Georgia State University, which is commonly referred to as GSU, is a well-known higher learning institution located in downtown Atlanta. It is one of the four universities that makes up the official University System of Georgia.
Georgia State serves over 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students every year. Most of the students are full-time and after graduating stay local, so the university has had a strong economic impact on the city. Georgia State was founded in the 1910’s as the Georgia School of Technology. Over the years, more and more local students from other colleges also attended classes until the school became Georgia State University in 1969. It is now one of the most active and respected universities in the state.
Class sizes are fairly small and students are encouraged to directly interact with faculty. George State officially emphasizes undergraduate degrees over graduate studies. Students can select from around 200 fields of undergraduate study. This includes double majors, honors program and independent study. The university is actually comprised of eight colleges, which includes the Schools of Policy Studies, Public Health and Nursing and Health Professions. It also includes the Colleges of Law, Business, Education and Arts and Sciences. Some of the most popular bachelor’s degrees include nursing, business, accounting, psychology and early childhood education.
Students are encouraged to participate in the many available school clubs and organizations. There are groups based on cultures, academics, social activism, community service, the environment and popular hobbies. The Georgia State Panthers participate in NCAA Division I team events every year. George State has over 30 Greek sororities and fraternities. There are free fitness classes, intramural sports and school-sponsored city trips. The city of Atlanta is a busy metropolitan area with theaters, museums, local organizations and professional baseball, football and basketball teams.
Because of George State’s ideal urban location, there are plenty of jobs and internships available. The most notable alumni is Hollywood actress Julia Roberts.
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Georgia State University Accreditation Details
-Georgia State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges.
-The American Psychological Association accredits the following programs: the Doctoral Internship and the Doctoral Programs in Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology and School Psychology.
Georgia State University Application Requirements
Undergraduate applications are accepted up until March for the following fall semester. Prospective freshman must submit a completed application, official high school transcripts and ACT or SAT exam scores. Although they are not required, personal essays are highly recommended. Prospective students’ high school transcripts must reflect four units of English and math, three of science and social studies and two of a foreign language. The minimum GPA for applicants is 2.9. These application requirements will vary for transfer or international students.
When it comes to graduate students, students must apply through their target College, so they are responsible to directly contact their program for the additional specific requirements.
Georgia State University Tuition and Financial Aid
Every year, in-state students will pay around $23,000 to attend, which includes around $7,000 in tuition, $13,000 in lodging, $1,300 for supplies and $2,200 for fees. Financial aid is available to qualifying students through a combination of state, federal and institutional grants, loans, scholarships and work-study programs. Financial aid does not automatically renew, so students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year. Almost all institutional scholarships that are awarded by the school are based on academic performance. There are a few general scholarships available, but most are merit- or academic-based through the individual colleges. Financial aid applicants should directly contact the department to inquire about scholarship options. Georgia State offers student loan programs, such as Federal Direct Student Loans like PLUS and Stafford loans. The Perkins Loan is offered, but limited to students with dire financial needs. Georgia State’s financial aid office helps students search for alternative loans and financial resources.
Georgia State University’s Psychology and Counseling Degrees
Georgia State University offers a rich variety of psychology and counseling degrees. The undergraduate psychology program is one of the biggest at the university. It comes with an Honors Program, Presidential Assistants Program and active Psi Chi club. The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology covers a broad array of concepts from the life sciences, the social sciences and clinical environments. The Bachelor of Science in Psychology focuses on behavioral and psychological research. Both degrees will include classes in introductions of psychology, evolution, drugs and behavior, family issues and human development. There are also classes on research design, data analysis, laboratory processes and report writing. Advanced courses cover social, personality, cognitive and abnormal psychology.
Undergraduate students can also select an undergraduate psychology specialization in pre-medicine or community psychology. Students who want to attend medical school should select the pre-medicine concentration. The community psychology concentration is a very unique program because it trains students how to improve the general well-being of social groups. This program emphasizes diversity, preventative action and a touch of environmentalism. Most community psychology classes revolve around applied research that is conducted and applied in real-world settings. These students will research local social problems or explore emerging community functioning issues. Many students go on to study complex topics like homelessness, drug use and domestic violence and work in community-based organizations.
All new psychology graduate students will complete basic classes in topics like ethics, statistics, research methods and psychological theories. They must also all pass a general exam, potentially enroll in an internship and complete a master’s thesis project and a dissertation project. Graduate students earn a master’s degree in the following psychology majors: clinical, community, developmental, cognitive sciences and neuropsychology. There are also highly rare and advanced specializations like clinical-community, behavioral neuroscience, clinical-neuropsychology, neuroethics and psycholinguistics. Those who enroll in the popular clinical psychology program will study the science of behavior to promote human advancement and relief of suffering. Clinical psychology integrates concepts and practices from many fields, such as medicine and public health. This program is based on the scientist-practitioner model and is designed to produce competent clinical psychologists who will teach, research and practice.
Georgia State University is the state’s most popular higher learning institute because it offers a vast array of affordable college degrees.
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