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Geriatric Social Worker Education Requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a geriatric social worker. Geriatric social workers usually study social work, psychology, or sociology. 54% of geriatric social workers hold a bachelor's degree, and 39% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 277 real geriatric social worker resumes to see exactly what geriatric social worker education sections show.
The most common colleges for geriatric social workers are the Temple University and the Temple University.
There are also many online geriatric social worker courses to help get the education required to be a geriatric social worker.
What education do you need to become a geriatric social worker?
What degree do you need to be a geriatric social worker?
- Bachelor's, 54%
- Master's, 39%
- Associate, 5%
- Doctorate, 1%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a geriatric social worker?
- Social Work, 52%
- Psychology, 13%
- Sociology, 6%
- Other Majors, 25%
Most common colleges for geriatric social workers
| Geriatric Social Worker Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Temple University | 9.84% |
| Fordham University | 8.20% |
| Touro College | 8.20% |
| Boston College | 6.56% |
| Montclair State University | 6.56% |
Best majors for geriatric social workers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social Work | 52.4% |
| 2 | Psychology | 12.5% |
| 3 | Sociology | 6.3% |
| 4 | Clinical Psychology | 3.8% |
| 5 | Mental Health Counseling | 3.4% |
Best colleges for geriatric social workers
The best colleges for geriatric social workers are University of Pennsylvania, Boston College, and Case Western Reserve University.
A geriatric social worker with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for geriatric social workers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become geriatric social workers.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-State Tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
3. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
4. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
5. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
In-State Tuition
$55,464
Enrollment
9,639
6. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
7. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,656
Enrollment
32,072
8. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,182
Enrollment
16,205
9. Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH • Private
In-State Tuition
$49,042
Enrollment
5,131
10. University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,368
Enrollment
58,392
20 best online courses for geriatric social workers
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1. Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners
In the U.S., social policy accounts for two-thirds of government spending. Knowing how policies are constructed, what values underlie them, and how they succeed or fail makes everyone more effective at work or in their civic role. This specialization includes an HONORS track in which learners will complete a professional social policy analysis.\n\nTeachers, health care workers, police, and social workers interact with policy daily, but all of us should care about the impact and effectiveness of...
2. Social Determinants of Health: Vulnerable Populations
This second of five courses focuses on how social determinants of health affects vulnerable populations. Focusing on four groups of vulnerable populations, students will examine how social determinants of health contribute to the poor health outcomes experienced by these populations. The topics of this course include: 1. Poverty 2. Women’s Health 3. Gender and LGBTQI+ Health 4. Family Health 5. Data Applications: t-test Analysis and Box Plot Visualization...
3. Mental Health and Wellness Professional (MHW) Diploma Course
Discover a flexible and comprehensive way of understanding mental health as a Certified Mental Health Professional (MHP)...
4. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...
5. Social Determinants of Health: Data to Action
This five course specialization explores dimensions of applied knowledge related to the social determinants of health. This specialization will utilize the Data-to-Action Hourglass Model to support thinking about multiple perspectives as a way to filter, frame, and focus data-driven action related to social determinants of health.\n\nCourse 1: Introduction to the Social Determinants of Health, provides an overview of definitions and theoretical perspectives that will form the foundation of this...
6. The Influence of Social Context on Health
Why are some groups healthier than others, and how do these differences emerge and persist over the life course? How do social policies (e.g., housing, transportation, employment) relate to health and health inequalities? Why are there health disparities even in countries that have free universal health care? This course will address conceptual models for understanding health disparities in the US and internationally, how population science identifies the main sources of these disparities, and...
7. Mental Health Ambassador Certificate
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8. Managing mental health issues in the workplace
Learn how to support your own mental health and wellbeing and that of your staff...
9. The Influence of Social Determinants on Health
Why are some groups healthier than others, and how do these differences emerge and persist over a lifetime? How do social policies on housing, transportation, and employment relate to health and health inequalities?\n\nThis specialization will examine social, behavioral, economic, political, and structural factors that contribute to health inequalities, and suggest innovative ways to reduce disparities in health to achieve health equity.You will learn,\n\n-Use conceptual models to understand...
10. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care
This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...
11. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions - Understand Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health. How to help people...
12. The Communication Skills and Social Intelligence Masterclass
An essential guide to cultivating influential people skills, communication skills and street-smart social intelligence...
13. The Critical Role of IT Support Staff in Healthcare
This is a very exciting time to be exploring a career in Health IT Support! In this introductory course, you’ll learn about various roles in IT support that are common in healthcare. IT support staff play critical roles in many different healthcare venues. In addition to helping clinics, hospitals, and emergency rooms, you may end up providing support in a skilled nursing facility, ambulatory surgical center, virtual care setting, or even a patient’s home! On any given day, you may interact...
14. Social Determinants of Health
This is an introductory course on social determinants of population health with a focus on the United States. The course will introduce you to, or reinforce your knowledge of, issues related to health that consider behavioral, psychological and structural factors in population health beyond the healthcare system. We will examine social, economic, and political factors that contribute to health inequalities and suggest innovative ways to reduce disparities in health when the goal is to achieve...
15. Mental Health First Aid Skills -
This course is designed to provide the tools and knowledge for learners to help and support those experiencing MH issues...
16. Medical Terminology
Introduction to the meaning of various roots, terms and combining forms that are components of medical words...
17. HI-FIVE: Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment (Social/Peer Perspective)
HI-FIVE (Health Informatics For Innovation, Value & Enrichment) Training is an approximately 10-hour online course designed by Columbia University in 2016, with sponsorship from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). The training is role-based and uses case scenarios. No additional hardware or software are required for this course. Our nation’s healthcare system is changing at a rapid pace. Transformative health care delivery programs depend heavily on...
18. Health for All Through Primary Health Care
This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...
19. Introduction to Solution Focused Therapy
Learn Solution Focused Therapy To Empower Clients & Improve Outcomes Ideal For Social Workers, Coaches & Therapists...
20. Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative
Please join us for an exciting and innovative journey, examining one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of the oncology setting: Traditional Herbal Medicine in Supportive Cancer Care. This course is presented with short lectures offering a wide range of issues related to the principles and practice of herbal medicine in cancer care. The course includes interviews with leading world experts from the field of Integrative Oncology, from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, the...
Top 10 most affordable universities for geriatric social workers
The most affordable schools for geriatric social workers are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and brigham young university.
If the best universities for geriatric social workers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for geriatric social workers.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,182
Cost of Attendance
13,998
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,798
Cost of Attendance
18,306
3. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,620
Cost of Attendance
18,136
4. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,556
Cost of Attendance
19,434
5. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$5,656
Cost of Attendance
21,623
6. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,886
Cost of Attendance
17,645
7. Minot State University
Minot, ND • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,064
Cost of Attendance
15,576
8. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,942
Cost of Attendance
14,469
9. Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$4,831
Cost of Attendance
19,559
10. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,381
Cost of Attendance
21,034
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for geriatric social workers
The hardest universities for geriatric social workers to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Boston College, and Case Western Reserve University.
Some great schools for geriatric social workers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for geriatric social workers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,492
2. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
28%
SAT Average
1,429
3. Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions Rate
29%
SAT Average
1,443
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
20%
SAT Average
1,419
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
13%
SAT Average
1,445
6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
Admissions Rate
23%
SAT Average
1,398
7. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions Rate
11%
SAT Average
1,513
8. University of Rochester
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
29%
SAT Average
1,422
9. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
22%
SAT Average
1,420
10. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions Rate
19%
SAT Average
1,466
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for geriatric social workers
The easiest schools for geriatric social workers to get into are Nyack College, mount saint mary's university, and kean university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a geriatric social worker without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for geriatric social workers.
1. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
98%
SAT Average
999
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
84%
SAT Average
1,031
3. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
86%
SAT Average
991
4. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions Rate
91%
SAT Average
1,006
5. Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
87%
SAT Average
1,059
6. College of New Rochelle, The
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
83%
SAT Average
982
7. AdventHealth University
Orlando, FL • Private
Admissions Rate
87%
SAT Average
1,016
8. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA • Private
Admissions Rate
85%
SAT Average
1,053
9. Washington Adventist Hospital
Takoma Park, MD • Private
Admissions Rate
52%
SAT Average
958
10. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions Rate
78%
SAT Average
1,024
Average geriatric social worker salary by education level
| Geriatric Social Worker education level | Geriatric Social Worker salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $61,479 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $46,296 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $55,460 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $53,062 |
Geriatric Social Worker Education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025