Find Your Place
The information shared here is intended to provide an overview of Georgia State University’s offerings. For official details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more please refer to the university catalogs.
Africana Studies Graduate Certificate
College of Arts & Sciences
Africana Studies is a growing discipline. An increasing number of employers are seeking to fill positions with people who possess a cultural and historical analysis of Black people in the U.S., the African diaspora, and around the globe. As a discipline that is interdisciplinary and diasporic, African American Africana Studies specifically educates students in:
- Black political, cultural, philosophical and artistic thought and practice
- Black popular and mass culture
- Race in relation to the study of gender and sexuality
- Social justice through community engagement
This certificate program allows master’s and doctoral students in other disciplines to amplify the Afrocentric analysis in their own course of study. Some may simply want to explore a specific area reflected in their course of study. Others may wish to pursue employment for which a certificate in African American Studies is deemed an advantage.
Africana Studies, B.A.
College of Arts & Sciences
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.
Africana Studies, M.A.
College of Arts & Sciences
Graduate students who want to engage in the interdisciplinary study of Black people in the United States, Africa and in the African diaspora will work closely with our faculty in this program.
Our faculty have expertise in the domestic and global study of race and Blackness in the traditional disciplines of African-American Studies, Anthropology, Art History, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Social Work and Public Health. There are few departments or programs that match our strengths in:
- Scholar-activism
- Diasporic studies in Black popular and mass culture
- Culturally relevant pedagogy
- Community empowerment
- Gender, sexuality and social relationships
While we have particular emphasis on Social Justice and Community Responsibility in the United States, we support and encourage the study and liberation of Black people everywhere in the world.
Africana Studies offers a master’s degree with competitive funding, which includes a tuition waiver and moderate stipend.
Anthropology Pathway, A.A.
Perimeter College
What Is Anthropology?
Anthropology is the study of human cultural and biological diversity across time. The discipline includes four sub-areas: socio-cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistics and biological anthropology. Anthropology students are taught holistic and comparative approaches to the study of the human condition and develop a strong grasp of the causes and consequences of globalization. The Anthropology guided pathway provides the freshman and sophomore coursework required by most four-year institutions.
Why Study Anthropology?
Students of anthropology explore cultures around the world or throughout time. They examine artifacts of ancient people and study the human body to reveal clues to the past.
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.
Anthropology, B.A.
Anthropology, the study of human beings and their primate relatives, provides students with a perspective on the nature of humanity over time and in different environments.
Anthropology is concerned with biological aspects of humans and other primates in the past and present (biological anthropology), with material culture and an investigation into past lifeways (archaeology), with contemporary cultures (cultural anthropology) and with the complexities of language and communication (linguistic anthropology).
The Department of Anthropology has a strong and growing program with faculty representing all four of these subfields. Our faculty have research activities on four continents (North and South America, Europe and Africa). Several faculty members have expertise and research projects in Latin America. Undergraduate and graduate students benefit from the experience and ongoing research of faculty working there. Faculty members have taught field methods courses and supervised student research in socio-cultural anthropology, medical anthropology and archaeology.
Anthropology Graduate Certificate in Ethnography
The Certificate in Ethnography is ideal for M.A. and Ph.D. students in a range of fields, including anthropology, sociology, community psychology, education, nursing, linguistics, communication, business and area studies. For students who plan to pursue careers in academia, private business or the public sector, the certificate offers applied and marketable skills in culture- and people-focused knowledge production and communication.
Ethnography is a field-based research method for the study of social and cultural patterns and practices. Ethnographers use participant-observation, direct observation and interaction, focus group interviews, and other qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques to uncover detailed patterns of human behavior in their cultural context.
Ethnographic data analysis is especially productive in clarifying complex issues, informing policy and designing innovative, effective, data-driven solutions to organizational problems. This signature methodology of cultural anthropology has broad application in a variety of academic disciplines, creative industries, professional fields and employment settings.
Ethnography encompasses basic and applied research and informs project planning and implementation. Ethnographic data are also relevant and useful in assessing community needs, addressing concerns of personnel and enhancing cross-cultural communication.
Anthropology, M.A.
College of Arts & Sciences
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.
Social Work, B.S.W.
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Social workers fight for social justice, help children and families, improve connections in communities and improve lives. It’s a noble profession and it can lead to a rewarding career for you. Jobs are numerous, including roles in hospitals, community health centers, schools, homeless shelters, nursing homes and nonprofit organizations. Georgia State’s bachelor of social work will prepare you for entry-level work with these types of employers and also will make you ready to enter a master of social work program in the future.
Our curriculum is focused on nine competencies that are connected to our accreditation and licensure rules in Georgia.
- You will have a foundation for understanding human behavior in a variety of different contexts and social settings.
- You will practice methods for intervention with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations, and systems.
- The curriculum is designed to develop your skill in:
- critical thinking and ethics
- intervention approaches with diverse populations
- understanding of human functioning and the social environment
- practice evaluation and research.
Getting started: You can apply to the BSW program for admission after you completed your lower division classes, which typically takes two years. You can start at Georgia State as an “Exploratory Social Work” status student while you gather the necessary credits and then apply to be a BSW student the spring before your junior year.
Your success matters: You will work with the undergraduate advisement center throughout your time at Georgia State to make sure you are enrolling in the correct courses.
Georgia State Baccalaureate Social Work Program Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes.
Biostatistics Concentration, MPH
School of Public Health
Biostatistics involves the development and application of statistical techniques to scientific research in health-related fields, including medicine, epidemiology and public health, and includes statistical work in areas of environmental study, agricultural research and biology.
Georgia State's Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Biostatistics trains students to apply statistical principles and methods to problems in public health, medicine and biology. The Master of Public Health program includes the development of analytic thinking and skill, with an emphasis on applications of research and evaluation in public health.
Coursework in this concentration covers the span of biostatistics knowledge, including study design, data management, data analysis, interpretation, statistical reporting and the use of statistical software. Master of Public Health graduates in the Biostatistics concentration are well-prepared for employment in academia, government, nonprofits, non-governmental organizations or private industry.
Tuition
Learn more about the cost of a master’s degree, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study. For information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility, visit the FAFSA tips page.
Georgia State is dedicated to making our programs affordable and accessible to all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student's future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.
Business Economics, B.B.A.
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Robinson College of Business
Economics examines the material prosperity of countries and their citizens in an interdependent world of limited resources and technological change.
Over the course of the B.B.A. in Business Economics program, students study how decisions are made by private businesses, governments, and households in producing, consuming, and distributing goods.
Tuition
Check out our cost calculator or visit Student Financial Services for information on estimated costs.
Chaplaincy Studies, Graduate Certificate
College of Arts & Sciences
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.
Communication Studies, Ph.D.
College of Arts & Sciences
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.
Community Psychology, MPH/Ph.D.
College of Arts & Sciences, School of Public Health
The dual MPH-Ph.D. program in Public Health and Community Psychology provides professional and graduate students with a solid and well-rounded background across both disciplines. Successful candidates will earn a master of public health degree (MPH) upon completion of the graduate health behavior & promotion concentration or the epidemiology concentration offered by the School of Public Health and a doctor of philosophy degree (Ph.D.) upon completion of the community psychology concentration. The program enables students to complete both degrees in less time than pursuing them separately.
Because health is determined by a complex interplay of biology, genetics, lifestyle, environmental factors, social and political conditions, multi-disciplinary professional expertise is needed to address the growing challenges to the public’s health and welfare. Community psychology and public health professionals attempt to address these conditions but take different yet complementary approaches.
Many community psychology professionals work within public health with a focus on fostering social change and activism, reducing oppression and promoting empowerment while public health professionals focus on assessing prevalence and incidence, identifying risk and protective factors, and changing individual health behavior.
Welcome from the Directors of Graduate Studies
FAQs for Graduate Program Applicants
Faculty Accepting Students
Criminal Justice & Criminology, Ph.D.
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
The Ph.D. in Criminal Justice and Criminology program is designed to train researchers and teacher-scholars in criminal justice and criminology. The program provides intensive one-on-one mentorship, a flexible curriculum, and core teaching and research skills that enable graduates to excel in university settings as well as research think tanks. Current and former doctoral students are involved in presenting their research at regional and national conferences. Faculty members in the department have involved doctoral students in their research projects, resulting in numerous publications with students. In addition, graduate students help plan and attend research colloquia and participate in student governance.
Criminal Justice, B.S.
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
Designed by award winning faculty in criminal justice and criminology research, the Georgia State Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree will help you advance in your career. The program offers two academic concentrations that can be earned on-campus or online: Crime and Justice or Legal Studies. The Crime and Justice concentration provides a blend of traditional criminal justice curriculum and forward thinking emphasis on digital criminology, while the Legal Studies concentration is designed for criminal justice majors desiring more intensive exposure to law often in preparation for law school. Students may also elect to pursue a minor in Digital Criminology online along with the Bachelor of Science.
Why the Criminal Justice Program at Georgia State Works
- Fair and open dialogue: Our faculty have designed a program that stresses an integrated view of the criminal justice system, highlighting relationships among the many different institutions involved and the need for cooperation and humane practices across: law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and the juvenile justice system.
- Theoretical framework combined with current events: You will study how our criminal justice system was designed and examine the parts of the system, including the roles of victims and offenders. Paired with an examination of the causes and consequences of traditional and digital crime, you will receive a comprehensive criminal justice education to prepare you for a career that is relevant to the critical issues facing justice agencies of today and tomorrow.
- Your success matters: You will work with the undergraduate advisement center throughout your time at Georgia State to make sure you are enrolling in the correct courses.
Because a bachelor’s degree at Georgia State also requires general education classes, you will find yourself speaking more clearly and effectively, thinking more analytically and critically evaluating the materials you read by the time you graduate.
Criminal Justice Pathway, A.S.
Perimeter College
The Georgia State University Criminal Justice (CJU) pathway seeks to develop leaders with the knowledge to pursue careers in the fields of courts, corrections and policing. The study of criminal justice often serves as a jumpstart and introduction for students planning on attending law school.
The Criminal Justice Pathway Advantage
Whether you are interested in a career in law enforcement, our corrections institutions or pre-law—or want to know more about how the United States criminal justice system works—the criminal justice pathway offers up-to-date, real-world information for a wide range of career options. Designed by dedicated faculty with backgrounds in criminal justice, criminology and law, the criminal justice program provides students a strong foundational knowledge of the criminal justice system.
During this program, students will gain insight into the three facets of the United States criminal justice system:
- Judicial System/Courts
- Corrections
- Policing
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.