Degrees & Majors

Actuaries have been called the financial architects and social mathematicians because of their unique blend of analytical and business skills in the insurance and financial services industry, as consultants in firms that specialize in employee benefits and pensions in the government sector and in a variety of other roles.

What Is African-American Studies? African American Studies is the systematic study and exploration of people of African descent in the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and Africa. It is a critical examination, analysis and interpretation of the experiences, traditions and dynamics of people of African descent. Students are exposed to the historical, cultural, political, economic, social and psychological effects of people in the African-American community. Why Pursue African-American Studies? African-American Studies offers an interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary approach to the study of people of African descent through the lens of ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality and social structure. Through scholarly research, theoretical inquiry and policy analysis, African-American Studies is committed to the promotion of social justice, social responsibility and community engagement in order to reflect a positive social change. The curriculum promotes critical thinking, research analysis and proficiency in oral and written communication to prepare students for diverse professions in various career fields. 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.

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 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. 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, 18th and 19th-Century European Art, Modern and Contemporary American and European Art, African Art and Contemporary African Art.

What Is Art? Humans use creative skill and imagination to produce works that express and evoke emotion and generate aesthetic beauty. Why Study Art? The Art guided pathway at Perimeter College is the largest and most comprehensive of any associate degree program in Georgia, offering courses in art history, drawing, photography, computer design, painting, ceramics, sculpture and portfolio that enable students to explore passions and career interests beyond basic levels. Creative visual thinking is brought to life by a faculty of professional artists who expand skills and talents. The Art guided pathway prepares students for transfer to four-year programs or for careers as professional artists. Faculty members train students for creative work and scholarship through rigorous course offerings and exceptional facilities. An emphasis on portfolio preparation in all classes makes Perimeter College graduates highly successful in transferring to bachelor's degree programs. Perimeter College’s galleries and visiting artists bring the students and public in contact with art from around the world, while exchange and study abroad programs offer students the opportunity to study in cultures with varied approaches to the visual arts.

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.) program in Asian Studies offers students an opportunity to acquire knowledge of this important and unique world region and a career-oriented range of skills. It allows students to follow a course plan with concentration in international business and economy. By taking a set of courses, students may also take a minor in international business. For students interested in teaching English in China, Japan, Korea, or elsewhere in Asia, it allows a concentration in English as a Second Language (ESL) with an option to obtain a TEFL certificate from the Department of Applied Linguistics (TEFL Certificate). Students interested in Asian societies and cultures will have the option to concentrate in Chinese, Japanese, or Indian/South Asian studies. It allows students to choose from a large pool of courses (taught by GSU faculty experts in their regions and disciplines) appropriate to their areas of concentration.

This concentration develops competence in jazz performance, improvisation and knowledge of jazz history, develops professional competence in establishing, organizing and maintaining a high school or college-level jazz program and nurtures the creative talents of students in jazz arranging and composing. The Jazz Studies program provides opportunities for students to participate in quality jazz organizations such as large jazz bands and jazz combos. In addition to the performance groups, students may supplement their playing by participating in some of the academic jazz courses such as jazz improvisation, jazz arranging and jazz pedagogy, etc. 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.