MA in Clinical Psychology of Adulthood and Aging

Department head:  Dr. Daniela Aisenberg​​

About the program: The program is designed to be completed in two academic years consisting of four semesters. This entails 4-5 days of studies each week: two days at the Ruppin Academic Center plus clinical work at a practicum center.

About the field: One of the most impressive achievements of the twentieth century is the increase in average human life expectancy by approximately 30 years. Israel currently is home to some 900,000 elderly people who make up about 11% of its population. According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, within 20 years, this number will increase to over 1.65 million individuals.

There is a tendency to see old age as a burden or threat, but the later years of life can be full of health, activity, personal development, and creativity. That said, the demographic revolution highlighted mental-health needs related to quality of life, well-being, culture and more that are specific to old age. Hospitals and gerontological psychology units in Israel and around the world already are reporting on a severe lack of clinical psychologists who are knowledgeable and experienced in treating the elderly with the goal of promoting their quality of life. 

Advantages of this field: Improved healthcare for late adulthood and old age is a national priority of the first degree for Israel. The activities of the Department of Gerontological Clinical Psychology at the Ruppin Academic Center are enthusiastically welcomed by the many bodies that address mental health and treatment among the elderly. Even though this is a relatively new program, the Israeli Council for Higher Education already has accredited it. It is important to emphasize that the education of a gerontological clinical psychologist begins with the standard academic, clinical and practical education in psychology. This base is enriched by the distinctive focus on gerontology. Demand for specialists in this area is rising in the job market. Graduates of the program are the pioneers in this field and form the generation that will shape this field in Israel. Graduates are expected to go on to serve in key professional and social positions in all that is related to gerontological psychological treatment.

Goals of the program:

• To provide graduates of the program with in-depth academic knowledge and a variety of innovative therapeutic tools to treat older adults and the elderly as well as to prepare alumni to smoothly take on a variety of professional positions or continue on to further studies in this key field.
• To lead to the formulation of a humanistic, principled worldview regarding human nature in general and human nature in old age in particular among the students, alumni, organizations, and authorities that handle the topic of old age and to raise public awareness about this topic.
• To foster professionalism and leadership in the field of gerontological clinical psychology in Israel and establish a community that promotes the necessity of gerontological clinical psychology.
• To provide students in the program with a challenging learning experience and a meaningful and inspiring educational environment.