Academic Programs
Choose from a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, certificate and endorsement programs in education and human service fields.
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The information shared here is intended to provide an overview of Georgia State’s Education & Human Development offerings. For official details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more please refer to the university catalogs.
Creative and Innovative Education, M.A.
The M.A. program in creative and innovative education (MACIE) is designed for people who wish to further their knowledge about children as creative thinkers and innovative makers. Our graduates work in diverse fields, such as business, nonprofits, the creative arts, kindergarten through 12th grade education and community outreach organizations. Education courses provide students with a background in child development theories, learning strategies, critical and creative thinking skills and examinations of children’s lives in contemporary society, all through the lens of creative education Additional coursework in business, policy, education or the arts allows students to focus on content that will prepare them for their specific goals Apprenticeships connect students with organizations and businesses in the metro-Atlanta area to expand their knowledge and skills in areas such as nonprofit organizations, start-up companies, after-school programs and teacher leadership Note: This program does not prepare students to earn a Georgia teaching credential.
The M.A. program in creative and innovative education (MACIE) is designed for people who wish to further their knowledge about children as creative thinkers and innovative makers. Our graduates work in diverse fields, such as business, nonprofits, the creative arts, kindergarten through 12th grade education and community outreach organizations.
- Education courses provide students with a background in child development theories, learning strategies, critical and creative thinking skills and examinations of children’s lives in contemporary society, all through the lens of creative education
- Additional coursework in business, policy, education or the arts allows students to focus on content that will prepare them for their specific goals
- Apprenticeships connect students with organizations and businesses in the metro-Atlanta area to expand their knowledge and skills in areas such as nonprofit organizations, start-up companies, after-school programs and teacher leadership
Note: This program does not prepare students to earn a Georgia teaching credential.
Curriculum and Instruction, Ed.D.
The Ed.D. program in curriculum and instruction prepares master teachers to become instructional leaders and curriculum specialists who wish to develop expertise in advocacy for equity in teaching and learning, curriculum theory, and development and pedagogical leadership. Our Ed.D. program consists of a rigorous, collaborative, interdisciplinary program that promotes an understanding of the complex dynamics among theory, research and practice. Our graduates are empowered scholar-educators who advocate for social justice and educational equity at the classroom, school, district and state levels. Grounded in educational research, our interdisciplinary courses offer students the opportunity to conceptualize, theorize, dialogue, problem-pose, problem-solve, create and evaluate a wide range of educational theories, practices and policies related to curriculum and instruction. Concentrations include art education, early childhood and elementary education, language and literacy education, mathematics education, middle-level education, foreign language education, music education, science education and social studies education.
The Ed.D. program in curriculum and instruction prepares master teachers to become instructional leaders and curriculum specialists who wish to develop expertise in advocacy for equity in teaching and learning, curriculum theory, and development and pedagogical leadership.
Our Ed.D. program consists of a rigorous, collaborative, interdisciplinary program that promotes an understanding of the complex dynamics among theory, research and practice. Our graduates are empowered scholar-educators who advocate for social justice and educational equity at the classroom, school, district and state levels. Grounded in educational research, our interdisciplinary courses offer students the opportunity to conceptualize, theorize, dialogue, problem-pose, problem-solve, create and evaluate a wide range of educational theories, practices and policies related to curriculum and instruction.
Concentrations include art education, early childhood and elementary education, language and literacy education, mathematics education, middle-level education, foreign language education, music education, science education and social studies education.
Dual Immersion Early Childhood Education Endorsement
The Dual Immersion Early Childhood Education Endorsement program engages students in comprehensive exploration, research and practice in elementary dual language immersion education. The program develops highly prepared teachers who understand dual language immersion education. They are teacher-leaders in establishing learner-centered classrooms. Such classrooms are consistent with the standards of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium.
The Dual Immersion Early Childhood Education Endorsement program engages students in comprehensive exploration, research and practice in elementary dual language immersion education. The program develops highly prepared teachers who understand dual language immersion education. They are teacher-leaders in establishing learner-centered classrooms. Such classrooms are consistent with the standards of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium.
Dual Language and Immersion Education
In response to the growing number of Georgia schools with Dual Language Immersion programs, the College of Education & Human Development’s Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education offers two programs in Dual Language Immersion Education. These programs engage students in comprehensive exploration, research and practice in elementary Dual Language Immersion education. These programs develop highly prepared teachers who understand Dual Language Immersion education and are teacher-leaders in establishing learner-centered classrooms consistent with the standards of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium. The two programs are: Master of Education in Elementary Education with a concentration in Dual Language Education Dual Immersion Early Childhood Education Endorsement
In response to the growing number of Georgia schools with Dual Language Immersion programs, the College of Education & Human Development’s Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education offers two programs in Dual Language Immersion Education.
These programs engage students in comprehensive exploration, research and practice in elementary Dual Language Immersion education.
These programs develop highly prepared teachers who understand Dual Language Immersion education and are teacher-leaders in establishing learner-centered classrooms consistent with the standards of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium.
The two programs are:
Master of Education in Elementary Education with a concentration in Dual Language Education
Dual Immersion Early Childhood Education Endorsement
Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Ph.D.
Our early childhood and elementary education program will prepare you to be researchers and teacher educators in areas such as applied research, curriculum development, teacher education, literacy/digital literacy, multicultural education, science education, math education and more. Our doctorate degree prepares you to move into various roles and content areas in the early childhood and elementary education fields. You will learn to be active scholars informed in the historical, political, developmental and theoretical paradigms that shape education in today’s rapidly changing world. Through coursework, research and teaching apprenticeships and individual mentoring, you can become inquisitive researchers and reflective teacher educators equipped to affect the lives of children, their families and the larger society.
Our early childhood and elementary education program will prepare you to be researchers and teacher educators in areas such as applied research, curriculum development, teacher education, literacy/digital literacy, multicultural education, science education, math education and more.
Our doctorate degree prepares you to move into various roles and content areas in the early childhood and elementary education fields.
You will learn to be active scholars informed in the historical, political, developmental and theoretical paradigms that shape education in today’s rapidly changing world. Through coursework, research and teaching apprenticeships and individual mentoring, you can become inquisitive researchers and reflective teacher educators equipped to affect the lives of children, their families and the larger society.
Education of Students with Exceptionalities, Ph.D.
The education of students with exceptionalities degree will teach you to become a leader in the field of special education. The experience you bring from your work in the special education field will enable you to learn how to teach others. We will help you enhance the skills you’ll need to succeed in university positions as teachers of those wishing to teach special education and/or to provide leadership in a variety of community, state or national service agencies.
The education of students with exceptionalities degree will teach you to become a leader in the field of special education. The experience you bring from your work in the special education field will enable you to learn how to teach others. We will help you enhance the skills you’ll need to succeed in university positions as teachers of those wishing to teach special education and/or to provide leadership in a variety of community, state or national service agencies.
Educational Leadership, Ed.D.
The educational leadership program advances the development and practice of effective educational leadership. This program addresses educational leaders’ professional needs and supports their long-term career goals in leading schools, school districts and other education agencies in a complex, highly competitive global environment. We provide senior-level administrators with the following: Knowledge and skills necessary to deal effectively with the complex issues facing education today Methods of inquiry necessary to analyze educational problems Leadership skills necessary to direct the development and implementation of programs to address those problems and to disseminate the results in various professional and public forums Knowledge and applied skills rarely provided in traditional advanced degree programs in educational leadership in an alternative format that meets the needs of senior-level administrators.
The educational leadership program advances the development and practice of effective educational leadership.
This program addresses educational leaders’ professional needs and supports their long-term career goals in leading schools, school districts and other education agencies in a complex, highly competitive global environment.
We provide senior-level administrators with the following:
- Knowledge and skills necessary to deal effectively with the complex issues facing education today
- Methods of inquiry necessary to analyze educational problems
- Leadership skills necessary to direct the development and implementation of programs to address those problems and to disseminate the results in various professional and public forums
- Knowledge and applied skills rarely provided in traditional advanced degree programs in educational leadership in an alternative format that meets the needs of senior-level administrators.
Educational Leadership, M.Ed. and Add-on Certification
The M.Ed./add-on educational leadership program is designed around a set of academic and site-based experiences that provide knowledge and skills for candidates seeking a stronger understanding of the dynamics of educational leadership. This self-select program leads to Tier I leadership certification in Georgia and couples traditional, online and hybrid classes with a minimum of 300 hours of site-based experience. Tier I certification allows an individual to serve as an assistant principal or/in district level leadership positions that do not supervise principals. The program design gives students a comprehensive understanding of beginning leadership concepts and activities. Students develop the dispositions required to lead school and district improvement efforts by engaging in an innovative program that focuses on linking theory, research and practice to positively affect student achievement.
The M.Ed./add-on educational leadership program is designed around a set of academic and site-based experiences that provide knowledge and skills for candidates seeking a stronger understanding of the dynamics of educational leadership.
This self-select program leads to Tier I leadership certification in Georgia and couples traditional, online and hybrid classes with a minimum of 300 hours of site-based experience. Tier I certification allows an individual to serve as an assistant principal or/in district level leadership positions that do not supervise principals.
The program design gives students a comprehensive understanding of beginning leadership concepts and activities. Students develop the dispositions required to lead school and district improvement efforts by engaging in an innovative program that focuses on linking theory, research and practice to positively affect student achievement.
Educational Leadership, Tier II Certification, Ed.S.
The Tier II educational specialist (Ed.S.) and Tier II add-on in educational leadership prepares graduates to be effective school and/or system leaders who positively affect student achievement. Throughout the program, students work on meaningful projects to help them develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions required to lead school and district improvement efforts. Georgia State collaborates closely with its partner districts to help ensure students are being properly prepared to successfully address school and/or district needs. Candidates who already hold an Ed.S. degree should apply for the 18-hour certification only add-on certificate. Candidates seeking a full Ed.S. degree should apply for the full 48-hour Ed.S. program. Both the add-on and the Ed.S. program lead to Tier II certification. The certificate allows you to become a supervising administrator for schools and districts in Georgia.
The Tier II educational specialist (Ed.S.) and Tier II add-on in educational leadership prepares graduates to be effective school and/or system leaders who positively affect student achievement.
Throughout the program, students work on meaningful projects to help them develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions required to lead school and district improvement efforts. Georgia State collaborates closely with its partner districts to help ensure students are being properly prepared to successfully address school and/or district needs.
Candidates who already hold an Ed.S. degree should apply for the 18-hour certification only add-on certificate. Candidates seeking a full Ed.S. degree should apply for the full 48-hour Ed.S. program. Both the add-on and the Ed.S. program lead to Tier II certification.
The certificate allows you to become a supervising administrator for schools and districts in Georgia.
Educational Policy Studies, Ph.D.
The Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies allows students to examine the philosophy and practice of education and to develop skills in both the methodology and the study of educational practice. Students will prepare to become policy makers and examiners of policy and the effects of policy on education. There are three concentrations you can choose within this degree program: Concentration in Educational Leadership This concentration emphasizes organizational leadership, policy development, supervision and management. The leadership concentration will be designed to satisfy the career objectives of the students. Graduates may anticipate careers in school administration, governmental education agencies and the professorate. (Not accepting students at this moment) Concentration in Research, Measurement and Statistics This concentration prepares graduates to investigate research methodologies, to conduct research related to schools, and to conduct and critique research in educational practice, policy and administration. Students develop knowledge and skills in qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation methods. Concentration in Social Foundations of Education Social foundations is a broadly conceived field of educational study that derives its character from a number of academic disciplines and interdisciplinary studies. At Georgia State University, the disciplines involved in social foundations inquiry are history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology and political science; the interdisciplinary field is cultural studies. The purpose of social foundations study is to bring the intellectual resources derived from these areas to bear in developing interpretive, normative and critical perspectives of educational theory, policy and practices, both inside of and outside of schools. For more information about the concentrations, please visit: Educational Leadership is not accepting applicants at this time. Research, Measurement and Statistics. Social Foundations of Education
The Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies allows students to examine the philosophy and practice of education and to develop skills in both the methodology and the study of educational practice. Students will prepare to become policy makers and examiners of policy and the effects of policy on education.
There are three concentrations you can choose within this degree program:
Concentration in Educational Leadership
This concentration emphasizes organizational leadership, policy development, supervision and management. The leadership concentration will be designed to satisfy the career objectives of the students. Graduates may anticipate careers in school administration, governmental education agencies and the professorate. (Not accepting students at this moment)
Concentration in Research, Measurement and Statistics
This concentration prepares graduates to investigate research methodologies, to conduct research related to schools, and to conduct and critique research in educational practice, policy and administration. Students develop knowledge and skills in qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation methods.
Concentration in Social Foundations of Education
Social foundations is a broadly conceived field of educational study that derives its character from a number of academic disciplines and interdisciplinary studies. At Georgia State University, the disciplines involved in social foundations inquiry are history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology and political science; the interdisciplinary field is cultural studies. The purpose of social foundations study is to bring the intellectual resources derived from these areas to bear in developing interpretive, normative and critical perspectives of educational theory, policy and practices, both inside of and outside of schools.
For more information about the concentrations, please visit:
- Educational Leadership is not accepting applicants at this time.
- Research, Measurement and Statistics.
- Social Foundations of Education