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.
Kinesiology, Ph.D.
Kinesiology is the study of healthy living and movement patterns related to fitness and physical activities. The Ph.D. program in Kinesiology prepares you for research and teaching careers at colleges and universities and for health, physiological performance, rehabilitative science 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
- Psychology of Physical Activity
- Physical Education Teacher Education
- Rehabilitation Science (only open to existing Department of Physical Therapy students)
- Sport Administration
Concentrations are described in the Additional Information tab.
Literacy Coach, Graduate Certificate
Our literacy coach certificate addresses the growing need to support classroom teachers serving diverse populations. There is an increased demand for embedded professional development, as well as coaching and mentoring in school settings. The demand for school-based literacy coaches has increased over the past few years.
The certificate program focuses on specialized coursework to prepare teachers to serve as highly qualified teacher/coaches equipped to collaborate across classrooms, with school administrators, parents and community representatives to improve student achievement.
The Literacy Coach/Instructional Facilitator certificate program is an 18-hour program of study for students who already have a master’s degree or a minimum of nine hours of appropriate reading coursework. This training is restricted to those already employed as a literacy coach in a school setting.
Literacy Education Online, M.Ed.
The Reading, Language and Literacy Education M.Ed. online program 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 K-12 students in urban and multicultural learning environments.
This online M.Ed. program requires completing 36 semester hours of coursework, an electronic portfolio, and state certification exams. 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 through supervised, online clinical experiences.
The core literacy courses for this program meet the requirements for a reading endorsement, which prepares graduates as reading teachers, who provide engaging, culturally responsive, literacy instruction to K-12 students. Additionally, M.Ed. students choose from two literacy concentration areas: (1) Literacy Specialist or (2), English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
Literacy Specialist Concentration
The literacy specialist concentration leads to a literacy specialist certification, which prepares certified teachers for leadership roles in the field of literacy education. Literacy specialists in our program demonstrate an expertise in honoring and advancing the literacy abilities of racially, culturally and linguistically diverse students and promoting educational excellence and social justice in urban and multicultural educational settings.
ESOL Concentration
The ESOL concentration leads to an ESOL endorsement and provides advanced teacher preparation for individuals who have an interest in teaching English to speakers of other languages in K-12 classrooms. ESOL educators from GSU use a strength-based approach to leverage the literacy abilities of culturally and linguistically diverse individuals and promote educational excellence in ESOL programs.
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 the appropriate state licensing board and for a list of Georgia State program contacts, visit the Student Consumer Information website.
Literacy Education, M.Ed.
Middle and Secondary Education
The M.Ed. in Literacy Education is a flexible, hybrid program with a mix of face-to-face and online classes, designed with the working education professional in mind. The program provides advanced educator preparation for the study of literacy processes and literacy instruction for culturally diverse learners in urban areas. This program is open to certified teachers, regardless of initial preparation area, and no GRE scores are required. If you are a teacher with a T4 and certified in Early Childhood Education, English Language Arts or Reading Education at grades 4-8 or 6-12, completion of this program results in eligibility for a certification upgrade.
Students select from three areas of concentration:
- Digital Literacies (teacher certification is not required for admission)
- Families, Communities, and Culture (teacher certification not required for admission)
- Literacy Specialist (bachelor’s-level teacher certification in any related area of teaching required for admission)
See the catalog for courses in each concentration. You may enter the program at any time and take classes at your own pace, and the program coordinator will work with you to ensure you have a workable plan. Classes are taught by outstanding, award-winning faculty affiliated with the Language and Literacy unit in Middle and Secondary Education. Professors have conducted research in literacy education.
View M.Ed. in Literacy Education Sample Course Progressions Document »
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 the appropriate state licensing board and for a list of Georgia State program contacts, visit the Student Consumer Information website.
Mathematics Education Online, M.Ed.
The M.Ed. major in Mathematics Education seeks to advance early- and mid-career mathematics teachers’ ability to effectively implement standards-based instructional practices.
The program’s chief goal is to strengthen secondary students’ mathematical understanding. We achieve this by providing mathematics teachers with opportunities to deepen their understanding of their learners from diverse backgrounds and to explore issues of equity in mathematics classrooms. You can complete this program in four semesters.
- You will learn to conduct research in your own classroom in order to inform instruction and share the knowledge gained in a professional community of teachers.
- You will learn advanced mathematics coursework and will strengthen mathematical content knowledge.
The program of study is framed by the Extended Georgia Framework for Teaching, the principles and standards of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the core propositions of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. It is available to teachers who hold a clear and renewable T4 certificate in math.
Mathematics Education, M.A.T.
Mathematics educators are responsible for teaching learners the intellectual skills and knowledge across a comprehensive and coherent set of mathematics principles and standards for grades 6-12. Our urban communities need highly skilled mathematics teachers whose content knowledge and instructional practice honor students’ diversity and promote equity. Mathematics educators create learning environments that enable students to learn mathematics by thinking critically, engaging them in mathematical practices and using critical thinking to make sense of core mathematical ideas. Such learning environments, grounded with research-based teaching strategies, embrace Georgia Standards of Excellence in Mathematics for depth and understanding.
The secondary mathematics degree program is grounded in educational theory, research and best practice, integrating principles of social justice and equity. Throughout the program, students take specialized education and content courses and gain practical teaching experience in grades 6-12. Our dynamic program features technology integration and offers study-abroad opportunities. Faculty support teacher candidates in planning, instruction, assessment and reflection with colleagues, faculty and partner schools committed to excellence in education.
The secondary Mathematics degree program is for students who hold a bachelor’s degree and seek an initial teaching certification in Secondary Mathematics, 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 Georgia.
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 the appropriate state licensing board and for a list of Georgia State program contacts, visit the Student Consumer Information website.
Mathematics Education, M.Ed.
Middle and Secondary Education
The M.Ed. major in Secondary Mathematics Education seeks to advance early- and mid-career mathematics teachers’ ability to effectively implement standards-based instructional practices.
Through engaging teachers in advanced mathematics coursework, the program strengthens teachers’ mathematical content knowledge.
Middle Level Education, B.S.Ed.
The B.S.E. in Middle Level Education prepares you to teach in schools in historically marginalized communities by emphasizing political, historical and cultural community contexts and integrating a strong justice and equity orientation.
The Middle Level Education degree program is designed for students who seek a bachelor’s degree and initial teaching certification in Middle Level Education grades 4-8 in two of the following concentration areas:
- English Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
This program leads to a Bachelor of Science in Middle Level Education (B.S.E.) and a clear and renewable (T4) Induction Certificate in Georgia.
Throughout the program, you’ll take specialized courses and gain practical teaching experience in the field. Our program features technology integration and offers study-abroad opportunities. Faculty support planning, instruction, assessment and reflection with colleagues, faculty and partner schools who are committed to excellence in education. Students may also complete three additional classes in order to be English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) endorsed to teach the growing population of English language learners by the time of completion.
Our urban communities need highly skilled, compassionate and advocacy-oriented Middle Level teachers whose content knowledge and instructional practice honor students’ diversity and promote equity.
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 the appropriate state licensing board and for a list of Georgia State program contacts, visit the Student Consumer Information website.
Middle Level Education, M.A.T.
Middle-level educators in grades 4-8 are responsible for teaching intellectual skills and knowledge while attending to specific adolescent developmental needs in two of the following content areas: English language arts, mathematics, science and/or social studies. Our urban communities need highly skilled, compassionate and advocacy-oriented Middle Level teachers whose content knowledge and instructional practice honor students’ diversity and promote equity. Middle Level teachers create learning environments that develop learners’ opportunities across several content areas:
- In English Language Arts, teachers teach 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.
- In Mathematics, teachers enable students to learn mathematics by engaging them in mathematical practices and using critical thinking to make sense of core mathematical ideas.
- In Science, teachers enable students to learn science by thinking critically, engaging them in scientific practices and using core science ideas to make sense of phenomena from the natural world.
- In Social Studies, teachers develop young citizens who can participate in our democracy and the global community by thinking critically in history, geography, political science and economics content areas.
This program leads to a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Middle Level Education and a renewable (T5) Induction Certificate in Georgia.
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 the appropriate state licensing board and for a list of Georgia State program contacts, visit the Student Consumer Information website.
Online Learning Design and Development, Graduate Certificate
Online learning design is a high-demand field. Whether you want to learn how to develop multimedia assets or create e-Learning curriculum for your company, this 12-hour online graduate certificate in online learning design and development will make you career-ready.
Alumni are working in a wide variety of education, training and development areas, including the non-profit and military sectors.
The curriculum is centered on the competencies required to design, develop, facilitate and manage e-Learning programs. If you already work in the field, you will put the concepts to work right away in your job. Through a combination of classroom and practical activities, this program provides participants with the opportunity to design, produce and evaluate eLearning activities that make effective use of best practices and industry standards of development.
Online Teacher Support and Coaching Endorsement
Early Childhood and Elementary Education
The Teacher Support and Coaching (TSC) Endorsement Program in Early Childhood and Elementary Education is one of six endorsements offered through the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education.
The TSC Endorsement is embedded in the M.Ed. Elementary Education program as one of the eight concentrations offered to students. In addition, graduate students may elect to earn a stand-alone endorsement in TSC by enrolling and successfully completing: ECE 8400 Teacher Development and ECE 8680 Internship in Teacher Support.
Candidates must have three years of teaching experience to be eligible to enroll in the six (6) hours of Teacher Support and Coaching Endorsement courses.
One content course focuses on developing a deep and broad knowledge of research on teacher development, induction and retention including the:
- conditions and contexts that may inhibit or promote teacher knowledge, growth and change
- professional learning needs of teachers across their career lifespan
- productive coaching activities
One internship course provides an authentic residency that focuses on coaching and mentoring teacher candidates and other early-career teachers.
Program Evaluation, Post Masters Certificate
Our Program Evaluation post master’s certificate can provide you with the credentials you need to do consulting work or program evaluation.
This program includes the following:
- program evaluation models
- specialized topics in program evaluation
- issues in program evaluation
This program will help you if you’re in the following settings:
- education
- business
- industry
- government agencies
- nonprofit organizations
This program includes classroom experiences and hands-on practicum experiences to build skills as students progress towards completion of the certificate. The certificate is designed for individuals interested in working in a wide variety of education, training, and development areas, including those found in business, industry, government agencies, the military and nonprofit organizations.