Athletics and Popular Extracurriculars at Georgia State

Any college student will tell you that attending college is about much more than just classes and majors. While academic, the college lifestyle is also very social and provides an opportunity for students to meet peers from diverse backgrounds with different interests.

Many students find that these interactions, and the opportunity to meet fellow students with backgrounds different than their own, are as beneficial as their coursework in gaining a better understanding of the world.

College athletics and student organizations provide some of the best opportunities for social involvement outside of the classroom. For new and returning Georgia State students interested in learning more about GSU sports, social organizations, and clubs on campus, check out our overview below of athletics and popular extracurriculars at Georgia State University.

What sport is Georgia State known for?

Despite being one of the newest athletic programs represented at Georgia State University, football has become GSU’s most popular sports program.

Football is top-rated in the state of Georgia and at many other colleges and universities in the state. After years of planning, GSU Football was launched in 2010 and became a full Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) member in 2014. Georgia State Football earned its first bowl game bid in 2015.

But several other sports are popular among students and student-athletes at GSU.

The men’s athletic programs at Georgia State University are:

  1. Baseball
  2. Basketball
  3. Football
  4. Golf
  5. Soccer
  6. Tennis

Women’s athletic programs at Georgia State University include:

  1. Basketball
  2. Beach Volleyball
  3. Cross Country
  4. Golf
  5. Soccer
  6. Softball
  7. Tennis
  8. Track and Field (Indoor)
  9. Track and Field (Outdoor)
  10. Volleyball

Is Georgia State University a Division I school?

Yes, Georgia State University is a Division I school for athletics through the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

GSU joined the NCAA in 1963-1964 and was the 58th member. All six men’s and ten women’s intercollegiate athletic programs participate in Division I competitions.

Georgia State University is a member of the Sun Belt Conference. GSU Athletics joined this conference on July 1, 2013, after previously belonging to the Colonial Athletic Association.

The schools represented in the Sun Belt Conference include:

  1. Appalachian State University
  2. Arkansas State University
  3. Coastal Carolina University
  4. Georgia Southern University
  5. Georgia State University
  6. James Madison University
  7. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette
  8. University of Louisiana Monroe
  9. Marshall University
  10. Old Dominion University
  11. University of South Alabama
  12. University of Southern Mississippi
  13. Texas State University
  14. Troy University

Georgia State participates in 9 intercollegiate women’s athletic sports managed by the Sun Belt Conference, but men’s programs are limited to the six programs hosted by GSU. Georgia State does not have men’s programs for cross country, indoor track, and field, or outdoor track and field, although those sports are represented at other Sun Belt schools.

GSU’s women’s beach volleyball team is part of the Conference USA league. Georgia State previously had swimming, diving, and men’s wrestling programs but no longer sponsored those sports.

Who is Georgia State’s biggest rival?

Georgia State’s biggest athletic rivals vary by program, but generally, the two schools that GSU competes most fiercely against are Georgia Southern University and the University of South Alabama.

Georgia Southern University, located in Statesboro, Georgia, has had an ongoing men’s basketball and soccer rivalry with Georgia State for decades. The cross-state rivalry intensified when Georgia State added its football program, and the two schools began regular season games against one another starting in 2014. The rivalry is fueled, in part, by the fact that both universities abbreviate their names to GSU.

The rivalry between Georgia State and South Alabama mirrors that of two other universities from their respective states, the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama. Still, it is not as contentious as with Georgia Southern.

How many clubs are there at GSU?

Over 360 active student organizations and clubs are recognized by the Panther Involvement Network (PIN) at Georgia State University’s Atlanta campus.

This list includes greek organizations and those focused on social issues, professional student organizations, cultural groups, volunteer programs, and religious student groups.

The Office of the Dean of Students manages student organizations at Georgia State University.

This Office categorizes its extracurricular programs into seven different categories:

  1. Community service
  2. Health and wellness
  3. Leadership
  4. Social justice
  5. Student activities
  6. Student media
  7. Student organizations

The Office of the Dean of Students also hosts a series of signature events throughout the year to engage various student programs while fostering a sense of community among students.

The signature events program, called POUNCE, encompasses student clubs and organizations focus on the following topics:

  • P – Promote Panther Pride
  • O – Own Your Academic Journey
  • U – Understand Ethics and Integrity
  • N – Nurture Healthy Habits
  • C – Connect College to Career
  • E – Engage Campus, Cultures, and Community

Among student clubs and organizations at Georgia State, some of the most popular are the Greek fraternities, sororities, and Spotlight.

Click here to learn more about the fraternities and sororities on campus at Georgia State from past posts on our page.

Spotlight is the programming board that coordinates student activities across campus, including speaker series, Greek showcases, and an annual MovieFest in the on-campus theater managed by Spotlight, the Cinefest Film Theater.

Sports are also popular with students, especially the football and basketball programs, as are student groups focused on career goals and professional organizations. Many students join these as part of their academic program to find opportunities for internships and jobs after graduation through GSU’s alumni network.

Start your year off right at Georgia State

Regardless of your status as a student-athlete or the organizations you find yourself in during your time at Georgia State University, there’s a place for everyone at The Mix.

The Mix is a student housing highrise near Georgia State University that offers fully furnished one, two, three, and four-bedroom apartments. The Mix provides GSU students with a resort-style pool, a 24-hour fitness center, study rooms, a recording studio, a rooftop lounge, and more.

For information on availability, roommate matching, and current specials for Fall 2023 housing, contact the team at The Mix today at (888) 458-5772!