Degrees & Majors

Program Information

Political science is the study of “who gets what, when, and how” in the distribution of goods and values in society and in groups. Specifically, political scientists study the determinants of such distributions, including political parties and voters, public opinion, interest groups, bureaucracies and administrative behavior, public law, international relations, international law and organizations, national security, intergovernmental relations, political behavior, political philosophy, comparative politics, public policy, and conflict. Students may specialize in any of the five fields of the discipline: American politics and government, comparative politics, international politics, political theory, and public policy and administration.

For the latest information about required courses, view the Undergraduate Catalog.

This program is geared towards students who want a deep foundation in the scholarship of political science. It can be taken as a terminal degree for someone seeking a career in government, politics, law or a related field, or it can be taken as the first step to a doctorate. Unlike our professional politics and educator concentrations, this M.A. focuses more on developing a student’s independent research.

The Political Science master's degree program  offers a choice of four concentrations:

• General Political Science
• American Politics
• International and Comparative Politics
• Public Law

Students with an interest in quantitative methods also have the option of choosing an advanced methods track.

The degree is taught primarily in person through small seminars, but students also have the option of taking some of their courses online. All courses are taught by full-time faculty and emphasize interaction among students and professors.

The Political Science Department at Georgia State University offers an M.A. concentration in Professional Politics which can be completed fully online, fully in-person, or with a mix of the two.

• Degree can be completed during six minimesters. Each minimester is seven-weeks long, meaning the program can be completed in just 15 months.

• All courses are taught by full-time faculty and emphasize interaction among students and professors.

This concentration provides the professional skills needed by those pursuing career paths in public service and politics. It is offered as a terminal degree with a non-thesis option and can be undertaken in a traditional classroom setting, fully online, or hybridized.

Students with an interest in quantitative methods also have the option of choosing an advanced methods track.

Additional details about the program can be found here, and any questions can be directed to the M.A. Program Director, Dr. Charles Hankla, at chankla@gsu.edu.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology is used every day, most often for mapping points of reference and data related to points on the Earth’s surface. GIS jobs are plentiful and growth in the industry is expected to continue in the coming years.

With the Georgia State GIS graduate certificate, you will be able to start or advance your career in:

• Urban and regional planning
• Environmental resource management
• Surveying, cartography and mapping
• Geospatial data analytics

The faculty and staff in the Georgia State University Department of Geosciences are well networked in GIS-related industries and firms in the Atlanta area and beyond. Through applied projects, students will gain real-world experience in utilizing mapping and geospatial technologies to address pressing social and environmental concerns.

Our faculty have expertise in GIS, geography and geology, and we specialize in the social and environmental dimensions of water, environmental geochemistry, global climate change and solving urban environmental problems.

All courses required to earn the certificate can be completed online. Courses are taught asynchronously. There may be opportunities for workshops or tutorial session on campus.

Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. The department offers students the option of a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree.

Students in both programs can pursue the following two options:

• General Program in Psychology
• Concentration in Community Psychology

Students in the bachelor of science program can also pursue a third option:

• Concentration in Pre-Medicine

The topics of investigation in psychology range from the life sciences to the social sciences and applications occur in clinical, industrial, community and other social contexts. Psychological knowledge contributes to the understanding of experience and behavior and to the formation of optimal personal relations.

The psychology undergraduate program has an active Honors Program and Presidential Assistants Program for exceptional students interested in advanced training in behavioral and psychological research, along with a large Psi Chi club for majors and minors. Applied and research practica are available for advanced students in a variety of areas.