Degrees & Majors

Are you interested in becoming a lawyer, human rights advocate or educator? Perhaps you’re considering work in the healthcare field or as a public servant or filmmaker. Do you want your work to be of service to the African American community? Are you interested in transforming the world for the better? Then, pursuing a pathway in African American Studies from Georgia State University may be an ideal pathway for you.

The African American Studies Pathway Advantage

African American Studies offers an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach to the study of people of African descent through the lens of ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality and social structure. Through scholarly research, theoretical inquiry and policy analysis, African American Studies seeks to reflect positive social change through the promotion of:

• Social justice
• Social responsibility
• Community engagement

The African American Studies curriculum promotes critical thinking, research analysis and proficiency in oral and written communication to prepare students for diverse professions in various career fields.

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 Georgia State University Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies program provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary for the interdisciplinary study of people of African descent, connecting with the community and promoting social justice, while offering a curriculum that reflects the highest aspirations of education in an evolving society.

Our department’s research focus engages the experiences of Africans and African descendants in the U.S. and globally through the lenses of ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality and social structure. Our instruction and curriculum promotes critical thinking, research skills and proficiency in oral and written communication.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree program in anthropology provides rigorous training in anthropological theories, methods and skills. The program is dedicated to the investigation of a broad range of social, cultural, political-economic and biological issues, processes and problems pertaining to the human experience in its past and present dimensions.

The Department of Anthropology program uses resources in metropolitan Atlanta to promote student learning, offering a concentration in Museum Anthropology and a graduate Certificate in Ethnography.

Applied linguistics is an interdisciplinary field that integrates many perspectives on the study of human language. Studying linguistics is not a matter of learning many different languages, but rather it is the study of the nature of language in general.

Applied Linguistics is the study of language and communication in relation to real-world problems such as language acquisition and teaching, language assessment, language analysis on a large or small scale, improving intercultural communication and understanding the relationship between language and social organization or behaviors.

Students majoring in Applied Linguistics have the opportunity to earn the Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate at the same time because the certificate requirements overlap with the required courses for the major.

Applied Linguistics students also have many opportunities for study abroad. The department has offered programs in Mexico and Argentina, as well as an exchange program in Turkey.

We are a multifaceted applied linguistics department that focuses on post-secondary/adult language learning, teaching and use.

Our faculty specialize in a number of sub-disciplines, including second language (L2) acquisition, L2 writing, sociolinguistics, language assessment, corpus linguistics, educational technology and L2 teacher education.

The Middle East Institute offers an interdisciplinary major in Middle East Studies, a minor in Middle East Studies and a minor in Arabic. The major is ideal for students who want a well-rounded understanding of the Middle East along with the opportunity to study languages of the region. Students take courses on the Middle East in a variety of disciplines, including history, political science, religious studies, communication and women’s studies. Each student selects the specific courses included in his or her program of study in consultation with an MEI adviser. The MES major prepares students for graduate school or for careers in government, business, the non-profit sector or the military.

For the latest information about required courses, view the enrollment program page.

Georgia State University is pleased to be the first public university in the country to offer a graduate certificate program designed specifically for aspiring chaplains. This program is designed for students passionate about faith, helping others and providing spiritual support in a meaningful and impactful way.

The graduate certificate program is in partnership with the esteemed Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), the premier accrediting organization for chaplains in the United States. This collaboration ensures the curriculum aligns with the highest industry standards, prepares graduates for successful careers and Board Certification upon completion (if applicable). Students in the Graduate Pathway to Chaplaincy first apply to the Religious Studies master’s program (if they do not already hold an M.A. in Religious Studies), complete the two-year graduate degree, and then enroll in the Certificate in their third year. Students interested in working toward certification as a chaplain and who do not already hold a Masters degree in Religious Studies should consult with the department Chair or Graduate Director before applying to the Certificate.

This comprehensive program offers a unique blend of academic rigor and practical training, equipping students with the essential knowledge and skills to thrive in various chaplaincy specialties. Students interested in institutional chaplaincy will gain expertise in providing spiritual and emotional support in settings like hospitals, prisons, hospices, and universities.

The program fosters ethical decision-making, strong leadership and the ability to navigate complex situations with compassion and integrity. Students become adept at fostering inclusivity and respect in multicultural and multifaith environments.

Learn more about APC Certification Requirements

The Georgia State University doctoral program in communication encourages students to engage in theoretically rigorous, methodologically sophisticated and ethically informed research. Our students are encouraged to undertake research that makes a difference and contributes substantively to the human understanding of how communication and media fundamentally shape and are shaped by an increasingly complex social world.

The curriculum draws upon social scientific and humanities-based theories and methods to prepare a diverse group of students for a job market that expects them to be literate across multiple sub-disciplinary domains of communication, in particular, media studies, rhetoric and speech communication.

Doctoral students work with graduate faculty who have gained national and international prominence across a diverse range of research areas, including:

• International media and politics
• Health communication
• Strategic communication
• Media effects and psychology
• Media representation and stereotypes
• Rhetorical studies
• Legal communication
• Journalism studies
• Media ethics
• Visual communication
• Environmental and critical animal studies
• Terrorism studies
• Public argument and deliberation
• Persuasion, public relations
• Interpersonal and intergroup communication
• Networks
• Ideological formations of power and resistance

The intellectual and creative energies activated by this rich and interdisciplinary activity within Atlanta’s dynamic urban location make the department an ideal place for students from around the world to prepare for a career in communication.