Degrees & Majors
Choose from dozens of nationally ranked and recognized programs and more than 250 majors, minors and pathways at Georgia State offering the widest variety of fields of study.
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The information shared here is intended to provide an overview of Georgia State’s offerings. For details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more please refer to the university catalogs.
Economics, Ph.D.
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
With internationally renowned faculty and research centers, the doctoral program in economics takes a pioneering approach to economics that emphasizes public policy and empirical evaluation. In the innovative Ph.D. program, you’ll master advanced econometrics and experimental methods to learn how economics and policy work together in preparation for a successful career as a researcher, university instructor or both. Combining the latest economic theory, analytical skills, research methodology and empirical techniques, the rigorous curriculum will equip you to meet today’s complex challenges and educate the next generation of public economics experts. We offer six fields of specialization within economics: environmental, experimental, health, labor, public and urban. Students choose one primary and one secondary field, and many students choose research that spans more than one field. Our program has been given a STEM designation, which recognizes the rigorous instruction all students receive. It also benefits international students who can, upon graduation, apply for a STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa extension that allows them to work in the United States for up to 29 months rather than one year (starting with students entering in Fall 2020).
Education -- Early Childhood Education Pathway, A.S.
Perimeter College
What Is Teacher Education? Education is a pathway that helps to prepare future teachers by learning educational philosophies, policies, attitudes, behaviors and instruction in order to effectively perform the duties associated with the position of a classroom teacher. Through introductory courses in the field, students will learn to think critically about key issues that affect 21st-century learners in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms. Why Education as a Pathway? At Perimeter College, students take introductory gateway courses in education that help them to explore issues related to the teaching profession. The courses include the history and foundation of the field of education, critical issues associated with the field, diversity issues in strategies and education to support 21st-century learners. If you are excited by the idea of working with children and introducing them to ideas they will carry for a lifetime, the educational field may be for you. At Perimeter College, students may study Early Childhood, Middle Grades, Secondary School or Special Education. Students also may study Health/Physical Education. Students focusing on Early Childhood, Secondary Education or Health/PE may take many courses online, but some courses may require campus attendance. Students concentrating in Special Education or Middle Grades or Health/PE may take required classes online. Students should consult with their advisors to confirm availability of online courses and find out about requirements or additional costs that may be associated with those courses. 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.
Education -- Health and Physical Education Pathway, A.S.
Perimeter College
What Is Teacher Education? Education is a pathway that helps to prepare future teachers by learning educational philosophies, policies, attitudes, behaviors and instruction in order to effectively perform the duties associated with the position of a classroom teacher. Through introductory courses in the field, students will learn to think critically about key issues that affect 21st-century learners in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms. Why Education as a Pathway? At Perimeter College, students take introductory gateway courses in education that help them to explore issues related to the teaching profession. The courses include the history and foundation of the field of education, critical issues associated with the field, diversity issues in strategies and education to support 21st-century learners. If you are excited by the idea of working with children and introducing them to ideas they will carry for a lifetime, the educational field may be for you. At Perimeter College, students may study Early Childhood, Middle Grades, Secondary School or Special Education. Students also may study Health/Physical Education. Students focusing on Early Childhood, Secondary Education or Health/PE may take many courses online, but some courses may require campus attendance. Students concentrating in Special Education or Middle Grades or Health/PE may take required classes online. Students should consult with their advisors to confirm availability of online courses and find out about requirements or additional costs that may be associated with those courses. 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.
Education -- Middle Grades Education Pathway, A.S.
Perimeter College
What Is Teacher Education? Education is a pathway that helps to prepare future teachers by learning educational philosophies, policies, attitudes, behaviors, and instruction in order to effectively perform the duties associated with the position of a classroom teacher. Through introductory courses in the field, students will learn to think critically about key issues that affect 21st-century learners in pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms. Why Education as a Pathway? At Perimeter College, students take introductory gateway courses in education that help them to explore issues related to the teaching profession. The courses include the history and foundation of the field of education, critical issues associated with the field, diversity issues strategies and education to support 21st-century learners. If you are excited by the idea of working with children and introducing them to ideas they will carry for a lifetime, the educational field may be for you. At Perimeter College, students may study Early Childhood, Middle Grades, Secondary School or Special Education. Students also may study Health/Physical Education. Students focusing on Early Childhood, Secondary Education or Health/PE may take many courses online, but some courses may require campus attendance. Students concentrating in Special Education or Middle Grades or Health/PE may take required classes online. Students should consult with their advisors to confirm availability of online courses and find out about requirements or additional costs that may be associated with those courses. 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.
Education -- Secondary Education Pathway, A.S.
Perimeter College
What Is Teacher Education? Education is a pathway that helps to prepare future teachers by learning educational philosophies, policies, attitudes, behaviors and instruction in order to effectively perform the duties associated with the position of a classroom teacher. Through introductory courses in the field, students will learn to think critically about key issues that affect 21st-century learners in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms. Why Education as a Pathway? At Perimeter College, students take introductory gateway courses in education that help them to explore issues related to the teaching profession. The courses include the history and foundation of the field of education, critical issues associated with the field, diversity issues in strategies and education to support 21st-century learners. If you are excited by the idea of working with children and introducing them to ideas they will carry for a lifetime, the educational field may be for you. At Perimeter College, students may study Early Childhood, Middle Grades, Secondary School or Special Education. Students also may study Health/Physical Education. Students focusing on Early Childhood, Secondary Education or Health/PE may take many courses online, but some courses may require campus attendance. Students concentrating in Special Education or Middle Grades or Health/PE may take required classes online. Students should consult with their advisors to confirm availability of online courses and find out about requirements or additional costs that may be associated with those courses. 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.
Education -- Special Education Pathway, A.S.
Perimeter College
What Is Teacher Education? Education is a pathway that helps to prepare future teachers by learning educational philosophies, policies, attitudes, behaviors and instruction in order to effectively perform the duties associated with the position of a classroom teacher. Through introductory courses in the field, students will learn to think critically about key issues that affect 21st-century learners in pre-kindergarten through 12th Grade classrooms. Why Education as a Pathway? At Perimeter College, students take introductory gateway courses in education that help them to explore issues related to the teaching profession. The courses include the history and foundation of the field of education, critical issues associated with the field, diversity issues in strategies and education to support 21st-century learners. If you are excited by the idea of working with children and introducing them to ideas they will carry for a lifetime, the educational field may be for you. At Perimeter College, students may study Early Childhood, Middle Grades, Secondary School or Special Education. Students also may study Health/Physical Education. Students focusing on Early Childhood, Secondary Education or Health/PE may take many courses online, but some courses may require campus attendance. Students concentrating in Special Education or Middle Grades or Health/PE may take required classes online. Students should consult with their advisors to confirm availability of online courses and find out about requirements or additional costs that may be associated with those courses. 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.
Education Informatics Certificate
College of Education & Human Development
The Graduate Certificate program is on hold until further notice and will not be accepting applications at this time. Please check back when this program will become available. The broad field of informatics employs large data sets and includes computer processing and data analysis. This certificate prepares graduate students to perform quantitative analyses on large databases relevant to education and human development within positions in various institutions or as independent consultants. The certificate benefits students by giving them a focused avenue for pursuing a career in the growing field of data analytics. It benefits society by producing a group of qualified, competent data analysts whose work will lead to the understanding and improvement of programs in educational, business, governmental and other settings.
Education of Students with Exceptionalities, Ph.D.
The education of students with exceptionalities doctoral degree will teach you to become a leader in special education. You will learn how to conduct high-quality research in the area of special education. The experience you bring from your work in the special education field will enable you to learn how to teach others who want to become teachers. We will help you enhance the skills you’ll need to succeed in university positions as researchers and teachers, and to provide leadership in a variety of community, state or national service agencies. CAREER CHOICES Faculty member at a university (tenure track or clinical) Leader or researcher at a university or other company District level leader or researcher in a school system
Educational Leadership, Ed.D.
The educational leadership program advances the development and practice of effective educational leadership. This program addresses educational leaders' professional needs and supports their long-term career goals in leading schools, school districts and other education agencies in a complex, highly competitive global environment. We provide senior-level administrators with the following: Knowledge and skills necessary to deal effectively with the complex issues facing education today Methods of inquiry necessary to analyze educational problems Leadership skills necessary to direct the development and implementation of programs to address those problems and to disseminate the results in various professional and public forums Knowledge and applied skills rarely provided in traditional advanced degree programs in educational leadership in an alternative format that meets the needs of senior-level administrators. Select concentration in: Advanced Leadership Higher Education Administration Tier II
Educational Leadership, Tier I Certificate
The online Tier I Educational Leadership Certificate program is for those with an education-related master’s degree who are passionate about leading and ready to take the next step towards becoming an entry-level leader in a school or school district such as an assistant principal. The courses introduce students to educational leadership theory and practice. Students participate in 300 hours of varied leadership experiences supported by a school or district mentor in addition to completing advanced coursework. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a program certificate from the Board of Regents and will be eligible to apply to the Professional Standards Commission for a Tier I Educational Leadership add-on certificate. Our Voices, Our Stories, Our Faculty Graduate highlight on Amanda Lynch Five questions with Kareem Dunlap Recent graduate's children's book The Educational Leadership Unit is composed of eight faculty members with practitioner and academic expertise.
Educational Leadership, Tier II Certification, Ed.S.
The Tier II educational specialist (Ed.S.) and Tier II add-on in educational leadership prepares graduates to be effective school and/or system leaders who positively affect student achievement. Throughout the program, students work on meaningful projects to help them develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions required to lead school and district improvement efforts. Georgia State collaborates closely with its partner districts to help ensure students are being properly prepared to successfully address school and/or district needs. Candidates who already hold an Ed.S. degree should apply for the 18-hour certification only add-on certificate. Candidates seeking a full Ed.S. degree should apply for the full 30-hour Ed.S. program. Both the add-on and the Ed.S. program lead to Tier II certification. The certificate allows you to become a supervising administrator for schools and districts in Georgia. Education programs leading to professional licensure ...
Educational Policy Studies, Ph.D.
The Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies allows students to examine the philosophy and practice of education and to develop skills in both the methodology and the study of educational practice. Students will prepare to become policymakers and examiners of policy and the effects of policy on education. There are four concentrations you can choose within this degree program: Concentration in Educational Leadership This concentration has three strands (leadership and administration, leadership and policy or leadership and urban education) that emphasize organizational leadership, policy development, supervision and management. The leadership concentration will be designed to meet the students’ unique career objectives including teaching and research in academia, leading schools, school districts and other education agencies. For those students seeking to obtain a Tier II certification, they must apply to the leadership and administration strand. (Note: Applicants who receive favorable admission to the Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies with a concentration in Educational Leadership can apply to the Tier II certification should they qualify; to qualify, an applicant must be employed in a K-12 system to be able to complete the required hours of clinical leadership experiences for the Tier II certification, satisfy the Georgia Ethics Assessment for Educational Leadership, and finally submit a letter of recommendation from their immediate supervisor) Concentration in Higher Education The concentration in Higher Education will prepare students for careers in higher education as academics, researchers, policymakers and practitioners. Through an interdisciplinary study of theory, research and content, graduates will be able to understand, analyze and impact higher education in complex ways. Students who pursue the concentration in higher education will explore and challenge a range of perspectives in order to develop an in-depth understanding of higher education; including but not limited to its educational and intellectual core, its institutional and organizational structures, its social, cultural and civic context, as well as its contemporary role as an enterprise. Concentration in Research, Measurement and Statistics This concentration prepares graduates to investigate research methodologies, to conduct research related to schools, and to conduct and critique research in educational practice, policy and administration. Students develop knowledge and skills in qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation methods. Concentration in Social Foundations of Education Social foundations is a broadly conceived field of educational study that derives its character from a number of academic disciplines and interdisciplinary studies. At Georgia State University, the disciplines involved in social foundations inquiry are history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology and political science; the interdisciplinary field is cultural studies. The purpose of social foundations study is to bring the intellectual resources derived from these areas to bear in developing interpretive, normative and critical perspectives of educational theory, policy and practices, both inside and outside of schools. For more information about the concentrations, please visit: Educational Leadership Higher Education Research, Measurement and Statistics Social Foundations of Education
Educational Psychology, M.S.
College of Education & Human Development
The educational psychology master's degree helps students understand the science of learning and behavioral change with emphasis on the application of the principles of psychology to the systematic study of education. Students can explore: Learning Instruction Motivation Development Cognition Socialization Applied behavior analysis* *While educational psychology master’s students may gain exposure to applied behavior analysis through some coursework, students must be enrolled in the applied behavior analysis program (as either a MS or non-degree student) to be eligible to complete the coursework required to become eligible to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Examination. Educational Psychology M.S. and Ph.D. programs are research-focused and are not designed to prepare you for licensing exams or certifications. If you are interested in certifications for teaching, counseling, or school psychology, we encourage you to explore the other programs in Georgia State University’s College of Education & Human Development.
Educational Psychology, Minor
Educational Psychology, Minor
The educational psychology minor is for undergraduates interested in a deeper understanding of how psychological principles can be applied in educational settings. Educational psychology minors will gain experience in topics such as: The science of learning Applied memory and cognition Sociocultural and diversity issues in education Learning and development Behavior analysis
Educational Psychology, Ph.D.
College of Education & Human Development
In the educational psychology doctoral program, students work closely with faculty to examine how theories of learning, culture, development and behavior can be applied to educational settings. Our program is in the Department of Learning Sciences, a growing group of interdisciplinary researchers. The EPY Ph.D. program follows an apprenticeship model. This means you are paired with a faculty advisor in your first year of the program. Along with your advisor, you will put together a tailored curriculum that suits your interests and satisfies the requirements. You are also encouraged to reach out to faculty members whose research interests overlap with your own. Broadly, our faculty’s areas of research include: Urban Education and Diverse Learners Literacy Across the Lifespan Behavior Analysis STEM Thinking Disciplinary Learning Computer-Based Learning Environments See our faculty biographies for more information. What is the structure of the EPY Ph.D. program? In the early years of study, Ph.D. students gain foundational knowledge in current issues in education, theories of learning and development and methodology. As you progress, you will work closely with faculty to develop greater expertise in their research specialty. You will take additional seminars and electives as well as engage in more independent research. This phase of work is marked by the completion of a comprehensive exam. The final portion of the Ph.D. program is the proposal, writing and defense of the doctoral dissertation. If you do not have a master’s degree, you are still encouraged to apply to the Ph.D. program. You can be admitted concurrently and receive your master’s degree on the way to your Ph.D.
Educational Research (online), M.S.
The online M.S. in educational research prepares you to conduct research, evaluate programs and policies and translate current research into practical language. Our graduates are working in research units housed in educational agencies at the state and local level, non-profits and private employers who value internal research capacity. Statistics Measurement Program evaluation Survey research Computer applications Policy research If you have an interest in applying skills in statistics and research methodology to address educational problems in today’s world, our program will help you advance.
Educational Research and Mental Health Counseling M.S.
College of Education & Human Development
Our educational research and mental health counseling dual degree program* combines educational research and the application of educational research methodology to a content area in mental health counseling. You will meet faculty who are leaders in the field and find opportunities for research and field experience that are an enhancement to each of these academic programs. The program leads to a master of science degree with majors in educational research and mental health counseling. Graduates of the program have increased career opportunities within academia and the work setting. *This program requires you to apply to both educational research and mental health counseling to be admitted to complete the degree program.
Educational Research, M.S.
The educational research master’s program prepares students to conduct research and evaluate programs in kindergarten through 12th grade schools, colleges and universities, and other settings (for example: government, healthcare and public health). You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of research methods as they are applied to the study of education. Coursework is available in the following areas: statistics, measurement, program evaluation, survey research, computer applications, qualitative research, institutional research, and policy research. Graduates of this program find employment in research units housed in educational agencies (for example: local education agencies, state boards of education), non-profits, and private employers who seek to improve their research capacity. Master of Science in Educational Research graduates are also well prepared to seek admission to Ph.D. studies in various disciplines.