Degrees & Majors
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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.
Search results are alphabetized
Communication, Journalism, B.A.
The Georgia State University B.A. in Journalism program offers three concentrations:
- Multimedia Reporting: Journalists are now sought for their multimedia skills as well as traditional writing and research skills. This program is designed to prepare journalism students to go into modern media workplaces, with a variety of experiential learning options as well as specialized reporting options.
- Public Relations: This program focuses on preparing students to work in public relations. Public relations professionals are advocates who critically analyze information to create content and campaigns for employers, employees, and clients. Students will learn about techniques and campaigns. Experiential learning is the foundation of the coursework.
- Media & Society: This program is designed with an academic focus on communication, to prepare students for graduate study. Students can choose from communication courses focusing on a variety of types and areas of communication.
Our programs are designed to meet the media industries' demand for graduates who are critical thinkers who can produce news and publicity materials efficiently across a variety of platforms.
Students can get extra support at Georgia State's Journalism Lab which provides undergraduate journalism students with rough draft reviews, grammar assistance, help with AP style writing and video production assistance.
Students can also get practical experience through Georgia State University TV (GSUTV), the university’s partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting. As Georgia State’s media station, GSUTV provides students with training for creating broadcast content and airs special programs throughout Georgia and to a national network of PBS stations via cable, satellite, and digital platforms. GSUTV has won several Emmy and Telly Awards in recent years.
Communication, Mass Communication, M.A.
The Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication fosters the advanced research study of media culture and public communication, including international media, journalism, strategic communication and public relations, social media, media effects and audience studies. Our faculty examine elements of the mass media from qualitative and social scientific vantage points, and study media in a variety of contexts across a number of nations.
The Department of Communication offers a multidisciplinary program to prepare communication professionals and academicians for the demands of the 21st century. Based on perspectives from rhetoric, public argument, audience research, media studies, global communication, international communication, health communication, strategic communication and new media, Communication Studies explores public discourse and mass-mediated environments to prepare students to investigate how persuasive practices are transforming culture at home and abroad.
Communication, Speech, B.A.
The speech major focuses on how people develop communication skills, how we study communication phenomena, how we critically examine communication events and how various persuasive tactics may influence members of diverse and globalized societies.
Elective courses examine such areas as nonverbal communication, media and politics, visual communication, communication disorders, health communication, mediation and conflict resolution, and communication and aging.
The concepts and skills provided by this Georgia State major in speech are useful in a wide variety of occupations and will prove useful in the world of communications.
In the heart of Atlanta, one of the world’s most vibrant media centers, the Department of Communication offers educational programs with the goal of producing productive and socially responsible citizens who understand communication theory and deploy communication skills to improve the human condition.
Community Psychology, MPH/Ph.D.
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.
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Computer Science, B.S.
Computer science is the systematic exploration of all aspects of computation including computer design, computer programming and software, information processing, algorithmic solutions to problems and the algorithmic process itself. Computer science provides underpinnings for today’s applications in industry, science, government, and business and prepares the foundation for tomorrow’s applications in ubiquitous computing, medical cures for diseases and instant access to information by everyone.
The B.S. degree program in computer science provides a good foundation for careers in industry, science, government and business as well as for advanced studies at the M.S. or Ph.D. level.
Computer Science, B.S./M.S.
Computer Science, B.S./M.S.
The Georgia State Department of Computer Science offers a combined bachelor of science and master of science degree in computer science, allowing students to save a year of time and tuition as compared to pursuing the degrees separately.
Students in the 4+1 program can enjoy several advantages, in addition to earning a bachelor’s and master’s in as little as five years:
- GRE is waived.
- Likely receive a tuition waiver for the year of graduate studies.
- Likely receive a stipend for the year of graduate studies.
- Use HOPE and/or Pell Grant funds for the 12 credit hours counting toward your B.S. and M.S. degrees.
- Increase your earning potential with the master’s level credential.
Find out more details about the M.S. in Computer Science program.
Computer Science, M.S.
The Georgia State University Computer Science M.S. program offers students a wide variety of research and technology areas of focus including:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- Deep Learning
- Computer Architecture
- Database
- Data Mining
- Big Data
- Graphics and Visualization
- Networks
- Security and Privacy
- Parallel and Distributed Computing
- Cloud Computing
- Cyber Physical Systems
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Programming Languages
- Algorithms
- Simulation and Software Engineering
A Bioinformatics concentration and Security & Privacy concentration are available.
Computer Science, Ph.D.
The Georgia State University Computer Science Ph.D. program offers educational and research opportunities for students in a wide variety of research and technology areas, including:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- Deep Learning
- Bioinformatics
- Health Informatics
- Computer Architecture
- Database
- Data Mining
- Big Data
- Graphics and Visualization
- Networks
- Security and Privacy
- Parallel and Distributed Computing
- Cloud Computing
- Cyber Physical Systems
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Programming Languages
- Algorithms
- Simulation and Software Engineering
Concentrations in Bioinformatics and Security & Privacy are available.
The department encourages applications from technology and teaching professionals and those with non-computer science but closely related degrees. Pursuing the Ph.D. program part-time is possible, so working professionals are encouraged to consider applying.
Creative Writing, M.F.A.
The Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Creative Writing is a terminal degree that prepares students for careers in writing, publishing and academia. level. It also provides students an excellent foundation if they choose to continue their graduate work at the doctoral level.
The M.F.A. program offers concentrations in fiction and poetry, offering graduate students the opportunity to work closely with our award-winning faculty while living and writing in Atlanta, an international city with a vibrant literary culture.
Our faculty include Danielle Cadena Deulen, Beth Gylys, John Holman, Sheri Joseph and JoshRussell. Visiting writers & editors enrich the program by giving readings and leading workshops and Q&As.
We also offer a Ph.D. in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing, one of the top 15 programs of its kind in the U.S., as ranked by Poets & Writers.
Cybersecurity, Undergraduate Certificate
The certificate in cybersecurity offers students an opportunity to develop skills in network security, information security and cyber-crime with a focus on preventing and responding to large-scale cyber threats and attacks.
The certificate, which consists of 16 credit hours, allows students to offer tangible proof of their technical and strategic knowledge in cybersecurity.
There is a growing need for professionals who are skilled at keeping digital information and infrastructure safe in response to the proliferation of emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IOT) and cloud computing.
Students in the program are typically declared as computer science majors to meet the requirements of this certificate. See the course catalog for more details.