Program Highlights

The Gerontology Program at Tianjin University of Technology is guided by the mission of addressing the challenges of population aging, enhancing the well-being of older adults, and cultivating leading talent in elderly care for the new era. Grounded in the university's strengths in science and engineering, and closely aligned with China's national strategy for actively responding to population aging, the program has been designated as a key flagship program under the university's development priorities. Drawing on the interdisciplinary strengths of sociology, management science, psychology, public health, and computer science, the program is dedicated to developing professionals who combine technical competency, humanistic sensibility, and governance capacity to serve as future leaders in the aging services sector. The program adopts a full-cycle, practice-oriented model of education, integrating case-based instruction, field research, institutional internships, and innovation-focused training across all four years of undergraduate study. This approach is designed to cultivate students' capacity for systemic analysis of complex issues in an aging society, as well as their practical ability to develop and implement innovative solutions.

Program introduction

This program is one of the first undergraduate gerontology programs established in China, welcoming its inaugural cohort in 2021. Built on the university's solid foundation in science and engineering, the program offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that prepares students to work across a range of specialized areas, including aging society governance, elderly care service management, gerontological social work, older adult health support, aging-related industry development, and smart care technologies.

The program is committed to a collaborative model of education that brings together government agencies, industry partners, academic institutions, and research organizations. Through partnerships with civil affairs authorities, gerontology research institutes, leading elderly care service providers, and health technology companies, students have access to a multi-tiered practical training platform. This ensures that graduates develop core professional competencies through direct engagement with both cutting-edge research and real-world practice settings.

Program Objectives

This program is designed to meet the growing demand for high-quality professionals in China's aging services sector and aging-related industries. Graduates will develop a solid grounding in gerontological theory and research methods, along with the ability to analyze aging-related issues from both a local and international perspective. They will be well-versed in policies and regulations governing elderly care, and capable of interpreting, applying, and implementing these in practical settings. Graduates will also develop strong management skills, a collaborative work ethic, and an orientation toward ongoing innovation.

Career pathways for graduates span a wide range of sectors, including government aging affairs agencies, public institutions, non-profit organizations, and private companies operating in the aging services field. Typical roles include policy analysis, operations management, service design, project planning, health promotion, and education and training.

Core Courses

Core courses include: Introduction to Gerontology, Gerontological Social Work, Psychology of Aging, Physiology of Aging, Home and Community-Based Care, Elderly Care Laws and Policies, Management of Elderly Care Facilities, Elderly Service Assessment, Aging Industry Management, Smart Elderly Care, and Social Research Methods.

Career Pathways and Further Study

Career Pathways

Graduates are well-positioned for careers across a broad range of sectors. In the public sector, they may work with government departments such as civil affairs, health, and human resources and social security authorities, as well as in community-based elderly care centers, residential care facilities, and older adult associations. In the private sector, opportunities exist in emerging industries including aging-related financial services, senior housing, and smart care technology, where graduates can take on roles in research and development, strategic planning, and management.

Further Study

Students wishing to pursue advanced degrees may apply to graduate programs in fields such as law, public administration, and health management. The program also supports participation in international exchange programs and overseas study opportunities, enabling graduates to develop into well-rounded, senior-level professionals and future leaders in the field of aging.