Degrees & Majors

Religious Studies is an interdisciplinary area of study that prepares students to navigate multicultural environments successfully, to lead teams effectively in collaborative settings and to interpret and marshal various types of information and data while advancing a large project. Graduates with religious studies degrees advance in a wide range of careers and hold positions at nonprofit, in healthcare, academia and other public and private settings. Studying religion puts you on the cutting edge of global politics, business, health care, education and the media. Course offerings in religious studies, all of which are taught from a non-sectarian perspective, include comparative courses on such topics as world religions, religious thought, religious ethics, mysticism, and women and religion, as well as a host of courses on specific religious traditions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shinto and Taoism.

Studying world religions prepares you for economic success in professions where culturally diverse points of view are valued and to succeed personally in an international city such as Atlanta or anywhere else in the world. This Georgia State University program introduces you to ideas, practices and values you’ve never encountered. Students can choose from two tracks - thesis and coursework intensive: Thesis Track: Students work with a thesis director and committee to research and write a thesis of publishable length. Final project: Thesis Coursework Intensive Track: Students take more classes to gain more depth in their field or breadth across Religious Studies. Final project: Research paper or project Students can choose from two concentrations - Nonprofit Management and Religion and Aging: Concentration in Nonprofit Management: Students in this concentration earn the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Certificate in Nonprofit Management while they complete their M.A. in Religious Studies. Final project: Research paper or project that integrates work in Nonprofit Management, an internship and Religious Studies Concentration in Religion and Aging: Students in this concentration earn the Gerontology Institute's Graduate Certificate while they complete their M.A. in Religious Studies. Final project: Research paper or project that integrates work in Gerontology, an internship and Religious Studies Students can also choose the Graduate Pathway to Chaplaincy: Students enrolled in the Religious Studies Master’s degree program at Georgia State University or another institution who aspire to become a chaplain can apply to the Graduate Certificate in Chaplaincy Studies during the second year of the master’s program. Through the Graduate Pathway to Chaplaincy, students complete 12 additional graduate credit hours during a third year of coursework and additional requirements by Association of Professional Chaplains for chaplaincy certification. More information about the Pathway to Chaplaincy can be found below.

Respiratory therapists work in cooperation with physicians to care for patients with a wide range of breathing disorders including asthma, emphysema, pneumonia and lung infections, cystic fibrosis and breathing difficulties due to premature birth. Respiratory therapists may work in a variety of settings from hospitals to home health care agencies and from outpatient centers and physicians' offices to sleep disorder clinics. The master of science degree with a concentration in respiratory care offers the opportunity for credentialed and experienced practitioners to obtain an advanced level of knowledge in the technical area of respiratory care. The program also is intended to provide the ability, knowledge and skills for continued scholarly inquiry within the discipline of respiratory care.

The school counseling M.Ed. program at Georgia State University is a full-time on-campus learning experience. The George State school counseling faculty believe in the core values of leadership, activism and mentorship. Through experiential, community-based and hands-on initiatives, we support school counselors in training through their growth in these core values. Our primary goal is to graduate school counselors who can implement data-driven comprehensive programs to serve all students by using innovative, culturally relevant and evidence-based techniques. Georgia State graduates are grounded in anti-racist school counseling, anti-oppression and social justice practices. Education programs leading to professional licen ...

The School Psychology Ed.S. program educates you in the major disciplines of education and psychology. You will be equipped to undertake and manage processes and problems related to the education and development of children within the schools. There are two major training thrusts in the school psychology program. The program provides you with a knowledge base about schools, instructional methods, research methods, learning and developmental issues. You will learn application skills in the area of cognitive and achievement assessment, as well as interviewing. You will also develop your skills in teacher and parent consultations. In order to be eligible for the School Psychology Ed.S. program, applicants must apply to the School Psychology M.Ed./Ed.S. concurrent program. Applicants cannot apply to School Psychology Ed.S. as a stand-alone program. Education programs leading to professional licensure or certification (nursing, education, social work, counseling, accounting, allied health professions, etc.) may require additional approva ...

Science educators are responsible for teaching learners intellectual skills and knowledge and scientific literacy across the fields of science, biology, chemistry, physics and earth/space science. Our urban communities need highly skilled, compassionate and advocacy-oriented science teachers whose content knowledge and instructional practice honor students’ diversity and promote equity. Science teachers create learning environments that enable students to learn science by thinking critically, engaging them in scientific practices and using core science ideas to make sense of phenomena from the natural world. Such learning environments, grounded in ambitious science teaching, align with the visions of three-dimensional teaching embodied by the Georgia Standards of Excellence for Science. The Georgia State University Science Education degree program is designed for students who hold a bachelor's degree and seek an initial teaching certification in Secondary Science, grades 6-12. This program leads to a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) and a clear and renewable (T5) Induction Certificate in Georgia. The secondary science degree program encompasses educational theory, research and best practice, integrating social justice and equity principles.  Throughout the program, students take specialized education and content courses and gain practical teaching experience in grades 6-12. Our dynamic program features technology integration and offers study-abroad opportunities. Faculty support planning, instruction, assessment and reflection with colleagues, faculty and partner schools who are committed to excellence in education.  Concentrations include: Broad Field Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth/Space Science. Education programs leading to professional licensure or certification (nursing, education ...

The Sculpture emphasis fosters thoughtful integration of concept and media. Students explore diverse interests while acquiring skills in woodworking, metal fabrication, casting and digital technologies. The program offers a full range of courses in traditional media and contemporary methodologies and encourages innovation and experimentation in performance, installation and other sculptural media. The B.F.A. in Studio with an emphasis in sculpture readies students for graduate work and other creative professional opportunities. Students benefit from the initiatives of the Edgewood Sculpture Forum, the chartered student sculpture group. The Edgewood Sculpture Forum brings visiting artists to the school for lectures and workshops, conducts the annual Holiday Iron Pour, organizes exhibitions of student work in the Atlanta community and procures funding for travel to conferences.

The Sign Language Interpreting undergraduate post-baccalaureate certificate prepares students with the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to enter the field of American Sign Language/English interpretation. Students develop confidence in American Sign Language and English, proficiency in linguistic and cultural analysis, and the interpersonal skills needed to develop a relevant and sound professional practice. Interpreters work within a variety of venues and settings, including kindergarten through grade 12 and post-secondary educational settings, video relay service, community events, medical and mental health settings, and performance and theatrical interpreting. This certificate program is for students who have previously earned a bachelor's degree.