Degrees & Majors

Are you interested in becoming a lawyer, human rights advocate or educator? Perhaps you’re considering work in the healthcare field or as a public servant or filmmaker. Do you want your work to be of service to the African American community? Are you interested in transforming the world for the better? Then, pursuing a pathway in African American Studies from Georgia State University may be an ideal pathway for you. The African American Studies Pathway Advantage African American Studies offers an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach to the study of people of African descent through the lens of ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality and social structure. Through scholarly research, theoretical inquiry and policy analysis, African American Studies seeks to reflect positive social change through the promotion of: Social justice Social responsibility Community engagement The African American Studies curriculum promotes critical thinking, research analysis and proficiency in oral and written communication to prepare students for diverse professions in various career fields. On pathways: A pathway is an advising guide to help students prepare for their intended bachelor’s degree major. By following the course of study outlined in the appropriate Associate of Arts or Associate of Science pathway, students will have the necessary prerequisite courses to continue in their chosen disciplines. A pathway is not a major and will not be represented on the diploma.

The Georgia State University 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.

What Is American Sign Language? Perimeter College offers beginning- through intermediate-level classes in American Sign Language. Students on a guided pathway in American Sign Language can earn an associate of arts degree. American Sign Language is the third most studied world language in the United States and can be a valuable asset as a secondary skill for employment. Why Study American Sign Language? Learning a new language can expand a student’s thinking, perspective and opportunities. Georgia State Perimeter College’s guided pathway in American Sign Language prepares students for transfer to baccalaureate programs in interpreting, education or social service. A note on pathways: A pathway is an advising guide to help students prepare for their intended bachelor's degree major. By following the course of study outlined in the appropriate Associate of Arts or Associate of Science pathway, students will have the necessary prerequisite courses to continue in their chosen disciplines. A pathway is not a major and will not be represented on the diploma.

Anthropology, the study of human beings and their primate relatives, provides students with a perspective on the nature of humanity over time and in different environments. Anthropology is concerned with biological aspects of humans and other primates in the past and present (biological anthropology), with material culture and an investigation into past lifeways (archaeology), with contemporary cultures (cultural anthropology) and with the complexities of language and communication (linguistic anthropology). The Department of Anthropology has a strong and growing program with faculty representing all four of these subfields. Our faculty have research activities on four continents (North and South America, Europe and Africa). Several faculty members have expertise and research projects in Latin America. Undergraduate and graduate students benefit from the experience and ongoing research of faculty working there. Faculty members have taught field methods courses and supervised student research in socio-cultural anthropology, medical anthropology and archaeology.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree program in anthropology provides rigorous training in anthropological theories, methods and skills. The program is dedicated to the investigation of a broad range of social, cultural, political-economic and biological issues, processes and problems pertaining to the human experience in its past and present dimensions. The Department of Anthropology program uses resources in metropolitan Atlanta to promote student learning, offering a concentration in Museum Anthropology and a graduate Certificate in Ethnography.

Applied behavior analysis is an applied science that focuses on identifying how environments affect behavior and how we can use that information to develop effective behavior change strategies across a wide range of settings and populations. It teaches mastery of basic behavior-analytic skills, such as measurement, experimental design, and various principles and procedures of behavioral change to help students become better therapists, teachers and clinical practitioners. Georgia State's Master of Science in Applied Behavioral Analysis includes collaborations with faculty members, opportunities for practicum internship placements and a cohort model that fosters lasting professional relationships. You will also learn client-centered responsibilities, such as problem identification, methods of intervention and implementation, management and supervision. This program also gives you important foundational knowledge, including the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts. Exam pass-rate data are not published for sequences with fewer than six first-time candidates in a single year or for sequences within their first four years of operation. To access current pass rates, current and potential students may visit BACB's University Pass Rates page. For more information on the faculty, our research, news and other items of interest regarding Applied Behavior Analysis, visit our ABA unit page. The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the program course sequence toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst ® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.  Education programs leading to professional licensure or certification (nursing, education, social work, counseling, accounting, allied health professions, etc.) may require additional approval from separate licensing boards, depending on the state. Students who live or plan to live outside Georgia and are considering a professional program should contact the appropriate board in their state of residency prior to beginning a course of study. To help students find the best-known contact information for the appropriate state licensing board and for a list of Georgia State program contacts, visit the Student Consumer Information website.

Students can save time and tuition dollars by earning bachelor's and master's degrees in Applied Linguistics in as little as five years. This dual degree opportunity enables qualified students to enroll in graduate courses late in their undergraduate program and apply the coursework toward both the bachelor’s and master’s programs. Georgia State University's Applied Linguistics is an interdisciplinary field of research and instruction that integrates aspects of fields such as linguistics, English, teacher education, speech communication, psychology, sociology and anthropology into a distinct field focused on issues related to the learning and teaching of a second/foreign language, such as the teaching and learning of English as a second language (ESL). We are a multifaceted applied linguistics department that focuses on post-secondary/adult language learning, teaching and use. Our faculty specialize in a number of sub-disciplines, including second language (L2) acquisition, L2 writing, sociolinguistics, language assessment, corpus linguistics, educational technology and L2 teacher education.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in Applied Linguistics is a response to societal needs resulting from the status of English as the language of international communication. This worldwide use of English in programs and institutions of higher education has created needs in two areas: Research on an assortment of interrelated topics, including language learning by adults who will use English for academic purposes, effective teaching of adult language learners and the nature of English as an academic language. Doctoral faculty who can teach in educational programs that prepare master’s level teachers of English as a Second/Foreign Language. Ph.D. students may focus on a range of topics. Research, for example, may be related to issues in second language writing, reading, listening or speaking; analysis of academic language; assessment; teacher cognition; classroom dynamics; sociolinguistics; or the role of culture in second language acquisition.