Degrees & Majors

Undergraduate students learn the essentials of nursing care in the classroom and a state-of-the-art simulation lab. They practice skills learned in a wide range of facilities, including hospitals, community settings and clinics, caring for patients after surgery, providing health screenings for pre-school children, administering flu vaccines to adults and caring for new mothers and their babies.

The bachelor’s degree program is available for first-time nurses through the traditional and ACE (fast-track) options. For practicing registered nurses with either an associate degree or diploma in nursing, the RN to BS option is the ideal way to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Accreditation/Approvals
The College of Nursing is fully approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), a national accreditation agency for schools of nursing. See the CCNE website or the Georgia Board of Nursing website for more information.

Expand career horizons with a graduate degree

Earning a master’s degree in nursing opens new career avenues for registered nurses and expands their impact on the U.S. healthcare system.

The master of science in nursing (M.S.) degree program is a distance-learning program designed with the busy adult learner in mind, preparing graduates to assume a variety of advanced practice registered nurse roles. Students in the master’s program work with expert clinicians and system administrators to prepare for advanced practice nursing roles and leadership positions.

The R.N. to M.S. bridge program provides registered nurses with considerable practice experience and an associate degree or diploma from an accredited nursing program a streamlined approach to earn a graduate degree.

Candidates must have a minimum of one-year work experience as a registered nurse with two years’ experience preferred.

Students applying to the R.N. to M.S. degree program must complete additional prerequisite undergraduate course work* before taking any master’s level nursing courses.

*See additional courses required tab below for prerequisites

Offering distance learning for the working professional RN

Georgia State houses the only nursing college statewide to offer the full spectrum of nursing education from associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees (including D.N.P. and Ph.D.). The Georgia State nursing college in Atlanta offers access to a range of healthcare organizations. A distance learning program, the R.N. to M.S. offers convenience for the working nurse, and as a state research university, Georgia State is an affordable option.

Specialty areas in the master’s program, both traditional and R.N. to M.S. include:

• Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

For practicing registered nurses with either an associate degree or diploma in nursing, the R.N. to B.S. option is the ideal way to earn a bachelor’s degree. Many registered nurses who originally completed their nursing programs at the associate degree level are returning to school as employers seek bachelor’s-prepared nurses. Holding a bachelor’s degree in nursing may provide more opportunities within a nurse’s employment place. If a nurse wishes to teach or become an advanced practice nurse, the bachelor’s degree is a stepping stone to a master’s degree or doctorate in nursing.

Accreditation and Approvals

The College of Nursing is approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), a national accreditation agency for nursing schools. See the CCNE website or the Georgia Board of Nursing website for more information.

The occupational therapy master's program prepares students to improve human lives through innovations in research, community engagement and education in occupational therapy and rehabilitation in general. The rigor and demands of the program match the need for occupational therapy services in a dynamic healthcare system that is highly technological and global.

The scientific study of humans as occupational beings is a central concept of this master's program. This concept is based on the fundamental premise that occupation is an integral part of life and a prerequisite to participation. The program embraces the American Occupational Therapy Association Vision 2025 and focuses on producing leaders who use creative and critical thinking, as well as clinical reasoning with great effectiveness and efficiency.
Unique features of the program:

• Flipped classroom teaching model throughout the curriculum. In a flipped classroom, material is first introduced outside of class – via videos, websites, reading materials, etc. Then skills, that would have been homework in the traditional learning environment are mastered in the classroom with the instructor’s assistance.
• Research partnerships with local universities and other schools at Georgia State, such as Georgia State's School of Music, Emory and Georgia Tech
• Community-based learning opportunities working with at-risk and underserved populations, such as refugees, homeless veterans and adults with serious mental illness

The operations management concentration is designed to equip students with management skills and operational tools in the design, development, and distribution of products and services. The concentration prepares students to pursue a career in operations and supply chain management, which can include a diverse range of job opportunities including purchasing, project management, inventory management, quality management, logistics and supply chain management, and consulting.

For the latest information about required courses, visit the Robinson College of Business website.

What Is Philosophy?

Philosophy is the study of ideas, such as those about knowledge, truth and the meaning of life. It encourages students to challenge, defend and develop a tolerance for ideas.

Why Study Philosophy?

Studying philosophy enhances problem-solving capacities, persuasive powers and the ability to understand and express ideas. The study of philosophy provides a valuable preparation for students planning to pursue professional careers such as law, medicine and theology.

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 study of philosophy is excellent preparation for law school and a career in law. The critical thinking skills, clarity in writing and argumentative rigor required in philosophy provide students with the tools they need to be successful in law school and as lawyers. Philosophy majors have among the highest average scores on the LSAT and the highest admission rates to law school of any major.

The Department of Philosophy at Georgia State includes seven nationally recognized scholars in legal and political philosophy.

Students in the philosophy/pre-law track can also learn about pre-law opportunities at the university by joining the Pre-Law Society and other student groups on campus. Students can also join the pre-law GroupMe for the Center for the Advancement of Students and Alumni, which provides access to the university's centralized pre-law advising program.

The Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) program helps students become familiar with and capable of contributing to ongoing debates about the nature of good political and economic institutions, as well as the policies and practices that are best suited for creating and sustaining them. Students will develop the intellectual skills of the social scientist, who seeks to understand how the social world operates, and the moral philosopher, who seeks to critically evaluate the social world in relation to how it ought to be.

This interdisciplinary program makes use of the analytically rigorous tools of its three disciplines to promote serious thought about practical issues, allowing students to delve deep into moral, social, political and economic issues.

PPE graduates contribute intelligently to public dialogue, many in positions of power in government and corporate life. The PPE program supports the Civil Discourse Forum, a student group that encourages discussion of controversial issues and is often led by PPE students.

To learn more about our program's faculty, events and related resources, go to the Philosophy, Politics and Economics homepage.

The undergrad photography program provides a critical and conceptual grounding for students as they independently pursue their studio practice. The weekly seminar serves as the backbone of the program. Critical theory is stressed while critique forms the basis for dialogue about ongoing work. Students are encouraged to look beyond established photographic conventions and to push their work in new directions. Creative investigation across disciplines is avidly supported and results in students working in mixed media, video, digital, installation, performance and conventional photographic print media. Guest critics and guest artists are invited to final critiques to supplement the expertise of the faculty.