Department of Religion Graduate Handbook

Stephanie Gunter

Business Manager
sgunter3@fsu.edu
M01 Dodd Hall
850-644-1020

Chris O’Neal

Academic Program Specialist
0205 Dodd Hall
850-644-4259
coneal@fsu.edu

Shannon Tucker

Senior Academic Support Specialist
427A Diffenbaugh Hall
srtucker@fsu.edu
850-644-9121

Dr. Michael McVicar

Director of Graduate Studies
208 Dodd Hall
mmcvicar@fsu.edu

Dr. Martin Kavka

Chair
115 Dodd Hall
mkavka@fsu.edu
850-559-4412

Departmental Address

M03 Dodd Hall
641 University Way
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1520
Campus Mail Code: 1520
Tel: (850) 644-1020

The Graduate Program of the FSU Department of Religion has four tracks of study, American Religious History (ARH), History and Ethnography of Religion (HER), Religion, Ethics, and Philosophy (REP) and Religions of Western Antiquity (RWA). Each track comprises its own program of study. Satisfying the degree requirements of one of these tracks constitutes getting a degree in Religion from the Department of Religion. Students admitted to one of the four tracks will be advised by faculty in that area. They will also take courses and fulfill some of their degree requirements outside that area. It is a general policy of the department to admit only full-time students to the Graduate Program in Religion. Each track has specific degree requirements; information on these requirements follows below.

The credit hour requirements vary among the tracks of study in the religion department.

American Religious History (M.A.)

Coursework

Hour Requirements: 30 hours, of which 6 hours can be thesis credit (36 hours)

Students pursuing the M.A. degree are required to take 24 hours (6 courses) of graded coursework and 6 thesis hours for a total of 36 credit hours. Each student will be assigned an advisor upon entering the program. The program of coursework, up to nine hours of which may be taken in another religion track, will be developed with the advisor.

The 24 hours of graded coursework should be distributed as follows:

• Required Courses:
  • RLG 5035: Introduction to the Study of Religion (3 hours)
  • RLG 5030: Religion in the Classroom (3 hours)
• ARH Seminars: At least 9 hours of graduate seminar courses in American religious history; one course (3 hours) must haven either a pre-1850 chronological concentration, or a post-1850 chronological concentration
• Non-ARH Seminars: Up to 9 hours in another religion track or a related area

Languages

Reading knowledge of one language of research is required.

Thesis

Each student will write a thesis. Normally the student will choose a thesis topic and a provisional thesis committee by the end of the first year. Before the end of the third semester the student is expected to submit and defend a prospectus. The prospectus should include a thesis statement, a description of the main sections of the thesis text and argument, and a working bibliography. At times deemed appropriate by the major advisor, students will orally defend both the prospectus and the written thesis.

History and Ethnography of Religions (M.A.)

Coursework

Hour Requirements: 33 hours, of which 6 hours can be thesis credit (36 hours)

In consultation with HER faculty, master's students develop a program of course work allowing both breadth and depth in the historical and anthropological study of religion, specializing in one of three individual areas of specialization:

• Religions of Africa & the Caribbean (African Indigenous Religions; African Initiated Churches; Afro-Caribbean religions; Christianity, Islam, and Judaism; New religious movements)
• Religions of Asia (Buddhism; Hinduism; Shinto; Religious traditions of India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam)
• Religions of Western Europe & the Mediterranean (medieval or early modern Christianity and Judaism; Islam)

Students pursuing the M.A. degree in one of these areas of specialization are required to take at least 33 credit hours (10 courses) of graded course work distributed as follows:

• RLG 5035 (Introduction to the Study of Religion; 3 credit hours)
• Six courses (18 credit hours) within the primary area of specialization (African and/or Afro-Caribbean religions; Buddhism; Hinduism; Islam; medieval or early modern Christianity; Shinto; Religious traditions of India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam)
• Two courses (6 credit hours), which may be inside or outside the HER concentration
• Thesis (6 credit hours)
• The above requirements may be partially satisfied by up to two courses (6 credit hours) taken in a department other than Religion, with prior approval.
• Students are also required to take the pedagogy seminar, RLG 5030 (Religion in the Classroom).

Languages

Students must meet the following minimum language requirement:

• Completion of a third-semester course of one language relevant to the student's area of research.
• Completion of a grade of "pass" on a reading knowledge exam in another language relevant to the student's area of research is encouraged but not required.

Thesis

Students must write a Master's thesis (6 credit hours) in the primary area of specialization, adhering to the following timetable:

• A provisional thesis topic and committee will be chosen by the end of the first year. The faculty thesis committee consists of three members of which two are normally within the HER concentration. The third may be from inside or outside the department. Optionally, there may be a fourth member.
• A formal written thesis proposal with bibliography must be approved by the student's advisor during the third or fourth semester, before October 15 (or March 15).
• The thesis will be submitted to the committee in the fifth or sixth semester, a minimum of two weeks before the oral defense.
• The oral defense will be scheduled in early April for spring completion (in early November for fall completion) in order to meet University deadlines for final submission of the thesis.

University guidelines regarding the thesis can be found in the “Thesis, Dissertation and Graduation” section of this handbook.

Religion, Ethics, and Philosophy (M.A.)

Coursework

Hour Requirements: 33 hours, of which 6 hours can be thesis credit (36 hours)

In consultation with concentration faculty, students will develop a program of thirty credit hours over and above RLG 5035 (Introduction to the Study of Religion). Students must take classes from at least three different REP faculty and no classes taken on an S/U basis can be counted towards REP course requirements. All students are also required to take the pedagogy seminar, RLG 5030 (Religion in the Classroom).

Languages

Reading knowledge of one language of research is required. Classes taken to fulfill this requirement are not counted toward the credit hour requirement for the M.A. degree.

Thesis

Students may petition REP faculty to write an MA thesis under the supervision of an REP faculty member. If this petition is approved, students will take eight classes Religion Department Graduate Student Handbook/8in addition to RLG 5035, leading to a thesis-based MA degree. University guidelines regarding the thesis can be found in the “Thesis, Dissertation and Graduation” section of this handbook.

Religions of Western Antiquity (M.A.)

Coursework

Hour Requirements: 36 hours

Students must take (in addition to RLG 5035) at least 24 credit hours in the area of Religions of Western Antiquity (including ancient languages), and 6 hours of electives.

Of these 30 hours (all of which must be taken for a letter grade), no more than 9 hours may be taken outside the Religion Department. Coursework in the area of Western Antiquity may be done in other departments such as Religion and Art History. All RWA MA students must take the proseminars in Hebrew Bible and New Testament offered in alternate spring semesters.

Up to 9 hours of introductory ancient language work (i.e. courses focusing on grammar) may count toward the required M.A. credit hours. Language courses focusing primarily on the translation and interpretation of texts (such as Intermediate Hebrew and advanced courses in Greek and Latin) can be counted as part of the required RWA coursework, but at least 15 hours of the 36 total required hours, must be in courses that do not have a significant translation component.

All students are also required to take the pedagogy seminar, RLG 5030 (Religion in the Classroom).

All coursework needs to be approved by the RWA Faculty (see below).

Language Requirements

Hebrew and Greek

Students must complete a third-semester course of Classical Hebrew or Classical Greek and a second semester course of the other.

Other Languages

In addition to the above, students must either: (1) pass the language exam or take the equivalent of a third-semester university course in French or German; (2) take one semester of another ancient language (such as Latin, Aramaic, Syriac, or Coptic); or (3) complete a third–semester course in both Classical Hebrew and Classical Greek.

Advising

Upon entering the program, each student will be assigned an advisor from the RWA faculty. At the beginning of each semester, students will discuss possible courses with their advisor and will then submit a list of proposed courses to the RWA faculty for approval. At the end of every spring semester, each student will meet with the RWA faculty as a group to discuss individual plans and progress (see “Annual Evaluations of Graduate Students” below). Although students will have one advisor for administrative purposes, they are encouraged to discuss their interests and plans with all members of the RWA faculty.

American Religious History (Ph.D.)

Coursework

Hour Requirements: At least 30 hours beyond the MA level (27 hours with MA thesis in Religion) and at least 24 hours of dissertation credit.

Students pursuing the Ph.D. degree are required to take 30 hours (10 courses) of graded coursework beyond the Master’s level and 24 dissertation hours for a total of 54 credit hours. As students focus their interests, they might be required to engage in further study beyond the 30 hours if their specialties require it. The completion of a Master’s Thesis in FSU’s American Religious History track qualifies a student for a 3-hour reduction in the Ph.D. coursework requirement.

The 30 hours of graded coursework should be distributed as follows:

• Required Courses:
  • RLG 5035: Introduction to the Study of Religion (3 hours)
  • RLG 5030: Religion in the Classroom (3 hours)
  • RLG 6498: Historiography of North American Religions (3 hours)
• Seminars: At least 9 hours of graduate seminar courses in American religious history; one course (3 hours) must have a pre-1850 chronological concentration, and a second course (3 hours) must have a post-1850 chronological concentration
• Secondary Area: 6 hours of additional courses in religion or a related area
• Exam preparation: 6 hours of reading preparation for comprehensive exams

Languages

Prior to sitting for the doctoral exams, a student must demonstrate reading competency in two research languages beyond English, ordinarily French and German. A student may substitute Spanish for one of those languages in cases where projected research requires it. Likewise, depending on the focus of the dissertation, a student may be required to acquire competency in additional languages, such as Creole and Native American languages, Latin and Greek, or Asian languages.

Exams

Comprehensive exams take place at the completion of coursework for the Ph.D. and prior to writing a dissertation prospectus. Students write essays in response to questions in four areas and take an oral exam based on their essays. At least six months prior to sitting for exams, students must establish their comprehensive exam committee. The committee normally will consist of an ARH faculty advisor; two other ARH faculty members; and a fourth member from the department of religion or another FSU department to advise (as necessary) the secondary area. Students construct reading lists for each of their exams in consultation with their advisor and their three-member exam committee. Exam periods are at the end of fall semester and at the end of spring semester. In exceptional circumstances, students may petition for alternative exam formats contingent upon unanimous approval of their committee and the approval of the majority of the ARH faculty. The four exam areas are:

• American Religious History: This exam focuses primarily on the historiography of American religion. The exam covers the history of comprehensive scholarly narratives about American religious history as well as historical analyses of major topics and trends.
• Theory and Methods in American Religious History: This exam involves explanation and analysis of several different theories and methods useful in historical studies of American religion. Topics discussed in this exam might include, for example, ethnography, gender theory, spatial analysis, and one more or more types of textual, sociological, or psychological analysis. This exam will also test critical use of historical sources.
• Secondary Area: Ph.D. candidates are expected to show expertise of an area of study in religion outside American religious history. This exam tests that mastery and is designed to help qualify students to teach at least one course in an area outside their specialization in American religious history.
• Dissertation Area: This exam focuses on the subfield within American religious history in which the student will write a dissertation.

Note: Each track in the department maintains its own standards regarding the use of generative AI and LLM tools in the preparation for and completion of comprehensive exams. Students should consult with their examiners and work closely with their committees to ensure they understand the policies of their track and are prepared to meet the expectations of their evaluating committees.

Prospectus

Upon satisfactory performance in the doctoral exams, a student will prepare, in consultation with an advisor, a dissertation prospectus. The prospectus must be delivered to the Graduate Studies Committee in the semester immediately following the doctoral examinations. The prospectus should include a thesis statement, an explanation of how the thesis will be developed and argued from one chapter to the next, and a discussion of the originality of the dissertation thesis with respect to existing scholarly literature. The prospectus should also include a working bibliography. The Committee may require that a candidate revise and resubmit the prospectus. Acceptance of the prospectus signifies the advancement of the student to "Ph.D. candidate" status.

Dissertation and Defense

The dissertation is to be written under the guidance of the student's doctoral advisor. A committee of at least four faculty members, including three from the Religion Department and one from another department, will read the dissertation and set a time for the oral defense. The student will formally defend the dissertation before the committee and peers. University guidelines regarding the dissertation and defense can be found in the “Thesis, Dissertation and Graduation” section of this handbook.

Continuation of Funding

Departmental funding for a doctoral student will expire 24 months after the completion of the doctoral exams.

History and Ethnography of Religions (Ph.D.)

Coursework

Hour Requirements: at least 24 hours beyond the M.A. in Religion or relevant discipline and at least 24 hours of dissertation credit.

In consultation with HER faculty, doctoral students will develop a program of course work and advanced research allowing both breadth and depth in the historical and anthropological study of religion, specializing in one of three individual areas of specialization:

• Religions of Africa & the Caribbean (African Indigenous Religions; African Initiated Churches; Afro-Caribbean religions; Christianity, Islam, and Judaism; New religious movements)
• Religions of Asia (Buddhism; Hinduism; Shinto; Religious traditions of India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam)
• Religions of Western Europe & the Mediterranean (medieval or early modern Christianity and Judaism; Islam)

Students pursuing the Ph.D. degree in one of these areas of specialization are required to take 24 credit hours (8 courses) of graded course work beyond the M.A. level (M.A. level is the equivalent of 33 credit hours of graduate course work) and 24 dissertation hours for a total of at least 48 credit hours. The 24 credit hours of graded course work should be distributed as follows:

• Primary area of specialization: Four courses (12 credit hours)
• Secondary area of specialization: Two courses (6 credit hours), which may be inside or outside the HER concentration
• Theory and method: Two courses (6 credit hours), which may be taken in another department, with prior approval. One must be RLG 5035 (Introduction to the Study of Religion)
• Dissertation research (24 credit hours)

For all students RLG 5030 (Religion in the Classroom) is required.

Languages

Doctoral candidates must meet the following minimum language requirements. Languages chosen must be relevant to the field of specialization and approved by the student's faculty committee.

• First research language, up through 4th year level or equivalent
• Second research language, if required for the area of specialization
• Reading knowledge of French, German, Italian, or Spanish, demonstrated by passing the reading knowledge exam (Another language may be substituted with approval).

The languages necessary for advanced research in each field of specialization include the following:

• African & Caribbean Religions: To be determined in consultation with advisor*
• Buddhism: Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese
• Chinese Religions: Chinese, Japanese
• Christianity (medieval or early modern): Latin
• Hinduism: Sanskrit, Hindi
• Islam: Arabic
• Tibetan Religions: Tibetan, Chinese and/or Sanskrit

*Students specializing in Religions of Africa and the Caribbean will determine relevant languages for their research in close consultation with faculty. Language requirements for Africa will likely include a historically non-indigenous African language (like Afrikaans, Arabic, French, Portuguese, or Spanish) and an indigenous African language, and, for the Caribbean, a creole or Amerindian language and a European colonial or South Asian language. Students will want to learn where such languages are taught in the United States and Africa and whether or not FLAS grants would fund such study.

Exams

By the end of the semester preceding the completion of course work, a proposal for the content and schedule of the comprehensive exams is worked out between the student and the faculty committee. Comprehensive exams usually begin after all course requirements (including languages) are completed. Exams may be administered in a number of ways; determination of scheduling and format is a matter for student proposals, which then may be modified or approved by the faculty. It is required that all comprehensive exams be completed within one semester. Successful completion of comprehensive exams signifies the advancement of the student to "Ph.D. candidate" status.

Exams will be completed in the following four areas:

• Primary religious tradition (African and/or Afro-Caribbean religions; Buddhism; Hinduism; Islam; medieval or early modern Christianity; Shinto; Religious traditions of India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam)
• Secondary religious tradition (African and/or Afro-Caribbean religions; Buddhism; Hinduism; Islam; medieval or early modern Christianity; Shinto; Religious traditions of India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam)
• Theory and methodology in the study of religion, including theory and method specific to student's dissertation research
• Comparative theme, phenomenon, or issue in religious studies (e.g., asceticism, pilgrimage, sacrifice, nationalism, gender, iconography, a philosophical concept, etc. to be chosen in consultation with the committee)

Prospectus

Upon satisfactory performance in the doctoral exams, a student will prepare, in consultation with an advisor, a detailed dissertation prospectus. The prospectus must be delivered to the Graduate Studies Committee in the semester immediately following the completion of doctoral examinations. In the case of students applying for dissertation fellowships with early deadlines, it may be submitted earlier. The prospectus should include a thesis statement, an explanation of how the thesis will be developed and argued from one chapter to the next, and a discussion of the originality of the dissertation thesis with respect to existing scholarly literature. The prospectus should also include a working bibliography. The Committee may require that a candidate revise and resubmit the prospectus.

Dissertation and Defense

Dissertation in area of primary tradition. Extended ethnographic and archival study abroad in a country relevant to the candidate's dissertation research is required as a part of the dissertation preparation.

Continuation of Funding

Departmental funding for a doctoral student will expire 24 months after the completion of the doctoral exams.

Religion, Ethics, and Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Coursework

Hour Requirements: at least 24 hours beyond the MA in Religion and at least 24 hours of dissertation credit.

Students who obtain the Ph.D. in Religion with concentration in religion, ethics, and philosophy will normally complete 24 hours (8 courses) beyond the M.A. The goal of competence is primary, however, and individual students may be advised to take additional hours to ensure adequate preparation. The precise program of courses will be determined in consultation with area faculty. Doctoral students must take, either at the MA or PhD level, RLG 5035 (Introduction to the Study of Religion) and, for all students RLG 5030 (Religion in the Classroom).

Languages

Students will also satisfy language requirements, as follows: reading competence in two languages of research (usually French and German), as shown either by successful completion on a test administered by the FSU Department of Modern Languages, or by prior work (with cases to be determined by area faculty); competence as necessary for the student's area of research (for example, students engaged in comparative analyses of Islamic, Buddhist, or Hindu materials will be expected to show an acceptable level of competence in primary source languages.) Please note: It is expected that students entering the Ph.D. program will show competence in at least one language of research prior to beginning coursework.

Exams

Students write four exams total. The total time spent on exams is not to exceed one calendar year (that is, three consecutive semesters including summer). Students should complete no more than two exams in a given semester. Exams can be submitted in any order. Exams are not time limited and are to be written over the course of the semester. Students should seek feedback and revision guidance prior to submitting the exams.

After submitting their fourth exam, students will meet with their exam committee for a face-to-face conversation about all the exams. In that conversation, the student has the opportunity to clarify points and discuss broader issues in the exams. It should not be considered unusual that students will be asked to make revisions to their work after this defense. Examining committees reserve the right to require students to repeat one or all written exams on the basis of that conversation. Examining committees will also ensure that students have a workable plan to complete their dissertation prospectus in a timely fashion.

The standard format for the exams is as follows. Students may petition faculty for alternative formats.

Exam 1: Theory and Method Statement

The student and exam chair edit the Theory and Method list template as appropriate to the student’s interests. The exam is an essay of not more than 7,000 words in which the student describes their own theoretical and methodological approach, situating themselves in relation to larger theoretical and methodological conversations within both the general discipline of religion and their more specific subfield (e.g., religious ethics, philosophy of religion, history of religions, etc.).

Exam 2: Dissertation Field Review Essay

The student and dissertation chair, along with other faculty as appropriate, generate a reading list germane to the particular area/topic in which the student hopes to focus their dissertation. This area might be more or less narrow depending on how specific a topic the student has identified. The exam is an essay of not more than 10,000 words that offers an assessment of the state of the conversation in this area, including significant historical interventions, topics of debate, and open questions. Ideally, the essay gestures toward where the student hopes to make a contribution to the conversation with their dissertation work.

Exam 3: Primary Tradition

The student and exam chair edit the appropriate tradition list template based on the student’s particular research interests. The student chooses the format of the exam from the following three options: review essay, constructive essay, or historical figure essay. (See descriptions of these formats below.)

Exam 4: Secondary Tradition or Secondary Discipline

The fourth exam is intended to help students establish strategic breadth. If the student has chosen an exam in a secondary religious tradition, the student and exam chair edit the appropriate tradition list template based on the student’s particular research interests. If the student has chosen an exam in a secondary discipline, the student and exam chair may work with a faculty representative from that other discipline to generate the reading list. The student chooses the format of the exam from the following four options: review essay, constructive essay, historical figure essay, or annotated syllabus. The student must choose a different format than that chosen for Exam 3. (See descriptions of these formats below.)

Format Options for Exams 3 and 4

Students must choose two different formats for Exams 3 and 4. Students will work with their exam chair to determine the most appropriate formats for their particular goals.

Review Essay: An essay of not more than 10,000 words (including notes and references) in which the student offers a close review of an academic book published in the last five years, situating that book within the larger field.

Constructive Essay: An essay of not more than 10,000 words (including notes and references) in which the student describes and responds to a problem or question in the field.

Historical Figure Essay: An essay of not more than 10,000 words (including notes and references) in which the student offers an analysis of the work of a figure whose major writings are at least 100 years old, describing the significance of that person’s contributions within the larger field as well as how that figure has influenced or otherwise been received in later scholarship

Annotated Syllabus: A syllabus (reading list and assignment descriptions) for a 15-week course in the field, accompanied by an essay of not more than 5,000 words explaining the narrative and goals of the course. This format may be chosen only for Exam 4.

Exams in any of these formats should demonstrate knowledge of relevant texts from the relevant reading list.

Note: Each track in the department maintains its own standards regarding the use of generative AI and LLM tools in the preparation for and completion of comprehensive exams. Students should consult with their examiners and work closely with their committees to ensure they understand the policies of their track and are prepared to meet the expectations of their evaluating committees.

Prospectus

Upon satisfactory performance in the doctoral exams, a student will prepare, in consultation with an advisor, a dissertation prospectus. The prospectus must be delivered to the Graduate Studies Committee in the semester immediately following the doctoral examinations. The prospectus should include a thesis statement, an explanation of how the thesis will be developed and argued from one chapter to the next, and a discussion of the originality of the dissertation thesis with respect to existing scholarly literature. The prospectus should also include a working bibliography. The Committee may require that a candidate revise and resubmit the prospectus. Acceptance of the prospectus signifies the advancement of the student to "Ph.D. candidate" status. University guidelines regarding the prospectus can be found in the “Thesis, Dissertation and Graduation” section of this handbook.

Dissertation and Defense

Following successful completion of examinations, students work with faculty on a dissertation, understood to be an original contribution to scholarship. University guidelines regarding the dissertation and defense can be found in the “Thesis, Dissertation and Graduation” section of this handbook.

Continuation of Funding

Departmental funding for a doctoral student will expire 24 months after the completion of the doctoral exams.

Note: Each track in the department maintains its own standards regarding the use of generative AI and LLM tools in the preparation for and completion of comprehensive exams. Students should consult with their examiners and work closely with their committees to ensure they understand the policies of their track and are prepared to meet the expectations of their evaluating committees.

Religions of Western Antiquity (Ph.D.)

Hour Requirements: at least 24 hours beyond the MA level and at least 24 hours of dissertation credit.

Prerequisites

Reading knowledge of two of the following languages: Greek, Hebrew, Latin, French, or German. One of these must be Greek or Hebrew at the intermediate level. M.A. with a significant concentration in Western Antiquity.

Coursework

Requirements that must be met during the PhD program

At least eight graduate courses must be taken during the doctoral program (not including beginning language work, professional development, supervised teaching, etc.). Four of these must be seminars in Ancient Judaism or Christianity, with at least one seminar in each tradition. In addition to these seminars, students will take two additional courses in the area of their concentration.

Requirements that may be met during an MA Program.

• RLG 5035: Introduction to the Study of Religion
• RLG 5030: (Religion in the Classroom)
• Hebrew Bible Proseminar
• New Testament Proseminar
• Two advanced surveys dealing with Judaism in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
• Greco-Roman World: Two graduate-level courses dealing with the Greco- Roman World that do not focus on Judaism or Christianity.
• Outside Field: Two graduate level courses in religion (or a field related to religion) that do not deal primarily with the ancient world.

Languages

• French and German (third-semester course or university exams)
• Classical Greek and Hebrew (third-semester course level of one and fourth- semester course level of the other).
• Aramaic/Syriac (one semester)
• An additional semester of Aramaic/Syriac or two semesters of Latin
• Ancient language and at least one of the modern language requirements must be met before students can begin exams. All requirements must be met before student is admitted to candidacy (ABD).

Exams

Normally exams will be taken during the 3rd year of the PhD program within six months of the completion of course work.

Students will sit for the following four exams, which may be taken in any order:

• Greek or Hebrew Language: The exam will be based on a text the student has prepared in advance and must be approved by the RWA faculty. It should not be a text that has been read as part of a Greek or Hebrew course. The Hebrew Exam will be based on approximately 30 BHS pages of a prose text or 20 BHS pages of a poetic text. The Greek Exam will be based on a text of approximately 25 pages (c. 5000 words) from Philo, Josephus, Lucian, Plutarch, Justin, or Eusebius.
• Greco-Roman World: Based on a reading list of primary and secondary texts dealing with the history, philosophy, literature and religion of the Greco- Roman world.
• Christianity in Late Antiquity (through the mid fifth century): Based on a reading list of primary and secondary texts. More extensive knowledge of the ancient evidence and modern scholarship will be expected for three special areas.
• Judaism from the Babylonian Exile through Late Antiquity: Based on a reading list of primary and secondary texts.

The language exam will consist of a written translation exam. The Greco-Roman World, Christianity, and Judaism Exams will each consist of a written and oral component, the latter to be scheduled within two weeks of the corresponding written exam. For each of these three exams, in addition to gaining familiarity with the general content and key issues of all the primary and secondary literature on the reading lists, students will choose: (1) two themes or issues that will require analysis of a broad range of material from the reading list and (2) a special area that will require more extensive knowledge of the ancient evidence and modern scholarship for the subject.

Committee

Soon after a Ph.D. student passes their comprehensive exams, they will, with input from their advisor, form their dissertation committee. The committee will have at least four members and will include at least three RWA faculty members as well as the required University Representative. This person must be a faculty member with tenure at FSU in a department other than Religion. As far as possible, the outside committee member should be familiar with the area and/or methods relating to the dissertation.

Prospectus

Upon satisfactory performance in the doctoral exams, a student will prepare, in consultation with an advisor, a dissertation prospectus. The prospectus should include the following items:

• A description of the subject of the dissertation
• Research questions driving the project
• The proposed project’s original contribution to scholarship
• A breakdown and description of each chapter of the dissertation
• A bibliography

The prospectus should be 15-20 pages, plus bibliography. Once the student, in consultation with their advisor, has worked out an acceptable prospectus, they will send it to their entire committee for review. The committee may require that a candidate revise and resubmit the prospectus. Once the committee accepts the prospectus, the student advances to "Ph.D. candidate" status. It is not required but the student and/or their advisor may want to have the prospectus workshopped in a RWA Colloquium meeting.

Dissertation and Defense

Following successful completion of examinations, students work with faculty on a dissertation, understood to be an original contribution to scholarship. University guidelines regarding the dissertation and defense can be found in the “Thesis, Dissertation and Graduation” section of this handbook.

Advising

Upon entering the program, each student will be assigned an advisor from the RWA faculty. At the beginning of each semester, students will discuss possible courses with their advisor and will then submit a list of proposed courses to the RWA faculty for approval. Although students will have one advisor for administrative purposes, they are encouraged to discuss their interests and plans with all members of the RWA faculty.

Progress Review

There will be a meeting of the RWA faculty and each student toward the end of the Spring Semester, during which the student's progress toward his/her degree will be reviewed (see “Annual Evaluation of Graduate Students” below).

Continuation of Funding

Departmental funding for a doctoral student will expire 24 months after the completion of the doctoral exams.

Note: Each track in the department maintains its own standards regarding the use of generative AI and LLM tools in the preparation for and completion of comprehensive exams. Students should consult with their examiners and work closely with their committees to ensure they understand the policies of their track and are prepared to meet the expectations of their evaluating committees. 

Annual Evaluations of Graduate Students

The academic performance of all graduate students will be evaluated annually by faculty in their track. While the formats of the evaluation will be decided by each track, it is required that all evaluations include two documents, both signed by the student and one of the faculty (typically the student’s advisor) conducting the evaluation. One document will cover the student’s progress with regard to their academic program. The other will cover the student’s work as an employee (i.e., their work as an instructor or teaching assistant). For the academic form, each track can use a form of their own design. The employment form is standardized; all tracks will use the same form. Once the forms are signed, the faculty member conducting the evaluation should give both forms to the department’s Academic Program Specialist, who will add to the student’s record. The Graduate School monitors and tracks this process. The annual evaluations are designed to ensure that graduate students are working at a satisfactory level with regard to both their academic progress and their work as employees. Having both parties sign both forms clarifies that the student is aware that the faculty consider their work, as a student and an employee, to be satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

In terms of their work as an employee, issues such as not attending class or grading assignments can result in being evaluated as unsatisfactory on the student’s employment form. Being evaluated as unsatisfactory may result in termination of the student’s employment status. In this case the employment evaluation will specify what problems have been identified and need to be corrected. When a student’s academic work is evaluated as unsatisfactory, the faculty conducting the evaluations must on the form write benchmarks that specify what they expect the student to achieve during the following year (such as finishing one chapter of their dissertation or completing their comprehensive exams). Achieving the defined benchmarks will constitute that the student’s work or progress will be satisfactory. Specifying benchmarks will clarify for the student how to make progress moving forward. If these benchmarks are not met by the end of the next academic year, the student may, at that end of year review, be dismissed from the program or lose their employment status. Students should inform the Director of Graduate Studies of their progress toward meeting these benchmarks by the end of the calendar year in which a student has received an evaluation of unsatisfactory.

See also “Faculty Evaluation of Teaching Assistants” in the departmental Teaching Assistant Handbook.

Advising

As noted on the Religion Department homepage, both graduate degrees (M.A. and Ph.D.) are awarded within one of four “tracks” or “fields of study.” Once accepted into one of these four tracks, students are informally advised by the team of faculty in their area. In conversation with this team, students will eventually choose a formal thesis/dissertation committee.

Graduate students should consult regularly with their advisors about plans for coursework, publishing opportunities, and progress toward a degree. Students are encouraged to have a thesis or dissertation topic in mind early on in their graduate work, to prepare themselves as well as they can for future job possibilities, and to conceptualize their study each semester as part of a larger, holistic endeavor.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Course Option

With the permission of the major professor or chair of the student’s major department, a student may enroll in as many as six credit hours during the master’s degree program, or up to nine credit hours during the doctoral program, on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. A student’s registration in a class under the S/U option must be indicated on the proper form to the Office of the University Registrar from the major professor or chair of the student’s major department. A student may change to a letter-grade (A, B, C) or S/U basis during the first seven weeks of the Fall/Spring term or, in the case of Summer terms, by the prorated deadlines published in the Summer ‘Academic Calendar’ in the Registration Guide. Please note that some courses are offered for S/U grade only and are not available for a letter grade. Credit hour restrictions as stated above on the S/U option do not apply to classes normally offered on the basis of the S/U grading system, including classes in the College of Law for students of other graduate programs. Such hours are exempt from the total stipulated as permissible in the preceding paragraph.

In individual study, thesis, dissertation, recital, supervised research, and internship credit, as well as for classes taken with the S/U option, the assigned grade will be “S” (satisfactory) or “U” (unsatisfactory). Although class hours with a grade of “S” will be credited toward a degree, the “S” and “U” grades are not used in determining grade averages for admission to candidacy or for conferral of a degree.

Incomplete Grade Policy

Incomplete (“I”) grades should be recorded only in exceptional cases when a student, who has completed a substantial portion of the course and who is otherwise passing, is unable to complete a well-defined portion of a course for reasons beyond the student’s control. Students in these circumstances must petition the instructor and should be prepared to present documentation that substantiates their case. Incomplete grades should not be granted to allow students to do extra coursework in an effort to increase their grade. Even under these circumstances, the authority for determining whether to grant an incomplete rests solely with the instructor. A graduate teaching assistant must have approval from a supervising faculty member to grant an incomplete. One exception to this guideline occurs when an incomplete is applied because of allegations of academic dishonesty that have not been resolved by the end of a semester. Deans’ offices can often provide guidance to instructors regarding the appropriateness of an incomplete grade in individual cases. To assign an incomplete, an instructor is required to indicate on the grade roster the time frame for resolution of the grade and the default grade to be assigned if the student does not complete the remaining academic work. Some departments also require that an incomplete grade be documented with an “Incomplete Grade Agreement.” It is the student’s responsibility to complete the remaining academic work within the agreed-upon time frame. Under University policy, an incomplete grade automatically reverts to the predetermined default grade at the end of the semester that has been specified by the instructor as the time frame for resolution, unless one of two conditions is met: 1. Upon completion of the agreed-upon work, the instructor submits a grade- change form that replaces the “I” with the final grade for the course; 2. The instructor submits a separate “Incomplete Extension of Time” form to the Evaluation and Posting Section of Admissions and Records before the end of the semester in which the “I” is set to expire. In cases where no default grade or instructor-determined expiration semester exists, incomplete grades will expire to an IE (Incomplete Expired) at the end of the next term of enrollment unless the instructor submits a grade change form prior to the official grade posting deadline. An incomplete grade should not be set as the default grade for an existing incomplete. Furthermore, grades are awarded based on progress of work completed during a set semester/term and as such, a graduate student should not receive several semesters of incomplete grades for thesis, treatise and/or dissertation hours until completion of the defense. No grade changes will be made to default grades or unresolved “I” grades after the degree has been granted. Thus, it is critical that an instructor work closely with the student and department staff regarding the clearance of an incomplete grade.

Master’s Degree Programs

The following policies pertain to MA degrees in all tracks of study in the Religion Department.

• The major professor must be selected and approved during the first semester of enrollment. The thesis-track master’s degree supervisory committee must consist of a minimum of three members. All members must hold Graduate Faculty Status. Two members, including the major professor, must be from the major in which the student will receive a degree. Course-type master’s degree students must be assigned a major professor who holds Graduate Faculty Status or co-directive Status. In the Religion Department, a master’s thesis is not required in all tracks of study. Please consult the descriptions of each track for more information.
• A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit must be successfully completed with a 3.0 graduate GPA in course-type master’s programs. Twenty-one semester hours of graduate credit in the course-type program must be taken on a letter-grade basis (A, B, C). The academic department or degree program may require students in course-type programs to complete more than 30 graduate semester hours. A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit must be successfully completed with a 3.0 graduate GPA in thesis-type programs. A minimum of eighteen semester hours of graduate credit in the thesis-type program must be taken on a letter-grade basis (A, B, C). Coursework taken more than seven years prior to graduation may not be used toward the degree requirements.
• Only six hours of graduate transfer credit is applicable toward the degree. No student may be awarded more than 12 hours of combined non-degree seeking student and/or prior-institution graduate transfer credit. This rule means that a student wishing to post six hours of graduate transfer credit, which has not been posted under a previous degree at that institution, can be awarded no more than six hours of non-degree seeking student transfer credit, to reach the aggregate maximum of 12 credit hours.
• Students in thesis-type master’s programs must successfully complete a minimum of six thesis hours and be registered for a minimum of two hours of thesis credit in the semester that their degree will be awarded. Thesis-type degree students must successfully complete an oral thesis defense and meet all manuscript clearance requirements and submission deadlines set by The Graduate School in the semester of graduation.
• Students must have a 3.0 GPA in all graduate coursework to be eligible to apply to graduate through the University Registrar and the department.
• The credit hour requirements for the MA program vary among the tracks of study in the Religion Department. Consult the descriptions of each track for more details.
• Students lacking these materials and requirements will not be cleared for final term degree posting.

Moving from the M.A. to the Ph.D.

Students wishing to obtain a Master’s degree and continue on in the doctoral program must during the final year of their MA program inform the faculty in their track that they would like to move from the MA to the PhD program. The faculty will confer and decide on one of the three options: 1) they agree to the request and inform the Director of Graduate Studies and/or the department’s Academic Support Specialist that they would like the student’s status upon graduation to be changed to PhD; 2) they ask the student to submit an application to the doctoral program as would external applicants; also as with external applicants, their application can be accepted or rejected; 3) they can deny the student’s request outright.

Preliminary (Comprehensive) Examinations (Ph.D. students)

Satisfactory completion of a set of preliminary examinations (which, in the shorthand of the Department of Religion, are called “comps”) shall be required for admission to candidacy for the PhD degree. No student may register for dissertation hours prior to the point in the semester in which the preliminary examination was passed. An admission to candidacy form must be completed and filed in the Office of the University Registrar prior to registration for dissertation hours. After completion of the admission to candidacy process, the student may retroactively add dissertation hours for that semester in which the preliminary examination was completed. Retroactive changes are only permitted if the preliminary examination is passed by the end of the seventh week of the semester. For term-specific deadline dates, please refer to the “Academic Calendar” in the Registration Guide.

The preliminary examination is designed to test scholarly competence and knowledge and to afford the examiners the basis for constructive recommendations concerning the student’s subsequent formal or informal study. The form and content of this examination will be determined by the department, college, school, or committee (typically, but not necessarily the same composition as the supervisory committee) administering the degree program. Prior to the examination, the student’s examining committee will determine whether the student 1) has a 3.0 average, and 2) has progressed sufficiently in the study of the discipline and its research tools to begin independent research in the area of the proposed dissertation.

Each track in the department maintains its own standards regarding the use of generative AI and LLM tools in the preparation for and completion of comprehensive exams. Students should consult with their examiners and work closely with their committees to ensure they understand the policies of their track and are prepared to meet the expectations of their evaluating committees.

The maximum number of exam credit hours a PhD student can take is 24; customarily, this means that doctoral students will have no more than three semesters in which to complete their comprehensive exams.

The chair of the major department, the academic dean, and the Dean of The Graduate School may attend any session of the supervisory or examining committee as nonvoting members. A member may be appointed to the examining committee at the discretion of the academic dean or Dean of The Graduate School or on recommendation of the major professor. Normally, the examining committee will be identical with the supervisory committee. The examining committee will report the outcome of the examination to the academic dean: passed, failed, additional work to be completed, or to be re-examined; the report following the reexamination must indicate the student either passed or failed. The results of the examination will be reported to the Office of the University Registrar for inclusion in the student’s permanent record. If a student fails the preliminary examination before being admitted to candidacy, then the student is ineligible to continue in the degree program unless a re-examination of the preliminary examination is offered by the student’s supervisory committee or other relevant decision-making body within each department or unit, per that department or unit’s doctoral student handbook. The Academic Dean’s office should be notified of the outcome of any preliminary exam attempt. Students can take the preliminary examination for admission to candidacy a maximum of only two times. A second failure on the preliminary exam makes the student ineligible to continue in the degree program. The second attempt at the preliminary exam shall occur no sooner than six full class weeks after the results of the first attempt are shared with the student. For the purpose of this policy, a “full class week” is defined as a week with five days during which classes are held at FSU. Students must be registered separately for their first and second attempt, if necessary, within the same semester, and must receive either a “pass” or a “fail” grade for each attempt.

An exception request regarding the timing of the re-examination can be submitted for consideration to the Academic Dean’s Office by either the student or the supervisory committee. Students who allege that academic regulations and/or procedures were improperly applied for the re-examination of their preliminary exam may have their grievances addressed through the general academic appeals process.

Progress Toward Degree

By demonstrating progress toward the degree and satisfactory performance of duties, Ph.D. students are eligible, in most cases, for teaching assignments and financial support for two academic years following successful completion of their comprehensive exams. All decisions about teaching assignments and financial support will be based on departmental needs and resources. See also the “Time Limit for Completion of Degree Requirements” below (under “Theses, Dissertation and Graduation”)

Other Graduate Student Policies and Procedures

Graduate Student Committee

The Graduate Student Committee is designed to represent graduate students of the department with regard to communication between the faculty and graduate students of the department.

The committee comprises four graduate students, one from each track. The students are responsible for selecting these representatives. They will make this selection at the beginning of the academic year. This process will take place each year.

The committee will meet with the chair and director of graduate studies once a month during the academic year. Typically the graduate studies director will schedule these. These meetings will provide a forum by which students can voice concerns or ask questions, and through which the faculty can provide information with regard to upcoming events and deadlines.

If a student is not clear who the current members of this committee are, please contact the director of graduate studies.

Funding Support for Academic Travel

Graduate students are encouraged to participate in academic conferences and symposia. The department urges students to seek support for academic travel from the Congress of Graduate Students (COGS). Travel grants for advanced doctoral students are also available through the Graduate Student Resource Center.

While the Department of Religion cannot guarantee that it will be able to provide graduate students with additional funding for academic travel, some support is customarily available. At the beginning of both the fall and spring semesters the Director of Graduate Studies or the Chair will contact the graduate students about this issue. You can request this funding by providing the name, date, and description of the conference and a cost estimate. You must give a paper at the conference to receive funding. Departmental practice is currently that a Qualtrics survey will be sent out early in both the fall and spring semesters, which students will fill out to request departmental funding for academic travel. The proposals will be evaluated by the Chair and or the Director of Graduate Studies. Priority in terms of determining funding in the spring is given to those students who did not receive this funding in the fall.

All travel MUST be arranged through the University’s Concur system. The pre-travel form for graduate students who will have academic travel supported by the department can be found here. Students who have questions regarding travel should contact Stephanie Gunter.

See also below for information about possible funding to support the academic travel of graduate students, in “Department Level Opportunities” for funding.

Scholarly Engagement/Residency Requirement

The purpose of the Scholarly Engagement requirement is to ensure that doctoral students are active participants in the scholarly community. To meet the Scholarly Engagement requirement, doctoral students should interact with faculty and peers in ways that may include enrolling in courses; attending seminars, symposia, and conferences; engaging in collaborative study and research beyond the university campus; and utilizing the library, laboratories, and other facilities provided by the University. The goal is to prepare students to be scholars who can independently acquire, evaluate, and extend knowledge, as well as develop themselves as effective communicators and disseminators of knowledge.

The following is the Scholarly Engagement Statement for the Department of Religion:

To meet the Scholarly Engagement requirement, doctoral students in the Department of Religion must complete 24 graduate (5000-level or above) credit hours within any consecutive 12-month period. The Scholarly Engagement Requirement replaced the Residency Requirement. If a graduate student has any questions about this policy, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies. This policy does not pertain to MA students.

Leave of Absence Policy

Under special circumstances, graduate students may apply for a leave of absence from the University for a specific period of up to three consecutive semesters (includes Summer term). The circumstances justifying a leave include but are not limited to: personal or family medical conditions, call to active military duty, parental leave, death in immediate family, or completion of an off-campus internship. The student must provide appropriate documentation and a rationale for the leave request.

The form to apply for leave of absence may be found on the Graduate School website.

To apply for a leave of absence, a student must complete the Request for Leave of Absence Form and submit it together with appropriate documentation to the major professor/advisor/Program Director. If the major professor/advisor/Program Director approves the application, it should then be forwarded to the department head and subsequently to the college’s academic dean for consideration. If approved at all of these levels, the college academic dean should notify the Registrar’s Office and the Dean of the Graduate School (or designee) of the decision. The college academic dean should also notify the student of the decision (approved or denied). The Registrar’s Office will place a notation on the student’s record. A student who is denied a request for leave at any step may appeal the decision to the Dean of The Graduate School (or designee). Retroactive Leave of Absence Requests are not permissible nor are Leave of Absences Requests for the semester of admission or readmission. A leave of absence is not meant for one semester or term of non-enrollment.

An approved leave of absence preserves the student’s academic status in his or her degree program, and the time off will not be counted against the time limits for awarding degrees. Consequently, registration is not required during the leave period and the student need not re-apply to the program to return to active status at the end of the approved leave period. A leave may be extended for additional consecutive semesters (includes Summer term). A student should apply for the leave extension no later than four weeks prior to the end of the final semester/term of his or her initial leave to allow time to consider and process the request. Extension of a leave is subject to approval of the program, college, and the Graduate School. The cumulative number of consecutive leave semesters (including summer term) shall not exceed six. The total consecutive or non-consecutive leave time a student is not registered in the program shall not exceed twenty-four months. At the conclusion of the approved leave, a student must enroll at Florida State University and return to active status no later than the start of the next academic semester. Students cannot be on leave during their semester of graduation and must be registered for a minimum of two hours that semester.

A student on a leave of absence may terminate the leave at any time prior to the approved ending date. In such cases the student would be immediately subject to the continuous enrollment and registration policies. Students returning from a leave of absence of more than one year will be required to disclose any legal or campus disciplinary charges that arose during the leave and provide updated contact and mailing address, residency documentation, and other biographical information as required by the University for reporting and processing purposes.

While on leave a student will not have access to campus facilities and personnel. This means a student will not have access to labs, libraries, and online resources that require an FSUID. Students on leave cannot remain in student housing. There is no guarantee that financial aid will be continued.

Students with financial aid or student loans should confer with the Financial Aid Office and review their loan agreements prior to requesting a leave of absence to ascertain the consequences a leave will have on their loan status. University assistantship and fellowship support will be discontinued for the duration of the leave. Programs are not obligated to reinstate funding support that was provided prior to the leave though they are encouraged to do so if funds are available. Students receiving external support, e.g., an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, should check the terms of the award to determine the impact of being on leave. In-state residency status may be impacted if the student moves out of the State of Florida, and then returns to resume the degree program. Students should seek guidance from the Registrar on the potential impact on in-state residency. International students should check with the Center for Global Engagement to determine if a leave would adversely affect their visa status. Students should also consider other factors that might impact their circumstances upon their return to active status. For example, a major professor might depart the University, or under extreme circumstances a degree program might be suspended or terminated. The University has an obligation to provide a path to completion for enrolled students as well as students on a formally approved leave of absence. Note: If allowed by the student’s academic program and University policy, an alternative to taking an official leave could involve reducing the standard course load temporarily because of exceptional personal circumstances.

Summer Teaching Guidelines

The amount of funding available for summer teaching appointments depends on a variety of factors, including enrollments in past years, estimates of participation by incoming first time in college students in the B term (second six weeks), and distributions of special “summer” funds which add to the Department’s base allocation in a given budget year. Decisions regarding summer assignments are ultimately the responsibility of the department chair, who will consult as necessary with those faculty elected to serve on the department’s Executive Committee and/or with the Director of Graduate Studies.

In preparation for those decisions, an announcement will be distributed, ideally in January, instructing those who wish to teach in the summer to let that be known by answering questions in a distributed Qualtrics survey. Some assignments may be made as early as March. Given that the distribution of summer funds is typically not finalized until April, some assignments may be made later.

While the goal is to find some support for as many people as possible, the likelihood is that in many years the number of requests for summer appointments will exceed the available funding. In such cases, the Chair may consider a number of factors, including the following:

• Recent history (meaning who has had appointments, while others have not)
• Curricular needs (who can teach particular courses, enrollment demands, and the like)
• Citizenship status (since the requirements of international students’ visas entail that they cannot work outside the University)

The Religion Department Library

The department has a library on the third floor of Dodd that it shares with the Classics Department (their half is the Thompson Library). Graduate students of the Religion Department are welcome to use this library in accordance with the following rules:

1. Admission is by key card only. No one is to be admitted who has not been authorized by either the Classics or Religion Departments.
2. The library shall be kept locked at all times, and both doors are to be closed at all times.
3. Classics and Religion faculty and graduate students may use the library at any hour but should take care to leave the facility secure when they depart.
4. No food or drink of any kind, including bottled water, is allowed in the library. This rule will be strictly enforced.
5. This is a non-circulating library. Books must remain in the room. Please replace all books you use in their proper place on the shelf.
6. In exceptional circumstances faculty or graduate students may remove a book from the room for use in a class or for photocopying. The book must be returned promptly.
7. Books on reserve for Classics courses will be placed on the shelves in the front of the room. Please return them as appropriate.
8. The library is for reading and studying, and not for group discussions or conversations. No talking or conversation is permitted. Group class preparation should be done in the lounge or other public places, not in the library. Please show the utmost courtesy and consideration for those who are working in the library.
9. Individuals failing to observe these regulations shall lose their library privileges.

Graduate Assistant Tuition Plan

Graduate assistants employed by FSU have the option of deferring the due date for class fees until the end of the semester. For added convenience, plan participants can also enroll in payroll deductions. The rules and stipulations of each term are unique and interested students must complete new paperwork to participate each term. Open the form below to read the most recent terms and conditions, and to enroll in the program. To learn more about the plan and how to enroll, visit the Office of Student Finance website. Email ctl-gradfinance@fsu.edu with questions.

Anti-Sexual Misconduct Policy

Relevant resources can be found on the Office of Human Resources website.

Policies and Procedures for Dismissing a Graduate Student for Reasons Other Than GPA

The University reserves the right to dismiss graduate students and terminate their enrollment in an academic program based on a number of different criteria, beyond that of GPA alone. Oversight is provided by The Graduate School, Office of Faculty Development and Advancement, and Office of the Registrar. Additional details on the steps involved in the process are available for faculty and administrators from the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement and for graduate students at the Graduate School.

Dismissed students will not be permitted to register for further graduate study, including registering as non-degree students, in the degree program or college from which they had enrollment terminated.

Graduate students who have been dismissed from one degree program may seek admission to another degree program but will not be readmitted or allowed to add the dismissed degree program back as a second major or degree. This includes seeking admission into a different degree program that shared a joint pathway with the dismissed degree program.

Program terminations (dismissal for a reason other than GPA) are generally identified by the faculty with support from the Department Chair (or unit head) in the department/unit or single- unit college level and may occur for a number of different reasons.

As specified by university policy, reasons may include but are not limited to:

• Inability to conduct independent research in a fashion appropriate with the accepted norms of a discipline.
• Inability to function within a team environment to the extent that it negatively affects the learning, practice and/or research of fellow graduate students.
• Behavior that does not meet the professional standards of a discipline
• Failure to meet artistic or creative performance standards.
• Failure to be approved for an Extension of Time (EOT).
• Failure to complete important degree milestone requirements within a reasonable period of time.
• Inability to pass the doctoral diagnostic exam, preliminary exam for admission to candidacy in, etc.
• Failure to complete the doctoral degree or make timely progress towards the research or writing of their treatise or dissertation.
• Failure to complete the master’s degree or make timely progress towards the research or writing of their thesis, or the production of their thesis-equivalent creative project.

In addition, please note that suspension or expulsion from the university may result if a student is found responsible in a formal Academic Honor Policy (AHP) hearing for an egregious AHP violation, or as an outcome from a Student Conduct Code charge for which a student is found responsible.

This graduate program's handbook provides information about failure to meet specific milestone or behavioral requirements above (see “Annual Evaluations of Graduate Students”). Students who are dismissed for reasons other than grades may follow the General Academic Appeals Process if they have evidence that academic regulations and procedures have been improperly applied.

Categories for Dismissal of a Graduate Student for Reasons Other than GPA

Category 1: Failure to make Adequate Progress in the Academic Degree Program and/or Failure to Meet the Professional Standards of the Discipline

This may include, but is not limited to the following:

• Inability to conduct independent research in a fashion appropriate with the accepted norms of a discipline.
• Inability to function within a team environment to the extent that it negatively affects the learning, practice and/or research of fellow graduate students and/or the faculty PI.
• Behavior that does not meet the professional standards of a discipline
• Failure to complete important degree milestone requirements within a reasonable period of time.
• Failure to complete the doctoral degree or make timely progress towards the research or writing of their treatise or dissertation.
• Failure to complete the master’s degree or make timely progress towards the research or writing of their thesis.

Category 2: Failure to Meet University or Program Requirements for Continuation in the Academic Degree Program

This may include, but is not limited to the following:

• Inability to pass the doctoral diagnostic exam, preliminary exam for admission to candidacy, etc.
• Failure to pass the comprehensive examination, if required by a program for the master’s or specialist degree.
• Failure to pass the defense of the thesis, treatise, or dissertation.
• Failure to meet the time limit completion requirement for the master’s, specialist, or doctoral degree.
• Failure to be approved for an Extension of Time (EOT).

At a minimum, except for situations in which a serious violation of established behavioral, academic, or professional expectations has occurred in the academic degree program, the following steps must be addressed.

Steps for Dismissal of a Graduate Student for Reasons Other than GPA

Step 1: Identification

A graduate student is identified by the faculty or unit leadership in their academic program, department, or single-unit college as:

1. Category 1: Failing to make adequate progress in the academic degree program and/or failing to meet the professional standards of the discipline. Proceed to Step 2.
2. Category 2: Failing to meet university or program requirements for continuation in the academic degree program. Skip Step 2. Proceed to Step 3.

Step 2: Remediation Plan

If the reason for the dismissal of the graduate student falls into Category 1 (see above), then the graduate student must meet with their major professor/faculty advisor and Department Chair (or unit head) to develop a detailed remediation plan for improvement.

• The unit should provide a written remediation plan and/or written academic communication to the graduate student containing specific information about improvement(s) needed to avoid dismissal.
• The remediation plan and/or academic communication should be developed by the major professor/faculty advisor and Department Chair (or unit head) for the individual graduate student and be shared with the graduate student in writing. (For doctoral students, the annual evaluation is one opportunity to document unsatisfactory progress, yet a special review may be conducted at any time.) NOTE: The remediation plan should include a reasonable timeline for the graduate student to meet the goals and objectives of the remediation plan.
• The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or designated equivalent individual in the Dean’s Office) must be notified of the situation, the deficiencies, and the remediation plan prior to communication with the graduate student.

*If the reason for the dismissal of the graduate student falls into Category 2 (see above), then the Department Chair (or unit head) can move directly to Step 3 (see below).

Step 3: Consultation with Academic Dean’s Office

If the graduate student fails to resolve/remediate the specified and documented deficiency within a reasonable timeframe, as noted in Step 2 (see above), or falls into Category 2, then the department or single-unit college may initiate a program dismissal. If the program chooses to terminate the academic progress of the graduate student, then the following steps must be completed prior to notifying the graduate student of the termination and sending the graduate student a dismissal letter.

The Department Chair (or unit head) must first consult with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the college (or designated equivalent individual in the Dean’s Office) regarding their intent to dismiss. The discussion should include the unit’s graduate handbook language, the remediation steps taken (if Category 1), the graduate student’s efforts to date to resolve or address the deficiencies, and the grounds for the program termination.

Step 4: Dean’s Office Consultation with the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement to Discuss Potential Program Dismissal

The Associate Academic Dean for Academic Affairs (or designated equivalent individual in the Dean’s Office) should contact the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement (Dr. Amy Guerette - aguerette@fsu.edu) and setup a consultation to discuss the program’s intention to move forward with the dismissal (for reasons other than GPA) of a graduate student from a degree program.

If all parties agree that program dismissal should proceed, the Department Chair (or unit head) should use the appropriate Dismissal Letter Template (provided in the fuller CAS explanation of this policy).

Step 5: Draft Dismissal Letter

A specific dismissal letter template must be followed. At a minimum, the dismissal letter must specify the following information.

• The process followed to notify the graduate student of their deficiencies and the opportunity and guidance that was provided to allow them an opportunity to rectify those deficiencies.
• The termination reasons,
• Benchmarks missed,
• The fact that dismissal from the degree program constitutes dismissal from the University (unless formally admitted to another graduate degree program prior to dismissal).
• Clear information about the method and timing of the graduate student’s separation from the degree program and University.
• An academic hold will be placed on registration to prevent future registration. Any future registration will be cancelled.
• If applicable, outline possible alternatives offered and agreed upon by the graduate student, e.g., conferral of a lower-degree level (see Step 3D below).
• Timeline to complete specific coursework for the given semester, if any. For example, the letter needs to clearly articulate to the graduate student that the courses in which they are currently enrolled need to be completed by the dismissal date in order to earn credit for them.
• Notification of the right to appeal and information about how to do so, and
• A deadline for any appeal submittal to the Associate Academic Dean for Academic Affairs (or designated equivalent individual in the Dean’s Office). *See “General Academic Appeals Process” for more information.

During the consultation with the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement and/or writing of the dismissal letter, there can be a discussion about the possibility of providing the graduate student with alternative opportunities. *This is not required, and it is at the unit’s discretion to offer.

Under certain extenuating circumstances during the dismissal process of a graduate student, the Department Chair (or unit head), or Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or designated equivalent individual in the Dean’s Office) may offer the graduate student with the opportunity to change their degree program type or level within the same degree program (i.e., MA to MS, MFA to MS, PhD to EdS, PhD to MA/MS, etc.). The student must accept a conferral of an alternate degree or degree level.

Prior to considering and offering this opportunity to the graduate student, the Department Chair (or unit head), or Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or designated equivalent individual in the Dean’s Office) must first evaluate the following:

1. Whether the graduate student already possesses the lower level of the degree, as the University prohibits the awarding of more than one degree from the same CIP Code. *There can be no appeal to this requirement.

2. The Department Chair (or unit head) must clearly explain to the graduate student in writing that if the lower level of the degree is awarded, then:

I. The graduate student can facilitate a Change of Major Request into a different degree program (if accepted by the other program).

II. All coursework leading up to that degree is considered final and credits used towards the alternate degree cannot be used towards a future graduate degree.

Step 6: Approval of Dismissal Letter

Once the dismissal letter has been written and finalized by the Department Chair (or unit head) and reviewed and approved by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or designated equivalent individual in the Dean’s Office), it should be sent for final approval to the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement (Dr. Amy Guerette, aguerette@fsu.edu).

Step 7: Sending the Dismissal Letter to the Graduate Student

After final approval has been granted from the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement, the written dismissal letter must be sent to the graduate student who is being dismissed, as well as several offices for record-keeping.

The dismissal letter must be sent from the Department Chair (or unit head) to the graduate student. If a single-unit college, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or designated equivalent individual in the Dean’s Office) should send the dismissal letter to the graduate student. The following individuals must be copied (i.e., cc:ed) on the dismissal letter:

• Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (or designated equivalent individual in the Dean’s Office),
• Office of Faculty Development and Advancement (Dr. Amy Guerette; aguerette@fsu.edu)
• Office of the University Registrar (Dr. Kimberly Barber; kabarber@fsu.edu),
• The Graduate School (Mr. James Beck; jpbeck@fsu.edu)

Plagiarism by Graduate Students

Plagiarism by graduate students is rare. It does, however, occur. The regular process for handling plagiarism cases presumes that at issue is plagiarism by an undergraduate student. In a graduate student plagiarism case the situation is handled differently. How they are to be handled is is stipulated in the Academic Honor Policy (August 2022 version), the key portion of which reads as follows:

All alleged violations involving a graduate student engaged in any phase of the preliminary or comprehensive examination, thesis, or dissertation are treated as egregious and are resolved through the Academic Honor Policy Hearing process, in which the major professor will serve as the “instructor” under the hearing procedures. The Vice President for Faculty Development and Advancement, the student’s academic dean, (as well as the Vice President for Research in cases involving grant-funded research), and the Dean of the Graduate School or designee should be informed as soon as possible of all such allegations. The decision regarding whether to submit a hearing referral will be made by a committee consisting of the department chair and two faculty members appointed by the academic dean, one of whom should be the student’s committee member serving as the University (outside) representative—if one has been identified—excluding the major professor. In rendering its charging decision, this committee should review all available information and consult with the major professor and the academic dean. In such cases, the instructor should immediately inform the chair and/or the director of graduate studies about the situation.

M.A. Thesis

Registration

Students must take a total of 6 thesis hours. Students must submit a complete and signed supervisory committee form before requesting hours. Students must be signed up for a minimum of two thesis hours in the term in which they receive their degrees. Students must continue to register for the minimum number of credit hours each semester if receiving a tuition waiver. In the Department of Religion not all tracks of study require an MA thesis. Please consult the description of the tracks for more information.

Major Professors

At the earliest opportunity, the student should follow the convention of the major department or college to identify the major professor, who will serve as the student’s advisor and supervisor. If nine 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. Designation of the major professor requires the mutual consent of the student, department chair, and professor involved.

Supervisory Committee

A master’s degree supervisory committee must be designated for all thesis students and may be designated for non-thesis or project master’s students at the option of the department. The supervisory committee must consist of a minimum of three members of the faculty who have Graduate Faculty Status, one of whom is designated as the major professor. All additional members of the committee must hold Graduate Faculty Status or (in the case of specialized or non-tenure track faculty) co-doctoral or co-master’s Directive Status. Under special circumstances, persons external to the University may be appointed as Courtesy Faculty with co-doctoral or co-master’s Directive Status and serve on a student’s supervisory committee as an additional member or cochair. The department or college must enter the composition of the supervisory committee into the online Graduate Student Tracking system in a timely manner, but no later than the second week of classes in the semester that the student intends to defend. Only official members of the supervisory committee (i.e., those listed on a student’s committee in the Graduate Student Tracking/GST database) may vote and sign the online Manuscript Signature Form indicating approval of the thesis.

A supervisory committee’s judgments on the quality of a student’s thesis or dissertation should be independent, unbiased, and based solely on the academic merits of the work before them. Any other standard risks a breach of professional ethics or law and undermines the integrity of the process and those involved. Any personal, professional, or financial relationships (e.g. involving the major professor, supervisory committee members, and/or student) that may create the perception of bias in that process must be avoided. Immediate family members, domestic partners and married couples are restricted from serving together on the same supervisory committee in any capacity as this could potentially lead to a perception of bias. For the purposes of this policy, immediate family members are defined as a parent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, child or grandchild by blood, adoption or marriage. Exception requests for extenuating circumstances can be submitted by the unit’s academic dean to the Dean of The Graduate School for consideration. However, for doctoral supervisory committees, under no circumstances can a Committee Chair (or Co-Chair) and University Representative be immediate family members, domestic partners, or a married couple. The University Representative must be drawn from outside the student’s department (as well as outside the student’s degree program for interdisciplinary programs) must be a fully-tenured member of the faculty with Graduate Faculty Status (GFS) and should be free of conflicts of interest with other members of the supervisory committee. Financial conflicts of interest would not include the typical practice of hiring a student on a university assistantship in the home unit but would include the student being hired by the major professor’s private company.

If any such conflict of interest exists, it should be reported by the department chair to the academic dean’s office of the student’s academic unit, who will evaluate the situation for potential harm and take appropriate action. If questions or irregularities arise that cannot be resolved within the academic unit, the dean’s office should contact the Dean of The Graduate School or designee for resolution by submitting an exception request to The Graduate School.

Prospectus

There are no departmental requirements that an M.A. thesis must include a prospectus. The advisor of the thesis may decide that the student should write a prospectus for an M.A. thesis.

Writing a Thesis

The major professor will supervise the student’s thesis. He or she will review drafts as they are completed, will make comments or suggestions, and will approve revisions or request additional changes. It is recommended that students meet with their major professor at least twice a semester to discuss their progress. The major professor will let the student know when the thesis is ready to be shown to the other members of the supervisory committee. For the defense, the student will need to present each committee member with a clean “semi-final” draft of the thesis, usually revised one more time after the committee’s response and defense. It is not considered bad form to consult with committee members after submitting the thesis and before the formal defense.

Thesis

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. The manuscript must be prepared according to the style and form prescribed by the department and must conform to the University requirements regarding format.

A student who enrolls in thesis hours need not be enrolled continuously thereafter in thesis hours if they meet the minimum University requirement for full-time or part-time enrollment through other coursework. A student must be enrolled in a minimum of two thesis hours in the

semester of graduation. The minimum number of thesis hours required for the master’s degree is six. Those with underload permission must register for at least two credit hours of thesis per semester. Underloads must be approved by the student’s academic dean. Before registering for thesis hours, the student must consult the major professor as to the proportion of time to be devoted to thesis work. For thesis-seeking master’s students, after completion of the required coursework and six credit hours of thesis, master’s students must be enrolled for a minimum of three credit hours per semester (of which at least two must be thesis hours) until completion of the degree.

Before writing the thesis, the student should become familiar with the University’s manuscript formatting and clearance requirements. The thesis should be in the hands of the major professor and the examining committee at least two weeks before the date of the oral examination. At the same time, the thesis should be submitted electronically to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor in The Graduate School so that the clearance advisor can provide the student with a critique of the manuscript with respect to The Graduate School’s formatting requirements. Electronic submission instructions can be found on The Graduate School’s website under Thesis, Treatise and Dissertation. At least two weeks prior to the date of the examination, the student will submit an announcement of the thesis title, date, and place of the examination to The Graduate School. The announcement must be submitted electronically on The Graduate School’s Manuscript Clearance Portal and will be posted on the Defense Calendar on The Graduate School’s Web site. Electronic submission instructions can be found on The Graduate School’s website under Thesis, Treatise, and Dissertation.

After approval by the oral examining committee, which includes or may be the same as the supervisory committee, the student should electronically submit the final version of the thesis to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor. The post-defense, final content-approved version of the thesis must be submitted electronically to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor in The Graduate School within sixty days of the defense date or by the semester deadline (whichever is earliest). If the appropriate deadline is missed, the student must be re-examined. Consult the Registration Guide for the manuscript submittal and forms deadline dates.

As a condition of undertaking a thesis master’s program, the student agrees that the completed thesis will be archived in the University Libraries system. The student will make the electronic thesis available for review by other scholars and the general public by selecting an access condition provided by The Graduate School. The electronic thesis also will be archived by ProQuest; the student will select an access condition that concurs with the access condition in the University Libraries system. If the student wishes ProQuest to register the copyright, an additional fee must be paid.

Publication of the thesis through standard media for scholarly work is encouraged.

Examination in Defense of Thesis

The defense of the thesis will be oral. Responsibility for suggesting the time, designating the place, and presiding at the examination rests with the major professor. It is recommended that students defend no later than the eighth week of classes in the semester of intent to graduate. Students must meet all manuscript and online forms deadlines set by The Graduate School in the semester of graduation. Consult the Registration Guide for the manuscript submittal and online forms deadline dates.

Academic courtesy requires that the thesis be submitted to each member of the supervisory committee at least two weeks before the date of the oral examination. At the same time, the thesis should be submitted electronically to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor in The Graduate School so that the clearance advisor can provide the student with a critique of the manuscript with respect to The Graduate School’s formatting requirements.

The supervisory committee, the chair of the major department, and such other members of the faculty as may be appointed by the academic dean will conduct the examination. All members of the graduate faculty are invited to attend. At least two weeks prior to the date of the examination, the student will submit an announcement of the thesis title, date, and place of the examination to The Graduate School. The announcement must be submitted electronically on The Graduate School’s Manuscript Clearance Portal and will be posted on the Defense Calendar on The Graduate School’s website. Electronic submission instructions can be found on The Graduate School’s website under Thesis, Treatise, and Dissertation. All committee members and the student must attend the entire defense in real time, either by being physically present or participating via distance technology. Individual departments may impose stricter requirements on physical attendance, e.g. all members must be physically present. Departments and other degree-granting programs must publicize their policy on defense attendance in their Graduate Student Handbook and in the relevant section of the Graduate Bulletin. If exceptional emergency circumstances, e.g. medical or other emergency situations, prevent the participation of a committee member, then it may be necessary to arrange for an additional appropriately qualified colleague to attend the defense. A minimum of three members with Graduate Faculty Status must participate.

The oral examining committee will certify the results of the examination: passed, failed, or to be reexamined. The report of results following a re-examination must indicate the student either passed or failed. To receive a passing grade, the written thesis must be in the final form or require only minor revisions at the time of the defense. A grade of PASS for the defense of thesis requires at least a majority approval of the committee. Individual departments may impose stricter requirements for what constitutes a grade of PASS. Departments and other degree-granting programs must publicize their policy on this issue in their Graduate Student Handbook and in the relevant section of the Graduate Bulletin. If the student passes, each member must sign the online Manuscript Signature Form to substantiate the results of the defense. The degree cannot be awarded until the required forms have been completed on The Graduate School’s Manuscript Clearance Portal and the final version of the manuscript has been submitted to and approved by the Manuscript Clearance Advisor.

After approval by the oral examining committee and completion of the Final Content Approval Form by their major professor(s), the student should electronically submit the final content-approved version of the thesis to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor. Electronic submission instructions can be found on The Graduate School’s website under Thesis, Treatise and Dissertation. The post-defense, final content-approved version of the thesis must be submitted to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor in The Graduate School within sixty days after the defense date or by the semester deadline (whichever is earliest). If the appropriate deadline is missed, the student must be re-examined. Consult the Registration Guide for the manuscript submission and forms deadline dates.

Special Master of Arts (MA) Requirements

In addition to the requirements listed above, candidates for the Master of Arts (MA) degree must meet the following requirements.

• Proficiency in a foreign language demonstrated by certification by the appropriate language department, or completion of twelve 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.
• Six 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 theatre.

Dissertation

Major Professor

In the first year of their doctoral program, the student should consult with the professors under whom the student may be interested in working and from whose areas of competency a dissertation topic could be selected. The determination of a PhD student’s dissertation supervisor will be made by the faculty members in their track of study. The dissertation supervisor must have Graduate Faculty Status (GFS) no later than at the time of the thesis defense. The track should establish who a PhD student’s dissertation advisor is no later than the student’s completion of their comprehensive exams. Designation of the major professor requires the mutual consent of the student, department chair, and professor involved. If a doctoral student would like to change their dissertation supervisor, the student should consult with the department’s Director of Graduate Studies to determine the best course of action.

Supervisory Committee

Upon the request of the major professor, the departmental chair will appoint the supervisory committee that will be in charge of the work of the student until the completion of all requirements for the degree. The supervisory committee will consist of a minimum of four members of the faculty who have Graduate Faculty Status, one of whom is the university representative of the faculty. Programs may establish a more stringent policy on supervisory committee membership, but such policies may not conflict with the University policy. For example, a program may choose to stipulate that more than the minimum number of committee members hold Graduate Faculty Status in the program or must be members of the tenure-track faculty. If deemed desirable and not established by policy, it may also be appropriate to include additional members to provide necessary expertise. All additional members of the committee must hold Graduate Faculty Status or (in the case of specialized or non-tenure track faculty) co-doctoral or co-master’s Directive Status. Under special circumstances persons external to the University may be appointed as Courtesy Faculty with co-doctoral or co-master’s Directive Status and serve on a student’s supervisory committee as either an additional member or co-chair. The department or college must enter the composition of the supervisory committee into the online Graduate Student Tracking system in a timely manner, but no later than the second week of classes in the semester that the student intends to defend. Each year, the supervisory committee, the major professor, or the student’s advisor prior to selection of a major professor will assess the progress of the student in writing and will make available copies of the annual review to the student, the departmental chair, and the academic dean. The Dean of The Graduate School, the academic dean, and the chair of the major department may attend committee meetings as nonvoting members. Only official members of the supervisory committee (i.e., those listed on a student’s committee in the Graduate Student Tracking/GST database) may vote and sign the online Manuscript Signature Form indicating approval of the dissertation.

A supervisory committee’s judgments on the quality of a student’s thesis or dissertation should be independent, unbiased, and based solely on the academic merits of the work before them. Any other standard risks a breach of professional ethics or law and undermines the integrity of the process and those involved. Any personal, professional, or financial relationships (e.g. involving the major professor, supervisory committee members, and/or student) that may create the perception of bias in that process must be avoided. Immediate family members, domestic partners and married couples are restricted from serving together on the same supervisory committee in any capacity as this could potentially lead to a perception of bias. For the purposes of this policy, immediate family members are defined as a parent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, child or grandchild by blood, adoption or marriage. Exception requests for extenuating circumstances can be submitted by the unit’s academic dean to the Dean of The Graduate School for consideration. However, for doctoral supervisory committees, under no circumstances can a Committee Chair (or Co-Chair) and University Representative be immediate family members, domestic partners, or a married couple. Financial conflicts of interest would not include the typical practice of hiring a student on a university assistantship in the home unit but would include the student being hired by the major professor’s private company.

If any such conflict of interest exists, it should be reported by the department chair to the academic dean’s office of the student’s academic unit, who will evaluate the situation for potential harm and take appropriate action. If questions or irregularities arise that cannot be resolved within the academic unit, the dean’s office should contact the Dean of The Graduate School or designee for resolution by submitting an exception request to The Graduate School.

University Representative

The University Representative is drawn from outside the student’s department, as well as outside the student’s degree program for interdisciplinary programs. The University representative must be a tenured member of the faculty with Graduate Faculty status and should be free of conflicts of interest with other members of the supervisory committee (see above Supervisory Committee Section). The University representative is responsible for ensuring that the student is treated fairly and equitably in accordance with University, College, and Departmental guidelines and policies, and that decisions made by the supervisory committee reflect the collective judgment of the committee. This responsibility begins with appointment to the supervisory committee and ends with the defense of the dissertation. The University representative should verify that the defense is conducted appropriately, and then submit the online Defense Report to The Graduate School’s Manuscript Clearance Portal within one week of the defense. Content knowledge in the subject of the dissertation is valuable for the University representative, but not required. In addition, the University representative represents the University’s interest and is responsible for ensuring that our doctoral graduates are of high quality. If questions or irregularities arise that cannot be resolved within the college, the University representative should contact the Dean of The Graduate School for resolution.

Time Limit for Completion of Degree Requirements

All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed within five calendar years from the time the student passes the preliminary examination and is admitted to candidacy. At that point if the student has not finished, they must file for an extension. If the student’s major professor and/or Department Chair does not choose to either approve an Extension Request form or require the student to take the preliminary exam and/or coursework again for readmission to candidacy, then the student may no longer be enrolled in that program or at Florida State University. The Extension Request form may be found at The Graduate School website.

Admission to Candidacy

A student who has passed the preliminary examination and has been certified by the Office of the University Registrar (with an admission to candidacy form) is considered a candidate for the doctoral degree and is eligible to register for dissertation credits.

A student must be admitted to candidacy at least six months prior to the granting of the degree. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure a minimal lapse of time for effective work on the dissertation after acquisition of the basic competence and after delineation of the problem and method of attack. More realistically, the student should expect to spend a year or more of work on the dissertation.

Hours

Students must take a total of 24 dissertation hours. No more than 12 hours may be taken in any one semester; however, students must pass prelims before signing up for dissertation hours. They may retroactively add dissertation hours to the term in which they passed preliminary exams but only if they have passed both parts of the preliminary exam by the seventh week of that semester. After having passed preliminaries, students must sign up for a minimum of two dissertation hours every term until submitting the dissertation. Students must be signed up for a minimum of two hours in the term in which they receive their degrees. Students must continue to register for a minimum of 9 credit hours each semester they receive a tuition waiver.

All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed within five calendar years from the time in which the student passes the prelim exam or the student’s supervisory committee will require that a new preliminary exam be passed, unless the committee unanimously agrees to extend the time.

Preparing a Prospectus

The prospectus should be a carefully considered statement of the nature and purpose of the intended dissertation. It should lay out the basic project of the dissertation and include an outline of chapters, methodology, and explanation how the dissertation constitutes a new and compelling contribution to research. It should also have a bibliography. The individual tracks will have their own norms and standards regarding the prospectus. This may include a prospectus defense. The student’s major professor and the committee should be convinced by the prospectus that the project is viable. Consult with your major professor for more information.

Dissertation

It is the responsibility of the major professor to supervise the preparation of the prospectus and the dissertation. The manuscript must be prepared according to the style and form prescribed by the department and must conform to the University requirements regarding format. Before writing the dissertation, the student should become familiar with the University’s manuscript formatting and clearance requirements. The dissertation should be in the hands of the major professor and the examining committee at least four weeks before the date of the oral examination. At the same time, the dissertation should be submitted electronically to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor in The Graduate School so that the clearance advisor can provide the student with a critique of the manuscript with respect to the Graduate School’s formatting requirements. Electronic submission instructions can be found on The Graduate School’s website under Thesis, Treatise and Dissertation.

A student who has completed the required coursework, passed the Preliminary Examination and submitted an Admission to Candidacy form to the Office of the Registrar, and continues to use campus facilities and/or receives faculty supervision, but has not been cleared by the Manuscript Clearance office shall include in the required full-time load a minimum of two credit hours of dissertation per semester, including Summer term, until completion of the degree. A student must be enrolled in a minimum of two hours of dissertation in the semester of graduation. Those with underload permission must register for at least two credit hours of dissertation per semester (or term). Underloads must be approved by the student’s academic dean. Before registering for dissertation hours, the student must consult the major professor as to the proportion of time to be devoted to dissertation work.

Prior to degree conferral, all doctoral students must have completed a minimum of twenty-four credit hours of dissertation. Doctoral students, after completion of the preliminary exam and twenty-four credit hours of dissertation, must be enrolled for a minimum of three credit hours per semester (of which at least two must be dissertation hours) until completion of the degree. For more information on the full-time load for doctoral students, see the “Student Course Load” section of this Graduate Bulletin.

For more specific information on final-semester registration, see the section “Registration for Final Term.”

As a condition of undertaking a dissertation program, the student agrees that the completed dissertation will be archived in the University Libraries system. The student will make the electronic dissertation available for review by other scholars and the general public by selecting an access condition provided by The Graduate School.

The Doctoral Defense

Setting up the Defense: Responsibility for suggesting the time, designating the place, and presiding at the examination rests with the major professor. It is recommended that students defend no later than the eighth week of classes in the semester of intent to graduate. Students must meet all manuscript and forms deadlines set by The Graduate School in the semester of graduation. Consult the Registration Guide for the manuscript submittal and forms deadline dates. These dates also are posted on The Graduate School’s site GradSpace under the Manuscript Clearance submenu.

Registration: Students should register at the beginning of their final term for RLG 8985, Dissertation Defense. The reference number is available from the Religion Dept. Graduate Program Assistant, who will also assist with scheduling a room and time for the defense. The defense is a one-time registration. If the student does not defend, he/she will receive an “I” until the dissertation is successfully defended; there is no need to sign up for the defense a second time.

It is the student’s responsibility, in coordination with his/her major professor, to ensure that the defense is scheduled appropriately, so that the student will have enough time to submit the final dissertation before the submission deadline for the semester in which the defense is conducted. The forms required by committee members to sign will be sent to them via email by the Graduate School, if the student has successfully registered for their defense.

Academic courtesy requires that the dissertation be submitted to each member of the supervisory committee at least four weeks before the date of the oral examination. At the same time, the dissertation should be submitted electronically to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor in The Graduate School so that the clearance advisor can provide the student with a critique of the manuscript with respect to The Graduate School’s formatting requirements. Electronic submission instructions can be found on The Graduate School’s website under Thesis, Treatise and Dissertation.

The supervisory committee, the chair of the major department, and such other members of the faculty as may be appointed by the academic dean will conduct the examination. All members of the graduate faculty are invited to attend. At least two weeks prior to the date of the examination, the student will submit an announcement of the dissertation title, date, and place of the examination to The Graduate School. The announcement must be submitted electronically on The Graduate School’s Manuscript Clearance Portal and will be posted on the Defense Calendar on The Graduate School’s Web site. Electronic submission instructions can be found on The Graduate School’s Web site under Thesis, Treatise, and Dissertation.

All committee members and the student must attend the entire defense in real time, either by being physically present or participating via distance technology. Individual departments may impose stricter requirements on physical attendance, e.g., all members must be physically present. Departments and other degree-granting programs must publicize their policy on defense attendance in their Graduate Student Handbook and in the relevant section of the Graduate Bulletin. If exceptional emergency circumstances, e.g. medical or other emergency situations, prevent the participation of a committee member, then it may be necessary to arrange for an additional appropriately qualified colleague to attend the defense. If the University representative is unable to attend in real-time, then a new, appropriately qualified University representative must be selected to attend the defense. A minimum of four members with Graduate Faculty Status must participate.

The oral examining committee will certify the results of the examination: passed, failed, or to be reexamined. The report of results following a re-examination must indicate the student either passed or failed. To receive a passing grade, the written dissertation must be in final form or require only minor revisions at the time of the defense. A grade of PASS for the defense of dissertation requires at least a majority approval of the committee. Individual departments may impose stricter requirements for what constitutes a grade of PASS. Departments and other degree-granting programs must publicize their policy on this issue in their Graduate Student Handbook and in the relevant section of the Graduate Bulletin. If the student passes, each member must sign the online Manuscript Signature Form to substantiate the results of the defense. A written critique of the conduct of the examination in defense of the dissertation should be submitted by the University representative from the graduate faculty to The Graduate School’s Manuscript Clearance Portal within one week after the date of defense.

After approval by the oral examining committee and completion of the Final Content Approval Form by their major professor(s), the student should electronically submit the final content- approved version of the dissertation to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor. Electronic submission instructions can be found on The Graduate School’s Web site under Thesis, Treatise, and Dissertation. The postdefense, final content-approved version of the dissertation must be submitted to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor in The Graduate School within sixty days after the defense date or by the semester deadline (whichever is earliest). If the appropriate deadline is missed, the student must be reexamined. Consult the Registration Guide for the manuscript submission and forms deadline dates.

Publication of Dissertation

As a condition of undertaking a PhD program, the student agrees that the completed dissertation will be archived in the University Libraries system. The student will make the electronic dissertation available for review by other scholars and the general public by selecting an access condition provided by The Graduate School. The electronic dissertation will also be archived by ProQuest; the student will select an access condition that concurs with the access condition in the University Libraries system.

Publication of the dissertation through standard media for scholarly work is encouraged.

Guidelines for Restrictions on the Release of Theses, Dissertations, and Treatises

The free and open dissemination of the results of research conducted at Florida State University is required if the University is to contribute effectively to the education of its students and to the body of human knowledge. Conflicts can develop among the interests of research sponsors, research directors, and the students doing the research. To ensure that the interests of all parties are protected, the following guidelines should be observed.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) as well as treatises must be made available in their complete and original format. They cannot be subdivided into chapters and disseminated under different distribution options.

Worldwide Access. Recommended to all of our students. This option makes the ETD freely available worldwide via the FSU ETD Digital Library Repository. It should be noted that some publishers may see a conflict with this level of distribution prior to publication.

Embargoed Access (Twenty–four Months). Recommended to students who have a patent application in process or who want to restrict access to the ETD for a limited amount of time in order to pursue commercial interests or other publication. After the restricted time period, the document will be made freely available through worldwide access (option above).

The maximum delay in the release of a thesis, treatise, or dissertation to the FSU Digital Library Repository and ProQuest shall not exceed twenty-four months from the date the thesis, treatise, or dissertation is approved by The Graduate School. In special circumstance, the Dean of The Graduate School may grant an additional delay of forty-eight months in twenty-four month increments, if the case is made that the delay is in the best interest of all parties or if publication or commercial interest in the document is still ongoing. Such a request must be submitted at least one month prior to the expiration of the original period of delay.

A request for such a delay must be submitted to the Manuscript Clearance Portal by completing the Embargo Request section of the Manuscript Access Agreement Form. This request must be approved in the Manuscript Clearance Portal by the major professor (or co-major professors, if applicable), the Manuscript Clearance Advisor, and the Dean of The Graduate School. The department or program chair, or dean of the relevant college may endorse the request if the major professor is retired, deceased, etc.

It should be recognized that adherence to this policy does not constitute a guarantee that information in the sequestered thesis, treatise, or dissertation will not be disseminated by means other than the written manuscript.

Information about particular access issues related to electronic theses, treatises, and dissertations may be obtained from The Graduate School.

Note: Students should not suffer delays in their normal academic progress, including the final defense of the thesis or dissertation, as a result of a desire to delay release of the thesis or dissertation to the library.

The FSU Digital Library Repository, in cooperation with The Graduate School, may provide restricted access to ETDs at FSU (i.e., Campus Community-Only Access). Students may request that full access to their ETD be limited to people connected to FSU’s network.

Please note that approval for Campus Community-Only Access is not automatic. Students must provide “reasonable justification” for their request. Also, in order to be granted Campus Community-Only Access, students must receive approval from their major professor (or co-major professors, if applicable) on the online Manuscript Access Agreement Form.

Final approval may be granted by the Dean of The Graduate School only after the online Manuscript Access Agreement Form is submitted to The Graduate School’s Manuscript Clearance Portal with appropriate approvals and justification. This online form is reviewed by the Manuscript Clearance Advisor at The Graduate School before being reviewed by the Dean.

Clearance for Degrees

A student should apply for graduation online at my.fsu.edu (under the “Academics” tab) in the term that the student anticipates completing the degree. The application window is available in the academic calendar for the applicable term. If a candidate applied for graduation in a previous term but did not complete the degree, the application for graduation will be carried forward to the subsequent term.

A student’s manuscript must be cleared in order to graduate; however, students also must meet departmental and University requirements before they can graduate. A manuscript is considered cleared if the Manuscript Clearance Advisor has approved the formatting of the manuscript AND all online forms have been completed in the Manuscript Clearance Portal. Students should become familiar with the University’s manuscript formatting and clearance requirements before writing their thesis, dissertation, or treatise. Manuscript Clearance Workshops are also held during each semester. Workshop dates are posted to the Thesis, Treatise, and Dissertation section of The Graduate School Web site, as well as to the University’s calendar of events.

All theses, dissertations, and treatises must be electronically submitted to The Graduate School via the ProQuest ETD Administrator Web site; hard copies or submissions via e-mail or any other electronic method will not be accepted. Students should submit their manuscript to The Graduate School at the same time that the manuscript is submitted to the committee prior to the defense. This initial submission is reviewed by the Manuscript Clearance Advisor, who then provides the student with a reviewed, marked-up copy of the manuscript that shows formatting corrections to be made before submitting the post-defense version of the manuscript. After the defense, students submit the final content-approved version of their manuscript, incorporating changes requested by their committee as well as those requested by the Manuscript Clearance Advisor. Students not meeting these deadlines will be considered graduates of the following semester.

Manuscript clearance deadlines change every semester, and can be found at gradschool.fsu.edu. It is students’ responsibility to abide by all university deadlines in the dissertation process.

Semester Deadlines. Four deadlines are posted per semester as follows:

• Last day to submit doctoral dissertation or treatise for pre-defense (initial) format review
• Last day to submit master’s thesis for pre-defense (initial) format review
• Last day for submission of successfully defended, final content-approved thesis, dissertation, or treatise and completion of all required online forms
• Last day for thesis, dissertation and treatise students to receive an e-mail from Manuscript Clearance confirming final clearance

The relevant pre-defense (initial) format review deadline is the date by which students must submit their manuscript to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor for an initial formatting review. Manuscripts will not be reviewed and counted as an initial submission under the following conditions: not submitted via the ETD Web site; poorly formatted based on The Graduate School guidelines, or otherwise appears “sloppy”; sections omitted; page numbers omitted. While it is understood that content will likely change after the defense, it is expected that manuscripts submitted for the initial format review are at least 90% complete and have been formatted in full accordance with the criteria in the most recent version of The Graduate School’s formatting guidelines.

The final deadline indicates the date by which students must submit the post-defense, final content approved version of their manuscript to ProQuest ETD and ensure completion of all required manuscript clearance forms in The Graduate School’s Manuscript Clearance Portal by 11:59 p.m. ET. Although students cannot complete all forms in the Manuscript Clearance Portal directly, they are ultimately responsible for ensuring their committee has completed the needed approvals. Please note: Additional formatting revisions are often required after this date in order for final manuscript clearance to be completed.

Contact the Manuscript Clearance Advisor (clearance@fsu.edu) for any questions regarding the clearance process.

Policy for Awarding Degrees

Florida State University helps students meet their academic goals by monitoring academic progress toward their degree. If a graduate student has completed their respective degree requirements, the academic dean of the student’s program confirms this, and the student is eligible to be awarded the degree, the University reserves the right to award the degree. Once the degree is awarded, the student must be readmitted to Florida State University in order to enroll in any courses.

Graduate students pursuing dual degrees in different disciplines must obtain formal approval of their academic dean, following established University procedures for such approvals. The student’s degree program, not the major, will appear on the diploma. A list of degree programs is available in the “Academic Degree and Certificate Programs” chapter of this Graduate Bulletin.

Should the University invoke its prerogative to award a degree once a student has completed all stated degree requirements, the student may appeal this decision. If the student can demonstrate that continued enrollment is necessary to achieve his or her academic goals, the appeal may be granted. Reasons such as, but not limited to, desire to continue financial aid, participate in student activities, and access student services do not constitute legitimate academic reasons for appeal. The student’s transcript will reflect both the degree program and the major when degrees are posted.

Any graduate student who wishes to appeal for continued enrollment, thereby postponing graduation, must submit a written request to the student’s academic dean no later than ten class days after being notified that the University is invoking its right to award the degree. This appeal will be reviewed by a committee composed of the student’s primary academic dean the Dean of The Graduate School, and the University Registrar. The committee must find evidence to support the student’s claim of a legitimate academic need in order to grant permission to continue taking courses.

Once a degree has been awarded, all coursework leading to that degree is considered final and not subject to change. “Incomplete” grade changes or any other grade changes should be submitted prior to the posting of the degree. Grade changes or withdrawals for coursework that applies to the awarded degree may be considered only in cases of documented University error or in cases where the courses in question are documented as applying to a degree that is still in progress.

Further information regarding the dissertation, including guidelines on proper formatting of the thesis, can be found on The Graduate School website. 

Adapted from the University Registrar.

University Office Hours

Before visiting, please email or call individual offices for any updates to business hours and availability.

• Registrar: Lobby hours and phones staffed until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; registrar@fsu.edu; (850) 644-1050.
• Financial Aid: Lobby hours staffed until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and phones staffed daily until 4:30 p.m.; financialaid@fsu.edu; (850) 644-0539.
• Office of Student Finance: Lobby hours staffed until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and phones staffed daily until 4:00 p.m.; studentfinance.fsu.edu/staff-directory; (850) 644-9452.
• Undergraduate Studies: Lobby hours and phones staffed until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; undergraduatestudies@fsu.edu; (850) 644-2451.
• Health Compliance: University Health Services: Lobby hours staffed until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and phones (850) 644-3608 staffed to 5:00 p.m.

Prior to Registration

• Establish your FSU identity by activating your FSUID and obtaining your FSUCard before preparing for registration. For further details, see the “Types of FSU Identification and Contact Information” section of this chapter below.
• Log into http://my.fsu.edu to check for any checklists, stops, or holds. Be sure to click through the details of each hold to review the contact information and instructions provided there. Contact your departmental office for any clearances or class authorizations you may need.
• Prior to registration, all undergraduate students are expected to access their Academic Requirements Report or Schedule Planner’s “Undergraduate Degree Progress” tool to review any remaining degree and major requirements.
• Health compliance requirements are found at studentinsurance.fsu.edu. The student’s immunization record may be used to show proof of immunizations. Students may also turn in records from their health care provider stamped, signed, and dated for authorization. Students under the age of 18 must have a parent’s or guardian’s signature on the student immunization record authorizing care at the Wellness Center before the student can be treated. Health insurance compliance can only be completed online at studentinsurance.fsu.edu. Healthcare Compliance gives step-by-step instructions for completing this requirement.

Note: First-time students may be required to register for preparatory math and/or English classes to complete registration.

Health Requirements

Health Insurance

All full-time domestic students at Florida State University must show proof of health insurance.

Any part-time, domestic FSU student is ineligible to purchase university-sponsored health insurance and is therefore exempt from the health insurance requirement.

Additionally, all non-United States citizens in F or J status, regardless of their credit load, are required to show proof of health insurance as a condition of their admission to the University. You may elect the student health insurance plan or waive the insurance requirement by providing proof of comparable coverage through the student-insurance website at studentinsurance.fsu.edu. When the insurance waiver is successfully completed, it remains in effect for three semesters. Students who purchase semester-only policies will be required to elect or waive the requirement at the end of the semester in which their policy expires.

If no action is taken, the student will automatically be enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Policy and the premium will be added to their student account.

Students seeking degrees in majors where they are exposed to hazards associated with the major are required to carry health and accident insurance prior to registration every Fall.

The insurance purchase clears the student for the length of the coverage purchased. You can purchase insurance for annual coverage, for Fall-term only, or for the Spring/Summer terms. No Spring-only coverage option is offered. Summer-only coverage is offered for full-time students taking classes during the Summer term.

See also “Health Insurance Subsidy Benefit” below.

Immunization

The State Board of Education requires all entering students born on or after 1/1/1957 to complete Florida State University’s Student Immunization Record and show documented proof of immunization against measles (rubeola), German measles (rubella), and mumps prior to registration.

College-age individuals living in residence halls, shared apartments, and other group housing are at an increased risk for developing meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B—serious infections that can have devastating consequences. State of Florida law mandates that all University students be informed of the risks of infection. Students currently enrolled must either be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B or sign a waiver stating that they have declined to receive the vaccine.

All students are required to show proof of two MMRs, meningococcal meningitis, and hepatitis B vaccinations before they are permitted to register for classes. Information about these vaccinations may be obtained at University Health Services or online at studentinsurance.fsu.edu under the Immunization Requirements tab.

All students are required to complete and submit the Student Immunization Record to University Health Services before registration. Students born before 1/1/1957 must complete the form and decline the meningococcal meningitis and hepatitis B vaccines. The form with its specific instructions is available at studentinsurance.fsu.edu. Please call (850) 644-3608 if you need assistance.

Health Insurance Questions

• Questions about basic health insurance coverage or purchasing school-sponsored health insurance can be addressed to the Health Compliance Office at healthcompliance@fsu.edu or (850) 644-3608.
• Questions about specific benefits included in the school-sponsored health insurance should be addressed directly to United HealthCare Student Resources, the University’s health insurance carrier, at (800) 767-0700.
• Billing questions for services rendered at University Health Services should be addressed to the billing office at (850) 644-5453.
• The plan brochures and summaries of coverage and benefits for the student health plans are posted on the United HealthCare website.
• Contact the FSU Athletics department at (850) 645-2700 for more information about the school-sponsored health insurance plan and its benefits for athletes. The student health plan does cover cheerleaders and members of the Golden Girls as sports club members.
• Students insured by other carriers should contact their carriers for policy limitations and special requirements.

The Registration Process

During each academic term, an official registration window is established for all currently enrolled, degree-seeking students who expect to enroll for the following semester. Students registering for their first semester do so during their orientation. Please note that by registering, students accept both fee and grade liability. Students are advised to organize their materials and plan their schedule before attempting to register online. Class listings for an upcoming term will be available one-to-two weeks prior to the first enrollment appointment for that term. Students must contact the appropriate departmental office for any clearances or authorization needed. Individual instructors should be contacted for courses requiring instructor permission. It is important to take care of any academic or administrative hold (stop) before attempting to register.

Step 1: Prepare for Registration

• Ensure that you have completed all the items listed under the “Prior to Registration” section above.

Step 2: Prepare for Registration

• If you are an undergraduate student, review your degree requirements using the Academic Requirements Report or Schedule Planner’s “Undergraduate Degree Progress” tool. Contact your advisor if you have any questions about your degree requirements. Students are also encouraged to use the “Schedule Assistant” tool. This tool allows you to find, view, and select from a variety of schedule options. Alternately, you use the Class Search feature, too. Information on how to use Undergraduate Degree Progress Schedule Assistant, and Class Search tools can be found in the “How-To Videos” tile of your FSU Student Homepage.
• Consult the General Bulletin or Graduate Bulletin to check if a class requires a laboratory or has pre- or co-requisites that you must complete prior to enrolling in the class. The system does not check for these requirements; students are responsible for ensuring they have completed all the necessary labs/requisites before enrolling in classes with these requirements.
• Search for alternate classes as well.
• Make sure you have met the immunization- and health-insurance compliance requirements noted above.

Step 3: Register through the myFSU Portal

• You can use the myFSU portal to register for, drop, or add classes at any time during the enrollment appointment assigned to you. Your enrollment appointment is determined by the number of credit hours you have earned toward graduation. You cannot register after the ending date of your assigned enrollment appointment.
• Be prepared to request non-primetime class sections to complete your schedule. Be persistent; the effort you spend during registration will save you a great deal of time and effort during the drop/add period.
• The system does not allow you to register for more than 18-credit hours. Your academic dean can provide overload authorization. To register for overload hours, you must go to the Office of the University Registrar. See the “Student Course Load” section of this chapter below.
• The system allows you to register for an underload, but you still must obtain authorization from your academic dean. Remember, if you register for an underload as a domestic student, you may request exemption from the health-insurance requirement from the Health Compliance Office.

Step 4: Pay Tuition

• Tuition must be paid by the posted deadline at studentfinance.fsu.edu. Visit my.fsu.edu for account status and fee-payment options.

Registration by Student Categories

Veterans Priority Registration

Active-military students, student veterans, and military/veteran dependents using federal benefits are eligible for priority registration, which allows these students to register for future-semester class during the first selection window of each class-registration cycle. However, each of these students must first be coded as receiving federal benefits before they are eligible for priority registration and should contact the Student Veterans Center at (850) 644-9562 or veteran@admin.fsu.edu to make sure they are properly coded. After registering for their classes, each of these students must submit the university’s online Request for Benefits form to have their benefit-certification documents submitted within the required timeframe.

Fall- and Spring-Term Course Loads

FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS, the minimum number of hours allowed is 9 credit hours per term and the maximum is 15 credit hours per term. See the Graduate Bulletin for policies regarding course loads for graduate students.

Drop/Add and Changes of Schedule

During the first four days of the term, students can add or drop individual classes, or they may change one class section for another. Students are financially liable for all courses appearing on their schedule after the fourth day of classes. To add courses after the first four days of classes may require the academic dean's approval. Classes dropped during this period do not appear on the student's transcript. Individual courses may be dropped through the seventh week of classes except for mandated college preparatory courses, freshman composition, and courses involved in allegations of academic dishonesty; however, tuition charges remain.

Undergraduate

Approval by the student's academic dean is required to:

• Reduce an academic load below 12 credit hours
• Increase an academic load above 18 credit hours (to a maximum of 21 credit hours)

Graduate

Approval by the student's academic dean is required to:

• Reduce an academic load below 9 credit hours
• Increase an academic load above 15 credit hours (to a maximum of 21 credit hours)

Dean's approval for an overload or underload must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar. If the student is appointed as a graduate assistant or is supported on a fellowship, an underload request form must be completed and submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval.

Seventh Week Deadline & Drops

Graduate Students

After the seventh week of classes, courses may be dropped only in exceptional circumstances. Approval is required by the advisor and the academic dean. Such courses will appear on the student's transcript with the notation “WD.” Students who register for courses but who do not attend the classes will receive grades of “F” if the courses are not officially dropped. Students changing from a previous Bulletin year should consult their academic dean regarding limitations concerning the policy described above.

Note: Students who have a bachelor's degree and return for a second bachelor's degree may petition for a late drop within the same semester timelines as noted above.

FORGIVENESS POLICY: Effective Fall 2004, Florida State University discontinued the “forgiveness policy” for all students.

Attendance Policies

Required First Class Meeting Attendance Policy

Attendance at the first class meeting is mandatory unless properly excused by the class’s instructor. University-wide policy requires all students to attend the first class meeting of all classes for which they are registered. Students who do not attend the first class meeting of a class for which they are registered will be dropped from the class by the academic department that offers the class. This policy applies to all levels of classes and to all campuses and study centers. This policy does not apply to any class added after its first official meeting. It remains the student’s responsibility to verify class drops and check that fees are adjusted.

Note: Students who have received some or all their financial aid prior to the end of the drop/add period for a term may be subject to repayment of financial aid if there is a change in their financial aid eligibility. Examples of this may include, but are not limited to, reduction of class load below required levels, cancellation of schedule, failure to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements, and other conditions required to maintain financial aid eligibility.

Student Cancellation of Schedule

To cancel scheduled class enrollment, a student may drop all classes during the first four days of any term/semester (the drop/add period), or in the case of summer term, the first four days of any session, through the online student portal.

Alternately, notification may also be sent from the student’s official e-mail account to the Office of the University Registrar at registrar@fsu.edu. Panama City students can email registrar@pc.fsu.edu.

Students who cancel their registration during the official drop/add period are not fee-liable for tuition; if tuition has been paid, such students should request a full refund of fees from the Office of Student Business Services.

Enrollment and Readmission after a Period of Non-enrollment

Undergraduate and non-degree-seeking students who cancel their registration, and who are not enrolled for the following two terms (non-enrollment for three consecutive terms) must apply for readmission. All graduate, law, and medicine students who cancel their registration and were not enrolled for the preceding semester (non-enrollment for two consecutive terms) must apply for readmission.

Beyond the drop/add period, a student cannot voluntarily cancel registration but must apply for withdrawal from the University. Students who must drop all classes after the official drop/add period should contact Withdrawal Services. Panama City students should contact Student Affairs, Barron Building, Panama City, FL 32405; (850) 770-2172.

International students who wish to cancel their registration or withdraw from the term must request and receive prior authorization from a Center for Global Engagement advisor. Additionally, international students should submit the SEVIS Update Form available at cge.fsu.edu.

Students who have elected to purchase student health insurance and cancel their schedules must notify the Health Compliance Office at healthcompliance@fsu.edu. Insurance charges are NOT automatically removed from the student’s account when schedules change.

The University may automatically drop students for non–payment of tuition. For more information, see ‘Cancellation of Student Schedules for Non-payment of Tuition and Fees’ in the “Financial Information” chapter of this Registration Guide.

Note: Students who have received some or all financial aid prior to the end of a term’s drop/add period may be subject to repayment of financial aid if there is a change in their financial aid eligibility. Examples of this may include, but are not limited to, reduction of course load below required levels, cancellation of schedule, failure to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements, and other conditions required to maintain financial aid eligibility.

Withdrawal from the University

All students who wish to leave the University during a term must formally withdraw from any classes that remain on their schedule after the end of the drop/add period. Dropping all classes does not constitute formal withdrawal. Students who do not attend classes and fail to withdraw will be assigned a grade of “F” for each class.

A withdrawal cannot be automatically approved; the student must make a formal withdrawal request. Withdrawals are initiated in the withdrawal services section of the Department of Student Support and Transitions located in the University Center. The statement “Withdrew from the University” will appear on the transcripts of students who properly withdraw. Under documented exceptional circumstances beyond the student’s control, as determined by the appropriate academic dean, a student withdrawing from the University may receive “WD” grades in all classes taken that term. Students who petition for a withdrawal under medical or mental health reasons will have a transcript notation of “WD” grades for all classes taken that term. These grading policies also apply to classes taken on a S/U basis.

Note: Withdrawals requested after the seventh week of the term (see the academic calendar of the specific term for dates) are grade-liable and will appear on the transcript for all classes. Students are encouraged to discuss their individual circumstances with their academic dean.

Students who cancel their enrollment during the drop/add period are not held liable for tuition and registration fees. Those who have paid are eligible for a full refund. Students who withdraw after the drop/add period, but prior to the end of the fourth week of classes, are eligible for a twenty-five percent refund of tuition and registration fees, less the building and capital improvement fees; this deadline is adjusted for shorter summer-term sessions. Students who withdraw after this deadline are fully liable for fees and are not eligible for a refund except as provided in policies set forth by the State Board of Education and Florida State University.

Students who receive Title IV funds and who decide to cancel their schedule during the drop/add period, or those who withdraw from the University, may be required to repay some or all funds received.

A student wishing to reenter the University in any of the following three terms after withdrawal must have the approval of their academic dean on the ‘Application for Withdrawal and Reentry form. Degree-seeking students wishing to reenter the University after three terms (including summer) must apply for readmission to the Office of Admissions; non-degree seeking students must complete the original application process. Formal application must be made to the Office of Admissions by the published deadline. Students who left the University on dismissal must resolve the dismissal and be reinstated by the academic dean before any decision can be made on the readmission application.

International students who wish to withdraw must request and receive prior authorization from a Center for Global Engagement advisor, and submit the SEVIS Update Form. See cge.fsu.edu for additional information.

Student-athletes who wish to withdraw must receive prior authorization from Student-Athlete Academic Support.

Student-veterans who wish to withdraw should speak with a staff member at FSU’s Student Veterans Center by calling (850) 644-9562, faxing (850) 645-9868, emailing veteran@fsu.edu, or coming to the campus office located at A4300 University Center. Additional information for Veterans can be found by visiting veterans.fsu.edu.

Students who have elected to purchase student health insurance must notify the Health Compliance Office in writing at healthcompliance@fsu.edu of withdrawal from the University. Students withdrawing before the 31st calendar day of the term for which insurance was purchased will receive a full premium refund less any claims paid. Students withdrawing after the 31st calendar day of the term for which insurance was purchased can only request cancellation of the insurance if they are leaving the University to join the military. Otherwise, they have met the attendance requirement to keep the coverage and the charges on their account will be due as posted at Student Business Services.

For all other questions, contact Withdrawal Services at (850) 644-1741.

Additional Types of Registration

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University–Florida State University Interinstitutional Registration

(FAMU–FSU Cooperative Program)

Under a cooperative arrangement with Florida A&M University, Florida State University students may take courses at FAMU that will count as credit earned at Florida State University. A full-time student at one institution may enroll in one or more classes at the other institution under the following conditions:

• The academic dean of the student’s home university must grant permission.
• Courses offered at Florida State University may not be taken at FAMU. Exceptions may be granted by the student’s academic dean, whose office also determines eligibility based on courses already completed at Florida State University.
• Students taking classes at the host university on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) basis will be held to the home institution’s policies regarding the total number of classes allowed on S/U basis or in a specific degree or major. Students are encouraged to consult their academic advisor about any limitations prior to registration.
• The student’s final grade is directly reported to the student’s home university for entering on the student’s transcript. Grades, credits, and quality points are treated as home-institution work.
• All tuition and fees are paid to the home institution.
• Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative Florida State University GPA to be eligible to participate in the co-op program. Prior to attempting 12-credit hours, students who fail to maintain the 2.0 GPA may consider themselves on probation, although no entry will be placed on their transcript. They may continue to enroll, assuming they meet all other conditions of eligibility. After attempting 12-credit hours, students must meet and maintain the minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA to continue enrolling through the program.

To register, see the FAMU–FSU Cooperative Program representative in the Office of the University Registrar. You may also obtain additional information and forms at registrar.fsu.edu. For engineering requirements, see the “FAMU–FSU College of Engineering” chapter in the General Bulletin.

Before students can register for classes, they must provide proof of immunization. Immunization compliance requirements are listed on the Student Health Insurance webpage at studentinsurance.fsu.edu. If the immunization document being submitted is the FAMU immunization form, two copies of the form are required.

Note: Faculty and full-time students at either institution have equal access to the library facilities at both institutions.

Registration by State Employee Tuition Waiver

Full-time state employees may use the State Employee Tuition Waiver to register for classes at Florida State University on a space-available basis. Registration takes place during the regular registration appointment assigned to each student. FSU accepts only the official State Employee Tuition Waiver Form to process waivers. Individuals using the waiver must be fully admitted degree-seeking or non-degree seeking students. The form is available online at studentfinance.fsu.edu/forms. Agencies may require additional paperwork or forms that will not be accepted at FSU unless accompanied by the State Employee Tuition Waiver Form. State employees using a tuition waiver must obtain supervisor signatures and agency head approval. Forms must be submitted via DocuSign by the tuition payment deadline. State employees using a tuition waiver must complete the registration process and submit the tuition waiver to the Office of Student Business Services.

Registration in classes using the state employee tuition waiver is limited to a space-available basis. Individuals using the state tuition waiver must be fully admitted, degree-seeking or non-degree students. Florida State University does not consider the following to be space-available classes: audited classes, approved undergraduate specialized admission programs, remedial classes; dissertation, thesis, and directed individual study (DIS) classes; internship classes; Center for Academic and Professional Development (CAPD) classes; College of Medicine classes; College of Law classes; other one-to-one instruction classes; and all non-state-funded classes (including some distance learning classes that are funded solely by student tuition and fees). As such, state employee tuition waivers may not be used for these classes. Please contact the academic department to inquire about a class’s funding type.

Additional restrictions and deadlines apply. For more information, including the link to download the State Employee Tuition Waiver Form, visit the Office of Student Finance website.

Registration for FSU Employees

Employees of Florida State University intending to take Florida State University classes may do so through the FSU Employee Scholarship program. For more information, including the link to download the application, visit the Office of Student Finance website.

Registering for Auditor Seating Privileges

The Office of the University Registrar serves as the academic dean for all non-degree students, including those individuals enrolling in classes on an audit basis. Since no credit is allowed for attendance via auditor seating privilege, formal admission to the University is not required; however, minimal demographic data must be provided as part of the approval and enrollment process. The class(es) taken will not appear on the student’s permanent record. Auditor seating privileges may be approved after registration closes on a space-available basis with permission of the instructor and the Office of the University Registrar serving in its capacity as the academic dean. If audit privileges are approved, individuals must submit payment of the prescribed fee for each class. Audit request forms may be obtained from the Office of the University Registrar’s website.

Students are cautioned not to pre-register for any class they intend to audit. They will have to drop the class(es) from their official schedule and will incur additional financial liability.

Note: Standard tuition costs apply. All individuals auditing classes may register for up to 16-credit hours; enrollment beyond this limit in a single term is not permitted. Seating-privilege fee- information for citizens 60 years of age or older is found below under “Registration for Floridians over 60 Years of Age.”

Procedures

During the first week of classes, obtain the audit registration form online or you may pick up an audit registration form from the Office of the University Registrar.

1. Fill out the form and obtain both the instructor’s approval and clearance from University Health Services.

2. Return the approved form to the Office of the University Registrar for final approval and class registration. Registration must be completed to attend a class.

3. Pay fees during the fee payment period. Tuition must be paid by the posted deadline at studentfinance.fsu.edu. Visit my.fsu.edu for account status and fee-payment options. No waivers or deferments may be used by anyone under 60 years of age.

4. Present the form to your instructor at the next class meeting.

Note: If you have already registered for the class you wish to audit, you must drop it within the drop/add period before the audit request can be processed. For the policy for audited-class refunds please refer to the “Financial Information” chapter of this Registration Guide.

Registration for Floridians over 60 Years of Age

All fees are waived for persons sixty years of age or older who are Florida residents and who attend credit classes. Under this tuition-free option, registration is allowed on a space-available, audit-basis only and does not include thesis, dissertation, applied music classes, or other classes requiring individual instruction. No credit will be given, and no permanent record will be maintained. Audit forms are available online or from the Office of the University Registrar. Proof of age and Florida residency must be presented to the Office of the University Registrar to validate audit-waiver eligibility.

Grade Reports

Term grades are reported via the myFSU portal at my.fsu.edu through the My Courses portlet. Grade changes processed after the initial grade posting will not display and may be viewed on the unofficial transcript.

Graduation

To remind and prompt students to initiate their required graduation check, staff in the Registrar’s Office will place a hold on student accounts that either 1) total 90 credit hours between a combination of earned and currently-in-progress coursework, OR 2) show the student is two terms away from their planned graduation date. This hold is removed after the student follows up with their college(s).

Application for graduation must be made by the published deadline; students can apply online through the myFSU portal. Students who graduate in Fall 2024 must apply for and be readmitted to register for Spring 2025 or any subsequent term. Likewise, students who graduate in Spring 2025 must apply for and be readmitted to register for Summer 2025 or any subsequent term.

Types of FSU Identification and Contact Information

The Florida State University EMPLID

To better protect the identity of individuals within our campus community, Florida State University creates a unique nine-digit number identifier for each student and employee called the EMPLID. You can find your EMPLID by logging in at my.fsu.edu. It is displayed in My Info.

The FSUCard

The FSUCard is your official University identification card and is used across campus for all things FSU. It serves as a primary form of University Identification and should be always kept with you. Keep your FSUCard safe—don’t share your FSUCard information with others. Think of it as your license for campus life.

The FSUCard grants access to University libraries; residence halls; buses and other transportation services; campus recreation facilities; the testing center; and other campus and athletic events.

There is no charge for your initial card. However, if you lose or damage the card, the FSUCard Center will replace it for a fee. An FSUCard semi-annual fee of $5.00 applies to students each Fall and Spring semester. For more information, please visit fsucard.fsu.edu. You may also visit the FSUCard Center 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, call (850) 644-7777, or email fsucard@fsu.edu.

FSU Cash

FSUCard holders automatically receive an FSUCash account. FSUCash is an on-campus “pocket change” account, offering a convenient payment option for on-campus services and use at Seminole Dining locations, the FSU Bookstore, the UPS Store, and more. FSUCash is the only payment accepted at the FSU Testing Center, residential hall laundry, and copy/print services.

FSUCash rolls over from semester to semester and year to year. However, after 12 months of inactivity, a monthly deduction will be taken from the FSUCash account. This fee will not result in a negative balance or affect the card’s other functions. To avoid the automatic deduction, a purchase or deposit must be made within a 12-month timeframe. FSUCash refunds are available upon request by emailing fsucard@fsu.edu.

Current FSUCash balances can be checked using my.fsu.edu, or by downloading the eAccounts mobile app. For more information, please visit fsucard.fsu.edu. You may also visit the FSUCard Center 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, call (850) 644-7777, or email fsucard@fsu.edu.

Your FSUCard Is Your Library Card

You must present your FSUCard to enter and exit campus libraries, so make sure to always have it on hand. From borrowing books and equipment to reserving study rooms, your FSUCard does everything a regular library card does, and more. For more information, visit lib.fsu.edu.

Official Email Accounts for All Students at Florida State University

The official method of communication at Florida State University is your FSU email account. To stay informed and aware, you are required to set up and maintain your account and check it regularly. If you choose to have your FSU official account forwarded to another email account, you are still held responsible for all information distributed by the University to your FSU account.

Florida State University’s Information Technology Services offers a suite of email and online collaboration services for students, which includes:

• Cloud-based mailbox
• Digital calendar and contacts
• Mobile access to FSU email via Outlook app
• Integration with Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote
• Access to Microsoft 365 services, including OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams

For more information, visit its.fsu.edu/services/fsu-email.

Questions regarding FSU email accounts can be answered by contacting the ITS Service Desk at 850-644-4357 or its.fsu.edu/help.

Student Communications and Records—Privacy and Access

IMPORTANT: Please refer to the “University Notices” section of this Registration Guide for

full details regarding:

• The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA),
• release of student information, and
• requesting that directory information not be published.

Phone Monitoring

Students should be aware that phone calls placed to Florida State University’s interactive telephone network may be periodically monitored to ensure that the appropriate quality control is maintained.

Parental or Third-Party Access to Records

Students may give a designated parent(s)/guardian(s), or other third parties (i.e., sibling, spouse, etc.), authority to review their University financial status, grades, transcript, student profile. Granting access to a parent/guardian or third party to view information in this manner also authorizes University personnel to discuss those records with the designated individual(s). Students should be aware that any individuals granted such access may see the selected student’s academic records, including but not limited to preferred name, gender identity, personal pronouns, classes, grades, billings, etc.

Enrollment Verification

Student enrollment verification is granted only through the submission of an official request. Students who require enrollment verification should visit registrar.fsu.edu/records/certification for further instructions. Former students or outside agencies may request an enrollment verification or degree verification online from the National Student Clearinghouse.

There are several requirements that graduate students must meet before being allowed to be a teaching assistant or an instructor of record. They are described below. To be a teaching assistant one must reach Category 2. To be an instructor of record one must satisfy the requirements for Category 4. It is the policy of the Religion Department that all incoming graduate students do the online certification training run by the Center for Advancement of Teaching up to Category 4. For further details about this training, go to: teaching.fsu.edu/required-training/.

These are University-wide standards that any graduate student must meet prior to assuming one of the various instructional roles. These are meant to be university-wide minimum standards; departments may adopt additional or more stringent standards. Programs that do not use graduate students in instructional roles would not be affected by these standards. They are meant to cover the formal use of graduate teaching assistants (TAs) in course instruction. Extra help sessions and voluntary tutorials in addition to regular class meetings would not normally fall under these requirements. The companion policy, University-wide Standards for Undergraduate Teaching Assistants at Florida State University details the policies that apply to the use of undergraduates as TAs.

Description of Duties and Minimum Requirements for Different Categories of Instruction

Category 1. Duties: This category may include a variety of duties for undergraduate-level courses. TA responsibilities cannot involve routine direct contact with a group of undergraduate students in face-to-face or online instructional support roles. Limited one-to-one engagement (e.g., office hours) is permissible. Examples of appropriate tasks include grading of multiple-choice type assignments, the setup of laboratory demonstrations, and clerical course management tasks. If routine instructional contact with a group of undergraduates is expected, then the TA must meet the English language competency standard required for a Category 2 appointment.

Required qualifications and training:

• Program-specific guidelines for the specific duties
• Undergraduate degree in discipline or related field
• Some graduate work completed or enrolled in
• Must successfully complete all requirements for Module 1 of the Essential Policies and Practices Training for TAs sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT) before the commencement of one's TA duties. Module 1 includes required training on the Sexual Harassment Policy, Academic Honor Policy and the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Module 1 also includes training in the use of Course Management System (CMS) for instruction, time management for TAs, and interacting professionally with one's students. Equivalent preparation offered by the academic unit (that has been approved by The Graduate School) may be substituted for Module 1 of the Essential Policies and Practices Training for TAs, and this alternative must include training in the specific policies noted above.
• Supervision by a faculty member in the teaching discipline
• Planned and periodic evaluations of the TA

Category 2. Duties: For assignment to undergraduate courses, this category includes a variety of duties (e.g., grading of undergraduate-level work; tutoring; proctoring of computerized exams and laboratories; assisting with or leading laboratory, recitation, or discussion sections; or assisting students with software or equipment use). When grading undergraduate-level work performed by graduate students, potential conflict of interest or grading within the programmatic cohort (as defined in Category 5) should be avoided. Any anticipated grading within the programmatic cohort must be reported to the Academic Dean's Office at the beginning of the semester. This category assumes a greater degree of interaction with undergraduate students than Category 1 and thus, requires a higher level of competency in spoken English.

A Category 2 TA may provide assistance in graduate-level or co-listed courses (4000/5000 or 4000/6000 combined courses). Examples of appropriate tasks for Category 2 TAs in graduate- level or co-listed courses include setting up laboratory demonstrations, proctoring exams, moderating a discussion board, distributing assignments, preparing class materials/presentations/visual aids, taking attendance, or recording questions and responses in class, recording lectures, assisting students with software or equipment use, other clerical tasks, and grading of undergraduate-level work. No grading or comparable assessment of graduate-level work for graduate-level credit, and instruction of content not previously introduced by the IOR may be performed by Category 2 TAs assigned to graduate-level or co- listed courses.

Required qualifications and training:

• Program specific guidelines for the specific duties
• Undergraduate degree in discipline or related field
• Some graduate work completed or enrolled in
• Must successfully complete all requirements for Module 1 of the Essential Policies and Practices Training for TAs sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT) before the commencement of one's TA duties. Module 1 includes required training on the Sexual Harassment Policy, Academic Honor Policy and the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Module 1 also includes training in the use of Course Management System (CMS) for instruction, time management for TAs, and interacting professionally with one's students. Equivalent preparation offered by the academic unit (that has been approved by The Graduate School) may be substituted for Module 1 of the Essential Policies and Practices Training for TAs, and this alternative must include training in the specific policies noted above.
• Supervision by a faculty member in the teaching discipline
• Planned periodic evaluations of the TA

Note 1: The distinction of Categories 1 and 2 recognizes that the extent of interaction with undergraduates, and thus the necessary spoken English competency of the TA, varies across disciplines though the position title is the same.

Note 2: Regarding Category 3 and 4 Appointments, these types presume the graduate TA is the IOR for an undergraduate course only (1000-4000 course level, no co-listed courses). The policy forbids a graduate student from being the IOR or taking on the lead instructor role for a graduate course or co-listed course. Units may apply to The Graduate School for exceptions to this rule. When grading undergraduate-level work performed by graduate students registered in undergraduate courses, potential grading within a programmatic cohort (as defined in Category 5) should be avoided. Any anticipated grading within a programmatic cohort must be reported to the Academic Dean's Office at the beginning of the semester.

Category 3. Duties: Instructor of record in lower-level undergraduate courses (1000–2000 level).

Required qualifications and training:

• A minimum of 18 hours of graduate coursework in the teaching discipline
• Must successfully complete all requirements for Modules 1 and 2 of the Essential Policies and Practices Training for TAs sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT) before the commencement of one's teaching duties or an equivalent offered by the academic unit (that has been approved by The Graduate School).
• Modules 1 and 2 of the Essential Policies and Practices Training for TAs address the following policies which are required for this category: Sexual Harassment Policy, Academic Honor Policy, FERPA, American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Grading Policies, Textbook Adoption Procedure Policy, Syllabus Policy, Class Attendance Policy, Final Exam Policy, Copyright Law Regulations (Copyright Revision Act of 1976 “fair use”), and Course Evaluation Policy. Modules 1 and 2 also include training in a number of topics that are of value to TAs, e.g. the use of the CMS for instruction, time management for TAs, interacting professionally with one's students, dealing with distressed students, diversity in the classroom, grading and assessment.

Note: Alternative “equivalent training” that is provided by an academic unit must include training in the specific policies indicated above.

• Student participation in a “teaching in the discipline” course or equivalent academic unit orientation
• Direct supervision by a faculty member in the teaching discipline
• Planned and periodic evaluations of the TA

Category 4. Duties: Instructor of record in upper-level undergraduate courses (3000–4000 level).

Required qualifications and training:

• Master's degree or at least 30 hours of graduate coursework in the teaching discipline
• Must successfully complete all requirements for Modules 1 and 2 of the Essential Policies and Practices Training for TAs sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT) before the commencement of one's teaching duties or an equivalent offered by the academic unit (that has been approved by The Graduate School).
• Modules 1 and 2 of the Essential Policies and Practices Training for TAs address the following policies which are required for this category: Sexual Harassment Policy, Academic Honor Policy, FERPA, American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Grading Policies, Textbook Adoption Procedure Policy, Syllabus Policy, Class Attendance Policy, Final Exam Policy, Copyright Law Regulations (Copyright Revision Act of 1976 “fair use”), and Course Evaluation Policy. Modules 1 and 2 also include training in a number of topics that are of value to TAs, e.g. the use of the CMS for instruction, time management for TAs, interacting professionally with one's students, dealing with distressed students, diversity in the classroom, grading and assessment.

Note: Alternative “equivalent training” that is provided by an academic unit must include training in the specific policies indicated above.

• Student participation in a “teaching in the discipline” course or equivalent academic unit orientation
• Direct supervision by a faculty member in the teaching discipline
• Planned and periodic evaluations of the TA

Category 5. Duties: Providing assistance to lead instructors of graduate-level or co-listed courses. In addition to duties described for Category 2 TAs, Category 5 TAs may perform limited grading and instruction. Grading is supervised by the IOR and should be based on faculty-created criteria (e.g. rubrics, point-breakdowns, sample solutions, etc.). Final assignment of grades is reserved for the IOR.

Category 5 TAs must defer to the IOR for all final decisions. When interacting with students, Category 5 TAs should communicate their support role to the students enrolled. They should explain that grading is based on faculty-provided criteria, is reviewed by the IOR, and can be discussed with the IOR.

Category 5 TAs may provide limited instruction in graduate-level and co-listed courses. In addition to reviewing material previously introduced by the IOR, Category 5 TAs may present new material on their own in rare instances, and only after discussing the planned lecture with the IOR first. They may present new material several times throughout the semester if the supervising faculty member is in attendance at each of these sessions. At a minimum, a super-majority of class sessions that introduce new material should be led by the IOR.

Category 5 TAs may not assign final course grades, but may assign grades on daily work, quizzes, laboratory participation, etc. Category 5 TAs may not develop course material unless it is in direct consultation with and review from the IOR. Furthermore, Category 5 TAs may not grade students who fall under the university's Conflict of Interest policy or within the TA's programmatic cohort. For the purposes of this policy, a TA's programmatic cohort is defined as the group of graduate students in the unit where the TA is pursuing a degree or certificate who are enrolled in many or most of the same courses as the TA within the same times frame as the TA. Units must ensure that no conflict of interest or no grading within their programmatic cohort will exist.

Required qualifications and training:

• Minimum of 18 hours of graduate coursework in the teaching discipline
• Must successfully complete all requirements Modules 1,2, and 3 of the Essential Policies and Practices Training for TAs sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT) the commencement of one's teaching duties or an equivalent offered by the academic unit (that has been approved by The Graduate School).
• Modules 1, 2, and 3 of the Essential Policies and Practices Training for TAs address the following policies which are required for this category: Sexual Harassment Policy, Academic Honor Policy, FERPA, ADA, Grading Policies, Textbook Adoption Procedure Policy, Syllabus Policy, Class Attendance Policy, Final Exam Policy, Copyright Law Regulations (Copyright Revision Act of 1976 “fair use”), and Course Evaluation Policy. Modules 1, 2, and 3 also include training in a number of topics that are of value to TAs, e.g. the use of the CMS for instruction, time management for TAs, interacting professionally with one's students, dealing with distressed students, diversity in the classroom, grading and assessment.
• Note: Alternative “equivalent training” that is provided by an academic unit must include training in the specific policies indicated above.
• Student participation in the Category 5 TA Training; must complete Module 1 and 2 prior to the semester, and Module 3 either prior to or during the semester of a student's first Category 5 assignment. The training covers, among other topics, potential conflict of interest situations and how to resolve them, navigating professional and student roles within the same program, and more.
• Direct supervision by a faculty member in the teaching discipline
• Planned and periodic evaluations of the TA

Certification of Spoken English for Graduate Teaching Assistants

As noted above, Academic Deans are required to certify to the Dean of The Graduate School (or designee) that the TAs in the college are competent to teach. This statement should also include certification that all graduate TAs whose native language is not English are competent to teach in spoken English.

All international graduate students who are not native speakers of English, and who are going to be TAs, should take the SPEAK test when they arrive on campus (as noted below, students who scored 26 or higher on the speaking portion of the IBTOEFL may be exempted from taking the SPEAK test). The Center for Intensive English Studies (CIES) administers and scores the SPEAK test, CIES also offers courses in spoken English (EAP courses). The SPEAK test is administered several times in the week(s) prior to the beginning of each semester, and the scores are available within three to four days of the date the test is administered. Scheduling and registration information can be found on the Center for Intensive English Studies website.

Departments/units are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to receive an initial estimate of speaking ability. In addition, the SPEAK is routinely administered as an end-of-term evaluation for students enrolled in EAP courses. TAs not enrolled in EAP courses may also take the test at that time. Course offerings, as well as test dates for SPEAK tests, are distributed periodically to departments via e-mail to TA coordinators. This information is also available on the CIES website.

The standards for certification of spoken English are as follows:

• A score of 50 or higher on the SPEAK test, or 26 or higher on the speaking portion of the IBTOEFL, certifies a student to serve in all categories.
• A score of at least 40 on the SPEAK test is acceptable for a TA appointed in Category 1. Appointment in this category is appropriate if there is no or limited direct contact with undergraduate students e.g., is responsible for grading tests and/or only providing direct support to an instructor. If there is to be any routine direct communication with a group of undergraduate students whether face-to-face or online, the higher standard applies. Limited one-to-one engagement e.g., office hours is permissible.
• A score of 45 on SPEAK, or 23-24 on the Speaking section of TOEFL iBT, certifies a TA to serve in Categories 1; and in Category 2 for up to two semesters if also concurrently enrolled in an appropriate EAP course(s). If, by the end of these two semesters, the student's skills have not improved sufficiently to achieve a score of 50 on the SPEAK exam, the student will be eligible to teach only in Category 1. The student will be allowed to continue to serve in Category 2 or serve as IOR in Category 3–4 by meeting at least one of the following two criteria:
  • Achieve a score of 50 on SPEAK.
  • Enroll in Advanced Spoken English for ITAs (EAP 5835) and score 90 or better in the course.

Students scoring 40 or below on SPEAK should enroll in the appropriate EAP course if the goal is to serve in Categories 2-4. Once a 45 on SPEAK is achieved such a student will be certified to serve in Category 2 for up to two semesters if also concurrently enrolled in an appropriate CIES English language course(s). If, by the end of these two semesters, the student's skills have not improved sufficiently to achieve a score of 50 on the SPEAK exam, the student will be eligible to serve only in Category 1. The student will only be allowed to continue to serve in Category 2– or serve as IOR in Categories 3-4 by meeting at least one of the following two criteria:

• Achieve a score of 50 on SPEAK.
• Enroll in Advanced Spoken English for ITAs (EAP 5835) and score 90 or better in the course.
• Students serving in Category 5 must achieve a score of 50 on the SPEAK exam before assuming their duties or score a 90 or better in the Advanced Spoken English for ITAs course (EAB5835) offered by CIES.
• The standard for international students serving as ITAs in Modern Language and Linguistics is 45 (SPEAK) or 23 (TOEFL) if the student is teaching a course in their native language.

Exceptions

If a new or existing graduate student is unable, due to extenuating circumstances, to complete the required modules of the Essential Policies and Practices Training for TAs prior to commencing their first semester of being a TA, then the department/unit and academic dean's office may petition The Graduate School for an exception. If the exception is determined to be acceptable, then the student must complete the online required policy modules for their designated TA assignment that are available through CAT or undergo equivalent preparation offered by the academic unit (that has been approved by The Graduate School).

In unique instances, a Department Chair or Dean may appeal the application of these standards by submitting a request to the Dean of The Graduate School (or designee).

Equivalent Previous Experience and Emergencies

Except for the minimum of 18 hours of graduate coursework in the teaching discipline for primary instruction, and in accordance with guidelines provided by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the following options will be available to deal with special circumstances:

• A graduate student who through previous preparation or teaching experience has demonstrated knowledge and strong teaching skills can be exempt from some of the requirements, as appropriate, by certification of the program chair.
• In an emergency, a department/unit may appoint a graduate TA who has not met all the University-wide requirements for that category of appointment if there is an assurance that the student will meet the requirements by the end of the semester/term in which the student is teaching.

Instructor of Record (IOR) Policy

FSU defines the “Instructor of Record” as the individual designated by the academic unit as responsible for a course, including developing its design, delivery, assignments, and assessments. All IORs, regardless of rank or type, must meet the appropriate standards for credentials and appointment. (FSU Policy 3A-6)

Normal policy forbids graduate students from serving as an IOR and teaching a graduate course. This includes co-listed undergraduate/graduate sections. Exceptions can be made by requesting approval from the Vice President for Faculty Development and Advancement through the Dean of the Graduate School. Please refer to FSU's Faculty Handbook (Section 5, under Graduate Teaching Status) for more information on this.

Graduate Students Appointed as Adjuncts

Any graduate student, regardless of job code under which they are appointed, must complete the minimum training appropriate for the level of course and instructional role.

Under unique and extenuating circumstances, an active graduate student (not enrolled in full-time hours) may be approved by their unit and HR to be appointed as an adjunct. If an active graduate student is approved by their unit and HR to be appointed as an adjunct and has not completed the Essential Policies and Practices Training for TAs through CAT, then such trainings (Modules 1, 2 and 3) will be required to be completed prior to their first semester of being an adjunct.

SACS Statement

Graduate Teaching Assistants: master's degree in the teaching discipline or eighteen graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline, direct supervision by a faculty member experienced in the teaching discipline, regular in-service training, and planned and periodic evaluations. [Reference: Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC); Commission guidelines “Faculty Credentials” (Adopted Dec. 2006)].

Sexual Harassment, Academic Honor Policy, and FERPA Policies and Equivalency

University policy on sexual harassment training is provided by the Office of Equal Opportunity and Compliance (EOC) within the Office of Human Resources, the Academic Honor Policy training is offered by the Office of Faculty Development and Advancement, and the FERPA training is offered by the University Registrar. These offices provide training during all Essential Policies and Practices Training for TAs instances.

Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT)

The Center for the Advancement of Teaching (CAT) supports and complements departmental/unit TA training programs. To prepare TAs for immediate undergraduate classroom responsibilities, CAT offers online modules each semester. CAT also offers a wide variety of other services to support and assist graduate students in learning about best practices in teaching and learning, including year-round teaching workshops, reading groups, peer teaching observations, a teaching newsletter, office hours, the CAT Teaching Associate program, and an online training series the “Basics of Teaching @ FSU.”). CAT also highlights and rewards graduate student TAs whose performance is extraordinary with the annual university-wide Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards (OTAA) program, and by highlighting TA excellence in social media posts and the teaching newsletter. In addition, CAT also assists departments/unit in developing TA departmental/unit training programs.

Approval of Equivalent Training

The Graduate School is responsible for collating and approving the equivalent training options provided by academic programs and entering the information into an online database to facilitate the certification of graduate teaching assistants each semester.

Teaching Assistantships

Assistantships not only provide financial assistance but also afford graduate students a structured experience in teaching and research. Graduate assistants receive a stipend and a 9-or 12-hour tuition waiver (Usually, in-state students receive a 12-hour waiver while out of state students receive a 9-hour waiver). The out-of-state portion of tuition is not waived beyond the first year. Thus, students who are not granted state resident status at the time of their admission must petition for a change of that status through the Registrar's Office at the end of their first year (usually in June). Both MA and PhD students receive this funding during the academic year. The teaching assistantships generally constitute the student being an instructor of record or a teaching assistant for a course. Since most of the department’s courses are taught in-person, the department’s ability to fund students is limited if they are not based in Tallahassee. The department does offer some online classes, making it possible but not guaranteed that graduate students who have moved away can receive a teaching assistantship.

As a one-half time appointee, the University guidelines recommend that no more than 20 hours of duties be required of the student weekly, although this may vary depending on the needs of the department. Students are also offered a tuition waiver. The waiver does not cover university fees. Continuation of funding is contingent upon academic progress in the program and fulfilling the obligation of the assistantship. Additional information about funding can be found in your appointment letters. It should also be stressed that your teaching assistantship shall be considered your main form of employment and, as such, outside employment is not encouraged.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships for students already enrolled are awarded and are distributed to students based on (a) an assessment of the student's progress toward the degree as primarily indicated by the Annual Review, (b) the recommendation of the faculty associated with the various courses and the student's past performance as a teaching assistant, if available. Incoming students will usually be awarded teaching assistantships as recommended by the area faculty based on the available information.

Research Assistantships

Financial support varies with the resources of the major professor but should not be lower than the teaching assistantship for equivalent half-time work.

Fellowships

Florida State University provides financial support in the form of fellowships to a number of graduate students. For more information on these awards, please visit the Graduate School’s page on fellowships.

Matriculation Waivers

Students receiving teaching or research assistantships for at least one-quarter time or who are on a fellowship are eligible for matriculation waivers. These provide for a waiver of the instate tuition fees only. Students are still responsible for activity, athletic, health fees, etc. Consult the Graduate Office for the necessary paperwork.

Out-of-State Tuition Waivers

Students receiving teaching or research assistantships for at least one-quarter time or who are on a fellowship are eligible for out-of-state tuition waivers. These provide for a waiver of the out-of-state tuition fees only. Students are still responsible for activity, athletic, health fees, etc. Consult the Graduate Office for the necessary paperwork. U.S. citizens who are non-Florida residents are eligible for an out-of-state waiver for one year. See “Information for New Graduate Students” below for further information on residency.

Taxes on Stipends

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has ruled that student assistantships are not tax exempt. However, some foreign countries have treaties with the U.S., and individuals from those countries may be tax-exempt. Questions about taxes (especially prior returns) should be directed to the IRS.

By demonstrating progress toward the degree and satisfactory performance of duties, Ph.D. students are eligible, in most cases, for a continuation of teaching assignments and financial support for two academic years following successful completion of their comprehensive exams. All decisions about teaching assignments and financial support will be based on Departmental needs and resources.

Grants

Several sources of additional funding are available for graduate students through grants and awards. The department strongly encourages students to apply for funding sources, both internal and external to FSU.

Departmental Level Opportunities

Dean’s Doctoral Scholar Award (DDSA)

This is awarded to one incoming PhD student every year. The award is $2,500 (in addition to the student’s regular stipend) and is renewable for one additional year. The selection of this person is determined by the department’s Graduate Committee. For further information about this award, please contact the department’s Director of Graduate Studies.

Dean’s Award for Doctoral Excellence

This is awarded to two PhD students each year who have completed at least two years of their program. The award is $3,000 (in addition to the regular stipend) and is renewable for two additional years. The selection of the student to receive this award is determined by the Awards Committee. For further information about this award, please contact the department’s Director of Graduate Studies.

Lucius Moody Bristol Graduate Fellows in Religion

Recipients obtain approximately an additional $5,000 per year (in addition to their assistantship stipend). A maximum of two new fellows are designated annually. These traditionally go to students in the ARH and REP tracks. Please contact the faculty in those tracks for more information.

Walter and Marian Moore Travel Award

This award supports travel of graduate students to conferences. Currently an award of $300 is disbursed to three students in the fall term, and three more students in the spring. The Graduate Policy Committee will determine who is eligible for this support on the basis of the following criteria:

• The student must have a paper accepted at a conference
• It must be at an international or national conference
• The student must be ABD; in terms of selecting students, seniority will be a determining factor
• The faculty will also take recommendations by students’ faculty advisors into consideration.

Academic Journal Assistants

Students may be selected to work as editorial assistants for academic journals edited by faculty members of the department of Religion. If you are interested in these opportunities, discuss this possibility with the faculty of your track.

FSU Grants, Fellowships, and Awards

There are numerous grants to which graduate students in the department of Religion can apply that are open to graduate students across the university. This information can be found at gradschool.fsu.edu/funding-awards. If you are interested in applying for an internal FSU grant or fellowship, it is recommended that you discuss this issue with the Director of Graduate Studies. Some of the grants or fellowships require that the student first be nominated by the department before he/she can apply. The awards often in general require that the graduate student be nominated.

The following are some but not all of the internal grants and fellowships that are available. A comprehensive list can be found via the above link.

International Dissertation Semester Research Fellowship Awards

Approximately $7,000-$14,000 plus a full tuition waiver.

Leslie N. Wilson - Delores Auzenne Assistantship

Awards $5,000, which is added to the Religion department graduate assistant stipend for a maximum of approximately $15,000 plus a full tuition waiver.

McKnight Doctoral Fellowship

This is available to students of African-American or Hispanic descent. Awards approximately $12,000 and a full tuition waiver. One applies to this grant concurrent to applying for the Ph.D. program.

FSU Dissertation Research Grants

Assists doctoral students with expenses associated with research necessary to prepare dissertations. Awards will be $1,000 for top tier awardees and up to $750 for second tier awardees.

The Porterfield Prize

The Porterfield Prize is awarded annually to an ARH student given to an ARH student on the basis of a paper they wrote in their coursework during that year. This prize is administered by the ARH track.

External Funding

The Office of Graduate Fellowship and Awards exists to help graduate students find and secure external funding. Visit ogfa.fsu.edu. They are willing to meet individually with graduate students to help them find grant opportunities. Keep in mind that many grants often have their deadlines during the first half of the fall semester. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with the Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards.

A list of funding opportunities that often are of interest to graduate students in Religion include the following.

American Institute of Indian Studies

Provides support for an extended research stay in India.

Boren Fellowships

Awards up to $24,000 for overseas study.

Critical Language Scholarship

Fully funded overseas summer language scholarship for qualifying languages.

Edward H. and Marie C. Kingsbury Award

The amount of the award is approximately $6,000-$10,000 and a full tuition waiver.

Fulbright Scholar Program

Students can have the opportunity to study abroad through this prestigious program.

Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships

Awards a $30,000 stipend plus up to $3,000 for research costs and $5,000 for university fees.

Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

Awards $25,000 for twelve months of full-time dissertation writing.

Religion department graduate students in recent years have won fellowships such as the Charlotte W. Newcombe Dissertation Fellowship, American Association of University Women Dissertation Fellowship, P.E.O. Scholar Award, American Philosophical Society, and others.

Health Insurance Subsidy Benefit

The Health Insurance Subsidy Benefit is a subsidy that is provided to eligible students that applies towards the cost of their University purchased health insurance plan. When a student is determined to be eligible the university will provide a subsidy benefit amount dictated by the student’s FTE. This is the “Employer Portion,” and will be applied to the total amount owed for the policy. The remaining amount which is the “Employee’s Portion,” will be automatically deducted from the employee’s paycheck. Both the “Employer Portion” and “Employee Portion” must be contributed/deducted from the same five paychecks in order to qualify as a pre-tax benefit. The supplement amounts are negotiated with the university on behalf of graduate assistants by FSU-GAU and can be found in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

For more on the process of receiving the subsidy, see The Graduate School’s website.

It is possible for students on FSU’s insurance to get insurance from FSU for their dependents. Visit studentinsurance.fsu.edu for details.

Consult also:

The Graduate School - Enrollment Information

The Graduate School - Graduate Residency

State Residency

All students who wish to claim Florida residency for tuition purposes must complete the residency declaration. In addition, students seeking Readmission to the university must complete this form. The residency form is not required for application review; however, it must be completed prior to the start of the first term of enrollment. Depending upon the review of your declaration, additional documentation may be required to support your claim of residency for tuition purposes. If you have any questions regarding the residency process please contact our office at 850.644.3501 or grad-residency@fsu.edu.

See the online Residency Declaration form for Graduate Students.

Documents supporting the establishment of residency for tuition purposes must be dated, issued or filed 12 months prior to the first day of classes of the term for which residency is sought. All documentation is subject to verification. You should submit two or more of the documents identified below. No single piece of evidence shall be conclusive.

At least one item must be from this list:

• A Florida voter’s registration card.
• A Florida driver’s license.
• A State of Florida identification card.
• A Florida vehicle registration.
• Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual’s parent if the individual is a dependent child.
• Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida.
• Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple years (2 or more years) if the Florida high school diploma or GED was earned within the last 12 months.
• Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for at least 30 hours per week for a consecutive 12-month period.

Items listed below may be used in conjunction with one document from the above list:

• A declaration of domicile in Florida (this is acquired from the Leon County Clerk of Courts)
• A Florida professional or occupational license.
• Florida incorporation.
• A document evidencing verifiable family ties to a Florida resident, as defined by tuition purposes.
• Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or professional organization.
• Any other documentation that supports the student’s request for resident status, including, but not limited to, utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; a lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments; or an official state, federal, or court document evidencing legal ties to Florida.

Getting Established at Florida State

The Graduate School - Enrollment Information

As a new employee please visit the following websites:

• Get FSU Card
• Get FSU Parking Permit
• Activate FSU ID
• Getting set up with an FSU email address: an account will be created for you automatically. You will receive a notification email at all personal email addresses on file for you that will allow you to set up your FSU email
• OMNI Access – once you have an FSU email account, you can log in at my.fsu.edu.

Through OMNI you will be able to view and update information in OMNI Employee Self Service. Using ESS, you will be able to view your biweekly paychecks, update your personal information and complete other OMNI employee transactions. For instructions on how to utilize this functionality within OMNI, please review the Employee Self Service job aids at the Office of Human Resources website.

International Students

The Department of Religion welcomes international students. There are several issues students in this category must understand and deal with in order to make their time in our department a success. The core resource for international students at FSU is the Center for Global Engagement. This office is dedicated to helping international students.

The CGE has put together a helpful website for new students, including a checklist of items international students must attend to. Issues that international students need to consider include:

• Getting a visa
• Meeting FSU insurance requirements
• Arranging housing in Tallahassee before arrival; if you do not have a car you should consider finding an apartment close to campus.
• Be in contact with the Department of Religion administrative staff before arrival to ensure that you properly in-processed as a graduate student of the department
• You should be in Tallahassee and moved into your apartment at least one week before the fall semester begins (that is, generally, the third week of August).
• Summer. It is important that international students understand that their ability to have employment in the US outside of the department is limited. Moreover, while some funding within the department during the summer is possible, it is not guaranteed. Before you arrive you should anticipate the possibility of not getting funding from the department.
• Spoken TOEFL test. This is also called SPEAK exam (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit) You may in addition to the written TOEFL have to take a test that assesses your spoken English. This is administered by the Center for Intensive English Studies. You can find more information about the SPEAK exam on the Center for Intensive English Studies website.

Federal policies and standards regarding visas for international students may change. Updates and current information may be found here.

Life in Tallahassee

The Florida State University Center for Global Engagement has compiled helpful information about living in Tallahassee for international students. It can be found here: https://cge.fsu.edu/living-tallahassee . It includes information on housing, transportation, and Tallahassee in general.

Professional Development and Research Opportunities

The department encourages that graduate students to be active in academic societies and to be informed with regard to graduate affairs and research support on campus.

Academic Societies

American Academy of Religion

American Historical Association

American Schools of Oriental Research

North American Patristics Society

Society of Biblical Literature

SBL Students

Southeastern Commission for the Study of Religion

Listserv

Graduate students will be kept up to date with information about the department through the Relgrads email list: relgrads@lists.fsu.edu. New students will be added to these lists upon enrollment.

Graduate Assistants United (GAU)

United Faculty of Florida – Florida State University – Graduate Assistants United (UFF-FSU- GAU) represents and advocates for the interests of its members and all GAs at Florida State University. GAU was founded in 2008 and is the only legally recognized collective bargaining agent for GAs at FSU; GAU seeks to improve working conditions and defend the working rights of all GAs. For more information or to join, visit fsugau.org.

Collective Bargaining Agreement

View the 2023-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Other FSU Resources

Strozier Library

The library has a liaison program that links a particular librarian with a particular department. The liaison serves as the main point person for that department and is committed to give that department support. This person can be a great resource for graduate students in the department of Religion. The liaison for our department is currently Kimberly Windham (kwindham@fsu.edu). The library compiled several research guides that help introduce students to the resources at the library regarding various fields, including religious and biblical studies.

Office of Digital Research and Scholarship

Graduate students are encouraged to incorporate digital resources into their teaching and research. This office is designed to help graduate students with these endeavors. Please contact them if you are interested in these opportunities.

University Counseling Center

Graduate school can be stressful. FSU has a counseling center which is an important resource for dealing with stress. Please also note FSU’s Student Resilience Project.