3000 College of Arts and Sciences

• 3010 General Information
• 3020 College Academic Regulations
• 3030 College Degree Requirements
• 3040 Office of Academic Assistance
• 3050 Student Complaints, Petitions for Policy Waivers and Variances, and Appeals
• 3060 Departments and Institutes
• 3480 Pre-Law Programs
• 3490 Pre-Medical Programs
• 3550 Teacher Preparation Programs

Undergraduate programs in the College of Arts and Sciences are described in detail in this chapter. See subsections for specific program information as well as policies and procedures.

3010 General Information

The College of Arts and Sciences consists of 23 departments and institutes within the areas of the humanities, the natural and computational sciences, and the social and behavioral sciences. The college has approximately 12,000 undergraduate majors and 1,800 graduate students. The college also plays a major role in the general education curriculum required of all students in the university.

At the undergraduate level, the College of Arts and Sciences offers the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Science, and the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies. The requirements for these degrees build directly upon the broad educational foundation provided by the core curriculum.

The College of Arts and Sciences, through its Graduate Studies division, offers graduate degrees and programs in numerous fields. The university publishes a graduate catalog that includes complete descriptions of all of the graduate programs offered at Georgia State University (available online at catalog.gsu.edu/).

Faculty from throughout the college and university collaborate on research and service activities through a variety of interdisciplinary ventures. Additional information on the interdisciplinary centers and programs based in and affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences is available at cas.gsu.edu/faculty-research/interdisciplinary-research-service-centers/.

Office of the Dean

25th floor, 25 Park Place Building
404-413-5114
cas.gsu.edu

Lindsey Cohen, Interim Dean
John Augusto, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives
Elisabeth Burgess, Associate Dean for Faculty Development
Dan Cox, Interim Associate Dean for Research, Graduate Studies, and Innovation
John Medlock, Assistant Dean for Enrollment Services
Shelly-Ann Williams, Assistant Dean, Student Services

Accreditation

In the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Chemistry is accredited by the American Chemical Society, the Heritage Preservation Program in the Department of History by the National Council for Preservation Education, the programs in secondary education by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the graduate program in psychology by the American Psychological Association. The Intensive English Program academic support program is accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation. 

Degrees Offered

Undergraduate degree and certificate programs are offered through the Departments of Africana Studies, Anthropology, Applied Linguistics and English as a Second Language, Biology, Chemistry, Communication, Computer Science, English, Geosciences, History, Mathematics and Statistics, Philosophy, Physics and Astronomy, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, and World Languages and Cultures; and interdisciplinary institutes in the areas of Creative Media Industries, Gerontology, Global Studies, Neuroscience, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

In addition, undergraduate degree programs in secondary education for teachers of preschool through twelfth grade in world languages are offered through the College of Arts and Sciences. For application procedures and eligibility requirements, please refer to the Teacher Preparation Programs chapter of this catalog.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

African-American Studies; Anthropology; Applied Linguistics; English; Game Design, Geosciences; History; Journalism, Philosophy; Political Science, Psychology; Religious Studies; Sociology,  Speech Communication; Worlds Languages and Cultures; Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Data Science, Game Development, Geosciences, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, Psychology

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.)

Asian Studies; Environmental Science; Gerontology; Global Studies; Law and Society; Media Entrepreneurship; Philosophy, Politics, and Economics; student-planned. 

Undergraduate Certificates

Cybersecurity, Data Science, Geographic Information Science, Gerontology, Language Ability (in multiple world languages), Social Justice, Sustainability, Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Water Science, Workplace Intercultural Competence

3010.10 Academic Resources and Services

Computer Science Tutoring Center

GSU Sports Arena, Room 107
404-413-5700
cs.gsu.edu/

The Computer Science Tutoring Center supports undergraduate instruction programs by providing tutorial assistance to students who are taking 2000/3000-level major courses in the Department of Computer Science.

ESL Tutoring

Library North 2
library.gsu.edu/learningcommons

The Department of Applied Linguistics and English as a Second Language and the Intensive English Program offer ESL tutoring for Georgia State students. ESL tutoring provides students an opportunity to receive expert assistance in improving their written and oral English skills. Check the ESL Tutoring Schedule at the Research Support Desk on Library North 2 for walk-in appointment times.

James M. Cox, Jr. New Media Instructional Lab

307 Classroom South Building
404-413-5600

The Department of Communication’s James M. Cox, Jr., New Media Instructional Lab provides access to a computer-networked facility with 22 workstations. News writing and desktop publishing courses are enhanced through the use of interactive communication between instructors and students. A satellite downlink transmits CNN NewsSource and other national and international video feeds to students who write, edit, and package their own news stories.

Journalism Writing Lab

832 25 Park Place
404-413-5600

The Department of Communication’s Journalism Writing Laboratory provides tutorial support to students enrolled in journalism classes who wish assistance in improving their professional writing skills (including feedback on draft news reporting, public relations projects, and other related writing skills connected to media distribution. The lab is open during business hours on an open-access basis.

Center for International Resources and Collaborative Language Engagement (CIRCLE)

128 Langdale Hall
404-413-5987
wlc.gsu.edu/home/language-resources/circle/

The Center for International Resources and Collaborative Language Engagement (CIRCLE), is a multipurpose academic support center that offers walk-in tutoring in each of the languages taught at Georgia State and provides a variety of digital resources (i.e., software, apps, media and materials) to support the language studies of the university community. In addition, the CIRCLE hosts special events focused on cultural awareness and communication opportunities, such as conversation meetups, discussion groups, and other social events, as well as language and technology workshops.

Mathematics Assistance Complex

GSU Sports Arena, Room 110
125 Decatur St.
404-413-6462
mathstat.gsu.edu/undergraduate/current-students/mac/

The Mathematics Assistance Complex supports undergraduate instruction programs by providing tutorial assistance to students who are taking lower-division courses in mathematics and statistics in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

The Mathematics Interactive Learning Environment

301 Urban Life Building
404-463-2780
mathstat.gsu.edu/undergraduate/current-students/mile/

Commons MILE
University Commons Complex
141 Piedmont Ave
404-413-5978

The Mathematics Interactive Learning Environment (The MILE) is designed to support and promote the development of the undergraduate student’s mathematics skill and knowledge by accommodating diverse student learning styles and building student confidence and success in early mathematics courses. The MILE provides student-centered, computer-assisted, self-paced tutorials that include streaming video lectures, tutorial exercises and assistance by faculty, graduate, and undergraduate assistants.

Military Science Leadership Lab

ROTC Leadership laboratory meets every Thursday for 3 hours from 1 to 4 p.m. and focuses on key leadership theory and skills. In addition, we integrate our classroom instruction and individualized leadership training and assessment. Major areas encompass leadership theory and application in problem solving, small group interaction, goal setting and accomplishment, and decision making. We focus on developing today’s best and brightest into tomorrow’s leaders, focusing on confidence, mental agility, sound judgment and getting results. As they progress through the ROTC Leadership Lab, they gain self confidence through practical application of leader skills. There will be some mandatory weekend events and one weekend field training exercise during each semester. Major areas of instruction include professional officership, leadership values and ethics, and communication skills.

STEM Center

GSU Sports Arena, Room 110
125 Decatur St.
404-413-5563

The STEM Center (Atlanta Campus) provides the face-to-face tutoring in physics, biology, chemistry, computer science and math to all currently enrolled students. No appointment is necessary; just drop by during the hours of operation (Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and see a tutor.

Writing Studio

23rd Floor, 25 Park Place Bldg.
writingstudio.gsu.edu/
404-413-5840

The Writing Studio offers space for conversation, coffee, and writers, by creating a welcoming community for undergraduate and graduate students to practice the art of writing. Its purpose is to enhance the writing instruction that happens in academic classrooms by pairing writers with an experienced Reader. Readers, Graduate Assistants in the department of English, engage student writers in talk about their writing assignments and ideas, and familiarize them with audience expectations and academic genre conventions. We focus on invention (coming up with ideas), drafting (expanding ideas and supporting arguments), and arrangement (figuring out the best structure and organization for a text). Readers focus on the rhetorical aspects of the student text, and provide one-on-one, student-centered teaching of works-in-progress. The Writing Studio does not provide editorial or proofreading services. Readers will not write on student papers or in any way “correct” a student text. Students may work on course assignments or application materials for graduate and professional programs and scholarships. The Writing Studio is open only to currently enrolled students and recent alumni. The Studio is open the second week of each semester and closes the last Thursday before the end of classes. The Studio is closed between terms and for all university holidays. Students are welcome to drop in without appointments. More information is located on the website.

3020 College Academic Regulations

The requirements for entrance into Georgia State University are found in the section of this catalog devoted to undergraduate admissions. A transfer student must comply with all academic regulations of the university. The College of Arts and Sciences reserves the right to validate by examination any credits accepted by transfer. This provision in no way affects the acceptance of courses used to satisfy core curriculum requirements at another unit of the University System of Georgia.

Students holding a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university who wish to complete another undergraduate degree are urged to clear all requirements with an advisor in the Office of Academic Assistance.

University Grade-Point Average and Grade Requirements

Georgia State University undergraduate students must achieve an overall institutional grade-point average of 2.0 and a major GPA of 2.0 to receive a bachelor’s degree from the university. Grades of C- can be used to satisfy graduation requirements. However, some courses have prerequisites that require a grade of C or higher. (See section 1460 for additional information.)

Certificate Enrollment

College of Arts and Sciences majors are allowed to complete a maximum of two undergraduate certificates while in their bachelors program. Additionally, students should consult with academic advisors about the impact of certificate program enrollment on the timely completion of their degree program. 

Credit by Examination

A maximum of 18 semester hours of degree credit may be granted before or after matriculation to a student who receives satisfactory scores on certain subject examinations of the College Level Examination Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. The student should consult the appropriate department or school or the Office of Academic Assistance for further information.

The College of Arts and Sciences follows university guidelines for the acceptance of credit by examination. See section 1320.40 Credit by Examination for specific course equivalencies. Credit awarded by the academic departments within the College of Arts and Sciences does not apply toward the academic residence requirement.

Credit for Transient Work

Arts and Sciences students who wish to take course work at another institution, whether as a full-time or as a part-time student, must have prior written approval from the Office of Academic Assistance if they wish to apply the credit hours to a degree program. Failure to obtain the required prior approval will prevent the acceptance of such credits. Approval will be granted for no more than two terms of work and only if the student is in good academic standing at Georgia State University. No approval of requests to take courses in Atlanta-area colleges will be granted if the course is readily available from Georgia State offerings. During the term in which the student is scheduled to graduate, all courses must be taken at Georgia State unless prior written approval has been obtained from the Office of Academic Assistance. The acceptance and application of all course work taken as a transient student is subject to any limitations imposed by the student’s major department, school, or program of study.

Please consult the 1352 Academic Recognitions  section of this catalog for further clarification in regard to transient credit.

Credit for Veteran’s Service

University students who are veterans of any service, active, reserve, or National Guard, or who have attended a service academy, may receive advanced placement in the Department of Military Science and Leadership (ROTC).

Course 4999 - Directed Readings

Course 4999, Directed Readings, in any department/school/institute that offers a major in the College of Arts and Sciences is designed to assist seniors who are within two terms of graduation and who have curriculum difficulties in fulfilling the requirements necessary for graduation. One to four credit hours may be earned. The supervising professor, the departmental chair/school director, and the dean of the college must approve registration for the course. Forms for Course 4999 must be completed at the time of regular registration for the term in which the credit is to be earned and can be obtained through department/school offices or the college’s Office of Academic Assistance.

Policy on Allowing Undergraduates to Take Graduate Courses

Under one of the following conditions, an undergraduate student may be permitted to take a graduate course:

1. Dual Degree Enrollment: The student has been formally accepted into an official university dual degree program that links an undergraduate degree program with a graduate degree program.Students in dual degree programs are granted permission to enroll in specified graduate courses when they reach a designated program milestone. Students who are accepted into the affiliated graduate program upon completion of the undergraduate degree may count specified course work toward fulfillment of the graduate degree requirements. A current listing of official undergraduate/graduate dual degree programs is available at cas.gsu.edu/dual-degrees/.
2. College Approval of Enrollment: The dean’s office of the college will determine a student’s eligibility for admission into a graduate course. To be eligible, an undergraduate student generally must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher and be within 18 semester hours of graduation, and be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. Eligibility does not guarantee permission to take a course. Once a student’s eligibility is determined, permission must be granted by the instructor for the course, the department’s/school’s director of graduate studies, the chair/director of the department/school offering the course, and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences. The request form is located at cas.gsu.edu/dual-degrees/. Please note, graduate courses taken by an undergraduate student cannot be applied toward fulfillment of graduate degree requirements unless the student has been formally accepted into an official university dual degree program.

(This approval process does not apply to postbaccalaureate students. Postbaccalaureate students wishing to take graduate courses must be admitted as non-degree seeking students. See cas.gsu.edu/graduate-services/admissions/reentry/ for additional information.)

3030 College Degree Requirements

3030.10 World Language Requirement for B.A./B.I.S. Majors

The College of Arts and Sciences requires the completion of a world language at the 1002 or 1101 level for all students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree (with certain exceptions listed below). This requirement can be met by one of the following options: 1) taking a course numbered 1002, 1101, or higher, 2) Taking the CLEP exam in French, German, or Spanish for credit at the 2001 and 2002 level, or 3) Taking the SAT II exam in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean and receiving at least the equivalent of a grade of C (73% of the highest possible exam score). For more information about the exams please contact the Counseling and Testing Center at 404-413-1740.

Students in the following B.I.S. programs that are closely aligned with Bachelor of Science programs are not required to complete a world language: Environmental Science.

The world language requirement for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies programs is most commonly included in core curriculum Area F (Courses Appropriate to the Major); however, programs may also require students to complete world language courses in Area G, the 60 semester hours beyond the core curriculum. Students transferring to Georgia State with a completed core curriculum Area F, yet without sufficient course work to meet a program’s world language requirement, will be required to fulfill the necessary courses in the second 60 semester hours. Students who take a language course in Area C and subsequently declare a major in a program leading to a Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies will find that the language course no longer counts in Area C but in Area F or Area G. For this reason, the college recommends that students in the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies programs not include a world language course in core curriculum Area C (Fine Arts and Humanities). Students who would like to begin a new world language, or to take a second world language, should consult a program adviser concerning the possibility of earning credit for the first semester of elementary world language (1001) in either core curriculum Area F or in the second 60 hours.

3040 Office of Academic Assistance

3rd floor, 25 Park Place Bldg.
404-413-5000
cas.gsu.edu/undergraduate/student-advising/

Assistant Dean, Student Services: Shelly-Ann Williams

Associate Director: Nika Daryooni
Associate Director: Rene Mondy
Associate Director: Linda King

The Office of Academic Assistance supports departments and schools in providing academic advisement for students in the college, primarily those who have earned 90 hours. Students with fewer than 90 hours are advised through the University Advisement Center (see advisement.gsu.edu). This office also works with students on career development and on marketing a liberal arts background in the current job environment. The Office of Academic Assistance prepares evaluations of transfer work done at other institutions as well as academic program reviews for each major offered through the college. It also assists with course selections and schedule revisions and provides information concerning college and university policies. Students are advised by appointment or may walk-in for brief consultations. During the academic year, the office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students seeking a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences should become familiar with the academic regulations of the university stated elsewhere in this catalog.

Although the College of Arts and Sciences will endeavor to provide timely and accurate advisement, it is the responsibility of the student to know and to satisfy the degree requirements of his or her academic program. The College of Arts and Sciences encourages its majors to build relationships with the undergraduate support personnel in their major departments and institutes. A strong undergraduate program is possible only if there are frequent opportunities for students to discuss their academic work and career goals with one of their major professors. In a large urban institution such as Georgia State University, contact is essential if students are to receive individual attention and enjoy the full benefits of a liberal arts education.

3050 Student Complaints, Petitions for Policy Waivers and Variances, and Appeals

The appeals procedure for students in the College of Arts and Sciences will follow different courses depending on the nature of the student’s appeal. Please refer to University Information Section 1050.80 under Polices and Disclosures in this catalog or visit enrollment.gsu.edu/assistance/ for details.

3060 Departments and Institutes

3480 Pre-Law Programs

Four different pre-law preparatory programs are offered:

• Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Law and Society (Section 3400)
• Bachelors of Arts in History with a Pre-Law Concentration (Section 3320)
• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a Pre-Law Concentration (Section 3450)
• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Pre-Law Concentration (Section 3470)
• Minor in Law and Ethics (Section 3397)
• Minor in Political Science/Pre-Law (Section 3470)

Students interested in a career in law are encouraged to consult these sections of this catalog.

3490 Pre-Medical Programs

Programs Offered:

• Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Pre-Medicine/Pre-Health Concentration (Section 3170)
• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a Pre-Medicine Concentration (Section 3180)
• Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a Pre-Medical Concentration (Section 3445)
• Bachelor of Science in Physics with a Pre-Medicine Concentration (Section 3460)
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Pre-Medicine Concentration (Section 3500)

Students interested in a career in medicine are encouraged to consult these sections of this catalog.

Faculty from these departments compose the Premedical Professions Advisory Committee and advise premed students. This committee maintains contact with medical schools concerning specific requirements and selection criteria and helps students design specific programs of study for dentistry, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, podiatry, or veterinary medicine. While most premedical students major in biology, chemistry or physics, requirements for admission to medical or dental schools may be met by other majors, provided the requisite science courses are completed.

A student interested in one of these preparatory medical programs should contact the Office of Academic Assistance, 404-413-5000 (see Office of Academic Assistance). This office serves as a liaison to the Premedical Professions Advisory Committee and maintains pertinent information such as entrance exam applications and other appropriate materials.

3550 Teacher Preparation Programs

Programs Offered:

The social science departments of the College of Arts and Sciences offer two different pre-education tracks:

• Bachelor of Arts in African-American Studies (Section 3090)
• Bachelor of Arts in History (Section 3320)

Students interested in pre-education are encouraged to consult these sections of this catalog.

The pre-education programs in these departments are for students who plan to teach social studies at the high school level. To be certified to teach, students in this program must complete the initial teacher preparation Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) Program in Social Studies Education in the College of Education and Human Development (or a similar master’s level initial preparation program at another university).

Education Program Offerings:

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers programs in education in collaboration with the College of Education and Human Development. Students interested in a career in education are encouraged to consult these sections of this catalog.

• Bachelor of Science in Physics with a concentration in education

Academic Advisement for Undergraduate Students

Academic advisement for undergraduate students is provided through the University Advisement Center (freshman through junior status/fewer than 90 hours) and the college’s Office of Academic Assistance (senior status/90 or more hours). See section 3040 for additional information.

Courses

• CSC 4228 - Security in Internet of Things

• HUMN 1000 - Introduction to the Humanities

• ISCI 2001 - Integrated Science I: Life/Earth Sciences
• ISCI 2002 - Integrated Science II: The Physical Sciences

• PRLB 3000 - Project Lab
• PRLB 4000 - Advanced Project Lab II

• NSCI 3001 - Integrated Science I: Physics and Astronomy
• NSCI 3002 - Integrated Science II: Chemistry and Geology
• NSCI 3003 - Integrated Science III: Geology and Biology