Degrees & Majors

What Is a Health Coach? A health coach is a teacher and a coach. The job of a health coach is to help individuals struggling to make their intentions to be healthy a reality by empowering them to take charge of their lifestyle choices and behaviors. This includes supporting and implementing changes that improve their client’s overall health and wellness. A health coach can assist clients by providing knowledge and/or practice in areas including exercise, nutrition and targeted behavior change. Why Study Health Coaching? There is a real crisis of health, not just in the United States but in the world today, and a health coach can play a crucial role in the fight against chronic, non-communicable, and inactivity-related diseases that result in an estimated 40 million deaths per year globally, according to the World Health Organization. Health coaches work as part of a team of professionals, including registered dieticians, primary care physicians, mental health professionals, physical therapists, personal trainers and others in allied health fields to improve individual and population health. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, career opportunities are expected to increase by 12% from 2021 to 2031. With the turn toward preventative medicine to reduce health costs and the push to address chronic illness, health coaches are in an excellent position to create their own health-coaching business or be employed by a clinic, hospital or corporate setting. Students may choose between a pathway that begins preparation for a teaching career or a non-teaching pathway in Kinesiology and Health with a focus on one of three areas: Exercise Science, Personal Trainer or Health Coach. 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 Ph.D. in Kinesiology prepares students for research and teaching careers at colleges and universities and health, physiological performance, rehabilitative science, sport management and related fields.

Attainment of a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree ranks among the most respected accomplishments in any field.

Choose one of the following six concentrations:

• Biomechanics and Physical Rehabilitation
• Exercise Physiology
• Physical Education Teacher Education
• Psychology of Physical Activity
• Rehabilitation Science (only open to existing Department of Physical Therapy students)
• Sport Administration

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

The Georgia State University Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.) program in Law and Society provides students an opportunity to acquire a career-oriented range of skills and knowledge about the law from social science and humanities perspectives. The degree is an excellent choice for pre-law students. Law and Society students typically take courses in the following fields: Political Science History Criminal Justice Legal Studies Economics Philosophy Sociology Speech Communication

The Literacy Education M.Ed. online program at Georgia State University is designed to prepare certified teachers and education professionals to serve as leaders in literacy education. Tailored for the working professional, this program is offered completely online. The goal of the program is to equip educators with the knowledge and tools to advance the literacy abilities of culturally, racially and linguistically diverse P-12 students in urban and multicultural learning environments. This online M.Ed. program requires completing 36 semester hours of coursework and an electronic portfolio. Through coursework, M.Ed. students will learn the theoretical, historical and social foundations of literacy. They will also develop and implement literacy curricula, assessments and instructional strategies. Education programs leading to professional li …

This is a fully-online master’s program in Higher Education Administration offered by a research-intensive (R1) University. Georgia State University is an enterprising urban public research institution. Faculty in our program are breaking new ground in how we understand diversity and equity in higher education, minority-serving institutions, higher education policy and student success.

This program provides the skills to be successful in careers in higher education administration:

• Knowledge of institutional landscape of higher education, governance and issues faced by colleges and universities, especially institutional types in Georgia such as minority-serving institutions and community colleges.
• Understanding of how colleges and universities shape – and are shaped by – race, gender and class
• Understanding of social and academic integration and how to design support services based on these principles
• Ability to apply higher education theory and concepts in a real-world setting

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

The Georgia State University Composition Concentration offers aspiring composers a comprehensive and immersive experience. The curriculum is designed to develop students’ artistic expression and compositional skills across various musical genres and styles. Through individualized instruction, students work closely with experienced faculty, honing their composition techniques and exploring their unique creative voices. The program emphasizes traditional and contemporary composition approaches, fostering a well-rounded understanding of music theory, orchestration and electronic music. Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities and resources, including cutting-edge recording studios and composition software, allowing them to bring their musical ideas to life with professional-level production quality. The mission of the Georgia State School of Mu …

The Georgia State University Master of Music with a concentration in guitar performance provides advanced preparation for a career as a concert performer, as both soloist and chamber musician and as a teacher of guitar. Georgia State’s location in the heart of Atlanta, a cultural gem of the South, allows Master of Music guitar students to take advantage of numerous performing and teaching opportunities on and off campus. Completion of the degree normally necessitates four semesters of full-time study and requires a one-hour solo recital as well as a one-hour chamber recital. The mission of the Georgia State School of M …

The Master of Music with a concentration in Orchestral Conducting program at Georgia State University focuses on three primary objectives. We aim to: develop and enhance students’ conducting skills through podium time with our GSU Symphony and Campus Orchestra in addition to conducting opportunities with local ensembles refine students’ off-the-podium skills in terms of leadership, audience engagement and administration prepare students for professional conducting positions (youth orchestras, community orchestras, professional orchestras) as well as continued studies in conducting at the doctoral and postgraduate levels As part of this comprehensive program, students have the opportunity to serve as assistant conductors for the Georgia Philharmonic and learn from professional orchestras and ensembles in the area: The Atlanta Symphony, Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Ballet, and Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, Bent Frequency & Ensemble ATL. Our students attend rehearsals of the Atlanta Symphony and work with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra (ASYO) and Family Concerts in various capacities. We also have a strong relationship with the Metropolitan Symphony Youth Orchestras (MYSO), where our students frequently serve as coaches. The Georgia State Orchestral Conducting concentration is designed to nurture active orchestral conductors, fostering their potential as professional conductors. If you are a conductor already working in the field, you may want to consider our Low-Residency Master of Music, Concentration in Conducting.