Degrees & Majors

As you work toward your Ph.D. in nursing, you will be setting yourself apart as a nurse scholar and a leader in research, practice and education. You also are becoming part of the solution for the national shortage of nurse researchers and educators. A doctorate designed for today’s busy healthcare professionals at all career stages: The program is designed for master’s and bachelor’s prepared nurses. We also invite D.N.P.-prepared nurses to apply to the Ph.D. program. (For D.N.P.-prepared nurses, course credit may be given for previous coursework.) The Ph.D. program is available for full-time and part-time study and with coursework primarily online. Students attend a few required on-campus sessions: just two days in the fall and spring semesters. The web-based classes are a combination of real-time (synchronous or live) and on-demand (asynchronous) classes. Our graduates enjoy successful careers and can be found in roles such as: Research, clinical and administrative faculty positions in nursing schools nationwide Leadership and executive positions in corporate hospital systems and healthcare organizations Is a Ph.D. or D.N.P. degree right for me? 

The online R.N. to M.S. bridge program allows registered nurses with considerable practice experience and an associate degree or diploma from an accredited nursing program to take advantage of this streamlined approach to obtain their graduate degree. Candidates must have a minimum of one year of work experience as a registered nurse. Two years of experience is preferred. You will need to complete additional prerequisite* undergraduate coursework before taking any master’s level nursing courses. *See additional course information in the “Additional Information” tab for prerequisite information. You also will need to have a clinical site arrangement one semester before registering for one of the prerequisite courses (Caring for Families and Communities). We will work with you to plan for this and discuss the courses you need to progress toward your M.S. in nursing. Georgia State is well known for our work in student success, and that includes support at each stage of your journey through your graduate work. Once you begin your master’s level coursework, you will be heading toward a nurse practitioner specialty in one of four areas: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Family Nurse Practitioner Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Nurse practitioners tend to earn more and are given more leadership responsibilities in their organizations. As a Georgia State student, you will be part of the only nursing college in Georgia that offers the full spectrum of nursing education from associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees (including D.N.P. and Ph.D.) and access to a range of healthcare organizations. Georgia State nursing faculty are committed to your success, and we want to be a convenient, affordable education partner throughout your nursing career.

The occupational therapy doctorate 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 program, a concept 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 and clinical reasoning with great effectiveness and efficiency. Unique features of the program: Flipped classroom teaching model throughout the curriculum. The material is first introduced outside of class in a flipped classroom – 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 Teacher Support and Coaching (TSC) Endorsement Program in Early Childhood and Elementary Education is one of six endorsements offered through the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education. The TSC Endorsement is embedded in the M.Ed. Elementary Education program as one of the eight concentrations offered to students. In addition, graduate students may elect to earn a stand-alone endorsement in TSC by enrolling and successfully completing: ECE 8400 Teacher Development and ECE 8680 Internship in Teacher Support. Candidates must have three years of teaching experience to be eligible to enroll in the six (6) hours of Teacher Support and Coaching Endorsement courses. One content course focuses on developing a deep and broad knowledge of research on teacher development, induction and retention including the: conditions and contexts that may inhibit or promote teacher knowledge, growth and change professional learning needs of teachers across their career lifespan productive coaching activities One internship course provides an authentic residency that focuses on coaching and mentoring teacher candidates and other early-career teachers.

Philosophy teaches a person how to think critically and creatively, how to write clearly and persuasively, and other skills valuable to a wide range of careers, including law, business, the sciences and education. The Department of Philosophy has three areas of strength: Social, Legal, and Political Philosophy Philosophy of Mind, Cognitive Science, and Neurophilosophy The History of Philosophy The department also offers a series of courses in applied ethics, which provides students useful skills for their careers and their lives. Courses in this area include Introduction to Ethics, Sex and Love, Race and Racism, Biomedical Ethics, Philosophy of Law, Business Ethics, and our signature experience course in which students prepare to compete in the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl.

Georgia State has one of the most highly regarded terminal M.A. programs in philosophy in the country, with strong placement into prestigious Ph.D. programs and a lauded teacher-training program. In addition, the department has developed three areas of research strength: Social, legal and political philosophy Neurophilosophy and empirically informed philosophy of mind History of philosophy

The Master of Interdisciplinary Studies program in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) prepares students for a range of careers in government, public service, entrepreneurship and the corporate world. Georgia State's 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 best suited for creating and sustaining them. Students develop the intellectual skills of the social scientist who seeks to understand how social, political and economic institutions operate and are interrelated, and the moral philosopher who seeks to critically evaluate these institutions and the social world more generally, in relation to how they ought to operate. Historically, philosophy, political science and economics were deeply connected.  The intellectual father of modern economics, Adam Smith, was a philosopher concerned with moral and political philosophy.  PPE, as a contemporary academic field of study, began at Oxford University in 1920 and has spread across the English-speaking world. LEARN ABOUT PPE AT GEORGIA STATE

The Graduate 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.

What Is Physics? Physics is the exploration, identification and study of basic principles and laws governing motion, energy, structure and the intersection of matter. These include the unseen forces of gravity, electric and magnetic forces. Physics examines these laws and their influences on society and the world. Why study Physics? Physics helps you understand the world around you. Perimeter College physics classes teach you how the laws of physics answer practical questions: What causes you to lose control of your car on a wet road? How does air pressure affect the bounce of a basketball? How do microwaves cook food? Why are the peanuts always near the bottom of the Cracker Jack box? Physicists use testing and research to develop technology and improvements for society, including alternate energy options, medical equipment such as the MRI and high-resolution telescopes such as the Hubble. At Perimeter College, you can take Physics courses on all five campuses. All Physics lecture courses (not laboratory courses) required for the Physics Pathway also are offered online. 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.