioral psychologist at the Philadelphia Geriatric Center, was among the first to recognize the need for living spaces designed to accommodate the elderly, especially those with Alzheimer's disease. As an academic discipline the field is relatively new. The USC Leonard Davis School created the first PhD, master's and bachelor's degree programs in gerontology in 1975.

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Scholarships for Gerontology Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

Inge Paul and John R. Stafford Scholarship for Bioinformatics

Dickinson College

$38,000 January 15, 2026 See Details

Description

The Inge Paul and John R. Stafford Scholarship for Bioinformatics is available to incoming freshman students at Dickinson College who demonstrates superiority in the life sciences. Selected recipients will also receive $3,000 in total research support to be used any time during the scholar’s four years at Dickinson.

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Inge Paul and John R. Stafford Scholarship for Bioinformatics

Dickinson College

award

$38,000

deadline

January 15, 2026
See Details

Description

The Inge Paul and John R. Stafford Scholarship for Bioinformatics is available to incoming freshman students at Dickinson College who demonstrates superiority in the life sciences. Selected recipients will also receive $3,000 in total research support to be used any time during the scholar’s four years at Dickinson.

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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Up to $30,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is available to military veterans and their dependents who are pursuing studies in STEM fields. You must be a recipient of the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship to be eligible for this award, which acts as an extension to expiring benefits of those programs.

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Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

award

Up to $30,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship is available to military veterans and their dependents who are pursuing studies in STEM fields. You must be a recipient of the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship to be eligible for this award, which acts as an extension to expiring benefits of those programs.

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Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship

Clarion University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts and Sciences

Up to $22,030 Varies See Details

Description

The Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship is available to majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences at Clarion University. Your selection for this award will be based on academic performance and financial need. In order to be considered for this award, you must first be nominated by a faculty member. Once nominated, you will need to submit a "Goals...

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Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship

Clarion University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts and Sciences

award

Up to $22,030

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Nancy Shaw McKee Scholarship is available to majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences at Clarion University. Your selection for this award will be based on academic performance and financial need. In order to be considered for this award, you must first be nominated by a faculty member. Once nominated, you will need to submit a "Goals...

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Antoinette Murray Scholarship

University of Saint Francis, Indiana

Up to $5,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Antoinette Murray Scholarship is available to students at the University of Saint Francis who are majoring in education or science, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and complete 20 hours of volunteer service per year at a verifiable non-profit organization.

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Antoinette Murray Scholarship

University of Saint Francis, Indiana

award

Up to $5,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Antoinette Murray Scholarship is available to students at the University of Saint Francis who are majoring in education or science, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and complete 20 hours of volunteer service per year at a verifiable non-profit organization.

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SBB Research STEM Scholarship

SBB Research Group

$2,500 Varies See Details

Description

The SBB Research STEM Scholarship is available to full - time undergraduate and graduate students. You must be pursuing a degree in STEM to be eligible for this award. You must also submit an essay on the following topic: “What have been your most significant experiences in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and how will...

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SBB Research STEM Scholarship

SBB Research Group

award

$2,500

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The SBB Research STEM Scholarship is available to full - time undergraduate and graduate students. You must be pursuing a degree in STEM to be eligible for this award. You must also submit an essay on the following topic: “What have been your most significant experiences in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and how will...

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Renaissance Society Scholarship

California State University, Sacramento

$2,500 Varies See Details

Description

The Renaissance Society Scholarship is available to sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate student at California State University, Sacramento. You must be enrolled at least half-time, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and be majoring in gerontology to qualify for this award. An essay is required.

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Renaissance Society Scholarship

California State University, Sacramento

award

$2,500

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Renaissance Society Scholarship is available to sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate student at California State University, Sacramento. You must be enrolled at least half-time, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and be majoring in gerontology to qualify for this award. An essay is required.

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Dr. Hong Li Memorial Scholarship

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign - School of Social Work

$1,725 Varies See Details

Description

The Dr. Hong Li Memorial Scholarship is available to students at the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate an interest in working with and/or researching aging and aging populations.

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Dr. Hong Li Memorial Scholarship

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign - School of Social Work

award

$1,725

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Dr. Hong Li Memorial Scholarship is available to students at the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate an interest in working with and/or researching aging and aging populations.

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Robert and Betty Barbour Scholarship

Madonna University

$1,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Robert and Betty Barbour Scholarship is available to full-time students at Madonna University. You must be studying a health-related program and have a minimum GPA of 3.2 to be considered for this award.

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Robert and Betty Barbour Scholarship

Madonna University

award

$1,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Robert and Betty Barbour Scholarship is available to full-time students at Madonna University. You must be studying a health-related program and have a minimum GPA of 3.2 to be considered for this award.

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Outer Drive Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship

Madonna University

$1,000 Varies See Details

Description

The Outer Drive Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship is available to full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors at Madonna University. You must be studying a health-related program and have a minimum GPA of 3.2 to be considered for this award.

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Outer Drive Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship

Madonna University

award

$1,000

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Outer Drive Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship is available to full-time sophomores, juniors and seniors at Madonna University. You must be studying a health-related program and have a minimum GPA of 3.2 to be considered for this award.

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Nancy Kriegler Scholarship

Madonna University

$750 Varies See Details

Description

The Nancy Kriegler Scholarship is available to full-time students at Madonna University. You must be a gerontology, hospice, or nursing major with a minimum GPA of 3.2 to be considered for this award.

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Nancy Kriegler Scholarship

Madonna University

award

$750

deadline

Varies
See Details

Description

The Nancy Kriegler Scholarship is available to full-time students at Madonna University. You must be a gerontology, hospice, or nursing major with a minimum GPA of 3.2 to be considered for this award.

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