Degrees & Majors

What is General Studies? 

General Studies is a guided pathway allowing exposure to a variety of subjects and providing students  flexibility as they move to the baccalaureate level. Students will take courses across a broad spectrum of fields, emphasizing breadth rather than depth.

Why choose General Studies?

General Studies is an excellent choice for students who are undecided about a major or for those who wish to emphasize the liberal arts. By choosing General Studies, students will have the ability to select from a wide variety of majors later when they pursue their bachelor’s degree programs. Through exposure to numerous fields of study, students will enhance their critical thinking, communication and analytical abilities, skills employers rate as highly desirable.

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 Gerontology offers students an opportunity to learn about aging across the life course. Gerontology courses draw from a variety of disciplines to expose students to issues, knowledge and research about aging processes, older people and the complex needs of our rapidly aging society.

Faculty members associated with the Gerontology Institute come from business, law, the social and biological sciences, and the health and human service professions. They bring a diverse, interdisciplinary perspective to our instructional programs and are engaged in a wide range of research in areas such as long-term care, assisted living, ethnicity and aging, health and health disparities, learning and memory, retirement, aging among minorities, intergenerational caregiving and marketing to seniors.

Students who major in Gerontology must select a concentration in one of two allied fields: Behavioral and Social Sciences or Health and Health Services.

The Health and Science Communication Certificate prepares students to translate complex health and scientific information into accessible content for diverse audiences. This program equips students with critical communication skills, helping them convey important science and health messages in personal and professional contexts.

Graduates of this certificate program can pursue roles such as health communication specialist, science writer or public health educator. Whether working in public health organizations, hospitals or media outlets, students will be able to develop and deliver clear, impactful health communication strategies that make a difference in public understanding and well-being.

The Master of Heritage Preservation (MHP) program offers compelling opportunities to pursue careers relating to the preservation and interpretation of cultural heritage.  Based in the Department of History, 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 that take place outside the traditional classroom setting.  The MHP program uses Atlanta and the surrounding area as a living laboratory from which our students obtain the skills to become future leaders in the field.

The MHP program attracts students from ages 21 to over 60, all with a wide 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.

Historians study various aspects of humanity’s recorded past. Some historians 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 Georgia State, students seeking a bachelor’s degree in History 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 Department of History offers a wide range of courses in African, Asian, European, Latin American, Middle Eastern and United States history.

The Georgia State University 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.

The Ph.D. 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 historical scholarship and master the skills of communication necessary to thrive in today’s job market.

Cohorts of 10-12 students begin each fall semester and students receive individual attention and work together through the year.

A minor in a language is an excellent complement to a number of majors.  Students pursuing careers in law, business administration, criminal justice and health sciences, among others fields, should consider a minor in language as a way to increase their marketable skills. Students who wish to minor in French, German, Japanese, or Spanish must take 15-18 hours in courses in the language, including at least 9 semester hours at the 3000 level or above.

For information on required courses, visit the World Languages & Cultures website.

A minor in a language is an excellent complement to a number of majors.  Students pursuing careers in law, business administration, criminal justice and health sciences, among others fields, should consider a minor in language as a way to increase their marketable skills. Students who wish to minor in French, German, Japanese, or Spanish must take 15-18 hours in courses in the language, including at least 9 semester hours at the 3000 level or above.

For information on required courses, visit the World Languages & Cultures website.