Degrees & Majors

The Gerontology Graduate Certificate is designed for people who are preparing for careers in the aging field and for professionals already working in areas such as health care, social services, recreation and leisure, government and business. Applicants to this program include people changing careers, re-entering the workforce or seeking additional expertise. The interdisciplinary curriculum provides in-depth exposure to issues, knowledge and research about aging processes, older people and the needs of an aging population. The program integrates knowledge of gerontology into students’ own disciplinary fields. The Graduate Certificate may be earned concurrently with an M.A., M.S., or Ph.D. degree, or independently by those who hold a bachelor’s or advanced degree.

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 Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.) in Global Studies prepares students to be globally aware and competent in their chosen careers. In addition to focusing on global opportunities and pressing challenges, students develop deep regional concentration in a particular area of focus including Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East or Latin America. The degree is designed so that students can take courses in political science, history, anthropology, geography, economics, linguistics, religion, sociology and international business to create their own tailored curriculum while gaining broad competencies in global issues and world languages.

The graduate certificate in Heritage Preservation offers tracks in Historic Preservation and Public History. The certificate program is open to students enrolled in graduate degree programs at Georgia State or other graduate institutions in history, architecture, planning, anthropology, geography, urban studies, public administration and real estate. The certificate program is also open to students enrolled in a graduate degree program in the Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education (ARCHE). This includes Agnes Scott College, Brenau University, Clark Atlanta University, Clayton State University, Columbia Theological Society, Emory University, Georgia Gwinnett College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Interdenominational Theological Center, Kennesaw State University, Mercer University, Morehouse College, Morehouse College School of Medicine, Oglethorpe University, SCAD-Atlanta, Spelman College, University of Georgia and the University of West Georgia. Students at these ARCHE institutions may apply for the certificate program using the same procedure used to apply for the Master of Heritage Preservation degree.

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. Historians seek to understand the forces that have structured human life and the ideas that have shaped the way people perceive and experience their worlds. History can teach us many lessons, not simply about our past but also about the paradoxes and potentials of our present. At Georgia State, students seeking a bachelor’s degree in History can choose from several options: Bachelor of Arts in History — The broadest option. World History Concentration — An in-depth look at world history and culture Pre-Education Track — This track prepares aspiring teachers to enter any master’s-level certification program. Pre-Law Concentration — This option prepares students for law school or J.D.-Ph.D. programs. The Department of History offers a wide range of courses in African, Asian, European, Latin American, Middle Eastern and United States history.

The Department of History offers a B.A. in History/Master of Heritage Preservation (M.H.P.) program that allows students to save time and tuition dollars by earning both degrees in as little as five years. This dual degree opportunity enables qualified students to enroll in graduate courses late in their undergraduate program and apply the coursework toward both the bachelor’s and master’s programs. At the bachelor’s degree level, History students can choose from several options: Bachelor of Arts in History — The broadest option. World History Concentration — An in-depth look at world history and culture Pre-Education Track — This track prepares aspiring teachers to enter any master’s-level certification program. Pre-Law Concentration — This option prepares students for law school or J.D.-Ph.D. programs. At the graduate school level, the M.H.P. program offers compelling opportunities to pursue careers relating to the preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage. The program and its faculty emphasize the theory and practice of protecting and communicating the significance of our tangible and intangible heritage. Much of the coursework involves collaboration with community partners and cultural organizations to produce practical learning experiences outside the traditional classroom setting. Thanks to our location in Atlanta, class projects prioritize city and regional histories by engaging with local communities to assess, preserve and interpret the tangible and intangible heritage of the South. Collaboration with community partners and cultural organizations throughout the southeastern region provide M.H.P. students with both practical learning experiences that take place outside the traditional classroom setting and professional interactions that position them to be future leaders in the field. The M.H.P. program attracts students with a variety of backgrounds and interests, creating an eclectic and energetic academic setting. Our students use their heritage preservation educations to teach, advocate, restore, interpret and plan for the preservation of historic resources and interpretations of history to a public audience. Students can specialize in either public history or historic preservation.

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.