Degrees & Majors

The B.S. in Game Development trains students for coding, programming and software-intensive game development careers. The program is for students aspiring to gain the background and technical skill necessary for a career in game development or science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related areas in computational media and connects students to the region’s game design companies and to the industrial ecosystem for games development in the region. The major, while mainly preparing students for careers in the videogame companies and start-up enterprises, can also prepare students for careers in game production, animation, motion graphics, postproduction and wider software development industries, including social media analytics, Web and application development. The Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII) is partnered with the Georgia Film Academy and collaborates with the Georgia Film Academy on related certifications in esports management for students who want to work in that and associated sectors.

What Is Geology? Geology is an earth science focused on the planet’s composition, structure, physical properties and history, as well as the processes that shape the Earth. Geologists help to locate and manage the earth’s natural resources, including fossil fuels, metals, gemstones and a variety of minerals. Why Study Geology? Geology-based careers include protecting the environment, exploring for fossil fuels, monitoring earthquakes, mapping floods, controlling landslides, predicting volcanic eruptions and analyzing the evidence of climate change. To be successful, geologists should have an aptitude for science and math and a desire to better understand the planet. 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.

Students can fast-track their education and save money on tuition by earning bachelor's and master's degrees in geosciences in as little as five years. Students can choose from a B.A. or B.S. program, enrolling in graduate courses late in their undergraduate program that count toward both the bachelor’s and M.S. in Geosciences degree. Students in the 4+1 "Dual Degree" program can choose from a wide range of areas of study to match their interests and career goals: Bachelor of Arts concentrations are offered in geography and urban studies. Bachelor of Sciences concentrations are offered in geology, environmental geosciences, geography and urban studies. The Master of Science program offers concentrations in geography, geology and water sciences. The Department of Geosciences includes a diverse faculty of scholars from the disciplines of geography, geology and hydrology. Research clusters in the department investigate pressing urban environmental issues, including water, from water governance to water quality and quantity, climate change and quantity, geochemical processes, and geographical information systems and informatics.

The Urban Studies concentration enables students to focus on the study of cities, including urban development and economics, urban politics and institutions, the urban built environment, social and environmental disparities in cities and the changing physical and social dynamics of urbanization processes. This interdisciplinary approach allows students to draw from a variety of courses to solve some of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century city. The Urban Studies concentration draws from classes in complementary departments, enabling the student to develop specific interests within the concentration. The Department of Geosciences includes a diverse faculty of scholars from the disciplines of geography, geology and hydrology. Research clusters in the department investigate urban environmental issues, including water, from water governance to water quality and quantity, climate change and quantity, geochemical processes, and geographic information systems and informatics.

This program offers students an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability as a concept, area of study, social practice, organizational goal and policy objective that concerns the effects and durability of relationships and interactions between social and biophysical systems. This undergraduate certificate is an excellent complement to undergraduates pursuing careers in natural resources or environmental fields. The Department of Geosciences includes a diverse faculty of scholars from the disciplines of geography, geology and hydrology. Research clusters in the department investigate pressing urban environmental issues, including water (from water governance to water quality and quantity), climate change and quantity, geochemical processes, and geographic information systems and informatics.

The Environmental Geosciences concentration focuses on the physical, chemical and biological aspects of the surface of the Earth, with an emphasis on understanding, preventing and mitigating human impacts on the environment. The Department of Geosciences includes a diverse faculty of scholars from the disciplines of geography, geology and hydrology. Research clusters in the department investigate pressing urban environmental issues, including water, from water governance to water quality and quantity, climate change and quantity, geochemical processes, and geographic information systems and informatics.

The Geology concentration focuses on physical, chemical and biological aspects of the surface and interior of the Earth. This concentration is recommended for students who will later pursue licensure as a professional geologist, which is required for supervisory work in many environmental and other fields. The Department of Geosciences includes a diverse faculty of scholars from the disciplines of geography, geology and hydrology. Research clusters in the department investigate pressing urban environmental issues, including water, from water governance to water quality and quantity, climate change and quantity, geochemical processes, and geographic information systems and informatics.

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree program with a Geology concentration offers a broad range of courses that prepare students for research and professional careers. Thesis and capstone option programs are offered. Research efforts are in the following broad areas: geochemistry (analytical, aqueous, environmental, igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary), mineralogy, hydrogeology, petrology, sedimentology, structural geology and geoinformatics. The Department of Geosciences is distinctive because it spans the social and physical dimensions of environmental and resource issues, with a special focus on urban communities. Our faculty have expertise in the social and environmental dimensions of water, environmental geochemistry and global climate change. We are also expanding our Geographic Information Science research and teaching to better represent and describe the complexity of social and environmental concerns. Joining forces with our students and community partners, we tackle the interrelated environmental and social challenges of the 21st century that involve the quality, quantity and sustainable use of our natural resources.

The Urban Studies concentration is focused on topics across geosciences applicable to the study of urban settings, including social and environmental disparities in cities, issues related to development and economics from urbanization and more. This interdisciplinary concentration situated in Geosciences affords an opportunity for students to learn beyond the department as well as benefit from a multitude of expertise in Geosciences on human-environmental challenges. The Department of Geosciences includes a diverse faculty of scholars from the disciplines of geography, geology and hydrology. Research clusters in the department investigate pressing urban environmental issues, including water, from water governance to water quality and quantity, climate change and quantity, geochemical processes, and geographic information systems and informatics.