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.

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The 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.

Program Information 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, improving intercultural communication, and understanding the relationship between language and social organization. The Department of Applied Linguistics and English as a Second Language offers (1) a B.A. degree in Applied Linguistics; (2) a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), (3) ESL credit-bearing courses for non-native speakers of English, and (4) Intensive English Program (IEP) courses for non-native speakers of English. The B.A. in Applied Linguistics provides the opportunity for students to explore the field of linguistics from an interdisciplinary perspective. The TEFL certificate program provides students with appropriate skills and a credential that will enable them to teach English as a foreign language abroad. Students majoring in any undergraduate program can earn the TEFL certificate. In addition, the certificate can be earned by any post-baccalaureate student. TEFL certificate requirements consist of the following five courses: AL 3021, AL 3041, AL 3051, AL 3101, and AL 4161. AL 3021 is a prerequisite for AL 3041, AL 3051, and AL 4161. AL 3051 is a prerequisite for AL 4161. AL 2021 Intro to English Linguistics is a prerequisite to these courses, except for post-baccalaureate students, but students may be exempted from this requirement by taking a departmental exam. AL 3021 is the fist course in the series, but may be taken in conjunction with AL 3051 and AL 3101. AL 4161 should be the last course taken, andAL 3051 is a prerequisite to this practicum course. For the latest information about required courses, view the Undergraduate Catalog. For more information about the Minor in Applied Linguistics, view the Department of Applied Linguistics & ESL website.

The undergraduate concentration in Art Education prepares kindergarten through 12th grade art educators with expertise in the visual arts and the skills to plan and teach in a way that is responsive to all students and their communities. The program builds a community of collegial professionals who demonstrate disciplinary expertise, including art teaching skills with sound pedagogical strategies, an understanding of current scholarship and issues within the field and the ability to positively impact student learning. Special emphasis is placed on the teaching of diverse learners in urban and metropolitan settings. The program bridges the gap between theory and practice—helping students develop skills as an instructor and an artist. Art Education students benefit from the activities of the National Art Education Association, which provides a variety of early professional experiences for pre-service teachers, including the organization of exhibitions of art education student and alumni artwork, the sponsorship of fundraisers and service projects in the Atlanta area and travel to state and national conferences. The program also reflects a professional art school commitment to the mastery of art media. Students are required to take several courses in one art discipline to gain the depth needed for teaching and personal artistic development, as well as a broad range of elective studio courses to master the diverse skills that will be needed as a classroom teacher. The student experience: Three of the four pre-student-teaching courses include on-site classroom observations.  The last semester of the program is spent student-teaching with master's-level teachers in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

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.

The 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.

This concentration prepares students for graduate study in composition, careers as professional composers and teachers of composition. Successful applicants demonstrate success in undergraduate theory and aural skills classes, have a portfolio of compositions and successfully pass an entrance jury. A portfolio of compositions with accompanying recordings for review as well as completion of Theory IV and Aural Skills IV is required. Freshman and sophomore students may enroll in Composition Seminar to develop the portfolio. Completion of Theory I and Aural Skills I is required for admission into the Composition Seminar. The mission of the School of Music is to preserve, promote and advance humanity’s rich and expanding tradition of artistic music-making through performance, composition, education and research in accordance with the urban and global initiatives of the university. Students have the opportunity to work with an internationally acclaimed faculty of 40 full-time and 24 part-time faculty in concentrations such as performance, pedagogy, music education, conducting, composition and jazz studies.

The Music Education Faculty believes all cultures should be represented and that both traditional and novel settings should be used to teach music. You will take traditional method classes but will also learn to improvise, use electric instruments, compose and much more. You will learn to be the best possible ensemble/choral director in addition to being able to design novel student-centered instruction. Most important, you will learn to channel your passion for music through effective instruction. Music Education prepares you to teach music in schools or other group settings from early childhood through adulthood. After graduation, you qualify for a Georgia teaching certificate in K-12 music. In addition to performance, you will study child development and learning, as well as methods of teaching music. Applicants should have a strong background in music performance and music reading and should have a particular interest in sharing their love of music with others. The mission of the School of Music is to preserve, promote and advance humanity’s rich and expanding tradition of artistic music-making through performance, composition, education and research in accordance with the urban and global initiatives of the university. Students have the opportunity to work with an internationally acclaimed faculty of 40 full-time and 24 part-time faculty in concentrations such as performance, pedagogy, music education, conducting, composition and jazz studies.