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.
Search results are alphabetized
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.
Advanced Language and Literacy Science Graduate Certificate
Ready to make a difference in the world of language learning?
Georgia State University's graduate certificate in Advanced Language and Literacy Science (ALLS) will equip you to make a real difference in the lives of those struggling with language and literacy. You'll be able to help a diverse group of language learners including children in poverty, individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, autism, learning disabilities, those who are deaf or hard of hearing, people with communication impairments and multilingual learners.
African American Studies Pathway, Associate of Arts
Perimeter College
Are you interested in becoming a lawyer, human rights advocate or educator? Perhaps you’re considering work in the healthcare field or as a public servant or filmmaker. Do you want your work to be of service to the African American community? Are you interested in transforming the world for the better? Then, pursuing a pathway in African American Studies from Georgia State University may be an ideal pathway for you.
The African American Studies Pathway Advantage
African American Studies offers an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary 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 seeks to reflect positive social change through the promotion of:
- Social justice
- Social responsibility
- Community engagement
The African American Studies 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.
Africana Studies Graduate Certificate
College of Arts & Sciences
Africana Studies is a growing discipline. An increasing number of employers are seeking to fill positions with people who possess a cultural and historical analysis of Black people in the U.S., the African diaspora, and around the globe. As a discipline that is interdisciplinary and diasporic, African American Africana Studies specifically educates students in:
- Black political, cultural, philosophical and artistic thought and practice
- Black popular and mass culture
- Race in relation to the study of gender and sexuality
- Social justice through community engagement
This certificate program allows master’s and doctoral students in other disciplines to amplify the Afrocentric analysis in their own course of study. Some may simply want to explore a specific area reflected in their course of study. Others may wish to pursue employment for which a certificate in African American Studies is deemed an advantage.
Africana Studies, B.A.
College of Arts & Sciences
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.
Africana Studies, M.A.
College of Arts & Sciences
Graduate students who want to engage in the interdisciplinary study of Black people in the United States, Africa and in the African diaspora will work closely with our faculty in this program.
Our faculty have expertise in the domestic and global study of race and Blackness in the traditional disciplines of African-American Studies, Anthropology, Art History, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Social Work and Public Health. There are few departments or programs that match our strengths in:
- Scholar-activism
- Diasporic studies in Black popular and mass culture
- Culturally relevant pedagogy
- Community empowerment
- Gender, sexuality and social relationships
While we have particular emphasis on Social Justice and Community Responsibility in the United States, we support and encourage the study and liberation of Black people everywhere in the world.
Africana Studies offers a master’s degree with competitive funding, which includes a tuition waiver and moderate stipend.
Anthropology, M.A. Museum Anthropology Concentration
The Concentration in Museum Anthropology is an option for students enrolled in the M.A. in Anthropology program. In adopting an anthropological approach to museums, this concentration is distinct from generalized museum studies in examining curation, exhibition and museum practice from a comparative and global perspective that sees museums as dynamic institutions embedded in particular social and cultural contexts.
In this concentration, students interrogate the ways in which museums not only represent but also construct notions of cultural patrimony, identity, nationalism and cultural meaning. Emphasis is on the role of museums in disseminating and producing anthropological knowledge, using anthropological theory to contextualize and critique museums' practices in diverse settings and working with a collection or exhibits to gain new knowledge.
The Concentration in Museum Anthropology offers theoretical tools and professional skills related to:
- Obtaining critical perspectives on anthropology and museums in the past and present.
- Gaining practical experience in museum collections/exhibition space/curation.
- Developing skillsets for curation and museum exhibition creation based on the interests of the student.
A highlight of the concentration is the course Museum Experience, which is tailored to the student’s interests. In Museum Experience, students critically engage in a hands-on opportunity at a museum, library, archive, lab or other institution or repository. Projects can also include principles of curation, display or analyses of visual/virtual/material/aural culture, data collection at a museum or a museum internship. Students will develop an appreciation of how museum space is constructed, proficiency in data collection or other responsibilities as appropriate and working knowledge of museum materials, including curated and/or exhibited artifacts.
Anthropology, M.A.
College of Arts & Sciences
The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree program in anthropology provides rigorous training in anthropological theories, methods and skills. The program is dedicated to the investigation of a broad range of social, cultural, political-economic and biological issues, processes and problems pertaining to the human experience in its past and present dimensions.
The Department of Anthropology program uses resources in metropolitan Atlanta to promote student learning, offering a concentration in Museum Anthropology and a graduate Certificate in Ethnography.
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.
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.
Georgia State University's 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.
Applied Linguistics, M.A.
College of Arts & Sciences
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.
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in Applied Linguistics is a response to societal needs resulting from the status of English as the language of international communication. This worldwide use of English in programs and institutions of higher education has created needs in two areas:
- Research on an assortment of interrelated topics, including language learning by adults who will use English for academic purposes, effective teaching of adult language learners and the nature of English as an academic language.
- Doctoral faculty who can teach in educational programs that prepare master’s level teachers of English as a Second/Foreign Language.
Ph.D. students may focus on a range of topics. Research, for example, may be related to issues in second language writing, reading, listening or speaking; analysis of academic language; assessment; teacher cognition; classroom dynamics; sociolinguistics; or the role of culture in second language acquisition.
The Middle East Institute offers an interdisciplinary major in Middle East Studies, a minor in Middle East Studies and a minor in Arabic. The major is ideal for students who want a well-rounded understanding of the Middle East along with the opportunity to study languages of the region. Students take courses on the Middle East in a variety of disciplines, including history, political science, religious studies, communication and women’s studies. Each student selects the specific courses included in his or her program of study in consultation with an MEI adviser. The MES major prepares students for graduate school or for careers in government, business, the non-profit sector or the military.
For the latest information about required courses, view the enrollment program page.
The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) program in Asian Studies provides students an opportunity to acquire a career-oriented range of skills and knowledge of this important and unique region of the world. Students can choose from a wide range of courses offered at Georgia State University.
Students have flexibility to craft a degree program that fits their interests and goals. Options include:
- A concentration in international business and economy.
- A minor in international business.
- A concentration in English as a Second Language (ESL) with an option to obtain a certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (TEFL).
- Concentration in Chinese, Japanese or Indian/South Asian studies.
Chaplaincy Studies, Graduate Certificate
College of Arts & Sciences
Georgia State University is pleased to be the first public university in the country to offer a graduate certificate program designed specifically for aspiring chaplains. This program is designed for students passionate about faith, helping others and providing spiritual support in a meaningful and impactful way.
The graduate certificate program is in partnership with the esteemed Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), the premier accrediting organization for chaplains in the United States. This collaboration ensures the curriculum aligns with the highest industry standards, prepares graduates for successful careers and Board Certification upon completion (if applicable). Students in the Graduate Pathway to Chaplaincy first apply to the Religious Studies master's program (if they do not already hold an M.A. in Religious Studies), complete the two-year graduate degree, and then enroll in the Certificate in their third year. Students interested in working toward certification as a chaplain and who do not already hold a Masters degree in Religious Studies should consult with the department Chair or Graduate Director before applying to the Certificate.
This comprehensive program offers a unique blend of academic rigor and practical training, equipping students with the essential knowledge and skills to thrive in various chaplaincy specialties. Students interested in institutional chaplaincy will gain expertise in providing spiritual and emotional support in settings like hospitals, prisons, hospices, and universities.
The program fosters ethical decision-making, strong leadership and the ability to navigate complex situations with compassion and integrity. Students become adept at fostering inclusivity and respect in multicultural and multifaith environments.
Collaborative and Experiential Learning Undergraduate Certificate
The Collaborative and Experiential Learning Certificate allows students to enhance their education through real-world, team-based projects. By engaging in interdisciplinary initiatives, students apply their academic knowledge to hands-on experiences that build practical problem-solving and project management skills.
Graduates of this certificate are well-positioned for careers in consulting, project management, and product development. Their ability to collaborate across disciplines and tackle complex challenges makes them ideal candidates for leadership roles in business, technology, healthcare, and beyond.
The M.A. with a concentration in Communication Studies fosters advanced research study in speech communication and mass communication. Our faculty are interested in media portrayals of interpersonal relationships, including those involving older Americans, and examine elements of the mass media from qualitative and social scientific perspectives. Students who enroll in this program can focus their studies on interpersonal communication, international media, journalism, strategic communication and public relations, social media, media effects, or audience studies.
The Department of Communication offers a multidisciplinary program to prepare communication professionals and academicians for the demands of the 21st century. Based on perspectives from rhetoric, public argument, audience research, media studies, global communication, international communication, health communication, strategic communication and new media, Communication Studies explores public discourse and mass-mediated environments to prepare students to investigate how persuasive practices are transforming culture at home and abroad.
Communication Studies, Ph.D.
College of Arts & Sciences
The Georgia State University doctoral program in communication encourages students to engage in theoretically rigorous, methodologically sophisticated and ethically informed research. Our students are encouraged to undertake research that makes a difference and contributes substantively to the human understanding of how communication and media fundamentally shape and are shaped by an increasingly complex social world.
The curriculum draws upon social scientific and humanities-based theories and methods to prepare a diverse group of students for a job market that expects them to be literate across multiple sub-disciplinary domains of communication, in particular, media studies, rhetoric and speech communication.
Doctoral students work with graduate faculty who have gained national and international prominence across a diverse range of research areas, including:
- International media and politics
- Health communication
- Strategic communication
- Media effects and psychology
- Media representation and stereotypes
- Rhetorical studies
- Legal communication
- Journalism studies
- Media ethics
- Visual communication
- Environmental and critical animal studies
- Terrorism studies
- Public argument and deliberation
- Persuasion, public relations
- Interpersonal and intergroup communication
- Networks
- Ideological formations of power and resistance
The intellectual and creative energies activated by this rich and interdisciplinary activity within Atlanta’s dynamic urban location make the department an ideal place for students from around the world to prepare for a career in communication.
Communication, Digital Media Strategies, M.A.
Georgia State University's M.A. in Communication with a concentration in Digital Media Strategies is a non-thesis-track program for students and professionals seeking to enhance their expertise and become advanced practitioners in communications.
This program is for people already working in fields such as public relations, television, cross-platform journalism, social media and other digital media-focused fields who are looking to build their skills, develop a grounding in theory and advance their careers. It is also intended to jumpstart the career of junior and early-career media professionals by teaching practical skills, including optimal use of cross-platform production technology and creating and evaluating persuasive messaging. Students will also build the capacity to link theory with practice.
Signature capstone experiences, media studies and applied media courses shape this cutting-edge program serving those who work in or aspire to work in Atlanta’s growing media market, which ranks in the top 10 in the U.S., and other markets around the world.