School of Graduate Studies and Research

Dr. Verian Thomas, Interim Dean

The School of Graduate Studies and Research (SGSR) has the principal responsibility of working in collaboration with the various schools and colleges to maintain, develop, coordinate, and monitor the policies and procedures that govern all graduate programs.

Graduate study is available in 12 schools and colleges
Collectively, these entities offer 12 Doctoral degrees and 48
Master’s Degree programs.

Graduate Student Admissions

The Graduate Student Admissions Office is located in the School of Graduate Studies and Research. The admissions process is a coordinated effort between the School of Graduate Studies and the academic colleges and schools. The office provides an environment that is conducive to the students’ admission, enrollment, and transition to graduate school.

Fellowships, Assistantships and Tuition Waivers

The School of Graduate Studies manages allocations for several sources of funding. Financial assistance available to support graduate students through the School of Graduate Studies includes the University assistantships, fellowships and scholarships, and tuition waivers. The Delores Auzenne Fellowship Program and the SUS Summer Orientation Program, which are funded by the State of Florida, are awarded through the SGSR.

Graduate Feeder Scholars Program

The School of Graduate Studies manages the Graduate Feeder Scholars Program (GFSP). The GFSP is an official partnership agreement arranged by FAMU with several participating universities located throughout the United States.

Through the Graduate Feeder Program, FAMU students are afforded the opportunity to receive advanced study in graduate programs. The feeder arrangement was conceptualized and created in response to the national need to increase the number of minorities participating in advanced graduate education. FAMU is the lead university in this consortium and acts as the hub with a committed role of providing a pool of qualified African American and other underrepresented minority students, who are motivated to pursue the master’s or Ph.D. degrees, especially in areas not offered at FAMU. Students, who are interested in the GFSP, are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and at least 30 semester hours of coursework. In addition to the basic requirements, all GFSP applicants must also attend a series developmental and academic enrichment seminars and workshops, offered by SGSR, before they could become a Graduate Feeder Scholar.

In 2004, the School of Graduate Studies and Research led the effort for FAMU to become a member of the National Name Exchange. The Exchange is a consortium of prestigious universities and colleges that collaborate to identify and recruit qualified minority candidates for graduate study, improve student access to information on graduate education, and increase the number of minority students accepted into graduate school. Member institutions include Harvard, Duke, Rutgers, University of Washington, University of California at San Diego and Berkeley, Ohio State, Princeton and Cornell.

Graduate Degree Programs

Details of all graduate programs are listed in this Catalog under each program’s school or college.

College of Agriculture and Food Sciences

Master of Science in Agricultural Sciences (M.S.)

Concentrations

Agricultural Sciences
Agricultural Sciences (non-thesis option)
Agribusiness
Entomology
Plant Science
Soil and Water Sciences

Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology (cooperative-degree awarded by UF) (Ph.D.)

College of Education

Master of Science/Master of Education in Educational Leadership (M.Ed./MS)
Master of Education and Master of Science in Elementary Education (M.Ed./MS)
Master of Education/Master of Science in Counselor Education (MS/M.Ed.)
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.)
Master of Science in Sport Medicine (M.S.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership (Ph.D.)

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (M.S.)
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering (M.S.)
Master of Science/Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering (M.S./MEng,)
Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (M.S.)
Master of Science in Industrial Engineering (M.S.)
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (M.S.)

Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial Engineering (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (Ph.D.)

College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (M.S.)

Concentrations:

Health Outcomes Research
Pharmacoeconomics

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Ph.D.)

Institute of Public Health

Master of Public Health (MPH), On-line
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

College of Science and Technology

Master of Science in Biology (M.S.) Concentrations:

Ecology
Molecular Cellular Biology
Physiology

Master of Science in Biology (Non-thesis Option) (M.S.)

Biological Sciences

Master of Science in Chemistry (M.S.)

Master of Science in Computer Information Sciences (M.S.)

Concentrations

Computer Information Science
Software Engineering Science

Master of Science in Physics (M.S.)

Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (Ph.D.)

College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities

Master of Applied Social Science (MASS) Concentrations

Criminal Justice
Global Security and International Affairs
History
Political Science
Psychology
Public Administration
Sociology

Master of Science in Community Psychology (M.S.)
Master of Social Work (MSW)

School of Allied Health Sciences

Master of Science in Health Care Administration (MS)
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS)

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

School of Architecture and Engineering Technology

Master in Architecture (M.Arch.)
Master of Architecture with a major in Facilities Management (M.Arch.)
Master of Science in Architecture (M.S.)

School of Business and Industry

Master of Business Administration (MBA), On-line
Master of Business Administration (MBA/MS)

School of the Environment

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences (M.S.)

Concentrations

Environmental Policy & Management
Environmental Restoration and Waste/Management
Environmental Biotechnology
Marine & Estuarine Environments
Radiation Protection

Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Sciences (Ph.D.)

Concentrations

Environmental Chemistry
Bio-molecular Science
Environmental Policy and Management
Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecology

School of Nursing

Master of Science (M.S.N.); (On-line)
Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)

Admissions Eligibility Requirements

Admission to graduate study is granted to qualified applicants, who are seeking degrees and to qualified post-baccalaureate students who may wish to upgrade specialty certifications or enhance their knowledge.

Minimum University Admission Requirements

A Graduate Application (electronically signed and submitted by the applicant);
A Residency Classification form (submit with online application);
A $30.00 non-refundable application fee is required of all applicants for each application submitted;
Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education and have earned a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or better in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate work taken while enrolled as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree; OR
Hold a graduate degree in a related field from an accredited institution of higher learning with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better;
One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college or university attended. For FAMU students applying to FAMU graduate programs need not submit transcripts for your FAMU course work. These transcripts will be requested internally.
Submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores or General Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores. These scores must be sent mailed directly to the FAMU Graduate Admissions Office by the appropriate testing agency. Note: All students must present GRE scores prior to being admitted.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL= 550/paper-based; 80 internet-based) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores (6.5) sent directly to FAMU from the Testing Service, if an applicant is from a country where English is not the official language or when an applicant’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, or if an applicant did not earn a degree in a country where English is the only official language or from a university where English is the only official language of instruction.
Three letters of Recommendation; Complete this section of the online application.
Résumé, essay, portfolio or other materials, if required by the program; (These must be submitted as part of the online application.)
*Immunization form that is on FAMU’s website.

*To expedite the processing of materials, download and print the Immunization Form and mail the completed form to the address specified on the form. This form is not used in making an admission decision. However, you will not be allowed to enroll at FAMU without submitting the Immunization Form, which is available in the immunizations section of the Student Health Services section of the University website.

All official application materials, with the exception of test scores and transcripts, should be submitted online. All supporting documents (such as transcripts, test scores) should be mailed to:

The Graduate Admissions Office
515 Orr Drive
Suite 469 Tucker Hall
Florida A&M University
Tallahassee, FL 32307.

These documents must be received by the stated application deadline.

Applicants, who are interested in being considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the priority deadline, and make sure that their applications are complete, including all transcripts and other program application requirements.

No more than 10 percent of the graduate students admitted for an academic year may be admitted as exceptions to the criteria above. Timely application submission is important. Students are urged to apply in the fall of their senior year, since this allows for the evaluation and award processes to begin by January of each academic year. Late application submission diminishes the applicant’s opportunities for admission and financial awards.

For more details on graduate admission, go to the School of Graduate Studies and Research’s website.

Funding Opportunities

Specifics about funding opportunities for graduate students are listed on the School of Graduate Studies and Research’s website and in this Catalog under the individual schools and colleges.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students who receive federal student aid must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards. For more information on the SAP policy, contact the Financial Aid Department.

Graduate Student Grievance Procedure

It is the goal of Graduate Studies and Research to provide students with an expeditious, fair, equitable, and consistent procedure for resolving their grievances. These grievance procedures are meant to guide the student through the process. Students should make every effort to resolve the issues informally before filing a complaint or seeking redress beyond the Academic Unit in which the alleged offense has occurred.

The student shall submit his or her grievance package, in writing, within 30 days or 10 days into the next semester. The grievance packet should be stamped by the graduate coordinator or academic dean of the college to indicate the date and time the grievance was initiated.
The grievance process can start or stop at any level. However, the graduate coordinator should act as the facilitator.
If the professor and graduate coordinator cannot find a satisfactory solution, then the matter will be forwarded to the graduate committee or graduate faculty within the college.
The graduate committee, consisting of graduate faculty, will forward a report indicating its decision to the dean of the college.
If the dean is not able to resolve the matter, the issue is forwarded to the graduate council committee in an effort to resolve the issue.
The graduate council sub-committee should submit a report to the Graduate Studies and Research dean.
The Graduate Studies and Research dean will review all of the documents provided on the issue and make a decision.
If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the Graduate Studies and Research dean, then the student may refer the matter to the provost for a decision.
The provost shall review the student’s grievance and make the final decision.
A written recommendation is required at each step.
The student, professor, the graduate coordinator, the dean of the college and the Graduate Studies and Research dean should be provided with copies of the written recommendation at each step.