Degrees & Majors

Actuaries have been called financial architects and social mathematicians because of their unique blend of analytical and business skills in the insurance and financial services industries. They serve as consultants in firms that specialize in employee benefits and pensions, in the government sector, and in a variety of other roles. To be recognized as a qualified actuary, a person should become a member of the Society of Actuaries or the Casualty Actuarial Society. Membership is obtained by passing a series of examinations. Completion of Robinson’s actuarial science program greatly enhances the possibility of passing those exams.

Check out our cost calculator or visit Student Financial Services for information on estimated costs.

The Georgia State University Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary for the interdisciplinary study of people of African descent, connecting with the community and promoting social justice, while offering a curriculum that reflects the highest aspirations of education in an evolving society.

Our department's research focus engages the experiences of Africans and African descendants in the U.S. and globally through the lenses of ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality and social structure. Our instruction and curriculum promotes critical thinking, research skills and proficiency in oral and written communication.

What Is Anthropology?

Anthropology is the study of human cultural and biological diversity across time. The discipline includes four sub-areas: socio-cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistics and biological anthropology. Anthropology students are taught holistic and comparative approaches to the study of the human condition and develop a strong grasp of the causes and consequences of globalization. The Anthropology guided pathway provides the freshman and sophomore coursework required by most four-year institutions.

Why Study Anthropology?

Students of anthropology explore cultures around the world or throughout time. They examine artifacts of ancient people and study the human body to reveal clues to the past.

A note on pathways: A pathway is an advising guide to help students prepare for their intended bachelor's degree major. By following the course of study outlined in the appropriate Associate of Arts or Associate of Science pathway, students will have the necessary prerequisite courses to continue in their chosen disciplines. A pathway is not a major and will not be represented on the diploma.

Applied linguistics is an interdisciplinary field that integrates many perspectives on the study of human language. Studying linguistics is not a matter of learning many different languages, but rather it is the study of the nature of language in general.

Applied Linguistics is the study of language and communication in relation to real-world problems such as language acquisition and teaching, language assessment, language analysis on a large or small scale, improving intercultural communication and understanding the relationship between language and social organization or behaviors.

Students majoring in Applied Linguistics have the opportunity to earn the Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate at the same time because the certificate requirements overlap with the required courses for the major.

Applied Linguistics students also have many opportunities for study abroad. The department has offered programs in Mexico and Argentina, as well as an exchange program in Turkey.

The Georgia State University undergraduate Art History program approaches visual culture from an international perspective and features the history of the art of Africa, Europe, and North and South America. To prime students for a career in the 21st century, the school offers a full historical spectrum, engaging you in cross-disciplinary methods of analysis and evaluation. Study-abroad programs, internships and research assistantships offer additional opportunities for you to gain expertise in the field. The program prepares you for graduate work and professions in museums, galleries, non-profits, art consultancies and publishing.

The program emphasizes the study of visual art in relation to the historical and cultural contexts in which it was created. Students learn interdisciplinary methods of analysis and develop research, writing, formal analysis and critical thinking skills. Coursework takes the form of lower-level surveys of Western and non-Western art, higher-level specialized lecture classes and Introduction to Art Historical Methodology a seminar on Art Historical Methods and Research. The Art History program offers a variety of classes on a rotating basis, including courses in Ancient Roman Art, Medieval Art, Early Modern (Renaissance) Art, 18^th and 19^th-Century European Art, Latin American Art, Modern and Contemporary American and European Art, African Art and Contemporary African Art.

The Georgia State University Arts Administration concentration provides students with a broad-based knowledge of business and the arts and positions graduates for managerial positions in galleries, theaters and other arts organizations, especially in the nonprofit sector. The program allows students with an interest in the arts to develop widely marketable skills. Students take courses in nonprofit management, business communication and marketing with electives in business administration, creative media industries study, entrepreneurship, marketing and nonprofit management.

There are four thematic concentrations: Art History Administration, Music Administration, Studio Administration and Theatre Administration.

Students can pursue their interest in the arts in one of these four areas while also taking courses in nonprofit management, business communication and marketing.

An internship course is required for Art History Administration and Theatre Administration or can be taken as an elective in Music Administration and Theatre Administration. Other possible electives include business administration, creative media industries and world languages courses.

Our campus is in the heart of downtown Atlanta. We are part of a thriving, vibrant arts scene with many arts administration opportunities in art, music and theatre.

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.

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

The department also provides specific concentrations for majors and minors in pre-law and in international affairs.

The department sponsors intercollegiate academic teams for Mock Trial, Model United Nations and Model Arab League. The department sponsors student honor societies and clubs in pre-law, international relations, and political science. The department also provides advisement for pre-law students.

Students also have the option to earn an undergraduate certificate in European Union Studies in cooperation with the University System of Georgia. Courses that count towards the certificate can also be applied to their political science major and towards the International Affairs concentration. For more information, visit European Union Studies Program. The Georgia State faculty representative for the certificate program is Dr. Jeannie Grussendorf.

What Is Biology?

Biology is the science of life, from simple bacteria to complicated organisms. Biologists pursue a wide range of interests, among them researching diseases, exploring the evolution of organisms, modeling the complexity of ecosystems and examining the distribution of living organisms.

Why Study Biology?

Why do people get old and die? Why do seeds grow up, not down? How does injecting someone with a virus prevent them from catching it? Biologists learn the answers. Students of biology develop an understanding of how living things work and affect each other. They work to answer new questions about the natural world, whether it is about environmental impact or human health and well-being. Will building a new dam destroy a rare flower or increase populations of parasites? Where did the latest Salmonella outbreak originate? Why are some cancers resistant to chemotherapy? How do we make a vaccine for AIDS? Biologists perform research to discover answers to these questions, apply their research and teach the discoveries to a new generation.

A note on pathways: A pathway is an advising guide to help students prepare for their intended bachelor's degree major. By following the course of study outlined in the appropriate Associate of Arts or Associate of Science pathway, students will have the necessary prerequisite courses to continue in their chosen disciplines. A pathway is not a major and will not be represented on the diploma.

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) in Biomedical Science and Enterprise (BSEN) program prepares graduates for a range of exciting careers in the biomedical industry or advanced degrees in science, business or law. The program offers an innovative approach to education that combines studies in biomedical science, business, entrepreneurship and law, and teaches students the scientific, legal and commercial aspects of scientific discovery.

The BSEN program is a perfect fit for anyone passionate about patient care, intrigued by the scientific study of human diseases or interested in creating and marketing the next generation of disease-preventing therapeutics or wearable health devices. It's also for those who have dreams of working in a hospital, pharmaceutical company or biomed startup.

Our versatile graduates possess diverse skills sought by leading industry employers, and they’re ready to make a lasting difference that advances human health and improves the quality of human life.

The program is offered by the Institute for Biomedical Sciences in partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Law, Honors College, J. Mack Robinson College of Business and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute.