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
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.
Chemistry, B.S./M.S.
Chemistry, B.S./M.S.
The Georgia State Chemistry Department offers a combined bachelor of science and master of science degree in chemistry, allowing students to save a year of time and tuition compared to pursuing the degrees separately.
The dual-degree opportunity enables qualified students to enroll in graduate courses late in their undergraduate program and count the coursework toward both the bachelor’s and master’s programs.
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. Students must fulfill regular graduate admissions requirements and apply for the master’s program following college processes.
Communication, Journalism, B.A.
The 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, 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 the 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.
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.
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.
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.
Data Science, B.S.
The B.S. program in Data Science will provide students with a strong foundation in the mathematics and basic sciences, fundamental computer programming and algorithmic skills, strong foundations in data science fundamentals and methodologies, and a capstone experience to prepare students for a wide range of job opportunities. Students will also learn ethical standards related to the fast-growing field of data science.
Graduates of the program will be prepared to enter the job market or to pursue graduate study in data science, computer science or computer engineering.
Data Science, Undergraduate Certificate
The certificate in data science is designed to help meet the demand for computer scientists trained in managing large data sets, developing and utilizing computer systems/software to process data, extracting knowledge or insights from data in various forms and modeling predictive analytics.
Generating and collecting data has become ubiquitous with the proliferation of social networks and mobile computing, along with emerging areas such as the Internet of Things and cyber sensing and networking technologies. Businesses and industries are striving to use data analytics, data mining, machine learning and statistical models to make better data-driven decisions using vast amounts of data.
The certificate in data science consists of 16 credit hours at the 4000 level from a restricted set of courses. 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.
English majors study language and literature alongside the craft of writing, developing skills considered integral to education in the humanities and prized by employers around the world. We examine language, literature and culture in ways that help communities connect with broader audiences, expand access to knowledge and address pressing social issues.
Undergraduate coursework in English guides students in thinking critically, reading widely and writing imaginatively. Many classes also explore practices that are not, strictly speaking, “writing” at all, such as oral compositions, hypertexts, podcasts and folk art.
At Georgia State, English majors can select from several areas of concentration:
- Literature,
- Rhetoric and Composition,
- Creative Writing,
- Pre-education and
- British-American Joint Studies (partnership with Northumbria University)
Majors in each concentration complete their course of study with a focused Senior Seminar that invites students to demonstrate their abilities as writers and thinkers working in a specific discipline.