Florida State University 2008-2009 General Bulletin Undergraduate Edition
The University
University History
Florida State University, one of the largest and oldest of the eleven institutions of higher learning in the State of Florida, Division of Colleges and Universities, 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 that 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, Florida State University's 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 that 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 (Ph.D.) 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 Ph.D. 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, Florida State University has added to its academic organization and now comprises 16 colleges. It has expanded from the original few acres and buildings to 665 buildings on nearly 1,545.5 acres, including the downtown Tallahassee main campus of 451.6 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 FAMU–FSU College of Engineering facility; the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and Division of Research at Innovation Park; and the branch campus in Panama City, Florida. One hundred fifty-six years after its founding, Florida State University started the 2007-2008 academic year with a student population of over 41,000 and recognition as a major graduate research institution with an established international reputation.
The Fall 2007 enrollment totaled 41,065 students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 128 countries. The breakdown by class included 6,644 freshmen, 6,480 sophomores, 8,630 juniors, 9,754 seniors, 766 law students, 2,239 special students, and 8,529 graduate students. Of the student body, 44.3% are men, 55.7% women. The faculty totaled 2,359.
The Panama City Campus is located on beautiful North Bay, 100 miles west of Tallahassee, near the Gulf of Mexico. 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.
University Organization
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 FBOG oversee the 13-member Boards of Trustees for each of Florida's public universities through the Chancellor of Colleges and Universities. Florida State University's 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. 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 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 administers all faculty personnel matters, including faculty development and welfare, monitors all academic rules and regulations, including those related to academic integrity and grade appeals, 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.
Panama City Campus
In 1982, the Florida Legislature established a campus of Florida State University at Panama City. Located 100 miles west of Tallahassee on beautiful North Bay, the Panama City campus provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate study in 15 programs leading to the bachelor's degree, 20 programs leading to the master's degree and two programs 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
The academic organization of the University comprises 16 colleges. One of these, the College of Engineering, is a joint program of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and Florida State University. The colleges offer courses of study in 26 major disciplines. In addition to the associate in arts (AA) certificate, they offer 94 authorized baccalaureate degree programs covering 194 fields, 102 authorized master's degree programs covering 197 fields, 28 authorized advanced master's and specialist degree programs covering 35 fields, two authorized professional degree programs covering nine fields, and 73 authorized doctoral degree programs covering 138 fields. The following outlines the academic divisions:
College of Arts and Sciences
Departments: Aerospace Studies; Anthropology; Biological Science; Chemistry and Biochemistry; Classics; 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; Computational Science; Critical Theory; English and Business; Foreign Language and Business; Geophysical Fluid Dynamics; History and Philosophy of Science; Humanities; Iberian Studies; 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.
College of Criminology and Criminal Justice
College of Education
Departments: Childhood Education, Reading, and Disability Services; Educational Leadership and Policy Studies; Educational Psychology and Learning Systems; Middle and Secondary Education; Sport Management, Recreation Management and Physical Education.
FAMU–FSU College of Engineering
Departments: Chemical and Biomedical 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.
College of Information
College of Law
Interdisciplinary Programs: Law and Business Administration; Law and Economics; Law and Information Studies; Law and International Affairs; Law and Public Administration; Law and Urban and Regional Planning.
College of Medicine
College of Motion Picture, Television, and Recording Arts
College of Music
Interdisciplinary Program: Music Research.
College 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; Economic Policy and Government; Russian and East European Studies; Program in Social Science; Urban and Regional Planning and Public Administration.
College of Social Work
College of Visual Arts, Theatre and Dance
Departments: Art; Art Education; Art History; Dance; Interior Design; Theatre.
Interdisciplinary Program: Arts Administration.
Institutes and Research Centers
The work of the colleges 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 (Please refer to Academic & Professional Program Services)
Institute of Science and Public Affairs
Beaches and Shores Resource Center
Center for the Advancement of Human Rights
Center for Advancement of Learning and Assessment (CALA)
Center for Biomedical and Toxicological Research and Hazardous Waste Management
Center for Economic Forecasting and Analysis
Center for Information Management and Educational Services
Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy
Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium
Florida Resources and Environmental Analysis Center (FREAC)
Florida State Climate Center
Institute for International Cooperative Environmental Research (IICER)
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 (ISPA)
John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government
The Florida Center for Prevention Research
International Programs
Florida–Costa Rica Linkage Institute (FLORICA)
College of Arts and Sciences
Antarctic Marine Geology Research Facility
Center for Materials Research and Technology (MARTECH)
Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS)
Cooperative Institute for Tropical Meteorology
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute (GFDI)
Institute for Cognitive Sciences
Institute for Fishery Resource Ecology (IFRE)
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
Alternative Transportation
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
College of Communication
Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication
Communication Research Center
FSU Project Management Center
L.L. Schendel Speech and Hearing Clinic
College of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research
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
FAMU–FSU College of Engineering
Center for Intelligent Systems, Control and Robotics (CISCOR)
High Performance Materials Institute
Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center (SESEC)
College of Human Sciences
Center for Marriage and Family Therapy
Center for Retail Merchandising and Product Development
Center on Better Health and Life for Underserved Populations
Florida Inter-University Center for Child, Family and Community Studies
Florida State University Family Institute
College of Information
Information Use Management and Policy Institute
Interdisciplinary Center for Leadership, Technology Integration, and Critical Literacies (I-CELTIC)
College of Medicine
Center for Rural Health Research and Policy
Center of Excellence for Patient Safety
Center on Medicine and Public Health
Center on Terrorism and Public Health
College of Music
Center for Music of the Americas
Center for Music Research
Institute for Infant and Child Medical Music Therapy
College of Social Sciences
Center for Civic and Nonprofit Leadership
Center for Demography and Population Health
Center for the Study of Democratic Performance
Claude Pepper Center
DeVoe L. Moore Center for the Study of Critical Issues in Economic Policy and Government
Florida Center for Public Management
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
College of Social Work
Institute for Family Violence Studies
Institute for Social Work Research
Traumatology Institute
Trinity Institute for the Addictions
College of Visual Arts, Theatre, and Dance
Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography
Provost's Office
Center for Expert Performance Research (CEPR)
Center for International Studies in Educational Research and Development (CISERD)
Center for National Security Training & Research (CNSTAR)
Center for Research in School Reform and Leadership (CRSRL)
Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR)
Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (FCR-STEM)
Institute for Academic Leadership
Interdisciplinary Center for Leadership, Technology Integration, and Critical Literacies (I-CELTIC)
International Center for Learning, Education and Performance Systems (ICLEPS)
Knowledge Communities Research Group (KCRG)
Learning Systems Institute
Research of Innovative Technologies for Learning (RITL)
Office of the Vice President for Research
Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS)
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Florida Center for Interactive Media (FCIM)
Office of Research
Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS)
Other Instructional Units
Reserve Officers Training Corps
The University includes among its offerings both Air Force and an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs; students of Florida State University may apply for admission to the Navy ROTC Program offered through Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Interested male or female freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to enroll and apply for a Navy or Marine Corps scholarship. Naval Science classes are listed in the FAMU General Catalog under "Division of Naval Sciences." The Air Force ROTC program is offered to students at FSU, FAMU, TCC, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University extension campus at TCC. The classes are listed in this General Bulletin under "Aerospace Studies." For additional information, visit our Web site at http://www.fsu.edu/~rotc, call (850) 644-3461, or stop by 212 Harpe-Johnson Hall. The Army ROTC Program is offered to FSU and TCC students. The classes are listed in this General Bulletin under "Military Science." For additional information, visit our Web site at http://www.fsu.edu/~armyrotc/, call (850) 644-8806, or visit in person at 201 Harpe-Johnson Hall.
Naval Science
The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is open to both men and women of Florida State University through the FAMU–FSU Cooperative Program. The NROTC Program at FAMU is administered by the NROTC staff. This program affords the opportunity for selected men and women to receive instruction in naval science courses, which, in conjunction with a baccalaureate degree, will qualify them for a commission in the United States Navy or the United States Marine Corps. Students enrolled in the University who are physically qualified, and who are United States citizens, are eligible to apply for the NROTC program.
The FAMU NROTC Unit offers five programs: 1) the Navy–Marine Corps College Program (non-scholarship); 2) the four-year Navy–Marine Corps Scholarship Program; 3) the two-year NROTC College Program; 4) the two-year Scholarship Program; and 5) the Tweedale Scholarship Program. Navy-Marine Corps College Program students are eligible to compete for available Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) scholarships anytime after one semester of participation in the program. Selection is based on academic achievement and military aptitude. Scholarships include full tuition, lab fees, and a textbook allowance of $375.00 per semester. Additionally, a stipend of $250.00 (freshmen), $300.00 (sophomores), $350.00 (juniors), or $400.00 (seniors) is paid per month to help defray the cost of living expenses. Navy–Marine Corps College Program students, when selected for advanced standing in their junior or senior year, receive a $350.00 and $400.00 per month stipend, respectively.
The Tweedale NROTC Scholarship Program was established to provide NROTC scholarships to outstanding technical major college students with no prior affiliation with the NROTC program. To qualify for a Tweedale Scholarship, students must have completed at least one, but not more than four academic terms of college course work with a cumulative GPA that places the student above the peer mean (like major), or 3.00, whichever is higher. The student's transcript must reflect a grade of "C" or better in all course work attempted. The transcript must also show that the student has completed an academic term of college level math or science and has the ability to complete successfully all of the NROTC academic requirements.
The NROTC Unit is located in the Perry-Paige Building on the FAMU campus. For additional information, visit our Web site at http://www.famu.edu/nrotc.
Written requests for information should be addressed to: Recruiting Officer, NROTC Unit, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, P.O. Box 6508, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6508; or call either (850) 599–8412 or 599–3980; or e-mail nrotcrec1@famu.edu.
FSU—Panama
Rector: Carlos R. Langoni
Florida State University's Office of International Programs administers a permanent campus of approximately 400 full-time students in the Republic of Panama. Offering a full program of courses at the lower-division level and selected majors, FSU-Panama offers the associate and the bachelor's degrees. The campus serves US citizens and residents in Panama, Panamanian citizens, and visiting scholars from throughout the world. Courses are taught by regular and adjunct faculty as well as rotating faculty from the Tallahassee campus; students from the Tallahassee campus also study at FSU-Panama, taking advantage of the resources of Panama and the ease of receiving full academic credit from the University. Internships are arranged for Tallahassee students majoring in fields ranging from biology to international business. A full range of facilities is offered at the FSU-Panama campus, including housing, an athletic complex, a library, and computer classrooms. The campus is located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal and a few miles from the center of Panama City, the nation's capital.
FSU-Panama also offers additional courses and cultural activities of special interest to US students who seek a one-semester term of overseas studies. For further information, please consult the campus' Web site, http://www.fsu.edu/panama, the International Programs office at A5500 University Center, call (850) 644-3272, or visit http://www.international.fsu.edu.
Academic and Professional Program Services
Director: William H. Lindner; Associate Director: Susann Rudasill
In August 2005, two familiar departments, the Office of Distributed & Distance Learning and the Center for Professional Development, joined forces to become Academic & Professional Program Services (APPS). The APPS unit of Florida State University is the continuing education and academic program outreach entity for the campus, the community, and students of all ages everywhere. Housed at the University Center, the experienced faculty and staff of APPS support a variety of learning opportunities as they provide services to colleges, departments, and students on campus and online. APPS can be reached online at http://apps.fsu.edu.
The following APPS units help students of all ages in their quest for lifelong learning:
FSU's Blackboard
Blackboard serves as the learning portal for the FSU community. Serving over 40,000 students, http://campus.fsu.edu receives over 35,000 unique visitors each school day. Blackboard enables integration and educational innovation at FSU by connecting people to–and through–instructional technology.
The Blackboard team works with support systems and resources from multiple units around campus to integrate learning technology with other applications, ensuring a more efficient operation for all users. The APPS developers work with academic and administrative units to extend the functionality and features of Blackboard in order to enhance the teaching and learning experience.
FSU Online
FSU Online provides personalized attention for off-campus learners by supporting online academic degree programs, applications, tuition and financial aid, and student support. Florida State University offers a wide variety of online undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs. Current program areas include Business, Communication Disorders, Computer Science, Criminology, Education, Information Studies, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Management Information Systems, Nursing, and Social Work. FSU Online staff members provide personal, ongoing educational support to distance learners across the nation throughout their entire tenure at the University. From the prospective student's initial inquiry about a program to his or her final semester, the APPS Online staff are on hand to guide, advise, and assist.
Students enrolled in online classes at FSU are just a click away from contacting their instructor, class mentor, and other students to ask questions or provide comments. Communication between instructor and students is a central feature of the FSU Blackboard system for all online courses, and, for technical issues, assistance is always available through the FSU help-desk system.
A large university setting can be daunting, but when it comes to issues of admissions, registration, orientation, and academic advising, APPS provides a centralized resource to help students get the proper information so they can concentrate on coursework. For more information, please visit our Web site at http://online.fsu.edu; for initial and ongoing program inquiries and tracking, e-mail inquiries@campus.fsu.edu, or call (850) 644-8004 or toll free 1-877-FLSTATE.
The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
CTL assists instructors and faculty members by providing effective instructional strategies and technologies. Since its inception, CTL has delivered 20,000 hours of consultation and instruction to faculty and TAs. The unit responds to an average of 400 digital media requests per year and has supported the development of 346 online and hybrid courses.
CTL resources help instructors and faculty apply teaching techniques, instructional technologies, and proven methodologies that engage students and help them learn both online and in the classroom.
Collegiality is an integral part of academic life and a critical component of the learning process for students. CTL supports faculty and instructors in a wide variety of collaborative opportunities that can inform and strengthen teaching techniques and strategies—from mentoring TAs to individualized consultation.
CTL offers funded workshops throughout the year, including teaching enhancement workshops, an online workshop series, custom workshops, and multi-day funded workshops over the summer. For further information, please visit http://learningforlife.fsu.edu/ctl/.
The Center for Assessment and Testing (CAT)
CAT provides measurement, evaluation, and survey services for faculty and instructors. The Center hosts over 30,000 tests each academic year and offers exam scoring and reporting, course evaluations, survey questionnaires, scan form design, national or state standardized tests, computer or Internet-based testing.
CAT can score tests completed on mark-sense format sheets (scan forms), provide a variety of results reports in paper or data transfer, and even provide item analysis for evaluation of the test itself. It also facilitates teaching evaluations for both face-to-face and online courses, and supports research and administrative data collection through the design of scan forms, processing the results, and creation of reports.
The center provides a secure testing environment for national and state standardized testing as well as for online and hybrid FSU courses. It also offers placement tests for the Modern Languages Department and testing for large courses with problem testing venues. Testing is done using Internet-based, computer-based, and paper/pencil based formats. See http://cat.fsu.edu.
The Center for Professional Development (CPD)
CPD promotes lifelong learning and personal productivity enhancement. Last year, the Center for Professional Development provided over 4,700 professional certifications for banking, legal, construction, teaching, and technology professionals. The CPD offers the following services:
Professional Development. CPD offers building code training online, the certificate in financial planning online, continuing legal education online, a financial planning online review course, and writing certificate programs.
Technology Training. CPD offers up-to-date technical training for some of the hottest technical professions on the market, such as webmaster certification, desktop certification, desktop publishing, and MCSA. The campus-based and online courses are instructor-led and offer plenty of hands-on experience.
Academic Credit. CPD provides academic credit courses, including part-time degree and certificate programs for the non-traditional student. Courses are offered on campus and at a distance. Special courses and teacher institutes are held each summer. CPD also coordinates returning student scholarships for students 23 years of age or older.
Personal Enrichment. New life learning experiences are a great source of personal satisfaction to understand the world around us. CPD continues to identify and develop new course offerings to support lifelong learners in their quest for personal enrichment and broader horizons.
For more information on CPD offerings and services, please visit us on the Web at http://cpd.fsu.edu.
The FSU Conference Center
The FSU Conference Center is set for reconstruction. Now that the old building has been demolished, a new world-class conference center is planned. The new conference center will be approximately 47,000 square feet, featuring a gothic brick exterior and three floors to house a large auditorium, several breakout rooms, an executive boardroom, computer labs, food preparation facilities, and administrative offices. Also slated for construction adjacent to the conference center site is a new five-story FSU parking garage.
The new FSU Conference Center will employ the latest technology in its conferencing rooms and computer labs. The center will be capable of hosting anything from small meetings to large regional conferences. The Center will retain its name, honoring FSU Provost Gus Turnbull, who died of cancer in 1991.
The Center's meeting planners are currently housed in the FSU University Center. The APPS professional staff, using auxiliary locations available in the region, can still coordinate meetings, conferences and training. See http://conference.fsu.edu for more information.
APPS Administrative Services
APPS administration works behind the scenes to support the rest of the organization in the following areas:
Registration. APPS provides on- and off-campus registration for internal and external clients.
Financial Management. APPS manages auxiliary and residual accounts for online and continuing education programs as well as FSU-sponsored conferences and institutes.
Information Systems. The APPS MIS team provides desktop and network support for APPS staff and for conference visitors and presenters. It also builds and continues to maintain the University's Institutional Effectiveness Portal.
Human Resources. The APPS HR representatives process all payroll and appointments for the APPS staff as well as for online mentors, adjunct faculty for FSU departments, distance programs, and special events.
General Administrative Support. The APPS administrative team provides direct oversight and guidance for the daily operations of the organization.
The Florida Center for Public Management
Director: Shawn Baldwin
The Florida Center for Public Management (FCPM) was established in 1978 to provide assistance to elected leaders and public managers in 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 executive development seminars, organizational improvement diagnoses, leadership and staff team-building workshops, and various problem-solving techniques. FCPM efforts include the Florida Certified Public Manager Program, a nationally recognized comprehensive training and development program for public sector managers. FCPM is a part of the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy.
To obtain further information about FCPM and its services, write the Florida Center for Public Management, Florida State University, HMB 102, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2821; or call: (850) 644-6460.
Learning Systems Institute
Director: Laura B. Lang Associate Directors: Tristan Johnson, Rabieh Razzouk, Jonathan Michael Spector
The Learning Systems Institute (LSI) is a multi-disciplinary research and development unit dedicated to improved human performance. LSI is a recognized world leader in the improvement of teaching, learning, and performance systems in school, business, industry, and military settings. LSI has generated more than $500 million in externally funded research over its 39-year history, 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:
- Pre-K–20 education research and reform with an emphasis on reading, mathematics, science and leadership;
- Learning communities research;
- Learning and performance support systems research and implementation;
- Multidisciplinary research related to the study of expert performance;
- International development through improved learning systems;
- Reading Research; and
- Education policy studies and research.
To obtain further information about LSI, contact the Learning Systems Institute, 4600 UCC, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2540; or call (850) 644-2570. The institute's Web site may be accessed at http://www.lsi.fsu.edu.
Institute for Cognitive Sciences
Director: Dr. Michael Kaschak
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: Janice McClung, MS; Associate Director: Carla Jackson, PhD
The dual mission of the speech and hearing clinic is to provide effective community service to improve the communication abilities of clients, and to provide a teaching and clinical research laboratory to develop exemplary assessment and treatment procedures for use by Florida State University students in speech language pathology and audiology. Specific services include:
- Comprehensive Speech-Language Assessment and Therapy
- Hearing Assessment and Services Related to Hearing Impairment
- Assistive Communication Lab
- Dialect/Accent Evaluation and Reduction
Services are provided by graduate students under the direct supervision of faculty members. All professional staff members are licensed by the Florida Board of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology and certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association.
Fees vary according to the nature of services. Students, faculty, and staff receive a reduced rate. Further information is available by writing L.L. Schendel Speech and Hearing Clinic, 107 Regional Rehabilitation Center, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1200; calling: (850) 644-2238 (Voice and TDD), or Faxing (850) 644-8994.
Libraries
Florida State University's libraries are the intellectual center of the University, providing students, faculty, and staff with information resources and services that facilitate learning, teaching, and research. Florida State University's libraries include the Robert Manning Strozier Library (the main library), the Paul A.M. Dirac Science Library, the Harold Goldstein Library, the Warren D. Allen Music Library, the College of Law Research Center, and the College of Medicine Maguire Medical Library. Library materials and services also are available at Florida State University's off-campus sites, including the Ringling Museum of Art, the Panama City, FL campus, the Republic of Panama branch campus, and the study centers in London and Florence.
The libraries support the University's educational and research missions through extensive collections and a wide range of services available to the FSU community in person and virtually. The libraries' resources include approximately 3 million books and periodicals; over 800,000 government documents; more than 9,000 films, videos, and DVDs; and over 800,000 microforms. Access to over 300 subscription databases, 274,000 e-books, and more than 29,000 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 Web site and provides access to all the University's collections. Worldwide information resources are available readily through the Internet. Materials and resources from other libraries are available through interlibrary loan and document delivery.
Library services include reference assistance at the help desk, workshops, and one-on-one appointments. Additionally, research assistance is available via the Internet using IM and email.
Librarians with subject expertise help students and faculty with advanced research endeavors. The libraries also provide instruction in a technologically advanced classroom. An undergraduate library advisory board provides a forum for student opinions and concerns.
The libraries are continually developing new programs and frequently partner with other university departments to enhance services to the campus community. During the academic year, Strozier library is open 24 hours a day from Sunday through Friday. A faculty and graduate student research center will open in Strozier in 2008 and an undergraduate commons soon after that. Visit the library Web site for announcements of new programs and services.
Strozier Library provides equipment and facilities for listening to, viewing, and editing multimedia materials. The libraries provide Internet-accessible computers with word-processing software, printers, and photocopiers for convenient use. Additional computers for research and word-processing are available in a student computer lab located in Strozier Library. Adaptive equipment and software for students with disabilities also are available.
The library is a member of the Association of 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 as well as United Nations documents. Its special collections department includes rare and unique materials for research and study. The library's Web site is located at http://www.lib.fsu.edu
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 Web site is located at http://www.lib.fsu.edu/about/fsulibraries/dirac.
The Warren D. Allen Music Library, located in the College of Music, contains a collection of recordings, scores, books, and periodicals that support the school's curriculum. The library's Web site is located at http://music.fsu.edu/library/.
The Harold Goldstein Library, located in the College of Information, contains a collection of professional library science materials and reference materials, as well as juvenile materials and picture books. Visit http://goldstein.ci.fsu.edu for more information.
The Law Library, operated by the College of Law, has a collection containing more than 500,000 volumes and volume equivalents, and approximately 4,000 subscriptions. Legal research is complemented by an array of electronic databases, including the LexisNexis and WESTLAW legal research databases. Visit http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/ for more information.
The College of Medicine Maguire Medical Library provides access to a number of electronic medical databases and a 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 61,000 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 Web site is http://www.ringling.org.
The FSU-Panama City (FSU-PC) Academic Resource Center (ARC) is the on-campus location for access to quality electronic information, research materials, and research help. The ARC is equipped to provide access to the University libraries' electronic resources, databases, library catalogs, and other information. Access to these electronic resources also is available from off campus. The ARC librarian provides research assistance in person, by phone, and by email. ARC services complement existing library services provided by the Gulf Coast Community College (GCCC) Library. Through an arrangement with GCCC, the GCCC Library houses the FSU-PC collection of books and journals. For more information, go to http://www.pc.fsu.edu/arc.
The Republic of Panama Branch Campus Library offers services and a collection of over 45,000 items to students at the FSU branch campus in Panama City, Panama. Students and faculty at this location may borrow materials housed at the Tallahassee campus libraries and may access all of the electronic resources the libraries offer. For more information, go to http://panama.fsu.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=64.
Undergraduate Education
Florida State University provides for undergraduate students a strong liberal arts-based baccalaureate experience. The University is a concentrated resource of classroom-directed learning, research facilities, and intellectual talent that seeks to develop within each student the ability to view problems from many different perspectives and to find creative and humane solutions. Through the Liberal Studies Program, required of all undergraduates, students are introduced to the broad array of disciplines at the University. The freshman and sophomore years enable students to explore the breadth of the curriculum and to find the degree program most appropriate to their interests and abilities. Florida State University strives to teach students to think logically, to analyze clearly, and to communicate with precision and power.
Graduate Education (see Graduate Bulletin for details)
Emphasis at Florida State University is placed upon advanced degree programs entailing extensive research activities and preparation for careers in science, the arts, the humanities, 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 are available to allow graduate students the opportunity to work with these leaders in their fields while furthering their education. The exceptional research facilities available, together with the Robert Manning Strozier Library, its eight branch libraries including the Paul A.M. Dirac Science Center Library, and the Law Library, keep the University on the leading edge of graduate education.
Faculties
It is the official policy of 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 General Bulletin.
Affiliations
The University participates in the Traveling Scholar Program (for graduate students), Academic Common Market, and Cooperative Programs within the State of Florida, Division of Colleges and Universities. 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
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; [404]-679-4501) to award associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctor's degrees. For departmental/field accreditations, refer to the respective college or school's chapter in this General Bulletin.
Carnegie Foundation Classification
In its 1994 report, The Carnegie Foundation ranked Florida State University in the Doctoral/Research Universities–Extensive category, its highest category for a graduate-research university. Florida State University is one of eighty-nine American universities to have earned this designation at that time.