Statement of Purpose
Georgia State University promotes the advancement
of knowledge through excellence in teaching, research, and public service.
The university meets the need for a broad range of educational opportunities
in the international atmosphere of the largest population center in Georgia.
This location affords students the opportunity to participate in a thriving
artistic, economic, scientific, and social learning laboratory. The university
serves individual students, other institutions of higher learning, social
and government agencies, and a society at large in a creative climate of
academic freedom and responsibility. Thus, the university provides direction
and leadership by extending the boundaries of knowledge through research,
teaching, and scholarly activity.
Georgia State University endeavors
to develop in each student a respect for the dignity and worth of the individual;
a desire and capacity for critical reasoning; an appreciation and understanding
of scholarship and creativity in the arts, humanities, and sciences; the
ability to communicate; and the skills for continuing to acquire new knowledge.
The university assists individuals of all ages to discover and to realize
their potential to become a learning people rather than just learned people
by offering undergraduate, graduate, and advanced professional programs,
as well as expanded credit and noncredit educational opportunities in the
continuing learning experience. The institution focuses on developing the
requisites for competence, personal fulfillment, and responsible leadership
in business and the professions, in the sciences, in the creative and performing
arts, in government, and in public service.
Accreditation
Georgia State University is accredited by the
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
to award Bachelor's, Master's, Educational Specialist, and Doctoral degrees.
The College of Business Administration is
accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business.
The accounting programs of the college also hold accounting accreditation
granted by the AACSB. The Institute of Health Administration is accredited
by the Accrediting Commission on Education for Health Services Administration.
Graduate Degrees Offered by Georgia State University
College of Arts and Sciences
MASTER OF ART EDUCATION
MASTER OF ARTS
with majors in anthropology, art history,
communication, economics, English, French, geography, German, history,
mathematics, philosphy, political science, psychology, sociology, Spanish,
women's studies
MASTER OF ARTS FOR TEACHERS with a concentration in mathematics
MASTER OF FINE ARTS
with majors in creative writing, studio art
(seven areas of concentration)
MASTER OF HERITAGE PRESERVATION
MASTER OF MUSIC with concentrations in choral conducting, composition,
instrumental conducting, jazz studies, keyboard performance, music education,
music theory, orchestral instrument
performance, piano pedagogy, sacred music, voice performance
MASTER OF SCIENCE with majors in biology, chemistry, computer science,
geology, mathematics, physics, teaching
english as a second language
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in astronomy, biological sciences, chemistry, English,
history, physics, political science,
psychology, sociology
College of Business Administration
MASTER OF ACTUARIAL SCIENCE
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION with majors in accounting, decision sciences,
economics, finance, general business,
information systems, international business, management, marketing,
personnel and employment relations, real estate, risk management and insurance
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION / JURIS DOCTOR
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION / MASTER OF HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
MASTER OF PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANCY
MASTER OF SCIENCE with majors in business economics, computer information
systems, decision sciences, finance, management, marketing, personal
financial planning, personnel and employment relations, risk management
and insurance
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN REAL ESTATE
MASTER OF TAXATION
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in business administration with majors in accountancy,
computer information systems, decision sciences, finance, health
administration (inactive in 1996-98), international business (inactive
in 1996-98), management, marketing, operations management, personnel and
employment relations, real estate, risk management and insurance
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in economics
College of Education
MASTER OF EDUCATION with majors in behavior/learning
disabilities, communication disorders, early childhood education,
education of students with hearing impairments, educational administration
and supervision, English education, health and physical education, mathematics
education, middle childhood education, multiple and severe disabilities,
reading instruction, school counseling, school psychometry, science education,
social studies education, vocational education MASTER OF LIBRARY
MEDIA with a major in library media technology
MASTER OF SCIENCE with majors in community counseling, educational psychology, educational
research, exercise science, human resource development, instructional technology,
recreation, rehabilitation counseling, social foundations of education,
sports administration, sports medicine
SPECIALIST IN EDUCATION with majors in art education, community counseling,
early childhood education, educational administration and supervision,
English education, health and physical education, library media
technology, mathematics education, middle childhood education, music
education, pastoral counseling, reading instruction, rehabilitation counseling,
school counseling, school psychology, science
education, social studies education, special education, vocational
education
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in counseling, counseling psychology, curriculum development
and instructional processes, early childhood education, education
of students with exceptionalities, educational administration and supervision,
educational psychology, higher education, human resource development,
instructional technology, language and literacy education, library media
technology, mathematics education; research, measurement and statistics;
school psychology, science education, social foundations of education,
social studies education, sport science, vocational leadership
College of Health Sciences
MASTER OF SCIENCE with majors in allied health
professions (concentrations in medical technology, nutrition and
dietetics, physical therapy and respiratory therapy) ,criminal justice,
nursing (concentration in adult health nursing, gerontological
nursing, perinatal/women's health CNS/NP,
child health CNS/NP, adult psychiatric/mental health nursing, child and
adolescent psychiatric/mental health nursing, and family nurse practitioner).
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in nursing (community nursing focus, family nursing
focus, and nursing education focus).
College of Law
JURIS DOCTOR
JURIS DOCTOR/MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
JURIS DOCTOR/MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
School of Policy Studies
MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / JURIS DOCTOR
MASTER OF SCIENCE with a major in urban studies (with career tracks in
community planning and development, gerontology, human resources, nonprofit
administration)
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in economics
Major Off-Campus Instruction Sites
North Metro Center
The North Metro Center, an off-campus site operated by Georgia State University, offers a variety of credit and noncredit programs to people living and working in the northern metropolitan area. The center is located at Corporate Campus III, 1140 Hammond Drive, Building J, Atlanta, Georgia, near Perimeter Mall.
Gwinnett Center
The Gwinnett Center, established as a classroom facility in fall 1989, is a cooperative effort among Georgia State University, the University of Georgia, and DeKalb College. The center is located at 1301 Atkinson Road, Lawrenceville, Georgia.
The Academic Common Market
Georgia State University participates in the Academic
Common Market program managed by the Southern Regional Education Board.
By interstate agreement, this structure enables southern states to share
academic programs. Residents of the participating states who qualify for
admission and gain the approval of their state coordinators may enroll
on an in-state tuition basis for programs specified for their states.
GSU programs include the M.A.S. in actuarial
science, the Ph.D. in family/community nursing, the M.S. in geography (cartography),
the M.B.A./M.H.A. and the Ph.D. in health administration, the M.S. in medical
technology, the Ph.D. in nursing education, the M.S. in physical therapy,
the M.S.R.E. in real estate, and the M.Tx. in taxation.
University Non-Discrimination Policies
Georgia State University is an equal educational opportunity institution. Faculty, staff and students are admitted, employed and treated without regard to race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, or disability. Georgia State University complies with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Sections 503/504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act, as well as other applicable federal and state laws. In compliance with these laws and regulations, Georgia State University has established the following specific policies:
(A) Disabilities:
Pursuant to Sections 503/504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Georgia State University provides program accessibility and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Specifically, Georgia State University provides evaluation of individual needs, advisement, and appropriate support for academic programs of identified persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities have the responsibility of contacting the Office of Disability Services for an in-take interview to assess their needs prior to their first quarter of enrollment at Georgia State University. Subsequently, these students have the responsibility of submitting a class schedule each quarter to the Office of Disability Services (Room 153 Sparks Hall), identifying themselves and their needs to each professor no later than the first day of class each quarter, and notifying the Office of Disability Services as soon as possible should any problems arise concerning their academic program. Faculty and staff members with disabilities have the responsibility of contacting the Affirmative Action Office (Room 344, One Park Place South) for an in-take interview to assess their needs.
(B) Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunities:
Georgia State University provides equal employment and educational opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin or disability. All Georgia State University educational and personnel actions will be governed by an affirmative action program developed in compliance with applicable federal and state law and regulations, as well as policies of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
(C) Discriminatory and Sexual Harassment:
In an effort to
foster a community in which there can be a free and open development of
ideas, Georgia State University is committed to maintaining a work and
learning environment free of discriminatory and sexual harassment. Georgia
State University has adopted a Harassment Policy and Procedures, a copy
of which can be obtained from the offices of the Georgia State University
Affirmative Action Director, Ombudsperson and/or Dean of Students. In addition
to the procedures obtained in the Georgia State University Harassment policy,
discriminatory and sexual harassment complaints may also be filed with
the appropriate state and federal agencies.
A complaint covered by the above laws and
regulations may be filed with the Georgia State University Affirmative
Action Office, the Ombudsperson, the Dean of Students and/or the respective
administrative unit and college. Complaints may also be filed with the
appropriate state or federal agencies.
Policy on Disruptive Behavior
The following is
an excerpt from the policy of the Board of Regents regarding disruptive
behavior in any institution of the University System of Georgia:
"...the Board of Regents stipulates
that any student, faculty member, administrator or employee, acting individually
or in concert with others, who clearly obstructs or disrupts, or attempts
to obstruct or disrupt any teaching, research, administrative, disciplinary
or public service activity, or any other activity, authorized to be discharged
or held on any campus of the University System of Georgia is considered
by the Board to have committed an act of gross irresponsibility and shall
be subject to disciplinary procedures, possibly resulting in dismissal
or termination of employment.
"The Board reaffirms its belief that
all segments of the academic community are under a strong obligation and
have a mutual responsibility to protect the campus community from disorderly,
disruptive, or obstructive actions which interfere with academic pursuits
of teaching, learning and other campus activities.
"The Board of Regents understands that
this policy is consistent with resolutions adopted by the American Association
of University Professors in April, 1968, by the Association of American
Colleges in January, 1968, and by the Executive Committee of the Association
for Higher Education in March, 1968, condemning actions taken to disrupt
the operations of institutions of higher education."
University Code of Conduct
Membership in the community of scholars known
as Georgia State University as a student, faculty member, or staff member
is a privilege and carries with it obligations to participate in and contribute
to the educational mission of the institution.
Concurrent with these obligations are rights
and freedoms for each individual as guaranteed by the United States Constitution,
including but not limited to the right to inquire, to learn, to communicate
by speech of action, to assemble peaceably and the right to due process
for grievances. These rights are more specifically provided in the Student
Code of Conduct and Policies. The Student Code of Conduct and Policies,
the Regulations and Laws Regarding Drugs and Alcohol, and the information
required by the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act can be found in
the student handbook, On Campus.
Federal and State Law Disclosure Requirements
Federal and state laws require all colleges and universities receiving federal funds to establish certain programs, policies, and procedures, and to distribute an annual report describing them and providing statistics regarding: graduation rates; drug, alcohol and weapon violations; and certain crimes on campus, which include murder, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft and sex offenses. Georgia State University's annual report and information regarding these programs, policies, procedures and statistics are available upon a written request directed to the Georgia State University Office of Public Information; One Park Place South; Suite 503; Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
Integrity in Research
Georgia State University maintains high ethical standards in research and requires all faculty, staff, and students engaged in research to comply with those standards. Cases of misconduct in research present a serious threat to continued public confidence in the integrity of the research process and the stewardship of federal funds. Misconduct is defined as fabrication, falsification, plagiarism or other practices that seriously deviate from those that are commonly accepted within the scholarly community for proposing, conducting, or reporting research. Georgia State will investigate and resolve promptly and fairly all instances of alleged or apparent misconduct. To obtain a copy of the Integrity in Research Policy, contact the Office of the Vice President for Research.
Intellectual Property
In complying with the policies of the Board of Regents, Georgia State Universtiy has adopted policies concerning the ownership and subsequent rights to intellectual property created by faculty, staff, and students. Intellectual property pertains to any patentable materials, copyrightable materials, trademarks, software and trade secrets, whether or not formal protection is sought. It is the responsibility of the individual to ascertain whether Georgia State University owns the intellectual property. To obtain a copy of the Intellectual Property Policy, contact the Office of the Vice President for Research.