Degrees & Majors

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.