Explore Graduate Programs

The B.A. /M.A. Program is appropriate for qualified Georgia State University undergraduate students who have completed two years as a Sociology major with a GPA of 3.5. Students may pursue a dual Bachelor of Arts in sociology and either a Master of Arts in Sociology or Master of Arts in Gerontology.

Dual undergraduate/graduate programs enable admitted undergraduate students to begin taking specified graduate courses during their senior year (or earlier in some cases) and count the coursework toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. Students in dual programs are enrolled in each degree program either concurrently or in close succession. Dual degrees may, therefore, be awarded at the same time, or one degree may be awarded prior to the second.

Our standalone M.A. program trains social researchers who do not necessarily plan to pursue a career in academia. Students in this program can receive training in social research skills that can allow them to work in industry or the non-profit sector as qualitative and quantitative researchers.

The Department and individual faculty members have consulted and engaged in research projects with many different agencies, including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, American Educational Research Association, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Georgia Narcotics Treatment Center, Georgia Mental Health Institute, Atlanta Regional Commission, the City of Atlanta Bureau of Planning, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Pew Charitable Trust and numerous other government agencies, as well as private concerns.

The TESOL graduate certificate prepares students to teach English as a second or foreign language. Teaching English as a second language has been an expanding field for decades and continues to show persistent growth in job and educational opportunities. Because people globally continue to be interested in learning English and because local and national governments, non-governmental organizations and corporations continue to support English language education, potential career growth remains strong.

The TESOL certificate prepares you to:

• Learn language teaching methodology and principles of second language acquisition.
• Study the nature of language and the structure of English.
• Gain insights into classroom teaching.

The TESOL Certificate is an entry-level credential for those who plan short-term stays overseas or who are interested in employment in schools for adults, private language institutes or nonprofit organizations that offer adult English language courses.

You will take five courses to earn the certificate. The certificate is available both in-person and online.

VIEW THE FULLY ONLINE PROGRAM

You can earn a B.A. and M.A. in Georgia State's Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies in as little as five years, saving time and tuition dollars compared to conventional programs. Students who earn M.A. degrees in WGSS may go on to pursue careers in social work, community organizing, education, counseling, public health, law, public policy, government administration, research, the non-profit sector, and the corporate world, or they may go on to pursue Ph.D.’s in various fields.

This 4+1 program, also known as a dual degree program, allows qualified students to count up to 12 credit hours toward completion of both the undergraduate and graduate degrees (double credits).

Georgia State University's curriculum in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) stands out for its emphasis on the intersections of gender and sexuality with race, nationalism, transnationalism, and social change. We have a strong emphasis on Black Feminist Thought, Queer theory and LGBTQ studies, and the theory and practice of activism.

Our academic program focuses on four areas:

• Black Feminist Thought
• Transnational WGSS
• Sexualities, Queer, and Trans Studies
• Social Change and Applied WGSS

The Georgia State University M.A. program in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies has four interrelated areas of concentration:

• Black Feminist Thought
• Sexualities, Queer, and Trans Studies
• Transnational WGSS
• Social Change and Applied WGSS

Our curriculum stands out for its emphasis on the intersections of gender and sexuality with race, nationalisms, ethnicity and transnationalism. We have a strong emphasis on queer theory and LGBTQ studies and the theory and practice of activism.

One distinction of our program is that we offer non-thesis options in addition to the traditional academic thesis path. Students complete one of the following paths toward degree:

• Research Thesis: an originally researched topic that contributes to a new area of gender and sexuality studies scholarship
• Capstone Practicum: choices include creative project in the arts, such as a play, an art exhibit or mixed-media work; an internship with a local social justice-oriented organization or other form of community and/or activist engagement; a cumulative academic position paper