Degrees & Majors

The M.A. with a concentration in Human Communication and Social Influence fosters the advanced study of rhetoric and interpersonal communication. Our faculty in interpersonal communication are interested in media portrayals of interpersonal relationships, particularly those involving older Americans. Our faculty in rhetoric are interested in the intersection of public persuasion and issues of national identity. The Department of Communication offers a multidisciplinary program to prepare communication professionals and academicians for the demands of the 21st century. Based on theoretical perspectives from rhetoric, public argument, audience research, media studies, global communication, international communication, health communication, strategic communication and new media, the Communication Studies program explores public discourse and mass-mediated environments, and prepares students to investigate how persuasive practices are transforming culture at home and abroad.  

The B.A. in Journalism program offers three concentrations: Multimedia Reporting: Journalists are now sought for their multimedia skills as well as traditional writing and research skills. This program is designed to prepare journalism students to go into modern media workplaces, with a variety of experiential learning options as well as specialized reporting options. Public Relations: This program focuses on preparing students to work in public relations. Public relations professionals are advocates who critically analyze information to create content and campaigns for employers, employees, and clients.  Students will learn about techniques and campaigns. Experiential learning is a foundation of the coursework. Media & Society: This program is designed with an academic focus on communication, to prepare students for graduate study. Students can choose from communication courses focusing on a variety of types and areas of communication. Our programs are designed to meet the media industries' demand for graduates who are critical thinkers who can produce news and publicity materials efficiently across a variety of platforms. Students can get extra support at Georgia State's Journalism Lab which provides undergraduate journalism students with rough draft reviews, grammar assistance, help with AP style writing and video production assistance. Students can also get practical experience through Georgia State University TV (GSUTV), the university’s partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting. As Georgia State’s media station, GSUTV provides students with training for creating broadcast content and airs special programs throughout Georgia and to a national network of PBS stations via cable, satellite, and digital platforms. GSUTV has won several Emmy and Telly Awards in recent years.

The speech major focuses on how people develop communication skills, how we study communication phenomena, how we critically examine communication events and how various persuasive tactics may influence members of diverse and globalized societies. Elective courses examine such areas as nonverbal communication, media and politics, visual communication, communication disorders, health communication, mediation and conflict resolution, and communication and aging. The concepts and skills provided by the major in speech are useful in a wide variety of occupations and will prove useful in the world of communications. In the heart of Atlanta, one of the world’s most vibrant media centers, the Department of Communication offers educational programs with the goal of producing productive and socially responsible citizens who understand communication theory and deploy communication skills to improve the human condition.

The Comprehensive Intervention Model (CIM) is a well-coordinated, Response to Intervention seamless design for providing intervention services to struggling readers. The CIM is a systemic model for reversing the reading failures of struggling readers through layered interventions, including differentiated classroom instruction and supplemental interventions in small groups or one-to-one. The goal is two-fold. In kindergarten through third grade, the goal is to increase the overall literacy achievement by the end of the third grade and to reduce the number of children identified with learning disabilities within 1.5% or less of the general population. In fourth through sixth grade, interventions focus on research-based strategies for reading and writing in the content areas.

The computer science endorsement program is 100% online and designed for teachers who are interested in adding computer science to a current, renewable teaching certificate held in another content area. Candidates who successfully complete the program are prepared to effectively teach computer science courses at the pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade level. The program has four courses:  Digital literacy, information literacy and cybersecurity Computational thinking and human-computer interaction Programming concepts for teachers Computer science teaching methods The programming and methods courses are offered over the seven-week summer semester in partially synchronous courses. These courses typically meet online once a week with other coursework completed between meetings. The other two courses can be completed during the fall and spring semesters in traditional courses or they can be completed by earning badges through self-paced courses hosted by Georgia Virtual School. The self-paced courses do not include instructor or peer support, but they require only a nominal fee to evaluate assessments and can be traded for course credit for free. We recommend these self-paced courses to teachers who 1) need to complete the program quicker, 2) need a lower-cost alternative to the traditional program, or 3) have prior knowledge of computing. Applicants’ certificate level must be level 4 or higher and at any grade level pre-kindergarten through 12th grade or another eligible field. Review the Pathways to Computer Science Endorsement at Georgia State document for more information.

Computer science is the systematic exploration of all aspects of computation including computer design, computer programming and software, information processing, algorithmic solutions to problems and the algorithmic process itself. Computer science provides underpinnings for today’s applications in industry, science, government, and business and prepares the foundation for tomorrow’s applications in ubiquitous computing, medical cures for diseases and instant access to information by everyone. The B.S. degree program in computer science provides a good foundation for careers in industry, science, government and business as well as for advanced studies at the M.S. or Ph.D. level.

The Computer Science M.S. program offers students a wide variety of research and technology areas of focus including: Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Deep Learning Computer Architecture Database Data Mining Big Data Graphics and Visualization Networks Security and Privacy Parallel and Distributed Computing Cloud Computing Cyber Physical Systems Internet of Things (IoT) Programming Languages Algorithms Simulation and Software Engineering A Bioinformatics concentration and Security & Privacy concentration are available.

Learn to design online training and educational programs for organizations of all sizes with Georgia State’s online graduate certificate in corporate learning. Four courses from the master of science program in instructional design and technology come together to make up this 12-hour certificate. Professionals who know how to design online training programs are in high demand. Corporations and businesses of all sizes need instructional designers and e-Learning specialists who know how to: Present content of all lengths and complexity Create engaging learning experiences Gather learning analytics for the purposes of tracking impact and outcomes Alumni are working in a variety of education and training roles in government agencies, the military, nonprofit organizations, large corporations and businesses of all sizes. Whether you want to advance in your current organization, or switch career directions in instructional design or human performance technology, the current market for graduates with these skills is good. Coursework will have you designing, managing and evaluating corporate learning solutions, which means you can put to use the competencies you develop right away in job-related situations.

Our counselor education and practice degree is for you if you are interested in educating, training and supervising future clinical mental health, rehabilitation or school counselors. This program is also for those interested in research, social justice and advocacy in the counseling profession. Move forward towards obtaining a doctorate degree to better enhance your career choices. Our Ph.D. degree is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This program allows future students to generate their own research, critically enhance their counseling competencies and learn new skills in teaching and supervision. Upon completion, students teach and supervise in university settings, work in community agencies as clinicians and administrators and become directors of practice and research institutes. Program Performance Data 2018-2019 Students also have the capability to continue specializing and developing areas of expertise in: Multicultural counseling Play therapy with children and adolescents Trauma and stress LGBTQ issues in counseling and counselor education Disability, health and chronic illness Suicide and crisis Program evaluation Quantitative, qualitative and mixed research methodologies