Graduate Admissions

The Ph.D. in Criminal Justice and Criminology program is designed to train researchers and teacher-scholars in criminal justice and criminology. The program provides intensive one-on-one mentorship, a flexible curriculum, and core teaching and research skills that enable graduates to excel in university settings as well as research think tanks. Current and former doctoral students are involved in presenting their research at regional and national conferences. Faculty members in the department have involved doctoral students in their research projects, resulting in numerous publications with students. In addition, graduate students help plan and attend research colloquia and participate in student governance.

Crime and criminal justice are at the forefront of national policy and practice. The increasing emphasis on professional preparation in criminal justice careers places additional academic demands on the in-service professional. To meet this need, Georgia State’s Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology offers a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in criminal justice, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy degree in criminal justice and criminology.  

Leveraging Georgia State University’s internationally renowned economics faculty and research centers, the STEM-designated Master of Arts (M.A.) in Economics program at GSU’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies takes a pioneering approach to economics that emphasizes public policy and empirical evaluation. Our broad and customizable curriculum combines the latest theoretical advances with the analytical skills and practical experience you’ll need to tackle the complex problems facing analysts and economists today. As a student in our innovative program, you’ll learn the fundamentals of economic theories as they apply to:

• The environment
• Education
• Economic development
• Healthcare
• Public finance
• Social welfare and other pressing public issues.

The economics master’s degree prepares you for:

• Careers in the private sector and in local, state and federal government.
• Doctoral programs in economics and other disciplines or teaching careers at the secondary level.
• Applying complex analytical skills that utilize micro and macroeconomic theory and mathematical statistics, combining the qualities of advanced coders as well as deep thinkers.
• An economics degree also combines well with training in other disciplines such as finance, real estate, political science, psychology or history.

With internationally renowned faculty and research centers, the Georgia State University doctoral program in economics takes a pioneering approach to economics that emphasizes public policy and empirical evaluation. In the innovative Ph.D. program, you’ll master advanced econometrics and experimental methods to learn how economics and policy work together in preparation for a successful career as a researcher, university instructor or both. Combining the latest economic theory, analytical skills, research methodology and empirical techniques, the rigorous curriculum will equip you to meet today’s complex challenges and educate the next generation of public economics experts. We offer six fields of specialization within economics: environmental, experimental, health, labor, public and urban. Students choose one primary and one secondary field, and many students choose research that spans more than one field. Our program has been given a STEM designation, which recognizes the rigorous instruction all students receive. It also benefits international students who can, upon graduation, apply for a STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) visa extension that allows them to work in the United States for up to 29 months rather than one year (starting with students entering in Fall 2020).

The certificate program in Nonprofit Management and Social Enterprise has two focuses. First, it will cover the skills in management, economic decision-making, marketing, fundraising and financial management that graduates can use (but which they are unlikely to get on the job) in any part of the nonprofit sector: social service provision, education, health, the arts, the environment, international relief or religion. Second, while most nonprofit management certificates have an exclusively practitioner focus, the Andrew Young School program will prepare students interested in pursuing nonprofit studies in graduate programs in public administration, policy analysis or economics. This certificate will serve two main groups of professionals: those in the nonprofit sector who want to acquire new skills or need a credential to advance professionally, and those outside the sector wishing to enter.

Georgia State’s online master’s degree in criminal justice administration blends courses in criminal justice and criminology with managerial principles and practices in public management. The criminal justice system is affected and influenced by social, political, and economic factors. The Georgia State online CJ approach will have you studying these interconnected facets, including:

• How offenders and victims fit within the criminal justice system.
• How society influences and is influenced by crime and criminal justice institutions.
• Evidence-based solutions for crime prevention and restorative justice practices.
• Knowledge of how governments fund the criminal justice system and the financial challenges they face to support services

The criminal justice administration master’s degree prepares you to:

• Lead and manage in criminal justice systems at the local, state and federal levels.
• Think critically to solve problems and make decisions that affect short- and long-term outcomes for the institutions you lead.
• Articulate and apply a set of ethical principles in the criminal justice system that comports with democratic values and respect for human rights.
• Understand and analyze research on crime and criminal justice policy.
• Communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.

Our graduates gain a sophisticated understanding of the ways in which law enforcement, judicial and correctional institutions interact with other segments of government and society to administer high-functioning, forward-thinking and humane justice systems.

The Master of Interdisciplinary Studies program in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) prepares students for a range of careers in government, public service, entrepreneurship and the corporate world. Georgia State’s program helps students become familiar with, and capable of contributing to, ongoing debates about the nature of good political and economic institutions, as well as the policies and practices best suited for creating and sustaining them. Students develop the intellectual skills of the social scientist who seeks to understand how social, political and economic institutions operate and are interrelated, and the moral philosopher who seeks to critically evaluate these institutions and the social world more generally, in relation to how they ought to operate. Historically, philosophy, political science and economics were deeply connected.  The intellectual father of modern economics, Adam Smith, was a philosopher concerned with moral and political philosophy.  PPE, as a contemporary academic field of study, began at Oxford University in 1920 and has spread across the English-speaking world.

The certificate program in Planning and Economic Development provides a credential for students preparing for careers in the public, private or nonprofit sectors that require familiarity with planning and economic development concepts and methods. This certificate is not intended as a substitute for a professional degree in planning, but as an opportunity to supplement another graduate degree.

The Graduate Certificate program in Policy Analytics provides students with state-of-the-art data analytics skills applied specifically to questions and issues in the public and nonprofit sectors. Policy analytics examines large, structured and unstructured data for insights, prediction, and evaluation of individual and organizational behavior, spatial forms, public and nonprofit programs. Students who pursue a certificate in Public Analytics benefit in several ways:

• Enhanced Analytical Skills: Specialized training in techniques and tools for decision-making in the public sector. The ability to effectively collect, interpret, and analyze data to derive valuable insights is highly sought after in today’s data-driven world.
• Competitive Advantage: Demonstration of professional development and commitment to contemporary methodologies. Employers value candidates with confidence in using data and evidence to drive decision-making.
• Career Opportunities: Roles such as data analyst, policy analyst, program evaluator, or strategic planner. Public analytics is a rapidly growing field with a wide range of career opportunities in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, consulting firms, and research institutions.
• Professional Networking: Valuable connections, mentorship opportunities, and access to job openings. Building a strong professional network enhances career prospects and provides ongoing support for personal and professional growth.

The Georgia State Master of Public Administration (MPA) is the degree of choice for individuals with an interest in public affairs and professional management in the public and nonprofit sectors. Whether you’re seeking a first job in government or with a nonprofit organization, or are interested in advancing in an existing career, Georgia State’s MPA program provides the skills and knowledge government and nonprofit agencies seek. Join us as we explore new ideas and perspectives on public and nonprofit administration, policy and governance in the 21st century. Our MPA program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). Read the NASPAA Code of Good Practice. The college is also a member of the Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management. Recent national studies have ranked our overall public affairs curriculum among the top 21 programs nationwide, and among the top 10 for public finance and budgeting, urban policy, nonprofit management and local government management. Our Department of Public Management and Policy provides access to a community of research and teaching scholars with national and international reputations for their expertise and contributions to knowledge and practice across a broad range of administrative processes and policy concerns. For answers to frequently asked questions about the MPP program (and its sibling MPA program), check here.

The College of Law and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies offer a joint Master of Public Administration/Juris Doctor degree. This joint program provides an opportunity to pursue studies in law and public affairs and public management concurrently. Students in the program use credit hours earned in one program to satisfy some or all of the elective course requirements for the other program, earning both degrees one to two terms earlier than would be required to earn each separately.

The Graduate Certificate program in Public Management and Leadership provides basic preparation for students seeking a role as a leader at a government agency or a nonprofit organization. Students who pursue a certificate in Public Management and Leadership benefit in several ways:

• Enhanced Management and Leadership Skills: Specialized training in management and leadership principles specifically tailored for the public sector. The knowledge and skills necessary to lead teams effectively, manage resources, make strategic decisions, and navigate complex organizational challenges.
• Competitive Advantage: Demonstration of professional development and commitment to contemporary methodologies. Employers value candidates with a strong foundation in leadership and management practices.
• Career Advancement: Certification can serve as a catalyst for career advancement within the public sector. Students become better equipped to tackle complex challenges and drive organizational change.
• Understanding of Public Sector Dynamics: Insights into the political, social, and economic contexts in which public organizations operate enabling students to navigate the intricacies of public policy, stakeholder engagement, budgeting, and public service delivery.
• Professional Networking: Valuable connections, mentorship opportunities, and access to job openings. Building a strong professional network enhances career prospects and provides ongoing support for personal and professional growth.
• Effective Public Service Delivery: Crucial skills for ensuring the effective delivery of public services. Students are equipped with the knowledge and tools to improve organizational performance, implement innovative strategies, and enhance public services.

The Georgia State Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) is an interdisciplinary degree program that prepares students for work in the analysis, development and evaluation of public policies. In all levels of government and on a global scale, public needs and limited resources require public policy choices that are economically efficient, socially and technically effective, and politically responsive. Such choices confront policymakers in a broad range of critical issues, including health, education, economic development, public finance, social policy, nonprofit policy and disaster policy. The Andrew Young School is a member of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, the principal professional organization for scholars and practitioners in the field of public policy. Our public policy and public affairs programs were recently ranked #19 among all programs nationwide, and among the top 10 for public finance and budgeting, urban policy, nonprofit management and local government management. Our Department of Public Management and Policy provides access to a community of research and teaching scholars with national and international reputations for their expertise and contributions to knowledge and practice across a broad range of administrative processes and policy concerns in the arena of public service. For answers to frequently asked questions about the MPP program (and its sibling MPA program), check here.

Societal needs—for economic growth, better health care, environmental protection, etc.—and resource limitations challenge policymakers to make difficult public policy choices. The doctoral program in public policy prepares its graduates to conduct original research to help scholars and policymakers understand the trade-offs involved in such choices across a broad range of critical issues. Students can focus on:

• Policy analysis and program evaluation: How can we predict the consequences of our policy choices? What values should drive those choices? How can we determine which government and nonprofit programs work – producing benefits that exceed their costs?
• Public budgeting and finance: How can governments raise the funds necessary to provide public services in as equitable a manner as possible without impeding economic growth? How should and do governments decide which services and programs to fund? How can taxes achieve socially desirable goals?
• Public and nonprofit management: How should functions be divided among the governmental, nonprofit and for-profit sectors? How should managers allocate financial and human resources to meet public needs? How should managers balance equity and efficiency claims?
• Urban and regional planning and development: How can we assess and evaluate the complex and dynamic context and forces that shape the growth of cities, communities and regions? What strategies can be employed to promote equitable and sustainable development? What roles do systems (for example, transportation, housing) play in creating the environments and communities we desire?

The joint doctoral program in public policy combines the strengths of Georgia State’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Public Policy. The Andrew Young School ranked 19th overall among graduate programs in public affairs in a recent U.S. News & World Report ranking, as well as No. 8 in local government management, No. 5 in public finance and budgeting, No. 4 in urban policy, No. 8 in nonprofit management, No. 16 in public management and leadership, and No. 17 in public policy analysis. Our faculty was the 5th most prolific in public administration journals over the past decade. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Georgia Tech’s School of Public Policy No. 4 in information and technology management and No. 11 in environmental policy and management.

Georgia State’s Advanced Standing Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program strives to prepare students for social work leadership roles in the effort to solve, in partnerships with others, the existing and developing challenges that confront communities in the United States and internationally. Community partnerships, based on a generalist practice model, is the sole focus of the M.S.W. program. Students in the Community Partnerships specialization are educated to advance the needs and capacities of the total community by promoting social and economic justice and maximizing human potential. They are educated to commit themselves to addressing the life circumstances, such as poverty, violence, discrimination and disparities in social and economic justice that fall disproportionately on vulnerable groups and challenge the spirit of the entire community. This unique focus provides students with the opportunity to learn about social issues facing urban communities through a social and economic justice framework. Our graduates have become leaders in various service delivery sectors including health care, public child welfare services, non profit management and numerous other contexts. To accomplish the mission of the M.S.W. program, the School of Social Work has set forth these goals: (1) students will be able to think critically and communicate effectively in the application of social work knowledge, skills and values to community partnerships practice, and (2) students will be able to engage as social work leaders to build and strengthen communities.

Georgia State’s Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program strives to prepare students for social work leadership roles in the effort to solve, in partnerships with others, the existing and developing challenges that confront communities in the United States and internationally. Community partnerships, based on a generalist practice model, is the sole focus of the M.S.W. program. Students in the Community Partnerships specialization are educated to advance the needs and capacities of the total community by promoting social and economic justice and maximizing human potential. They are educated to commit themselves to addressing the life circumstances, such as poverty, violence, discrimination and disparities in social and economic justice that fall disproportionately on vulnerable groups and challenge the spirit of the entire community. This unique focus provides students with the opportunity to learn about social issues facing urban communities through a social and economic justice framework. Our graduates have become leaders in various service delivery sectors, including health care, public child welfare services, non profit management and numerous other contexts. Georgia State Master’s Social Work Program Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes

Join Georgia State’s urban studies master’s program for a deep dive into these urban phenomena: inclusive development, transit, economic resilience or environmental sustainability. Offering an interdisciplinary perspective on urban studies, students follow a core trajectory of shared courses and have the freedom to specialize by individually selecting from a large offer of elective courses. Students work with a faculty advisor throughout their studies and have the opportunity to join the Urban Studies student association with like minded peers. Our flexible degree structure enables students to explore the issues and concerns shaping their interest in urban studies – from gentrification, community development, and transport equity to climate change, global pandemics, and the future of the suburbs – through a variety of perspectives. MIS graduates have the ability to conduct rigorous urban research with strong policy relevance, informed by a strong commitment to realizing more equitable and inclusive forms of urban development. Join our mailing list to learn more about upcoming events, including online webinars and our annual Open House.

Looking to further your interest in urban topics? Ready for that next level? The Urban Studies Institute’s PhD in Urban Studies prepares students for academic and research careers at the forefront of urban analysis.Our doctoral students work alongside top faculty in their fields and join future leaders passionate about solving urban community issues. The doctoral curriculum provides a rigorous grounding in urban theory and praxis and methodological training to analyze complex challenges emerging within urban environments and processes. Our program draws from the interdisciplinary expertise of core and affiliate faculty to enable students to build core analytical competencies and translational research skills needed to interpret, evaluate, and communicate across diverse urban domains. Students work with the support of faculty advisors to build a program of study tailored to their individual interests, objectives, and future goals. The PhD in Urban Studies emphasizes the development of fundamental research competence, flexibility in the design of special area of study, and encouragement of joint student/faculty research and teaching.