Degrees & Majors

The faculty in the Georgia State University Department of Mathematics and Statistics view the disciplines as great unifying themes in our modern culture. Math/stats is a language, a science, an art form and a tool of tremendous power.

The Ph.D. degree program in Mathematics and Statistics offers a choice of three concentrations:

• Mathematics
• Bioinformatics
• Biostatistics

These concentrations address the critical need for mathematics faculty as well as the need for highly trained researchers in mathematics and statistics. Successful students will be effective and creative mathematics and statistics professionals.

Students in the concentrations in bioinformatics and biostatistics will graduate with a broad background in applied areas that will position them for hire into roles in business, industry, governmental institutions and research universities.

Graduates of the mathematics concentration will develop a broad knowledge of core areas of pure and applied mathematics that also offers a broad range of high-level career options.

This dual-degree program enables qualified students to enroll in graduate courses late in their undergraduate program and apply the coursework toward the bachelor’s and master’s programs. This allows students to earn a B.S. and M.S. in five years, typically saving a year of time and tuition dollars.

This Georgia State University B.S./M.S. program offers students the ability to get an M.S. in mathematics with a concentration in statistics or an M.S. in mathematics with no concentration.

Students of mathematics and statistics enjoy high-paying job opportunities in a wide range of fields and are also well prepared for further study at the graduate level in mathematics, statistics and other fields.

The Media Entrepreneurship degree program prepares students for success in the fast-changing media industry, armed with an understanding of current business dynamics and opportunities. Students acquire the skills they need to start their own media and arts enterprises and to bring innovative and entrepreneurial thinking to their work as content creators.

Working with an adviser, students in this interdisciplinary program curate their experience, selecting from a long list of courses options. Students combine classes in a core craft — such as film production, music industries or graphic design — with classes offered by the Creative Media Industries Institute in media and arts entrepreneurship.

Throughout the program, students examine organizational culture, emerging and traditional business models, opportunities and challenges presented by the start-up climate, and discuss how to leverage digital media tools in an entrepreneurial context. Students can develop their skills at cultivating followers and building audiences, tailor social media outreach to arts-interested fans and learn about trademark and legal issues faced by enterprising artists.

Given Atlanta’s booming media production scene, and the tremendous role played in the city by visionary media entrepreneurs like Tyler Perry and Ted Turner, a program that prepares you to convert your artistic passions into a media or arts start-up may be the perfect way to launch your career.

Neuroscience is a dynamic and fast-growing field in science and medicine, exploring how the nervous system produces perceptions, thoughts, emotions and behavior. Neuroscientists address fundamental questions of nervous system function as well as health-related questions that affect society and every aspect of our lives. To answer these questions, neuroscience bridges many disciplines for a full understanding of how the nervous system works.

Our students learn about nervous system function from genes and molecules to behavior and cognition. Our program provides breadth in the fundamentals of nervous system function, along with flexibility to explore individual interests.

Our students engage in original research inside the classroom, and many of our students gain significant research experience outside of the classroom in the Neuroscience Institute or associate faculty labs. Our program emphasizes professional development instruction and practice to ensure our students are ready for neuroscience-related careers, graduate school or medical school.

The B.S. Program in Neuroscience is housed in the Neuroscience Institute, a rare example of an entire academic department devoted to neuroscience education and research.

As part of Georgia State’s racially, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse community, we work to create a welcoming and equitable environment where diverse voices are heard and recognized. We are proud to be a part of the journey of students from underrepresented communities in neuroscience.  A diverse science community brings diverse questions and answers to science.

Our stand-alone M.S. Neuroscience degree is offered to students who are seeking graduate training without necessarily planning to pursue a doctoral degree. Students receive training via academic coursework, research, teaching and outreach activities. Our program emphasizes the research aspect of graduate training and so all MS students must either complete a capstone project or successfully conduct and defend an approved thesis. The thesis option is only recommended for students that are interested in eventually pursuing a doctoral degree.

Graduate students in the Neuroscience Institute receive interdisciplinary training by working with Core Neuroscience Faculty and more than 50 Associate Faculty from other departments, including Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Education, Mathematics, Public Health, Psychology, Philosophy and Physics. Students can obtain training in a wide range of research methodologies, and have the opportunity to teach and attend journal clubs, seminars and distinguished speaker series.

Students can train in:

• behavioral neuroscience and neuroendocrinology,
• neurogenomics and genetics,
• neuroimmunology and cardiometabolic diseases,
• computational neuroscience,
• neuroethics, and
• primate behavior and cognition.