Degrees & Majors

The General Clinical Psychology concentration trains psychologists committed and equipped to improve the human condition and alleviate suffering through transdisciplinary scientific inquiry and advanced psychological assessment and intervention. The program meets American Psychological Association (APA) requirements for doctoral training in clinical psychology. Upon graduation, students will have completed predoctoral requirements for clinical licensure in most states and will have solid preparation for American Board of Professional Psychologists certification in their areas of specialty. For more information about professional licensure, download our Professional Licensure Sheet PDF document. Our students are trained as scientist-practitioners. They develop skills at critically evaluating and integrating information, generating hypotheses or alternative explanations that are grounded in the research literature, developing methods to evaluate those hypotheses or explanations and communicating effectively in scholarly and lay contexts. They also learn to deliver state-of-the-art clinical services, applying assessment and intervention techniques that are grounded in scientific evidence. We offer three clinical training concentrations: General Clinical Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology and Clinical/Community Psychology. Each prepares students for distinctive paths within psychology. Welcome from the Directors of Graduate Studies FAQs for Graduate Program Applicants Faculty Accepting Students

The Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (CAN) concentration focuses on the neural bases for cognitive and affective processes in humans, and typically uses a combination of psychological experimental methods and non-invasive imaging techniques in healthy populations. Our program is unique in that some faculty also focus on clinical populations or the translational components of noninvasive nonhuman primate-based research. The focus of this work is on its direct or translational value to human cognition and emotional systems. Graduate students earn a master’s degree en route to the Ph.D. degree. The CAN Ph.D. concentration does not provide clinical training nor is the primary work in behavioral neuroscience. Students interested in neuropsychology and clinical licensure should apply to the Clinical Neuropsychology (CLN) concentration. Students interested in behavioral neuroscience and/or research on basic model organisms should apply to the Neuroscience Institute. The CAN and other faculty with neuroimaging research interests are involved in the Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS) with regular presentations and speaker series, collaborative projects and research initiatives. Georgia State has a rich neuroscience community that fosters collaboration among our colleagues in the Neuroscience Institute and the Georgia State/Georgia Tech Center for Advanced Brain Imaging. Welcome from the Directors of Graduate Studies FAQs for Graduate Program Applicants Faculty Accepting Students

Ph.D. students in the Community Psychology concentration receive training that will enable them to conduct research and collaborate with communities to improve the well-being of individuals and social settings. Community psychologists: Seek to expand "helping" beyond traditional psychotherapy to promote wellness. Engage in action-oriented research to develop, implement and evaluate programs. Base their work on a scientific foundation to better understand the multiple influences of the social environment on health and wellness. Build collaborative relationships with community members, groups and organizations to solve social problems. Consult with and provide tools to organizations to build capacity to address social problems such as exploitation and victimization. Analyze government, civic life and workplace settings to understand and improve fair and diverse participation. Fight oppression, seek to reduce social inequalities and work with marginalized people toward their empowerment. The department also offers a joint concentration in community-clinical psychology and a dual program in public health and community psychology. Students in the Clinical-Community (CLC) concentration seek training in clinical and community psychology and aim to be eligible for clinical licensure following graduation. Dual enrollment provides a strengths-based, culturally competent approach to mental health and healthy development that emphasizes theory, research and practice at multiple levels of analysis — psychological, sociopolitical and ecological. The dual M.P.H.-Ph.D. program in Public Health and Community Psychology provides professional and graduate students with a solid and well-rounded background across two disciplines. Successful candidates will earn a master of public health degree upon completion of the graduate health behavior and 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. Our faculty share a common perspective as researchers rooted in psychology and informed by related disciplines, such as education, public health, sociology and women’s studies. We share an emphasis on changing resources, social norms and public policies that affect individuals and the contexts surrounding people’s lives (for example, social institutions, neighborhoods, families). We are involved at the local, state, national and international levels and work with community and governmental organizations to design, implement and investigate the efficacy of social interventions using a variety of research methods ranging from rigorous experimental designs to qualitative case studies. We collaborate with community partners to evaluate and improve existing programs. Welcome from the Directors of Graduate Studies FAQs for Graduate Program Applicants Faculty Accepting Students

The Georgia State Master of Public Administration (MPA) is the degree of choice for individuals with an interest in public affairs and professional management in the public and nonprofit sectors. Whether you’re seeking a first job in government or with a nonprofit organization, or are interested in advancing in an existing career, Georgia State's MPA program provides the skills and knowledge government and nonprofit agencies seek. Join us as we explore new ideas and perspectives on public and nonprofit administration, policy and governance in the 21st century. Our MPA program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). Read the NASPAA Code of Good Practice. The college is also a member of the Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management. Recent national studies have ranked our overall public affairs curriculum among the top 21 programs nationwide, and among the top 10 for public finance and budgeting, urban policy, nonprofit management and local government management. Our Department of Public Management and Policy provides access to a community of research and teaching scholars with national and international reputations for their expertise and contributions to knowledge and practice across a broad range of administrative processes and policy concerns. For answers to frequently asked questions about the MPP program (and its sibling MPA program), check here.

The Graduate Certificate program in Public Management and Leadership provides basic preparation for students seeking a role as a leader at a government agency or a nonprofit organization. Students who pursue a certificate in Public Management and Leadership benefit in several ways: Enhanced Management and Leadership Skills: Specialized training in management and leadership principles specifically tailored for the public sector. The knowledge and skills necessary to lead teams effectively, manage resources, make strategic decisions, and navigate complex organizational challenges. Competitive Advantage: Demonstration of professional development and commitment to contemporary methodologies. Employers value candidates with a strong foundation in leadership and management practices. Career Advancement: Certification can serve as a catalyst for career advancement within the public sector. Students become better equipped to tackle complex challenges and drive organizational change. Understanding of Public Sector Dynamics: Insights into the political, social, and economic contexts in which public organizations operate enabling students to navigate the intricacies of public policy, stakeholder engagement, budgeting, and public service delivery. Professional Networking: Valuable connections, mentorship opportunities, and access to job openings. Building a strong professional network enhances career prospects and provides ongoing support for personal and professional growth. Effective Public Service Delivery: Crucial skills for ensuring the effective delivery of public services. Students are equipped with the knowledge and tools to improve organizational performance, implement innovative strategies, and enhance public services.

The Georgia State Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) is an interdisciplinary degree program that prepares students for work in the analysis, development and evaluation of public policies. In all levels of government and on a global scale, public needs and limited resources require public policy choices that are economically efficient, socially and technically effective, and politically responsive. Such choices confront policymakers in a broad range of critical issues, including health, education, economic development, public finance, social policy, nonprofit policy and disaster policy. The Andrew Young School is a member of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, the principal professional organization for scholars and practitioners in the field of public policy. Our public policy and public affairs programs were recently ranked among the top 20 programs nationwide, and among the top 10 for public finance and budgeting, urban policy, nonprofit management and local government management. Our Department of Public Management and Policy provides access to a community of research and teaching scholars with national and international reputations for their expertise and contributions to knowledge and practice across a broad range of administrative processes and policy concerns in the arena of public service. For answers to frequently asked questions about the MPP program (and its sibling MPA program), check here.

The joint doctoral program in public policy combines the strengths of Georgia State's Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Public Policy. The Andrew Young School ranked 19th overall among graduate programs in public affairs in a recent U.S. News & World Report ranking, as well as No. 8 in local government management, No. 5 in public finance and budgeting, No. 4 in urban policy, No. 8 in nonprofit management, No. 16 in public management and leadership, and No. 17 in public policy analysis. Our faculty was the 5th most prolific in public administration journals over the past decade. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Georgia Tech’s School of Public Policy No. 4 in information and technology management and No. 11 in environmental policy and management.

If you're enrolled in a doctoral program at Georgia State, you're eligible to study for a graduate certificate in Quantitative Research in Education. The program is for those interested in conducting research or gaining expertise in quantitative research. To earn the certificate, you must complete a minimum of eight 3-credit-hour doctoral-level quantitative research methods courses with a collective GPA of 3.5 or higher in those courses, with no grade lower than a B in any course to be counted toward the certificate.