Georgia State University, founded in 1913, is the largest school in the state's university system. The school offers 55 programs leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and supports research at more than 15 institutes. In addition to colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Health and Human Services, Georgia State University students attend a College of Business, College of Law and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. Morehouse, an all-male historically black college founded in the 19th century, counts Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and filmmaker Spike Lee among its graduates. Institutes at the college include the Leadership Center, Office for Community Service and Center for International Affairs. Morehouse confers bachelor's degrees in business, humanities and science.
Armstrong Atlantic State University, located in Savannah, offers 100 academic programs in four colleges leading to associate, undergraduate and graduate degrees. The university works in collaboration with Georgia Tech to confer an engineering degree and the department of nursing includes both undergraduate and graduate programs. Armstrong offers spring break, summer and semester-long study abroad programs. The College of Coastal Georgia, located south of Savannah in Brunswick, offers bachelor's degree programs in business, nursing, teacher education, biological sciences and health informatics. Originally a community college, the institution became a four-year school in 2009.
The University of Georgia, the state's oldest institution of higher education, offers bachelor's, masters and doctoral degrees in 16 colleges and schools, including law, veterinary medicine, business and the arts. Named one of the best colleges of 2011 by "U.S. News & World Report," the university is home to the Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology, the first stand-alone school of ecology in the world. Piedmont College, a private institution founded in 1897, offers both liberal arts degrees and career-oriented degrees in areas such as nursing and business. The college maintains campuses in Athens and Demorest, and both have education specialist and education doctoral programs.
Dalton State, founded as a community college located in Whitfield County, offers baccalaureate degrees in 14 disciplines, including early childhood education, criminal justice and information systems. The college first offered four-year degrees in 1998. The transfer degree program allows students meeting general education requirements to begin course work as a junior. Chattahoochee Technical College, with eight campuses, is a two-year technical college offering certification in computer science, health science and personal and public services. Technical studies include automotive courses, welding, air conditioning technology and truck driving. The college offers distance learning and continuing education courses.