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Graduate Handbook

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  1. Graduate Record Examinations
  2. Transfer Credit
  3. General Course Requirements
  4. Language Requirements
  5. Residence Requirements
  6. Regency of Work
  7. Program of Study
  8. Major and Minor Professors
  9. Supervisory Commitee
  10. Prospectus
  11. Thesis
  12. Comprehensive Examination
  13. Special Master of Arts Requirement
  14. University Academic Regulations and Procedures
  15. Class Attendance
  16. Full-time Student Course Load
The student should consult the Florida State University Bulletin with respect to foreign language requirements, junior college program, and other matters pertaining to graduate studies. To obtain a University Bulletin, contact the Office of the Registrar, FSU.

Graduate Record Examinations and Subject (Advanced) Tests

Certain departments require the area or advanced tests of the Graduate Record Examinations or other standardized achievement tests. These tests should be taken no later than during the first term of residence in graduate study. Consult the chair of the major department for details.

Transfer Credit

Transfer of courses not counted toward a previous degree from another regionally accredited graduate school is limited to six (6) semester hours and transfer of courses not counted toward a previous degree within The Florida State University is limited to twelve (12) semester hours, except when the departmental course requirement exceeds the thirty-two (32) hour University-wide minimum requirement. In the latter case, additional transfer credit may be allowed to the extent of the additional required hours. All transfer credit must: 1) be recommended by the major department, 2) be evaluated as graduate work by the evaluation section of the Office of Admissions of The Florida State University, and 3) have been completed with grades of 3.0 ("B") or better.
Grades earned at another institution cannot be used to improve a grade point average or eliminate a quality point deficiency at The Florida State University.

General Course Requirements

The distribution of hours among 4000, 5000, and 6000 level courses and above is determined by the college or school of the student's major department. Only courses numbered 5000 and above are normally to be taken by graduate students. A graduate student's directive committee or department may, however, permit the student to take specified 4000 level courses in the degree program. Such 4000 level courses may be credited toward a graduate degree.

Language Requirements

There is no University-wide foreign language requirement for the master's degree, except for the master of arts degree. Each department sets its own language requirements.

Residence Requirements

There is no University-wide residence requirement for the Master's degree beyond that implicit in the limitation upon transfer credit, the recency of work requirement, and the full-time student load requirement. Master's candidates are advised that some programs and departments may impose a stricter rule of residency as required by the specific program of study.

Regency of Work

The work for the Master's degree must be completed within seven years from the time the student first registers for graduate credit. Any graduate work transferred from another institution must have commenced not more than seven years prior to completion of the degree for the credits to be applicable to the master's degree.

Program of Study

As early as possible during the first term of graduate work, students should prepare a program of courses with the help of their major professor or supervisory committee. This program must be approved by the major professor and the chair of the major department. A copy of the approved program is to be kept on file in the department.

Major and Minor Professors

Students should ask the chairman of the department, as early as possible, to designate for them a major professor (if one has not already been appointed). This professor will serve as the student's adviser and supervisor.
If nine (9) or more semester hours of work are taken in any department other than the major one, these hours may be considered a minor if so desired by the student and by the major department. If a minor is requested, the chair of the major department should ask the chair of the minor department to designate a minor professor for the student's supervisory committee. Designation of major and minor professors requires the mutual consent of the student, department chair, and professors involved.

Supervisory Committee

A Master's degree supervisory committee must be designated for all thesis students and may be designated for nonthesis students at the option of the department. The supervisory committee consists of at least three members: the major professor, the minor professor (if the student has a minor area), and one or two additional members from the major department. All must hold at least master's directive status. Additional members may be appointed if deemed desirable.

Prospectus

A thesis-type program may require preparation and submission of a prospectus to the student's major professor, supervisory committee, and departmental chair for approval.

Thesis

The student must register for thesis credits each term in which a substantial amount of work is being done on the thesis. A student who has completed the required course work and continues to use campus facilities and/or receive faculty supervision but who has not made a final thesis submission shall include in the required full-time load of twelve (12) semester hours a minimum of two (2) thesis hours per term. Those with underload permission must register for at least two (2) hours of thesis credit per term. The exact number of hours shall be determined by the major professor based on the proportion of faculty/staff time, facilities, and other resources needed to support the student.
The subject of the thesis must be within the major field and must reveal independent investigation and knowledge of the methods of scholarship.
It is the responsibility of the major professor to supervise the preparation of the prospectus and the thesis. Information on the appropriate form for the thesis may be obtained from the major professor and the clearance guidelines which can be obtained from the manuscript and final clearance adviser.
Three final copies of the thesis should be in the hands of the major professor and the examining committee at least 10 days before the date set for the oral examination. Immediately after approval by the oral examining committee, which includes the supervisory committee, the student should submit the three copies to the manuscript and final clearance adviser. A fee is charged for binding.

Comprehensive Examination

A comprehensive or other type examination, either written, oral, or both, at the option of the department, may be required for the Master's degree. Testing requirements and procedures are established by the major department.

Special Master of Arts Requirements

In addition to the requirements listed above, candidates for the Master of Arts degree must meet the following requirements.
  1. Proficiency in a foreign language demonstrated by satisfactory performance on the Graduate School Foreign Language Tests of the Educational Testing Service, or certification by the appropriate language department, or completion of twelve (12) semester hours in a foreign language with an average grade of at least 3.0 ("B"), or four years of a single language in high school.
  2. Six (6) or more semester hours of graduate credit in one or more of the following fields: art; classical language, literature, and civilization; communication (not to include speech correction); English; history; humanities; modern languages and linguistics; music; philosophy; religion; and theater.

University and Academic Regulations and Procedures

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend all of their scheduled University classes. The University reserves the right to deal at any time with individual cases of nonattendance. The effect of absences upon grades is determined by the instructor. Arranging to make up work missed because of legitimate class absence is the responsibility of the student. A student reported for excessive absence in any course may be required by the academic dean to drop the course with the grade of "F."
Students reported absent for a period of two weeks or more may be readmitted only by permission of their academic dean. Upon readmission the dean may require a reduction of the academic load.

Full-Time Student Course Load

Recipients of stipends from the University, whether holders of fellowships or assistantships, must be full-time students.
The University reserves the right to determine full-time status based on course and/or research load. Special students are not required to obtain an underload permit.
Twelve (12) credit hours per semester constitutes a full-time load for graduate students and fellowship holders. A student who wishes to register for fewer than twelve (12) semester hours must have written approval from the academic dean prior to registration.
Nine (9) credit hours is defined as a full-time load for graduate assistantship holders on a quarter-time appointment or larger. Academic deans may grant exceptions to this policy for teaching assistants in those departments which conform to national course load policies in their disciplines. The number of hours which a graduate student may carry without special permission is fifteen (15). A heavier load may be permitted by the academic dean.
Graduate-level courses may be modified downward in credit for an individual registrant by the academic dean.
Included in the calculation of student load are hours of graduate credit other than formal course work, e.g., hours in thesis or dissertation, in directed individual study, in supervised research, and in supervised teaching.
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