Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
Distance Learning Program
Students learning from a distance receive the same high-quality education and degrees as those students who complete on-campus programs. No distinction is made on transcripts. Using computers and online classrooms, students and instructors exchange ideas and course work via the Internet. Students ask questions via e-mail, collaborate on group projects using a range of communication tools, and post to online class discussions at any time of the day or night.
Most students currently enrolled in FSU's distance-degree programs maintain full-time careers. They attend to their online courses during non-work hours and without relocating. Students may take proctored exams at an institution in their area.
To provide distance students a comprehensive and easy-to-use online learning environment, FSU has partnered with an educational software corporation to create the leading product of its kind. Students "attend" class through course Web sites that deliver communication tools (including discussion boards, live chat, and e-mail) and course materials that are compatible with all computer platforms. FSU's online environment includes nearly every component of a face-to-face class, and some that are only possible via technology. Distance learning at FSU is accessible from anywhere an Internet connection is available.
Approximately 88 percent of the teaching faculty members hold doctorates or other terminal degrees. FSU has had five Nobel laureates on its faculty. The faculty currently includes five National Academy of Sciences elected members and two American Academy of Arts and Sciences fellows.
Florida State University has developed a team exclusively focused on supporting students in its distance-learning programs. Team members include lead faculty members, who are responsible for assuring course quality, mentors or graduate assistants, and distance-learning support staff. Mentors/graduate assistants are selected by FSU faculty members for their background and knowledge of the particular discipline as well as for their ability to guide and encourage a cohort of students. Mentors and graduate assistants are trained to provide each student with individualized tutorial guidance and attention in every course.
Programs of Study
Bachelor's programs are available in computer science, interdisciplinary social science, nursing, and software engineering. Master's programs are available in adult education/human resource development, business administration, communication disorders, criminology/criminal justice, educational leadership, information studies, instructional systems/distance learning, mathematics education, nursing, risk management/insurance, and social work. Students pursuing these degrees online typically take one or two courses per semester.
Online certificate programs are available in human resource development and in online instructional development.
Applying for Distance Education
All applicants must submit official transcripts from each institution previously attended. Applicants for bachelor's degree programs with 60 or more transferable semester hours must have a 2.5 (out of 4.0) minimum GPA, unless they have earned an Associate in Arts degree from a Florida public institution and completed the University foreign language requirement. Individual departments may have additional requirements.
Master's degree program admission involves gaining acceptance by the department or school in which the applicant expects to study. While there are minimum University admission requirements, the departments can, and frequently do, set admission standards significantly higher than these minimums. Applicants should first determine departmental requirements.
Bachelor's degree programs are open to students who have earned an Associate in Arts degree from a Florida public institution or completed at least 60 semester hours of transferable credit. Master's degree programs are open to students who have earned a bachelor's degree and meet University graduate entrance and specific departmental requirements. Florida State University generally awards credit for classes that are offered at a comparable level and taken at regionally accredited community colleges, colleges, and universities in the U.S., and from fully recognized international institutions. After a student is admitted to the University, the Office of Admissions examines the student's transcripts to determine what credit can be transferred toward a degree from FSU.
Applications may be submitted online and are accepted one year in advance of the start semester. Notification typically takes four to six weeks from the time all necessary credentials are received. An initial orientation is required and available online. Students may register for courses online or by phone.
Costs
Tuition rates differ depending on whether a student is a Florida resident or an out-of-state resident, and an undergraduate or graduate student. Partial tuition waivers are available for online graduate students who reside outside of Florida, reducing their tuition to an amount comparable to the University's affordable in-state tuition fee.
Financial Aid
Distance students may have access to many of the same types of financial aid as residential students. To qualify, students need to be enrolled for at least six hours per semester. Qualifying for financial aid is sometimes a lengthy process, and should be started at least two semesters in advance of the term for which financial aid is expected. FSU's Office of Financial Aid provides assistance in determining eligibility for financial aid. The academic coordinator for each distance-degree program can also answer questions about obtaining financial aid.
For Additional Information
Florida State University
Office for Distributed and Distance Learning
3500-C University Center
Tallahassee, Florida 32306-2550
877-357-8283
E-mail: inquiries@oddl.fsu.edu