Degrees & Majors

The undergraduate certificate in Gerontology prepares students for advanced study in gerontology and for entry into aging-related career fields. The 18-semester-hour curriculum provides foundational knowledge of the biological, psychological and sociological dimensions of aging, health care organization and delivery, social service programs available to older persons and contemporary aging policy issues.

The College of Arts and Sciences offers a graduate certificate in Heritage Preservation with tracks in Historic Preservation and in Public History. The certificate program is open to students who are enrolled in graduate degree programs and in good academic standing at Georgia State University or other graduate institutions in such programs as history, architecture, planning, anthropology, geography, urban studies, public administration, and real estate. Others may apply for the certificate program using the same procedure as that used to apply for the MHP degree, and the same standards will apply. Students accepted into the certificate program will have student standing, with all the attendant responsibilities and privileges. The Certificate in Heritage Preservation requires completion of 18 hours of course work and successful completion of a general examination. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average in order to receive a certificate. While graduate credit from other institutions may, by petition, be applied toward the certificate, normally not more than six hours will be accepted. For the latest information about required courses, view the Graduate Catalog.

Program Information Historians study various aspects of humanity’s recorded past. Some historians explore the rise and fall of empires, while others describe the everyday lives of men and women. They are interested in every period of the past and all parts of the world.  They seek to understand the forces that have structured human life and the ideas that have shaped the way people perceive and experience their worlds. Historians pay particular attention to the effect of perspectives and values because their discipline involves the interpretation of findings, not just the collection of facts. The Department of History offers a wide range of courses in African, Asian, European, Latin American, Middle Eastern, and United States history.  Students may also consider concentrations in pre-law, pre-education, or World History.  As soon as students decide to major in history, visit the department advisor to discuss these options. For the latest information about required courses, view the Undergraduate Catalog. For more information about the Minor in History, visit the Department of History website.

The Ph.D. in History at Georgia State prepares students for a wide range of careers, both inside and outside the academy. Students develop deep expertise in the historical literature of their chosen field of study, learn to employ a diverse array of theories and methodologies including cutting-edge digital technologies for researching and disseminating historical scholarship and master the skills of communication necessary to thrive in today’s job market. Cohorts of 10-12 students begin each fall semester and students receive individual attention and work together through the year.

Qualification for entrance to the program is based on achievements on an appropriate proficiency examination.Candidates for the program must pass written and oral examinations in both the source and target languages. Students interested in the Spanish program can begin fall and spring semesters. Those interested in German and French need to call 404-413-5988 to see when these classes will be starting or write to acash@gsu.edu. One class is offered each semester for 5 semesters in the French and German program so it will take 5 semesters to complete the program in these languages. You must receive the translation certificate before receiving the interpretation certificate. For the latest information about requirements, view the Program website.

The Graduate Certificate in Latin American Studies offered by the Center for Latin American and Latino/a Studies (CLALS) of Georgia State University attests to the recipient’s knowledge and understanding of Latin American culture, economy, history, and politics, as well as to his or her competence in one or more of the principal languages of the region. Its purpose is to give students a broad knowledge of Latin America that will help prepare them to work or study in Latin America or to work with individuals and groups of Latino or Latin American origin in the United States. The Certificate is particularly well suited to students pursuing graduate degrees in Anthropology, Art History, Business, History, Modern Languages, Political Science, or Sociology, who have a concentration or a definite interest in Latin American issues or who want to expand their understanding of the region by taking related course work. It is also well suited to individuals who desire to enhance their marketability and skills in relation to a region whose economy and culture have become increasingly important to the United States in recent years. The Certificate may be earned alone or in conjunction with a graduate program in one of the academic departments of Georgia State University; courses included in an academic program may be used for credit toward a Certificate. For the latest information about requirements, view the graduate catalog.

This program emphasizes the social sciences and humanities perspectives of the law. Drawing on the disciplines of political science, sociology, history, English, philosophy, psychology, criminal justice, and business law, the Law and Society area of concentration offers the student a broad liberal but non-professional background in law. It is a viable option for pre-law students. For students interested in the program, please contact the program coordinator or the Department of Political Science (404-413-6159).

Mathematics is one of the great unifying themes in our modern culture. It is a language, a science, an art form and a tool of tremendous power. The Department of Mathematics and Statistics seeks to introduce students to this vast area of knowledge and to show them how mathematics can be used to solve problems. A major in mathematics can lead to many satisfying careers, including teaching and research. Mathematics ranks in the top 10 of the highest starting salaries for someone with a bachelor’s degree. The B.S. degree in mathematics program offers several concentrations: Actuarial Science, which prepares students to work as actuaries Applied Mathematics, which provides a background in mathematical computation, mathematical modeling and statistics. Computer Information Systems, which prepares students for work in the field of management information systems Computer Science, which explores the scientific aspects of computing Managerial Sciences, which offers training in management modeling and problem-solving Statistics, which prepares students for work as applied statisticians

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree programs in mathematics provide education at the graduate level in algebra, analysis, applied mathematics and statistics. The curriculum offers an optimal balance among the broad range of statistical techniques, mathematical methods and computation. Students can pursue a general course of study or one of six areas of concentration: Bioinformatics Biostatistics Discrete Mathematics Scientific Computing Statistics Statistics and Allied Field The concentrations in statistics are programs for students pursuing careers as professional statisticians in industry, business or government. These programs also provide advanced training in applied statistics for those who are already working in areas that use statistics. The concentrations in discrete mathematics and scientific computing are for students who wish to combine their study of mathematics with selected areas in discrete mathematics and computer science.