Degrees & Majors

Georgia State's B.S. in Exercise Science prepares students for careers in adult fitness and wellness, worksite health promotion/corporate fitness, personal training, clinical exercise physiology, cardiac rehabilitation and other related fields. Preparation is also provided in biomechanical analysis, program management, sports skills development and enhancement, strength and conditioning, and related topics. Employers value Exercise Science majors. In every class, at every event, and in every program in which you participate, you practice skills that connect to the competencies employers value most. Heath care, exercise, and fitness thrives in team-based environments, and the B.S. Exercise Science curriculum is designed to enhance collaboration skills that will transfer in the field. This is accomplished through group activities and labs. The Exercise Science Program integrates critical thinking and problem-solving skills in program-level courses. Technology is evolving in the health and fitness industry, and allowing our students to experience and train with the most recent technology to help evaluate the human body is paramount. Many classes aim to help students evaluate their strengths and weaknesses and work develop as leaders in the field.

What Is Film? Film is one of the leading art forms of the 21st century. To understand the cinematic medium is to be aware of its impact as a cultural and artistic force. Film at Perimeter College examines the analysis, history, theory and critique of the film industry, allowing students to learn how art, business and technology combine to create films that express our 21st century culture. Why Study Film? Georgia has seen explosive growth in the film industry in recent years. Major studios such as EUE/Screen Gems, Pinewood, Tyler Perry, Eagle Rock and Triple Horse have built new facilities in Georgia. This activity generated $6 billion in Georgia in 2015 and created 23,000 new jobs with average salaries of $48,000-$65,000. The Film guided pathway at Perimeter College is the first step on a student’s film career journey. Students will be able to examine the convergence of art, technology, industry, politics and culture and learn to think critically about movies and other forms of visual media. They will learn how cinematography, lighting, music and sound design reinforce the themes and character development in films. The film pathway also is designed to help students smoothly transition to the bachelor’s degree program at Georgia State University, where film is one of the most popular majors. 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.

The School of Film, Media, & Theater offers a professionalized dual-degree program for bachelor of arts (B.A.) Film students aspiring for advanced honors-level and master of arts (M.A.) thesis production. This program is designed to take five years (including a student’s freshman and sophomore years), at the end of which, a student will receive both a bachelor of arts degree in film and media and a master of arts degree in communication with a concentration in film, media and digital imaging. The dual-degree program is ideal for students who are sophomores or juniors and want to use their senior year as a segue into graduate work. The senior year would involve advanced coursework that one would usually take in the first year of the M.A. program. The first (and only) year of the M.A. program would involve only advanced coursework and the thesis film.

The B.A. in Game Design trains interested students to integrate game arts with related advanced technology software platforms in which videogames are conceptualized, designed and created. The team at the Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII) is composed of scholars and professors of practice who work with students on theory and practical industry knowledge. Our students have access to a unique group of professionals with diverse backgrounds and strengths to give them a more well-rounded education and view of the creative industry. Students have access to professionals who are well-regarded in the industry, including a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and documentary filmmaker, and a professor of practice who has created cutting-edge visual effects for some of Hollywood’s biggest feature films, including "Avatar" and the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Students who are interested in deeper training in game programming or whose career interests might include work in the wider data sciences, might consider the B.S. in Game Development program at CMII.

What is General Studies?  General Studies is a guided pathway allowing exposure to a variety of subjects and providing students  flexibility as they move to the baccalaureate level. Students will take courses across a broad spectrum of fields, emphasizing breadth rather than depth. Why choose General Studies? General Studies is an excellent choice for students who are undecided about a major or for those who wish to emphasize the liberal arts. By choosing General Studies, students will have the ability to select from a wide variety of majors later when they pursue their bachelor’s degree programs. Through exposure to numerous fields of study, students will enhance their critical thinking, communication and analytical abilities, skills employers rate as highly desirable. 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.

What Is Geology? Geology is an earth science focused on the planet’s composition, structure, physical properties and history, as well as the processes that shape the Earth. Geologists help to locate and manage the earth’s natural resources, including fossil fuels, metals, gemstones and a variety of minerals. Why Study Geology? Geology-based careers include protecting the environment, exploring for fossil fuels, monitoring earthquakes, mapping floods, controlling landslides, predicting volcanic eruptions and analyzing the evidence of climate change. To be successful, geologists should have an aptitude for science and math and a desire to better understand the planet. 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.

Students can fast-track their education and save money on tuition by earning bachelor's and master's degrees in geosciences in as little as five years. Students can choose from a B.A. or B.S. program, enrolling in graduate courses late in their undergraduate program that count toward both the bachelor’s and M.S. in Geosciences degree. Students in the 4+1 "Dual Degree" program can choose from a wide range of areas of study to match their interests and career goals: Bachelor of Arts concentrations are offered in geography and urban studies. Bachelor of Sciences concentrations are offered in geology, environmental geosciences, geography and urban studies. The Master of Science program offers concentrations in geography, geology and water sciences. The Department of Geosciences includes a diverse faculty of scholars from the disciplines of geography, geology and hydrology. Research clusters in the department investigate pressing urban environmental issues, including water, from water governance to water quality and quantity, climate change and quantity, geochemical processes, and geographical information systems and informatics.

The Urban Studies concentration enables students to focus on the study of cities, including urban development and economics, urban politics and institutions, the urban built environment, social and environmental disparities in cities and the changing physical and social dynamics of urbanization processes. This interdisciplinary approach allows students to draw from a variety of courses to solve some of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century city. The Urban Studies concentration draws from classes in complementary departments, enabling the student to develop specific interests within the concentration. The Department of Geosciences includes a diverse faculty of scholars from the disciplines of geography, geology and hydrology. Research clusters in the department investigate urban environmental issues, including water, from water governance to water quality and quantity, climate change and quantity, geochemical processes, and geographic information systems and informatics.