Degrees & Majors

The elementary education bachelor’s degree program prepares teachers to work with children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The program reflects research and evidence-based practice in the field of early childhood education, elementary education and teacher education. We offer two concentrations: Elementary Education certification (pre-K – 5) Elementary Education and Special Education general curriculum (pre-K – 5) dual certification Our students receive content and pedagogy in all academic disciplines taught in elementary classrooms. There are also opportunities for teacher preparation in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), as well as in urban education and dual immersion settings. The program provides integration of the visual, theatrical and musical arts in the context of digital technology. The broad and extensive field-based experiences effectively develop your knowledge and ability to select and implement developmentally appropriate technology, resources and activities for teaching and learning in diverse settings across grade levels. 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 …

What Is Engineering? Engineering is the creative application of scientific principles to the design, development, construction or operation of structures, machines, apparatus, manufacturing processes or works, using them singly or in combination. Engineering also entails forecasting their behavior under specific operating conditions. Why Study Engineering? Engineering transforms scientific discoveries into products that improve the way the world works and make our lives safer, healthier and more productive. Engineering is an attractive career option for those who enjoy building or repairing items or designing new products, games or tools. Industry demand is high, with job prospects in branches of engineering continuing to grow. Civil, environmental, biomedical and software specialties are leading the pack. An additional draw is reflected in surveys that consistently indicate engineers enjoy high levels of job satisfaction. Perimeter College provides a strong foundation for students wanting to pursue engineering and the college’s Regents Engineering Transfer Program paves the way for its students to continue their studies at respected universities. 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 English? English is an academic discipline that includes the study of rhetoric and composition, English literature and creative writing. The study of English is essential to global communication. Successful English students use language to cultivate the skills and habits of interpretation, analysis and research. They gather information, understand multiple perspectives, formulate effective arguments and conceive imaginative solutions to problems they face. Why Study English? English students learn how to use words to communicate effectively, think creatively and interpret the immense variety of messages in our media-saturated world. A command of language is a skill in high demand, not only in writing and education, but in business, entertainment, advertising, public relations, journalism and the legal profession. Students who enroll in English courses can become corporate leaders, lawyers, journalists, screen writers, as well as politicians and actors. The study of English can prepare students to be exceptional critical and creative thinkers, sharp analysts and effective communicators. A degree in English provides a solid foundation for further achievement in a variety of disciplines and industries. 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.

Georgia State University’s Dual Degree (or 4+1) program allows students to earn a B.A. in English and an M.A.T. in English Education in as little as five years, saving time and tuition dollars. The English education master’s program is designed for students who seek an initial teaching certification in secondary English (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 the state of Georgia. English educators are responsible for constructing learning environments that support students’ development in reading literature, writing for multiple audiences, expressing ideas and opinions in speech and interpersonal communication and exploring the potential of the arts in language arts. This program will allow you to build a foundation to transform your passion into a professional career, providing an initial certification for teaching English language arts for 6th-12th grades, and recognition of master’s level proficiency in the subject area, putting you into a higher pay grade in Georgia school systems. At the undergraduate level, the accelerated program is designed for English majors concentrating in Pre-Education.

The M.A. program in Literary Studies fosters an environment of critical engagement with the most pressing questions in contemporary literary and cultural studies. Students work with some of the profession’s most talented and productive teachers, scholars and theorists in the fields of American, British and world literatures, cultural studies and folklore. Students in the M.A. program: Undertake coursework that exposes them to the breadth of literature in English from the Middle Ages to the present and to the methods and theories that have shaped literary criticism and scholarship Regularly deliver papers at international, national and regional conferences Gain valuable professional and organizational experience through participation in the South Atlantic Modern Language Association, an organization of teachers and scholars in modern languages and literatures that is headquartered in the department Work as editorial and research assistants with the department’s academic journals, Studies in the Literary Imagination and Eudora Welty Review Gain pedagogical and leadership experience through tutoring positions in the department’s Writing Studio Pursue interesting internship opportunities with local businesses and nonprofit organizations Receive preparation for further graduate study in prestigious national and international doctoral programs

The Ph.D. program in English, Concentration in Creative Writing, is one of the top 15 in the U.S., as ranked by Poets & Writers. The program offers graduate students the opportunity to work closely with our award-winning faculty while living and writing in Atlanta, an international city with a vibrant literary culture. Our students publish—recently with Random House, Algonquin Books, St Martin’s, Alice James Books, Bloomsbury, Anhinga Press and Louisiana State University Press—and win important prizes and fellowships, including the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship, the Philip Levine Prize for Poetry, the Walter E. Dakin Fellowship from The Sewanee Writers’ Conference and the Georgia Author of the Year Award. Our faculty include Danielle Cadena Deulen, Beth Gylys, John Holman, Sheri Joseph and Josh Russell. Visiting writers & editors enrich the program by giving readings and leading workshops and Q&As. Students may qualify for teaching assistantships, editorial assistantships and fellowships.

We offer the largest Rhetoric & Composition program in the Southeast, with eight specialized faculty members in rhetoric, composition, digital media and communication, writing center theories and pedagogies and language studies. Within our distinctive curriculum, students can combine areas of interest across historical periods, current composition studies, rhetorical theory, visual and digital rhetoric, new and emerging media, advanced academic writing, language studies, writing center studies, writing program administration and professional writing. No other university in Georgia offers these comprehensive graduate academic programs in rhetoric and composition. We provide internship opportunities for graduate students with our department publications, nonprofits and other Atlanta-based organizations, and we offer mentoring and training in the teaching of writing and writing program leadership. Lower Division Studies, unique to Georgia State University, offers training and mentoring opportunities for graduate students who teach many of the First-Year Composition and Sophomore Literature Survey courses as instructors of record. Writing Across the Curriculum is a faculty development program geared toward helping faculty use learner-centered, active pedagogical strategies for developing all students’ writing and communication abilities across the undergraduate curriculum.  Its faculty participants have made significant contributions to the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Georgia State's Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Environmental Health prepares students for research and practice in the study of environmental factors, including the biological, physical and chemical factors that affect the health of a community.

Environmental health investigates how environmental agents, from the molecular to the ecological level, as well as natural and human-created environments, affect health.  Addressing all the physical, chemical and biological factors external to a person, coupled with all related factors affecting behaviors, environmental health seeks to assess and control these factors to prevent disease and create health-supportive environments.

The concentration teaches the core environmental health disciplines—exposure assessment, toxicology, risk assessment, and air and water pollution—and offers additional areas of specialization, including food safety, occupational health, infectious diseases, environmental epidemiology and urban health.

Learn more about the cost of a master’s degree, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study. For information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility, visit the FAFSA tips page.

Georgia State is dedicated to making our programs affordable and accessible to all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student's future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.