Degrees & Majors

The Geology concentration focuses on physical, chemical and biological aspects of the surface and interior of the Earth. This concentration is recommended for students who will later pursue licensure as a professional geologist, which is required for supervisory work in many environmental and other fields. 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 geographic information systems and informatics.

This program offers students an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability as a concept, area of study, social practice, organizational goal and policy objective that concerns the effects and durability of relationships and interactions between social and biophysical systems. This undergraduate certificate is an excellent complement to undergraduates pursuing careers in natural resources or environmental fields. 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 geographic information systems and informatics.

The Environmental Geosciences concentration focuses on the physical, chemical and biological aspects of the surface of the Earth, with an emphasis on understanding, preventing and mitigating human impacts on the environment. 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 geographic information systems and informatics.

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) in Gerontology offers students an opportunity to learn about aging across the life course. Gerontology courses draw from a variety of disciplines to expose students to issues, knowledge and research about aging processes, older people and the complex needs of our rapidly aging society. Faculty members associated with the Gerontology Institute come from business, law, the social and biological sciences, and the health and human service professions. They bring a diverse, interdisciplinary perspective to our instructional programs and are engaged in a wide range of research in areas such as long-term care, assisted living, ethnicity and aging, health and health disparities, learning and memory, retirement, aging among minorities, intergenerational caregiving and marketing to seniors. Students who major in Gerontology must select a concentration in one of two allied fields: Behavioral and Social Sciences or Health and Health Services.

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.) in Global Studies prepares students to be globally aware and competent in their chosen careers. In addition to focusing on global opportunities and pressing challenges, students develop deep regional concentration in a particular area of focus including Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East or Latin America. The degree is designed so that students can take courses in political science, history, anthropology, geography, economics, linguistics, religion, sociology and international business to create their own tailored curriculum while gaining broad competencies in global issues and world languages.

The teacher certification concentration is designed to prepare physical education teachers to educate pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade students about physical and motor skills, individual and team sport skills and tactics, physical fitness, nutrition, and health to encourage active lifestyles across the lifespan. Students complete prerequisite classes and apply to the program in the spring of their sophomore year. After completing a series of activity and content classes in both physical education and health education, students will have the opportunity to complete methods of teaching classes in four settings (elementary, secondary, adapted physical education, and health education). Students gain full-time semester-long student teaching placements at both an elementary and secondary (middle or high school). Students who earn teaching certification can serve in a head coach position in public schools in Georgia. Sport Coaching is teaching in an athletic venue instead of a classroom.  This program merges theoretical understanding of psychological, scientific, and pedagogical aspects of coaching with practical experiences to prepare students to succeed in coaching at all levels of sport. Students apply to the program in the spring of their sophomore year. Practical experiences in field-based settings with professional and community coaches, athletic trainers and strength and conditioning coaches underlie the application of theory and practice. The curriculum follows the knowledge and skills outlined by The Society of  Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America) National Standards for Sport Coaches preparing students to be effective leaders and advocates of athletes regardless of the sport. This concentration does not lead to initial teacher certification. Students graduating with a concentration in sport coaching are not currently eligible to serve as head coach in a public school K-12 setting. Education programs leading to professional licensure or certification (nursing, educ …

The B.I.S. in Health Sciences with a concentration in Interprofessional Rehabilitation Sciences curriculum is a 60 credit hour course of study beyond the first two years of the undergraduate curriculum. Students who start as freshman at Georgia State University may declare a major in the BIS in Health Sciences program by the time they have earned 45 credit hours and a minimum GPA of 2.5 to avoid a delay in graduation.  Transfer students who meet admission requirements can declare the BIS in Health Sciences major upon acceptance to Georgia State University. There is no second admissions process for the BIS degree in Health Sciences. This degree program tailors coursework to the students’ needs. For example, a pre-physical therapy student can take the exact science sequence needed to apply to physical therapy programs and not waste time and money at the undergraduate level with unneeded classes. Students will also have tailored global or city experiences, which are either hands-on study abroad or local clinical experiences designed for their track.

The Department of History offers a B.A./M.A. program that allows students to save time and tuition money by earning both degrees in as little as five years. This dual degree opportunity enables qualified students to enroll in graduate courses late in their undergraduate program and apply the coursework toward both the bachelor’s and master’s programs. Historians study various aspects of humanity’s recorded past. Some explore the rise and fall of empires, while others describe the everyday lives of men and women. They are interested in every period of the past and all parts of the world. Historians seek to understand the forces that have structured human life and the ideas that have shaped the way people perceive and experience their worlds. History can teach us many lessons, not simply about our past but also about the paradoxes and potentials of our present. At the bachelor’s degree level, History students can choose from several options: Bachelor of Arts in History — The broadest option. World History Concentration — An in-depth look at world history and culture Pre-Education Track — This track prepares aspiring teachers to enter any master’s-level certification program. Pre-Law Concentration — This option prepares students for law school or J.D.-Ph.D. programs. The M.A. in History at Georgia State prepares students for a wide range of careers, both inside and outside the academy. Students develop deep expertise in the historical literature of their chosen field of study, learn to employ a diverse array of theories and methodologies, including cutting-edge digital technologies for researching and disseminating scholarship and master the communication skills necessary to thrive in today’s job market. Cohorts of 10-12 master’s level students begin each fall semester and students receive individual attention and work together through the year.