Degrees & Majors

The B.S. program in Data Science will provide students with a strong foundation in the mathematics and basic sciences, fundamental computer programming and algorithmic skills, strong foundations in data science fundamentals and methodologies, and a capstone experience to prepare students for a wide range of job opportunities. Students will also learn ethical standards related to the fast-growing field of data science. Graduates of the program will be prepared to enter the job market or to pursue graduate study in data science, computer science or computer engineering.

Launching in fall 2022, the program in Virtual Production and Visual Effects provides advanced post-production technology and content creation training for media professionals. Housed at the Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII), the program provides students access to the most advanced motion and performance capture technologies in industry use and opportunities to create multimedia content in virtual production tools. Students will create polished, finished products through advanced coursework in video editing, game design, volumetric, and motion capture software packages. A key focus of the concentration is its emphasis on the examination of real-time workflow models, including production work connected to LED and virtual previsualization technologies, which are available to students in the new CMII production studios. The benefits of close industry collaboration and advanced production tools The special effects used to capture performances for games and film/television are technologically aligning. For example, the software most commonly used in game design, Unreal Engine, was also used to accomplish virtual preproduction and animation work in the film Lion King, in The Mandalorian and Ford v Ferrari. The Creative Media Industries Institute trains students in the high-end content creation technologies now central to big-budget filmmaking and game development. Is this graduate program for me? The program is organized to meet the needs of industry professionals, responsive to Georgia’s growing demand for above the line qualified production and post-production professionals, in these categories: Mid-career film/TV production and post-production professionals, where training in advanced technology tools is useful as they undertake supervisory roles in production companies or need to retool for work connecting to virtual production. Industry professionals wishing to undertake new forms of work in the content creation industries, including, for example, workers who want to shift their work from a film-industry-focused career path into animation or game design, or vice versa. Early-career media professionals who wish to continue their production educations, where access to sophisticated industry tools facilitates portfolio building and early festival submissions utilizing state-of-the-art VFX. The unique technology advantages of the CMII program will, we hope, be especially attractive to students who received basic film training elsewhere and are looking to specialize in virtual production. Industry professionals who wish to shift into a higher education teaching career, for which the MFA provides a terminal degree qualification suitable for tenure-track employment in a university setting or teachers for whom the MFA enables an educational promotion path while equipping them to run educationally housed new media and film production centers. Newly graduating students with a passion for visual effects or virtual production and a desire to pursue an M.F.A. We also welcome applications from individuals seeking mid-career transitions (such as veterans training for second careers and teachers shifting areas of instructional focus) and from applicants who are passionate about content creation who may not have had prior access to advanced technology tools necessary to launch first career-ready projects. The M.F.A. in Digital Filmmaking offers two concentrations. The Visual Effects & Virtual Production concentration is offered through the Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII). The Filmmaking concentration is administered through the School of Film, Media & Theatre. Applicants applying for the Filmmaking concentration should visit the School of Film, Media, & Theatre.

Program Information The English Department prepares its graduates to demonstrate exceptional critical thinking, interpret and analyze texts of all kinds, and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Students who major in English can pursue many career options—from publishing and editing, to advertising, education, business, journalism, web design, and law. As people increasingly seek various types of employment over the course of their lives, the fundamental skills that an English degree entails—understanding other people’s perspectives, thinking imaginatively, conducting research, organizing information, and writing clearly and forcefully—will be crucial in all contexts and all lines of work. Students who major in English pursue a variety of careers after graduation. These include: Writing/Editing; Publishing; Advertising; Law; Web Design; Public Relations; Business/Industry; and Education. For the latest information about the Minor in English and required courses, view the Undergraduate Catalog.

Program Information The English Department prepares its graduates to demonstrate exceptional critical thinking, interpret and analyze texts of all kinds, and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Students who major in English can pursue many career options—from publishing and editing, to advertising, education, business, journalism, web design, and law. As people increasingly seek various types of employment over the course of their lives, the fundamental skills that an English degree entails—understanding other people’s perspectives, thinking imaginatively, conducting research, organizing information, and writing clearly and forcefully—will be crucial in all contexts and all lines of work. Students who major in English pursue a variety of careers after graduation. These include: Writing/Editing; Publishing; Advertising; Law; Web Design; Public Relations; Business/Industry; and Education. For the latest information about required courses, view the Undergraduate Catalog.

The M.A. program in Literary Studies fosters an environment of critical engagement with the most pressing questions in contemporary literary and cultural studies. Students work with some of the profession’s most talented and productive teachers, scholars and theorists in the fields of American, British and world literatures, cultural studies and folklore. Students in the M.A. program: Undertake coursework that exposes them to the breadth of literature in English from the Middle Ages to the present and to the methods and theories that have shaped literary criticism and scholarship Regularly deliver papers at international, national and regional conferences Gain valuable professional and organizational experience through participation in the South Atlantic Modern Language Association, an organization of teachers and scholars in modern languages and literatures that is headquartered in the department Work as editorial and research assistants with the department’s academic journals, Studies in the Literary Imagination and Eudora Welty Review Gain pedagogical and leadership experience through tutoring positions in the department's Writing Studio Pursue interesting internship opportunities with local businesses and nonprofit organizations Receive preparation for further graduate study in prestigious national and international doctoral programs

The Ph.D. program in English, Concentration in Creative Writing, is one of the top 15 in the U.S., as ranked by Poets & Writers. The program offers graduate students the opportunity to work closely with our award-winning faculty while living and writing in Atlanta, an international city with a vibrant literary culture. Our students publish—recently with Random House, Algonquin Books, St Martin’s, Alice James Books, Bloomsbury, Anhinga Press and Louisiana State University Press—and win important prizes and fellowships, including the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship, the Philip Levine Prize for Poetry, the Walter E. Dakin Fellowship from The Sewanee Writers’ Conference and the Georgia Author of the Year Award. Our faculty include David Bottoms, Beth Gylys, John Holman, Sheri Joseph and Josh Russell. Visiting writers & editors enrich the program by giving readings and leading workshops and Q&As. Students may qualify for teaching assistantships, editorial assistantships and fellowships.

The B.I.S. in Environmental Science program provides a foundation in the physical and life sciences, policy, and global and urban sustainability issues. This concentration emphasizes a broad-based course of study, exposing students to the complex social and scientific processes involved in understanding and addressing environmental issues. Students are encouraged to develop specific areas of focus depending on their future goals (e.g., graduate school, government agencies, and environmental consulting firms).

For information about this minor, visit the Undergraduate Catalog.

Program Information The mission of the Department is to give students the opportunity to develop appropriate proficiencies in the modern and classical languages, to acquaint students with the literary and cultural productions of other countries, and to provide them the opportunity to acquire critical skills through literary and cultural analysis. For the latest information about required courses, view the Undergraduate Catalog. For more information about the Minor in French, visit the World Languages & Cultures website.