The University
University History
The Florida State University, one of the largest and oldest of the eleven institutions of higher learning in the State University System of Florida, had its beginning as early as 1823 when the Territorial Legislature began to plan a higher education system. In 1825 the Federal Government reserved two townships for the purpose of maintaining two such institutions in the territory, and in 1845 the United States Congress, supplemental to the act admitting Florida as a state in the Union, added two more townships. This led to an 1851 act of the Florida Legislature establishing two seminaries, one to be located east and the other west of the Suwannee River.
By 1854 the city of Tallahassee had established a school for boys called the Florida Institute with the hope that the state could be induced to take it over as one of the seminaries. In 1856 the Legislature of Florida chose to accept the offer of the Institute's land and building and designated Tallahassee as the site of one of the state seminaries because of its railway connections, its "salubrious climate," and its "intelligent, refined, and moral community."
Francis Eppes, who spent his formative years on the estate of his grandfather President Thomas Jefferson at Monticello in Virginia, and who shared his grandfather's views of the importance to a democracy of a liberally educated citizenry, was the Mayor of Tallahassee who made the offer. Eppes served as President of the Seminary's Board of Education for eight years and instilled in the institution the Jeffersonian ideals that characterize it today.
In February 1857, the institution began offering postsecondary instruction to male students as the Seminary West of the Suwannee River. The school first became coeducational the following year when it absorbed the Tallahassee Female Academy, begun in 1843 as the Misses Bates School. Thus the West Florida Seminary, founded in 1851, began operating in 1857, only 12 years after Florida achieved statehood. It was located on the hill where the Westcott Building now stands, which has been the site of an institution of higher education longer than any other site in Florida.
Classes were held at the West Florida Seminary from 1857 until 1863, when the state legislature changed the name to The Florida Military and Collegiate Institute to reflect the addition of a military section which trained cadets. During the Civil War, cadets from the school, ranging in age from 12 to 18, fought in the Battle of Natural Bridge and helped make Tallahassee the only Confederate capital east of the Mississippi not captured during the war. As a result of the brave action of the West Florida cadets in this battle, The Florida State University Army ROTC cadet corps is today one of only three in the nation authorized to display a battle streamer with its flag, a streamer which bears the words "Natural Bridge 1865." After the end of the war in 1865, however, Union troops under General McCook descended upon Tallahassee and occupied the city (including campus buildings), remaining for more than a month.
Following the war, the institution entered a period of growth and development. In 1884 the first diplomas, Licentiates of Instruction, were awarded, and by 1891 the Institute had begun to focus clearly on what we would today call postsecondary education; seven bachelor of arts (BA) degrees were awarded that year. By 1897 the institution had evolved into the first liberal arts college in the state, and in 1901 it became Florida State College, a four-year institution, with the first master's degree offered in 1902. That year the student body numbered 252 men and women, and degrees were available in classical, literary, and scientific studies. In 1903 the first university library was begun. The following quote from the 1903 Florida State College Catalogue adds an interesting footnote to this period:
In 1883 the institution, now long officially known as the West Florida Seminary, was organized by the Board of Education as The Literary College of the University of Florida. Owing to lack of means for the support of this more ambitious project, and also owing to the fact that soon thereafter schools for technical training were established, this association soon dissolved. It remains to be remarked, however, that the legislative act passed in 1885, bestowing upon the institution the title of the University of Florida, has never been repealed. The more pretentious name is not assumed by the college owing to the fact that it does not wish to misrepresent its resources and purposes.
In a 1905 reorganization of Florida's educational system by the legislature, the University of Florida in Gainesville was established and designated a men's school, and the Florida State College became a women's school called the Florida Female College. The male student body moved from Tallahassee to Gainesville, taking with it the fraternity system and the College football team, which had been state champions in 1902, 1903, and 1905. In 1909 the name of the college was changed to Florida State College for Women, an institution which grew to become the third largest women's college in the nation during the 1930s. The College became fully accredited in 1915, and a chapter of the national honor society of Phi Kappa Phi was installed in 1925, the year after the College was placed on the list of standard colleges and universities approved by the Association of American Universities and became a member of the Association of American Colleges. In 1935 the first chapter of Phi Beta Kappa in the state, Alpha Chapter of Florida, was installed at the College, a mark of its status as a true liberal arts college.
The year 1947 saw many changes. Demand by returning World War II veterans had brought men back to the campus in 1946 with the establishment of the Tallahassee Branch of the University of Florida and in 1947 caused the Legislature to return Florida State College for Women to coeducational status and name it The Florida State University. A permanent president's residence was acquired. The student body, numbering 4,056, chose a new alma mater and selected the Seminole as its mascot. The Flying High Circus was born, and football was started again when the first home game since 1905 was played in October. Three years later Campbell Stadium was built. The first Student Union was established and housed in the "O Club" on West Campus, a former Army Air Base which mainly housed male students and provided some classroom space three miles west of the main campus.
The 1950s brought significant development and expansion to the University. To the colleges and schools that had existed since the Florida State College days, Arts and Sciences, Education, Home Economics, and Music, were added Library Science, Social Welfare (later split into Social Work and Criminology), Business, and Nursing. A student in the Department of Chemistry was awarded the University's first doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree in 1952. A new building was completed for the Developmental Research School, which in 1905 had evolved from the High School and the College Academy of earlier days as the Observation and Practice School created to provide on-site opportunities for experience and research to students in education. Tully Gymnasium, Strozier Library, and the Business Building were completed to enhance the education of the ever-increasing student population.
In the 1960s the University acquired the Shaw Poetry Collection, established the Institutes of Molecular Biophysics and Space Biosciences, and constructed nine new buildings, including the Oglesby Union and the Fine Arts Building. During this period, the Panama Canal Branch was opened, and the Program in Medical Sciences was established. The first black student enrolled in 1962, and the first black PhD candidates graduated in 1970. Programs in African-American Studies and Women's Studies were established. Continuing the liberal arts tradition begun in the 1890s, the Liberal Studies Program required of all undergraduates was expanded and strengthened.
In each succeeding decade, The Florida State University has added to its academic organization and now comprises 17 colleges and schools. It has expanded from the original few acres and buildings to 513 buildings on nearly 1,423.2 acres, including the downtown Tallahassee main campus of 463.4 acres; a farm, which for many decades supplied the Florida State College for Women with food; the Seminole Reservation, a recreational facility; the Marine Laboratory on the Gulf Coast; the FAMUFSU College of Engineering facility; the University Computing Center and Division of Research at Innovation Park; and the branch campus in Panama City, Florida. The Florida State University celebrated its 50th year as a university in 1997, with a student population of over 30,000, and recognition as a major graduate research institution with an established international reputation.
The fall 2002 enrollment totaled 36,683 students from all 50 states and 132 countries. The breakdown by class included 7,335 freshmen, 5,601 sophomores, 7,894 juniors, 7,910 seniors, 750 law students, 1,338 special students, and 5,855 graduate students. Of the student body, 44.0% are men, 56.0% women. The faculty totaled 2,043.
University Organization
The Florida State University is one of eleven units of the Division of Colleges and Universities (DCU) of the State Board of Education (SBOE). The State Board of Education, established pursuant to Section 1001.01, Florida Statutes, on January 7, 2003, oversees education governance in the state through the Commissioner of Education, who serves as Secretary of the SBOE. The Florida Board of Governors (FBOG) coordinates the State University System. The SBOE and the FBOG oversee the 13-member Boards of Trustees for each of Florida's public universities through the Chancellor of Colleges and Universities. The Florida State University Board of Trustees sets the University's policies and goals and serves as its legal owner and final authority responsible for efficient and effective use of its resources.
The main campus of the University is located in Tallahassee, the state's capital. The Florida State University also offers degree programs in Panama City, Sarasota, and the Republic of Panama; instructional programs in London, Florence, and Valencia; and research, development, and/or service programs in Costa Rica, Croatia, and Italy.
The chief executive officer of The Florida State University is the President. He is assisted by the Provost (who is also the Vice President for Academic Affairs), the Dean of the Faculties and Deputy Provost, the Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Vice President for Research, the Vice President for University Relations, the Director of University Communications, and the President of the Faculty Senate.
The Division of Academic Affairs is responsible for the operation of the academic program of the University. It includes the Office of the Dean of the Faculties and Deputy Provost, which is responsible for the administration of all faculty personnel matters and academic rules and regulations and facilitates the operation of the Faculty Governance System of the University; the Office of Graduate Studies, which is responsible for the recruitment and advising of graduate students; and the Division of Undergraduate Studies, which is responsible for undergraduate advisement, retention, and special programs. Further support is given by associate vice presidents and directors, who are responsible for such academic matters as continuing education, international programs, computing and information resources, learning systems, libraries, the Office of the University Registrar, the Office of Financial Aid, and the Office of Admissions.
The Division of Finance and Administration maintains the physical plant, administers the personnel program, and receives and disburses nearly all University funds.
The Division of Student Affairs offers and coordinates programs that provide housing, career guidance, health care, recreation, child care, self-governance, and enhancement of academic skills to students. It is also responsible for programs and services for international students, disabled students, and student activities and organizations.
The Division of Research coordinates all research programs and mediates between extramural sponsors and faculty conducting research, development, and training under such sponsorship.
The Division of University Relations coordinates alumni affairs and the solicitation of external funds to support scholarships and loans for students, capital construction, excellence in academic programs, and intercollegiate athletics. University Relations also coordinates programs to improve understanding and support of University academic programs and activities through its units, including governmental relations.
University Communications coordinates efforts to improve the public's understanding of the University's academic programs and activities through internal and external media, both print and electronic. It includes the Public Broadcast Center (public radio, public television and public access channel), Publications and Media Relations.
The Faculty Senate is an elected, representative body of faculty that establishes academic policy regarding admission and graduation of students, curricula, and academic standards, and advises and recommends about all matters affecting the academic program of the University.
College, School and Department Overviews
In the humanities, the University is a nationally recognized center of excellence in graduate training. A number of humanities faculty members have distinguished themselves through service as heads of national academic organizations in philosophy, English, history, and religion.
The University has not only one of the largest graduate-level programs in the study of religion, but it is also one of the most highly regarded. The program exposes students to rigorous seminars led by experts in theology and the philosophy of religion.
Several humanities departments publish their own magazines and sponsor lecture programs, and many faculty members edit scholarly journals. In recent years, a number of these departments have won national acclaim and today are considered among the best in the South.
The Creative Writing Program of the English Department, placed solidly on the literary map of the U.S. with the acclaim of its short short story competition, annually sponsors the "Spring Writer's Festival." The festival includes a series of seminars led by noted authors and editors.
The Department of Anthropology sponsors several archaeological projects in sites throughout eight Southeastern states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The Warm Mineral Springs project site in Sarasota County, the only underwater archaeological research project in the world, received international recognition with the discovery of skeletons and fossilized artifacts over 10,000 years old. The Southeast Archaeological Center (SEAC), part of the U.S. Department of Interior's National Park Service, is headquartered at the University. Chosen because of the University's well-known program in historical archaeology, the center is responsible for over 6,500 archaeological sites in 60 national parks, with interests ranging from Florida shipwrecks to Confederate prisoner-of-war camps.
In response to the ever-expanding web of human and technological channels of communication, the College of Communication, with its research on communication, has distinguished itself as one of the leading programs in the country. The Communication Research Center (CRC), one of the largest communication research centers and laboratory facilities in the nation, is equipped for interpersonal, small group, survey, public opinion, and physiological research and content analysis of print, audiotape, and videotape and film. The Tarrance Archives of Public Opinion Research, located within the CRC, contains over 200,000 interviews. The archives offer the student opportunities for the study of public opinion, politics, demography, campaign strategy, and communication effects. The Communication Sciences Laboratory houses a variety of instrumentation systems for the measurement and analysis of the production, transmission, and reception of the speech-voice signal. Available for student and faculty research are state-of-the-art recording, intensity, and pitch analysis equipment, sound level meters, computer interfaced aero-mechanical detection and measurement apparatus, electroglottograph, computer technology that facilitates the measurement and display of physiological information about speech and voice, and a comprehensive computerized hearing measurement laboratory.
The purpose of the Center for Information Systems Research, a major unit of the Department of Management Information Systems of the College of Business, is to support high-level research into the nature and use of information in organizations and to enhance the management of information resources in all sectors of society. Through employment in the center, which is supported by a variety of organizations and individuals, students have the opportunity to expand their knowledge of specialized technology. Another major component of the department is the Center for Advancement of Procurement, which supports research into the nature of procurement and materials management and assists practicing managers in professional development.
The arts at The Florida State University have been an important and essential part of the University's mission since its early development as a premier liberal arts institution in the early l900s. The schools of Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts and Dance contribute to this mission in several ways. They provide leadership for the cultural development of the state, and they provide state and national service to their professions through research programs, creative activities, symposiums, and various continuing educational services. The arts schools also contribute a wide spectrum of public service and outreach activities by offering extensive performances and exhibits both on campus and throughout the state, and by bringing leading arts professionals to Florida through special festivals and national and international meetings of professional organizations.
The Florida State University Museum of Fine Arts, a division of the School of Visual Arts and Dance, is the major art museum in the area. The Gallery, occupying 16,000 square feet, serves as an exhibition, information, and documentation center for contemporary art and significant developments in art history. The school also administers the Appleton Museum and Collection, located in Ocala, Florida. Works of art bridging many cultures over thousands of years form the core of the school's outreach program in central Florida and provide rich source material for students of art and art history. The Department of Art History has a collection of over 350,000 images and a growing collection of multimedia images, CDs and videos, both of which are overseen by a slide curator and photographer to assist graduate students and faculty.
Some of the finest music research resources are available through the School of Music. The research equipment, laboratories, studios, and recital halls enhance the education of the graduate performers and composers and the performance of the schools numerous and varied organizationsfrom Baroque and Jazz Ensembles to the Marching Chiefs to the University Symphony.
The School of Theatre's public performances reflect the full range of dramatic literature, providing the graduate student the chance to experience live theatrewhether dramatic masterpieces, musicals, or experimental productionsand the choice to participate in its creation.
The arts disciplines at The Florida State University are among the most comprehensive of any university in the nation. They provide extensive and varied academic offerings, both for general University students and for students who wish to pursue professional careers in the arts, whether as creative artists, performers, scholars, or educators.
Training with top-name professionals, of utmost importance in the field of dance, is offered through the Department of Dance, where the physical and aesthetic talents of students are developed to their fullest. Performances are annually showcased through the department's numerous productions.
The University's galleries offer an active internship program and course work for theoretical and practical experience.
The Conservatory of Professional Actor Training provides an intensive program for actors, as does as the Institute for Theatre Training, where professional actors instruct students and demonstrate their own artistry.
Panama City Campus
In 1982 the Florida Legislature established a campus of The Florida State University at Panama City. The campus, with its modern classrooms and offices, has been designed to utilize the natural landscape of the site, creating an aesthetic and effective educational setting. Located 100 miles west of Tallahassee on beautiful North Bay, the Panama City campus provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate study in 14 programs leading to the bachelor's degree, 18 programs leading to the master's degree and one program leading to the specialist's degree. To complement the local community college, the Panama City campus offers no courses at the freshman and sophomore levels. Applicants for admission must complete the first two years of college work elsewhere.
The Panama City campus strives to offer a personalized university experience. Classes are relatively small, thereby permitting an individualized approach to instruction and facilitating interaction between students and faculty. About 80 percent of the courses are taught by faculty who teach at both the Panama City campus and the main campus. This ensures a quality of instruction reflecting the standards and values that are predominant on the main campus.
Colleges and Schools
The academic organization of the University comprises 17 colleges and schools. One of these, the College of Engineering, is a joint program of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and The Florida State University. The colleges and schools offer courses of study in 25 major disciplines. In addition to the associate in arts (AA) certificate, they offer 96 authorized baccalaureate degree programs covering 193 fields, 100 authorized master's degree programs covering 194 fields, 31 authorized advanced master's and specialist degree programs covering 35 fields, two authorized professional degree programs covering eight fields, and 72 authorized doctoral degree programs covering 135 fields. The following outlines the academic divisions:
College of Arts and Sciences
Departments: Aerospace Studies; Anthropology; Biological Science; Chemistry and Biochemistry; Classical Languages, Literature, and Civilization; Computer Science; English; Geological Sciences, History; Mathematics; Meteorology; Military Science; Modern Languages and Linguistics; Oceanography; Philosophy; Physics; Psychology; Religion; Statistics.
Interdisciplinary Programs: American and Florida Studies; Asian Studies; British Studies; Chemical Physics; Classics and Religion; Cognitive Science; Critical Theory; English and Business; Foreign Language and Business; Geophysical Fluid Dynamics; Humanities; Italian Studies; Latin American and Caribbean Studies; Molecular Biophysics; Neuroscience; Program in Chemical Physics; Psychobiology; Neuroscience Research; Russian and East European Studies; Secondary Science and/or Mathematics Teaching; Women's Studies.
College of Business
School: Dedman School of Hospitality
Departments: Accounting; Finance; Management; Management Information Systems; Marketing; Risk Management/Insurance and Real Estate.
Interdisciplinary Programs: Business Administration and Law; Multinational Business.
College of Communication
Departments: Communication; Communication Disorders.
School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
College of Education
Departments: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies; Educational Psychology and Learning Systems; Elementary and Early Childhood Education; Middle and Secondary Education; Special Education; Sport Management, Recreation Management and Physical Education.
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Departments: Chemical Engineering; Civil and Environmental Engineering; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Industrial Engineering; Mechanical Engineering.
College of Human Sciences
Departments: Family and Child Sciences; Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences; Textiles and Consumer Sciences.
Interdivisional Programs: Marriage and Family; Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities.
School of Information Studies
College of Law
Interdisciplinary Programs: Law and Business Administration; Law and Economics; Law and International Affairs; Law and Public Administration; Law and Urban and Regional Planning.
College of Medicine
School of Motion Picture, Television, and Recording Arts
School of Music
Interdisciplinary Program: Music Research.
School of Nursing
College of Social Sciences
School: Reubin O' D. Askew School of Public Administration and Policy.
Departments: Economics; Geography; Political Science; Sociology; Urban and Regional Planning.
Interdisciplinary Programs: African-American Studies; Asian Studies; Center for Demography and Population Health; Health Services Administration and Policy; International Affairs; Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy; Marriage and Family; Devoe L. Moore Center for the Study of Critical Issues in Economic Policy and Government; Russian and East European Studies; Program in Social Science; Urban and Regional Planning and Public Administration.
School of Social Work
School of Theatre
School of Visual Arts and Dance
Departments: Art; Art Education; Art History; Dance; Interior Design.
Interdisciplinary Programs: Arts Administration.
Institutes and Research Centers
The work of the colleges and schools is facilitated by institutes and centers in which faculty and students from throughout the University work as interdisciplinary teams on research and service projects. The centers and institutes are heavily supported by external funds. They serve as actual and potential sites for cooperative projects staffed by faculty and students, and personnel from business and industry, and are significantly involved in supporting state agencies through research, development, and training.
The following are the State Board of Education's approved institutes and research centers:
Professional Development and Public Service
Center for Intensive English Studies
Center for Professional Development and Public Service
Learning Systems
Learning Systems Institute
Science and Public Affairs
Beaches and Shores Resource Center
Center for the Advancement of Human Rights
Center for Biomedical and Toxicological Research and Hazardous Waste Management
Center for Economic Forecasting and Analysis
Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy
Florida Center for Public Management
Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium
Florida Institute of Government
Florida Resources and Environmental Analysis Center
Florida State Climate Center
Institute for International Cooperative Environmental Research
Czech/American Joint Center for Environmental Research
Hungarian-American Joint Center for Environmental Research
Polish/American Joint Center for Environmental Research
Russian/American Joint Center for Environmental Research
Institute of Science and Public Affairs
The Florida Center for Tobacco Education
International Programs
Florida–Costa Rica Linkage Institute (FLORICA)
Florida–France Linkage Institute
College of Arts and Sciences
Antarctic Marine Geology Research Facility
Center for Materials Research and Technology
Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies
Cooperative Institute for Tropical Meteorology
FSU Sensory Research Institute
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute
Institute for Cognitive Sciences
Institute for Fishery Resource Ecology
Institute for the Study of Emotion
Institute of Molecular Biophysics
Institute on Napoleon and the French Revolution
Institute on World War II and the Human Experience
Middle East Studies Center
Statistical Consulting Center
Terrestrial Waters Institute
Winthrop-King Institute for Contemporary French and Francophone Studies
College of Business
Carl DeSantis Center for Executive Management Education
Center for the Advancement of Procurement
Center for Banking and Financial Institutions
Center for Information Systems Research
Center for Insurance Research
Center for Personnel and Human Resource Management
International Center for Hospitality Research and Development
Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship
Marketing Institute
Real Estate Research Center
Small Business Institute
College of Communication
Florida Government Performance Survey Research Center
International Center for the Advancement of Political Communication
L.L. Schendel Speech and Hearing Clinic
College of Education
Center for Educational Research and Policy Studies
Center for the Study of Technology in Counseling and Career Development
Center for the Study of Values in College Student Development
Melvene Draheim Hardee Center for Women in Higher Education
College of Human Sciences
Center for Family Services (also under Institute of Science and Public Affairs)
Florida State University Family Institute
Center for Marriage and Family Therapy
Resource Materials Center
School of Information Studies
Information Use Management and Policy Institute
College of Law
Florida Dispute Resolution Center
College of Medicine
Center for Rural Health Research and Policy
Center of Excellence for Patient Safety
Center on Terrorism and Public Health
School of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts
Institute of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts
School of Music
Center for Music of the Americas
Center for Music Research
College of Social Sciences
Center for Civic and Nonprofit Leadership
Center for Demography and Population Health
Claude Pepper Center
DeVoe L. Moore Center for the Study of Critical Issues in Economic Policy and Government
Florida Public Affairs Center
Gus A. Stavros Center for the Advancement of Free Enterprise and Economic Education
LeRoy Collins Institute
Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy
School of Social Work
Center for Social Work Research and Practice
Institute for Family Violence Studies
Institute for Health and Human Services Research (also under Institute of Science and Public Affairs)
Traumatology Institute
Trinity Institute for the Addictions
Provost's Office
Institute for Academic Leadership
Research, Office of the Vice-President for
FSU Center for Health Equity
Other Instructional Units
Center for Professional Development and Public Service
Director: William H. Lindner
The Center for Professional Development (CPD) provides continuing education and other outreach activities locally, statewide, nationally, and internationally on behalf of The Florida State University. Activities include academic programs, professional programs, technical training and e-media services for lifelong learners. These activities are delivered face to face and via distance technologies. All of the center's programs and activities support its mission to extend the resources of the University to promote lifelong learning.
The center is housed in the Turnbull Building, which is located on the southeast edge of the campus, just six blocks from downtown. The Turnbull Building offers an auditorium, meeting rooms, and a dining room to facilitate meetings, workshops, and symposia for The Florida State University community. This facility provides state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, access to teleconferencing, and an experienced continuing education staff. Continuing education coordinators assist with program development, budgeting, marketing, logistics, technical assistance, and on-site management.
Components of the Center
Academic Programs. In conjunction with the University's academic departments, CPD coordinates degree and certificate programs for non-traditional, part-time studentsadults who cannot set aside job and family responsibilities but desire to further their undergraduate or graduate studies. These programs provide lunchtime, evening, and weekend classes that lead to degree completion at a pace that is comfortable for the part-time student. Programs can be found throughout Florida, from Pensacola to Jacksonville to Miami. A number of programs are delivered via distance technologies. In addition, credit classes which may count toward a degree program are made available in the workplace.
The center administers Returning Student Services to assist non-traditional students. Services range from advising and registration to information about childcare and financial aid. The center sponsors several tuition scholarships for returning candidates. CPD also serves as a test site for the State University System Independent Study by Correspondence Program.
Professional Programs. CPD develops, promotes, and administers a wide range of noncredit programs and certifications via both traditional classroom settings and online. Lifelong learners can remain current in their fields and maintain licensing and Continuing Education Unit (CEU) requirements by accessing CPD's instructor-led and online course offerings. (One CEU is defined as ten [10] contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction. The Office of the University Registrar records and maintains CEUs on a permanent, confidential transcript that can be issued at the request of the participant.) The center provides synchronous and asynchronous online learning opportunities that make it possible for adult learners to study and learn in the comfort of their homes or offices.
The professional programs unit focuses on career skills development, personal enrichment, and health and fitness offerings. Examples of current courses include the following: Certified Financial Planner Online (in conjunction with the College of Business); Continuing Legal Education Online (in partnership with the Florida Bar and the College of Law); Seminole Fitness; Test Preparation; Business Management; and Critical Writing.
Technology Training. CPD's technology training unit offers the latest in industry certified training programs that can be customized to individual learner or employer needs. Technical training course offerings may include Oracle, FSU certified webmaster, Linux, MCSE, and A+ certification. Classes are offered at the Turnbull Center and in Panama City, Florida. CPD also delivers technical training at a client's workplace or site with experienced teachers and technicians.
E-media Services. The e-media services unit of the Center for Professional Development works with clients within and outside the University to develop and disseminate comprehensive and customized educational programs. Their web-based media services include the following: information and database designs; user interfaces for online professional development and credit programs; and online registration, payment, and course evaluation tracking systems.
The Center for Intensive English Studies (CIES). CIES provides intensive instruction in the English language to non-English speakers. Its primary target audience is international scholars who are preparing to pursue degree work in American colleges and universities. CIES also provides English-as-a-second-language services for the spouses of regular students at The Florida State University as well as for some already admitted international students who are experiencing difficulty in mastering the English language. Center for Intensive English Studies, 918 West Park Avenue, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4170. Phone: (850) 644-4797. E-mail: cies@mailer.fsu.edu.
Anyone interested in obtaining further information regarding the Center for Professional Development's services or programs should contact the Center for Professional Development, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1640. The center's website can be accessed at http://learningforlife.fsu.edu. Phone: (850) 644-3801.
The Florida Center for Public Management
Interim Director: James R. Anderson, Jr.
The Florida Center for Public Management (FCPM) was established in 1978 to provide assistance to elected leaders and appointed officials of state and local governments in Florida. Its staff of full-time, experienced management consultants is available to help these officials improve their operations through a variety of services, including management development, organizational improvement, survey research, quality analysis, and the Certified Public Manager Program. As such, FCPM complements the public service and research mission of the University while supporting the academic mission of instruction through the use of undergraduate and graduate students in applied settings for enhanced learning.
To obtain further information about FCPM and its services, write or call: The Florida Center for Public Management, The Florida State University, HMB 102, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2821. (850) 644-6460.
Learning Systems Institute
Director: Laura B. Hassler
Associate Director: Tristan Johnson
The Learning Systems Institute is a multi-disciplinary research and development unit dedicated to improved human performance. For over thirty years the Learning Systems Institute (LSI) has been a recognized world leader in applying instructional systems design (ISD) in school, business, industry, and military settings. Over the thirty-year period, the Learning Systems Institute has brought more than $130 million in externally funded research to The Florida State University, providing a wealth of opportunities for graduate students to gain first-hand experience with cutting-edge research. LSI faculty and students have worked in over two dozen countries around the world, in addition to leading major research and development in the United States.
There are several areas of research that serve as the current focus for LSI:
- K–20 education research and development with an emphasis on reading;
- Needs assessment and planning;
- Improvement of training and learning through distributed learning and other technologies;
- The study of expertise;
- International development through improved learning systems; and
- Change management.
To obtain further information about LSI, contact Learning Systems Institute, 4600 UCC, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2540, (850) 644-2570. The institute's website may be accessed at http://www.lsi.fsu.edu.
Office for Distributed and Distance Learning
Director: Lawrence C. Dennis
Associate Director: Sandra H. Calhoun
Main Office: (850) 644-8004
The Office for Distributed and Distance Learning (ODDL) supports online teaching and learning for the Florida State University community, and assists faculty in their pursuit of instructional excellence. ODDL supports on-campus students in enhancing learning through course websites, as well as distance students in completing courses and degree programs via technology; and aiding faculty in advancing the design, delivery, and assessment of classroom and web-based instruction. See http://online.fsu.edu for detailed information.
Student Support
ODDL provides graduate students:
- Online support for navigating course websites and using the electronic campus
- Online resources for improving academic performance
- Web pages dedicated to online degree programs
If you need support in using the University's electronic campus or a course website, instruction and solutions are available online at http://online.fsu.edu/student or via e-mail at problems@campus.fsu.edu.
Note: if you are enrolled in an online program and need help with general University business, including registration and financial aid, contact the department, office, or unit that serves on-campus students.
All graduate online courses supported by ODDL are developed and administered under the direction of University faculty members to ensure the same standard of quality pertaining to on-campus offerings. Students in online courses and programs earn the same course credits and degrees as those earned in on-campus courses and programs.
Master's programs available online include criminology (major in criminal justice studies); educational leadership; information studies; instructional systems (major in open and distance learning); mathematics education; mechanical engineering; management (a major in risk management/insurance); social work; and business administration.
For more information on online courses and programs, contact an inquiry specialist at (850) 644-0393 or via e-mail at inquiries@oddl.fsu.edu.
Faculty Support
Electronic campus support. Faculty integrating a course website into an on-campus class or teaching an online course may receive comprehensive support from ODDL in developing, delivering, and managing an online environment. The University has developed one of the most advanced and easy-to-use electronic campuses in the country.
Online teaching workshops for faculty:
- Developing and managing course websites
- Teaching via the Web
- Customized workshops for departments
Online teaching services for faculty:
- Planning, designing, and managing course websites and enhancing face-to-face courses with web support
- Creation and conversion of fully online courses
- Ongoing problem solving and support
- Applications development
Online teaching and learning resources:
For more information, contact the following: Mike Barker, 644-8004, mbarker@oddl.fsu.edu; John Braswell, 644-8004, jbraswell@oddl.fsu.edu; or Kyle Stierwalt, 644-8004, kstierwalt@oddl.fsu.edu.
Instructional development services. Faculty can further their planning, teaching, and technology skills through workshops and individual consultation offered by Instructional Development Services (IDS). IDS also assists graduate teaching assistants in improving their academic leadership and teaching skills.
Instructional services programs:
- Faculty Support: Consults with full-time faculty and offers classroom observation to enhance instruction and integrate technology
- Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE): Assists graduate teaching assistants in academic leadership and teaching skills
- Preparing Future Faculty (PFF): Prepares graduate students who anticipate careers in academe through mentoring opportunities with educators and administrators
Instructional services resources:
For more information, contact the following: Walt Wager, 644-8004, wwager@oddl.fsu.edu; Cheryl Stratton, 644-8004, cstratton@oddl.fsu.edu; or Michelle Chandrasekhar, 644-8004, mchandrasekhar@oddl.fsu.edu.
Digital media production. Faculty who are enhancing online teaching and learning through multimedia are supported by the Digital Media Production Group (DMPG), with services ranging from producing online course components to promoting student recruitment and image awareness for distance degree programs.
Digital media services include:
- Website design and webcasting
- Digital audio and video production and streaming
- Graphic design, animation, digital imaging and photography, and design and layout of print media
- Developing interactive CD-ROMs
Digital media resources:
For more information, contact the following: Joanna Southerland, 644-8004, jsoutherland@oddl.fsu.edu; or Dave Simpson, 644-8004, davesimpson@oddl.fsu.edu.
External relations and development. Faculty interested in finding external funding for instructional technologies projects are assisted by the External Relations and Development staff. The staff also seeks strategic partnerships with community colleges and other educational institutions. For more information, contact Carol Hayes, 644-8004, chayes@oddl.fsu.edu.
Assessment services: Faculty and graduate students may receive support for testing, evaluation, and scan reporting needs through Assessment Services (AS). AS also schedules and administers a variety of national, state, and course-related examinations.
Services provided:
- Mark-sense scanning and test scoring and reporting
- Scoring and reporting University and department faculty evaluation instruments (SUSSAI, e-SUSSAI, SIRS)
- Scheduling, administration, and reporting of computer-based, internet-based, and paper-based tests
- Technical support for data collection and reporting for faculty and student research
For more information, contact Bonnie Armstrong, 644-8004, barmstrong@oddl.fsu.edu.
Institute for Cognitive Sciences
Acting Director: Dr. L. J. Kohout
The institute was founded in 1984 for the encouragement of interdisciplinary research, communication, and graduate study in the cognitive sciences. Its members include faculty and graduate students from the fields of computer science, psychology, philosophy, linguistics, education, business, and physics. Research has involved computer modeling of memory and problem solving, artificial and computational intelligence, knowledge-based computer systems, fuzzy logic and soft computing (e.g. genetic algorithms and neural networks), computer diagnosis of novice difficulties in problem solving, similarities and differences between human and lower-animal cognition, cultural aspects of cognition and language, linguistics and cognition, formal and natural languages, philosophy of knowledge and cognition, philosophy of artificial intelligence, study of the brain, robotics, education, and vision. Recently, research into cognitive aspects of the management of technology and of the perception of its affordability/cost has been included. A certificate is offered for graduate study in cognitive sciences.
L. L. Schendel Speech and Hearing Clinic
Director: Dr. Juliann Woods
The clinic has a dual mission: (a) to provide effective community service that improves the communication abilities of clients; and (b) to provide a teaching and clinical research laboratory that seeks to develop exemplary assessment and treatment procedures for use by our students and professionals in speech-language pathology and audiology. Innovative and relevant theory development, research, and services are viewed as unitary; the academic effort, the research effort, and the clinical effort all strive to accomplish one goal: the enhancement of the communicative well being of the clients served.
The Florida State University Center for the Performing Arts
Director of the Conservatory for Graduate
Actor Training: Gilbert N. Lazier
The Florida State University Center for the Performing Arts, located in Sarasota, Florida, is owned and managed by the University to support its graduate acting program. The center also houses the Asolo Theater Company, a professional theatre, and its costume studios. This theatre is affiliated with the University to enrich the educational experiences of the master of fine arts acting students in residence, and to provide theatre experiences of the highest quality for the Sarasota community and the state. The Sarasota Ballet Company also performs in the center. The acting conservatory maintains its own theatre, an intimate 161-seat facility for University productions. The program is reputed to be one of the finest in America.
Libraries
The Florida State University libraries are the intellectual center of the University, providing students, faculty, and staff with virtual and physical resources and services to facilitate learning, teaching, and research. The Florida State University libraries include the Robert Manning Strozier Library (the main library), the Paul A.M. Dirac Science Library, the Mildred and Claude Pepper Library, the Harold Goldstein Library, the Warren D. Allen Music Library, the Law Library, the College of Medicine Medical Library, and the Career Center Library. Library materials and services also are available at The Florida State University's off-campus sites, including the Ringling Museum of Art, the Panama City campus, and the study centers in London, Florence, and the Republic of Panama.
The libraries support the University's educational and research missions through extensive collections and a wide range of services available to the campus community and to distance learners virtually and in person. The libraries' resources include more than 2,500,000 books and periodicals, over 928,000 government documents, more than 9,000 films, videos, and DVDs, and over 6,795,000 microforms. Access to over 250 subscription databases, 54,000 e-books, and more than 14,000 electronic journals covering a wide variety of subjects is available from offices, residence halls, homes, and other remote locations, as well as in the libraries. The online catalog is available on the library's website, and provides access not only to the University's collections, but also to those of the other ten state universities. Worldwide information resources are available readily through the Internet. Access to materials and resources not held in the University's collections is available through interlibrary loan and document delivery.
Members of the library staff assist students, faculty, and staff in making the best use of information resources by providing research guidance and information assistance, offering one-on-one instruction and instructional classes, and developing research guides. Professional research assistance is available via the Internet, by telephone and in the library.
A state-of-the-art media center provides equipment and facilities for listening to or viewing multimedia materials. The libraries provide Internet-accessible computers, printers, and photocopiers for convenient use. Additional computers for research and word-processing are available in a student computer center located in Strozier Library. Adaptive equipment and software for students with disabilities also are available.
The library is a member of the Association for Research Libraries (ARL), the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), the Research Libraries Group (RLG), and the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL).
The Robert Manning Strozier Library, the University's main library, is located strategically in the center of the main campus and occupies seven floors. Its collection includes a wide variety of research materials, primarily in the humanities and social sciences. The library serves as a regional depository for federal and Florida government documents. Its Special Collections Department includes rare and unique materials for research and study. The library's website is located at http://www.fsu.edu/library.
The Paul A. M. Dirac Science Library, located in the heart of the Science Center complex, consolidates the University libraries' scientific and technical books and periodicals in one central location. The library's website is located at http://www.fsu.edu/library/dirac/index.shtml.
The Mildred and Claude Pepper Library contains the personal and professional papers and mementos of one of Florida's best-known political couples. Reconstructions of United States Congressman Pepper's Senate and House offices are in the building. Log on at http://pepper.cpb.fsu.edu/library/default.htm for more information.
The Warren D. Allen Music Library, located in the School of Music, contains a collection of recordings, scores, books and periodicals that support the school's curriculum. The library's website is located at http://otto.cmr.fsu.edu/~library/home.html.
The Harold Goldstein Library, located in the School of Information Studies, contains a collection of professional library science materials and reference materials, as well as juvenile materials and picture books. Visit http://goldstein.lis.fsu.edu for more information.
The Law Library, operated and directed by the College of Law, has a collection containing over 440,000 volumes and volume equivalents, and approximately 5,000 subscriptions. Legal research is complemented by an array of electronic databases, including the LEXIS and WESTLAW legal research databases. Log on at http://www.law.fsu.edu/library for more information.
The College of Medicine Medical Library provides access to a number of electronic medical databases and a growing collection of books and journals. Visit http://www.med.fsu.edu/library for more information.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Library is housed on the Ringling Museum Campus in Sarasota, Florida, the largest museum/university complex in the nation. It contains more than 60,000 books, auction catalogs, and other materials supporting art-related research. Special collections contain circus history items including John Ringling's original collection of more than 600 books. The library's website is at http://www.ringling.org.
Panama City Campus library services are provided to students, faculty, and staff at that location through an arrangement with Gulf Coast Community College (GCCC). Florida State University's books and journals are housed at GCCC Learning Resource Center, and electronic resources access is available onsite at the campus. An onsite librarian assists users who also may contact campus libraries.
Graduate Education
Dean of Graduate Studies and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs: Dianne F. Harrison, 408 Westcott Building
Graduate studies at The Florida State University emphasize advanced degree programs that entail extensive research activities and preparation for careers in science, the arts, the humanities, and the professions and technological fields. The University's diverse curriculum leads to graduate degrees with flexible options that allow students to form the program most suited to their academic and career goals. Talented faculty ensure a steady exchange of ideas, information, and technical skills. Research and teaching assistantships give graduate students the opportunity to work with these leaders in their fields while furthering their education.
The Dean of Graduate Studies has University-wide responsibility for the quality of graduate education. The graduate policy committee, a faculty committee appointed by the Faculty Senate of the University, is responsible for the determination of University-wide policies for the governance of graduate education. Within these policies and standards, deans of the various colleges and schools administer their individual graduate programs.
The Office of Graduate Studies assists graduate students in academic matters, offering advice on University-wide degree requirements, thesis and dissertation format, procedures for changing programs, and availability of assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships.
There are approximately 6605 graduate and law students enrolled at The Florida State University. These students come from approximately 132 foreign countries and all fifty states.
Researchers in many disciplines take advantage of the University's location in Florida's seat of government. More than 100 state and federal agencies provide students with opportunities for internships, research, and part-time jobs that match almost all areas of academic interest. Graduate students in such diverse fields as environmental science, urban and regional planning, social work, business, governmental affairs, population studies, public administration, and law are often funded by federal grants and supported by international organizations and have ready access to state government information.
Graduate Life
Located in the center of Tallahassee, the state capital, The Florida State University is well known for its beauty. Familiarly known in its beginning years as the College of the Pines, it still retains its unique mixture of Southern ease with Florida exotic. Collegian Gothic structures are combined with modern architecture set in a landscape of rolling hills with pines, palms, dogwoods and live oaks draped with Spanish moss. Flowering shrubs provide year-round color. Nearby a national forest, a wildlife refuge, lakes, rivers, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches offer opportunities for numerous outdoor pursuits.
The cultural appeal of the University is evidenced through special programs in the arts, including productions from several university and local theaters, operatic and musical (symphonic to jazz) offerings, and art exhibits. For those who enjoy sports, many of the University's intercollegiate athletic teams regularly rank nationally.
Faculties
It is the official policy of The Florida State University to recruit the most talented faculty from leading centers of learning throughout the world. The University faculty has included five Nobel laureates and ten members of the National Academy of Sciences. Many of its members have received national and international recognition, and the University enjoys national ranking in a number of disciplines. The diversity and quality of the educational backgrounds of the faculty are reflected in the institutions that have granted their graduate degrees. A complete listing appears in the back of this Graduate Bulletin.
Affiliations
The University participates in the Traveling Scholar Program, Academic Common Market, and Cooperative Programs within the State of Florida, Division of College and Universities system. The Florida State University is a member of the University Research Association; the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc.; The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research; The Southeastern Universities Research Association; EDUCOM: The Interuniversity Communications Council; the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science; the State University System's Institute for Oceanography; the University Space Research Association; and CAUSE: The Association for the Management of Information Technology in Higher Education.
Accreditation
The Florida State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097: Telephone number 404-679-4501) to award associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctor's degrees. For departmental/field accreditations, refer to the respective college or schools chapter in this Graduate Bulletin.
Carnegie Foundation Classification
The Carnegie Foundation, in its 1994 report, ranked The Florida State University in the Research Universities I category, its highest category for a graduate-research university. The Florida State University is one of eighty-nine American universities to have earned this designation at that time.
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