2009-2010 FSU Undergraduate Bulletin
President's Message
Florida State University has earned a growing national reputation as a public graduate research university that blends outstanding teaching with research that advances our community, our state, the nation, and the world. We are home to a talented community of learners who are committed to excellence and engaged together in the pursuit of knowledge in the classroom, in the research lab, and through community outreach.
Underlying and supporting the educational experience at Florida State University is the development of new generations of citizen leaders, based on the concepts inscribed in our seal: Vires, Artes, Mores—Strength, Skill, and Character.
Epitomized by recently named Rhodes Scholars Garrett Johnson and Myron Rolle, elite athletes and scholars committed to public service, and Joseph O'Shea, a campus and community leader as well as a top scholar, Florida State's more than 40,000 students are dedicated to academic excellence and providing leadership in our complex world.
Our dedication to excellence encompasses many realms. Florida State University is recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as being engaged in very high research activity, the highest status accorded to a doctoral-granting university. With many of our colleges ranked among the country's finest, we stand firmly in the ranks of the nation's top public universities. Led by a world-renowned faculty that has included six Nobel Laureates and numerous eminent scholars in many areas of the arts and sciences, our academic programs continue to receive major recognition for their quality and overall strength. Ranking among the nation's top 25 public universities are programs in Atmospheric Sciences, Business, Chemistry, Creative Writing, Criminology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Higher Education, Information, Law, Marketing, Meteorology, Oceanography, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration and Policy, Social Work, Sociology, Spanish, Statistics, and Urban and Regional Planning.
Florida State University's arts programs—dance, film, music, and theatre—rank among the finest in the world, offering an arts education comparable to leading conservatories. Our creative writing program is consistently ranked among the nation's best and is home to the most consistently honored and published student body in the U.S.
In the realm of scientific excellence, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, which houses the most powerful magnets in the world, is located on our campus. The prestigious Center for Applied Superconductivity made its home on FSU's campus in 2006. Our powerful supercomputers have contributed to advances in hurricane forecasting, and the United States Navy chose Florida State University to develop the advanced power systems that will drive its next generation of ships.
The continued increase of our external research awards is an achievement that verifies our excellence as an academic institution. To further strengthen this university's reputation, we initiated "Pathways of Excellence," an innovative, multi-year plan aimed toward moving Florida State to a new level of distinction in the academic world.
Our excellence also shines in realms beyond traditional academic settings. Located in countries throughout the world, our international programs are unparalleled. In the area of athletics, our scholar-athletes continue to perform at championship levels on and off the field, and their hard work and dedication add to this university's great reputation. Our students supplement their academic pursuits with community-service time outside of the classroom, and each year they record hundreds of thousands of hours of service. In uncountable ways, this university reaches out to our community, region, state, and nation.
With a dedicated faculty and staff, a commitment to strong graduate and undergraduate programs, and a research agenda that contributes to the nation's economic well-being and quality of life, Florida State University is a leader in higher education. I hope that, as you become a part of our community, you will join us in our continuing pursuit of excellence.