Degrees & Majors
Choose from dozens of nationally ranked and recognized programs and more than 250 majors, minors and pathways at Georgia State offering the widest variety of fields of study.
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The information shared here is intended to provide an overview of Georgia State’s offerings. For details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more please refer to the university catalogs.
Applied Linguistics, B.A./M.A.
Applied Linguistics, B.A./M.A.
Students can save time and tuition dollars by earning bachelor's and master's degrees in Applied Linguistics 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.
Applied Linguistics is an interdisciplinary field of research and instruction that integrates aspects of fields such as linguistics, English, teacher education, speech communication, psychology, sociology and anthropology into a distinct field focused on issues related to the learning and teaching of a second/foreign language, such as the teaching and learning of English as a second language (ESL).
We are a multifaceted applied linguistics department that focuses on post-secondary/adult language learning, teaching and use.
Our faculty specialize in a number of sub-disciplines, including second language (L2) acquisition, L2 writing, sociolinguistics, language assessment, corpus linguistics, educational technology and L2 teacher education.
Art History, Dual Undergraduate/Graduate
Art History, Dual Undergraduate/Graduate
The Ernest G. Welch School of Arts & Design and The College of the Arts offer a dual undergraduate/graduate degree program in Art History. The program provides students with the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as short a period as five years.
Acceptance into the dual-degree program does not constitute admission to the graduate-degree program. Admission to the graduate program occurs in the senior year and is contingent upon 1) earning a bachelor’s degree, 2) maintaining the required program grade-point average, 3) performing in the graduate-level courses taken during the bachelor’s degree program and 4) meeting the other admission requirements of the specific program.
Bachelor/J.D.
Bachelor/J.D.
Through the Bachelor/J.D. Accelerated Degree Program with the Honors College, a small number of highly talented and qualified students will have the opportunity to complete a bachelor of arts, a bachelor of science, bachelor of social work or a bachelor of business administration and a J.D. at Georgia State University in six years rather than seven. Learn more at honors.gsu.edu/acceleratedjd.
Questions about the J.D.? Contact Jessica Gabel Cino, associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor of law.
For the latest information about required courses, view the Honors College website.
Biology, B.S./M.S.
Biology, B.S./M.S.
Dual-degree opportunities enable 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. That can mean saving a year or more in time and tuition dollars.
Students must be formally accepted into the dual-degree program by the department and College of Arts and Sciences to be able to take graduate courses as an undergraduate. Acceptance into the dual program does not constitute admission to the master’s program. Students must fulfill regular graduate admissions requirements and apply for the master’s program following college processes.
Information about the dual program, including application instructions and program requirements, can be found in the Dual Degree section of the CAS website.
Biology, M.S.
Biology, M.S.
Earning an M.S. degree in biology can be a stepping stone to a career in the biosciences or in preparation for a professional degree. Georgia State's Master of Science (M.S.) in Biological Sciences is designed to offer a flexible program to suit students with a wide variety of interests in biology. In addition to the general program, concentrations are offered in Biotechnology, Bioinformatics and Research.
Students may apply under a specific area/concentration, though a concentration is not required. Upon admission, a master's student is assumed to be non-thesis until acceptance into the thesis option. The non-thesis program emphasizes coursework, and a capstone paper or project is required. The capstone can either be literature-based or laboratory-based.
The thesis option emphasizes research. Acceptance into the thesis option requires approval of a thesis proposal. Completion of the thesis option requires an approved thesis as well as a successful defense of the thesis. The thesis option is only recommended for students who are planning to pursue a Ph.D.
For information about the M.S. in Medical Sciences in Biology program, which is designed for students who plan to apply to medical school, go to https://cas.gsu.edu/program/medical-sciences-in-biology-ms/.
Chemistry, B.S./M.S.
Chemistry, B.S./M.S.
The Chemistry Department offers a combined bachelor of science and master of science degree in chemistry, allowing students to save a year of time and tuition compared to pursuing the degrees separately.
The dual-degree opportunity enables qualified students to enroll in graduate courses late in their undergraduate program and count the coursework toward both the bachelor’s and master’s programs.
Students must be formally accepted into the dual-degree program by the department and College of Arts and Sciences to be able to take graduate courses as an undergraduate. Students must fulfill regular graduate admissions requirements and apply for the master’s program following college processes.
Film/Media Production, B.A./M.A. Dual Degree
Film/Media Production, B.A./M.A. Dual Degree
The School of Film, Media, & Theater offers a professionalized dual-degree program for bachelor of arts (B.A.) Film students aspiring for advanced honors-level and master of arts (M.A.) thesis production. This program is designed to take five years (including a student’s freshman and sophomore years), at the end of which, a student will receive both a bachelor of arts degree in film and media and a master of arts degree in communication with a concentration in film, media and digital imaging. The dual-degree program is ideal for students who are sophomores or juniors and want to use their senior year as a segue into graduate work. The senior year would involve advanced coursework that one would usually take in the first year of the M.A. program. The first (and only) year of the M.A. program would involve only advanced coursework and the thesis film.
Geosciences B.A./M.S. and B.S./M.S.
Geosciences B.A./M.S. and B.S./M.S.
Students can fast-track their education and save money on tuition by earning bachelor's and master's degrees in geosciences in as little as five years.
Students can choose from a B.A. or B.S. program, enrolling in graduate courses late in their undergraduate program that count toward both the bachelor’s and M.S. in Geosciences degree. Students in the 4+1 "Dual Degree" program can choose from a wide range of areas of study to match their interests and career goals:
- Bachelor of Arts concentrations are offered in geography and urban studies.
- Bachelor of Sciences concentrations are offered in geology, environmental geosciences, geography and urban studies.
- The Master of Science program offers concentrations in geography, geology and water sciences.
The Department of Geosciences includes a diverse faculty of scholars from the disciplines of geography, geology and hydrology. Research clusters in the department investigate pressing urban environmental issues, including water, from water governance to water quality and quantity, climate change and quantity, geochemical processes, and geographical information systems and informatics.
History, B.A./M.A.
History, B.A./M.A.
The Department of History offers a B.A./M.A. program that allows students to save time and tuition money 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.
Historians study various aspects of humanity’s recorded past. Some 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 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.
The M.A. 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 scholarship and master the communication skills necessary to thrive in today’s job market.
Cohorts of 10-12 master’s level students begin each fall semester and students receive individual attention and work together through the year.
History, B.A./Master of Heritage Preservation
History, B.A./Master of Heritage Preservation
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.
Mathematics, B.S./M.S.
Mathematics, B.S./M.S.
This dual-degree program enables qualified students to enroll in graduate courses late in their undergraduate program and apply the coursework toward the bachelor’s and master’s programs. This allows students to earn a B.S. and M.S. in five years, typically saving a year of time and tuition dollars.
This B.S./M.S. program offers students the ability to get an M.S. in mathematics with a concentration in statistics or an M.S. in mathematics with no concentration.
Students of mathematics and statistics enjoy high-paying job opportunities in a wide range of fields and are also well prepared for further study at the graduate level in mathematics, statistics and other fields.
Music, Dual B.Mu./M.Mu. Program
Music, Dual B.Mu./M.Mu. Program
The School of Music offers a dual Bachelor of Music and Master of Music program for all Performance concentrations, Jazz Studies, Composition and Piano Pedagogy. The 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. The program is designed to take five years to complete.
Students must be formally accepted into the dual-degree program by the school and the College of the Arts to be able to take graduate courses as an undergraduate. Acceptance into the dual program does not constitute admission to the master’s program. Students must fulfill regular graduate admissions requirements and apply for the master’s program following college processes.
Through the dual-degree programs, highly talented and qualified students will have the opportunity to complete both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in as little as five years. If determined to be qualified by typical admission measures, students can begin taking coursework toward the designated master’s degree program while still completing their final year of bachelor’s work. Admission to the graduate program is provisional, contingent upon successful completion of the bachelor’s degree, maintenance of the required 3.5 GPA and performance in the graduate-level courses taken during the bachelor’s degree.
Neuroscience, B.S./M.S.
Neuroscience, B.S./M.S.
The Neuroscience Institute offers a combined bachelor of science and master of science degree in neuroscience, allowing students to save a year of time and tuition as compared to pursuing the degrees separately.
This five-year program is for neuroscience undergraduates who are deeply interested in the field and seeking to gain research experience as they prepare for graduate or professional school, or for students looking for additional education in neuroscience to leverage for biomedical-based careers.
The first three years match our B.S. in Neuroscience program, with the fourth and fifth years including additional M.S.-level course requirements and research experiences. Students must also produce a thesis or non-thesis project, which is developed in collaboration with a faculty research mentor.
Physics, B.S.
Physics, B.S.
Eligible for the Dual Undergraduate/Graduate Program
Program Information
The Department of Physics and Astronomy carries out research activities in a broad area, covering the range from constituents of matter at the subatomic and nuclear levels to the formation and evolution of active galaxies. Our CHARA Array Telescope on Mt Wilson is now operational and can be remotely controlled from Atlanta. Students may pursue the general program as outlined here or pursue a concentration for more specialized knowledge. If a student elects to take a concentration, it is necessary to consult with the undergraduate advisor.
For the latest information about required courses, view the Undergraduate Catalog.
Political Science, B.A./M.A.
Political Science, B.A./M.A.
The Department of Political Science offers a B.A./M.A. program that allows students to save time and tuition money 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.
Political science is the study of “who gets what, when and how” in the distribution of goods and values in society and in groups. Political scientists study the forces that determine such distributions, including political parties and voters, public opinion, interest groups, bureaucracies and administrative behavior, public law, international relations, international law and organizations, national security, intergovernmental relations, political behavior, political philosophy, comparative politics, public policy and conflict.
At the undergraduate level, students may specialize in any of the five fields of the discipline:
- American politics and government
- Comparative politics
- International politics
- Political theory, or
- Public policy and administration
At the graduate level, students can choose from four concentrations:
- General Political Science
- American Politics
- International and Comparative Politics
- Public Law
Religious Studies, B.A./M.A.
Religious Studies, B.A./M.A.
College of Arts & Sciences
Students can save time and tuition money by earning bachelor's and master's degrees in religious studies in as little as five years.
Graduates of our interdisciplinary program develop the skills needed to work in today's diverse, multicultural workplaces. Our recent graduates have moved ahead by pursuing careers in education, non-profit management, law and business, as well as by returning to established careers with a better understanding of religion and culture.
The program also prepares students who aim to pursue a Ph.D. or who want to go on to a professionally oriented graduate program in areas such as public health or law.
Sociology, Dual B.A./M.A.
Sociology, Dual B.A./M.A.
The B.A. /M.A. Program is appropriate for qualified Georgia State University undergraduate students who have completed two years as a Sociology major with a GPA of 3.5. Students may pursue a dual Bachelor of Arts in sociology and either a Master of Arts in Sociology or Master of Arts in Gerontology.
Dual undergraduate/graduate programs enable admitted undergraduate students to begin taking specified graduate courses during their senior year (or earlier in some cases) and count the coursework toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Students in dual programs are enrolled in each degree program either concurrently or in close succession. Dual degrees may, therefore, be awarded at the same time, or one degree may be awarded prior to the second.
Urban Education Endorsement
Urban Education Endorsement
Georgia State’s Urban Education Endorsement provides specialized preparation for teaching in urban settings. Teachers pursuing it may be enrolled as non-degree students or may be enrolled in specific programs.
This endorsement is offered through the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, the Department of Middle and Secondary Education and the Department of Educational Policy Studies.
The graduate-level endorsement is offered to certified teachers or those admitted to a Georgia State initial teacher preparation program and hold a pre-service certificate. For more information, view the Admissions Requirements tab below and the listing in the graduate catalog for the requirements.