Undergraduate Programs
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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.
Africana Studies, B.A.
The 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.
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.
Applied Linguistics, B.A.
Applied Linguistics & English as a Second Language
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.
Applied Linguistics, B.A./M.A.
Applied Linguistics, B.A./M.A.
Applied Linguistics & English as a Second Language
Students can save time and tuition dollars by earning bachelor's and master's degrees in Applied Linguistics in as little as five years. This dual degree opportunity enables qualified students to enroll in graduate courses late in their undergraduate program and apply the coursework toward both the bachelor’s and master’s programs.
Applied Linguistics is an interdisciplinary field of research and instruction that integrates aspects of fields such as linguistics, English, teacher education, speech communication, psychology, sociology and anthropology into a distinct field focused on issues related to the learning and teaching of a second/foreign language, such as the teaching and learning of English as a second language (ESL).
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.
Arabic Language and Literature, Minor
Arabic Language and Literature, Minor
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.
Asian Studies, B.I.S.
The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) program in Asian Studies provides students an opportunity to acquire a career-oriented range of skills and knowledge of this important and unique region of the world. Students can choose from a wide range of courses offered at Georgia State University.
Students have flexibility to craft a degree program that fits their interests and goals. Options include:
- A concentration in international business and economy.
- A minor in international business.
- A concentration in English as a Second Language (ESL) with an option to obtain a certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (TEFL).
- Concentration in Chinese, Japanese or Indian/South Asian studies.
Biology, B.S.
The career possibilities are endless with a bachelor’s degree in biology. A strong foundation in life science is a strong foundation for almost any career path.
While students can choose to stay on the General Studies track, we offer concentrations in:
- Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology
- Microbiology
- Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology
- Neurobiology
- Pre-Medical/Pre-Health
Undergraduate students can get involved in research and two interdisciplinary areas of focus — The Molecular Basis of Disease program and The Brains and Behavior program — provide competitive fellowships, seminars and symposia to support Biology undergraduate and graduate researchers. The Department also offers students the unique opportunity to participate in community outreach through the Bio-Bus program, which sends a mobile teaching laboratory to primary and secondary schools throughout metro-Atlanta.
Biology, B.S./M.S.
Biology, B.S./M.S.
Dual-degree opportunities enable qualified students to enroll in graduate courses late in their undergraduate program and apply the coursework toward both the bachelor’s and master’s programs. That can mean saving a year or more in time and tuition dollars.
Students must be formally accepted into the dual-degree program by the department and College of Arts and Sciences to be able to take graduate courses as an undergraduate. Acceptance into the dual program does not constitute admission to the master’s program. Students must fulfill regular graduate admissions requirements and apply for the master’s program following college processes.
Information about the dual program, including application instructions and program requirements, can be found in the Dual Degree section of the CAS website.
Biology, M.S.
Biology, M.S.
Earning an M.S. degree in biology can be a stepping stone to a career in the biosciences or in preparation for a professional degree. Georgia State's Master of Science (M.S.) in Biological Sciences is designed to offer a flexible program to suit students with a wide variety of interests in biology. In addition to the general program, concentrations are offered in Biotechnology, Bioinformatics and Research.
Students may apply under a specific area/concentration, though a concentration is not required. Upon admission, a master's student is assumed to be non-thesis until acceptance into the thesis option. The non-thesis program emphasizes coursework, and a capstone paper or project is required. The capstone can either be literature-based or laboratory-based.
The thesis option emphasizes research. Acceptance into the thesis option requires approval of a thesis proposal. Completion of the thesis option requires an approved thesis as well as a successful defense of the thesis. The thesis option is only recommended for students who are planning to pursue a Ph.D.
For information about the M.S. in Medical Sciences in Biology program, which is designed for students who plan to apply to medical school, go to https://cas.gsu.edu/program/medical-sciences-in-biology-ms/.
Chemistry, B.S.
Chemistry deals with the nature of all substances and the changes that occur within them. Chemistry ranges from the study of the structure of atoms and molecules to that of the reactions occurring in living organisms.
The study of chemistry can provide knowledge that will give students a greater understanding and appreciation of the world in which they live. Knowledge of chemistry is a great asset in areas such as biology, physics and health-related fields. It is a logical foundation for premedical training, pre-veterinary, pre-pharmacy and other allied health professions.
Students can choose from the following concentrations:
- BSc in Chemistry (Traditional Program)
- BSc in Chemistry with Concentration in Biochemistry
- BSc in Chemistry with Concentration in Forensic Chemistry
- BSc in Chemistry with Pre-Medical Concentration
Students interested in pre-med should follow the Biochemistry concentration.
Georgia State's Chemistry Department offers undergraduate students the opportunity to gain practical experience with laboratory equipment such as rotary evaporators, IR spectrometers, NMR spectrometers, auto titrators and gas chromatography systems to name a few.
The Department of Chemistry is accredited by the American Chemical Society.