Graduate Health–Related Programs
Numerous health-related programs at Florida State University address issues of prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, health sciences, and policy formulation. As part of an effort to develop and promote a coordinated plan for these programs, the following section lists and describes, by program/department, areas of study, services, and (in some instances) certification opportunities for graduate students. For more detailed information and requirements, see individual program listings in this Graduate Bulletin.
College of Communication and Information
The School of Communication Science and Disorders has majors in speech-language pathology and offers the graduate degrees of Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The scope of the School includes the whole of human communication, both normal and disordered, both face-to-face and mediated. Students learn the total processes of communication, develop analytical and communication skills, and obtain experience in evaluation, treatment, and research. For additional information, please refer to the "School of Communication Science and Disorders" chapter in this Graduate Bulletin, e-mail FSUComDis@cci.fsu.edu, call (850) 644-2253, or visit https://commdisorders.cci.fsu.edu/.
The School of Communication Science and Disorders also administers three certificate programs: the Interdepartmental Certificate Program in Developmental Disabilities, the Bilingual Services Delivery undergraduate certificate, and the Graduate Prerequisites (Bridge) Program. The purpose of the Certificate Program in Developmental Disabilities is to provide upper-division undergraduate students from a variety of disciplines with knowledge regarding etiology, assessment, treatment, and policy issues related to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Students seeking certification must complete nine semester hours of coursework and three semester hours of practicum from an approved list of courses and practica. Courses are available in the following disciplines: art education; communication science and disorders; family and child sciences; middle and secondary education; music education/therapy; nursing; nutrition, food, and exercise sciences; physical education; psychology; and social work. The purpose of the 12-credit Bilingual Services Certificate is to offer a certificate focused on bilingual service delivery in speech-language pathology. This certificate is specifically designed to equip students with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to approach clinical practice with bilingual children from an evidence-based mindset. These skills include assessment, treatment plan development, intervention, and plan implementation. The courses are constructed to provide the skills necessary to consume, conduct, and produce research as well as provide clinical service delivery with a focus on bilingual learners in the K-12 setting. All courses focus on topics related to a) cultural responsiveness, b) bilingual assessment, and c) bilingual intervention. An additional certificate program, the Communication Science and Disorders Graduate Prerequisite Program was established to increase access to graduate training programs in Speech Language Pathology. Students with undergraduate degrees in other fields must complete coursework represented by this prerequisite program before beginning graduate study in speech-language pathology at Florida State University or many other programs throughout the nation. This program includes the prerequisite content in a series of six courses offered fully online, two courses each semester. Enrollment may occur at the start of any semester. For additional information, please refer to the "School of Communication Science and Disorders" chapter in this Graduate Bulletin or visit https://commdisorders.cci.fsu.edu/.
The School of Information administers an undergraduate certificate in Health Information Technology and a graduate certificate in Health Informatics. The twelve hours of coursework required for each of these certificates prepare students to be leaders in the Health IT field by strengthening skills in information management, technology integration and implementation, information organization, and information leadership. Students gain a detailed overview of health informatics, providing them with an entry point into the industry and with knowledge and skills that will help them integrate emerging technologies into practice. The courses provide a broad understanding of the industry, current issues and events, such as the "meaningful use" of electronic medical records systems, and eHealth approaches for health promotion and patient self-management. For more information, visit https://ischool.cci.fsu.edu/.
College of Social Sciences and Public Policy
The College of Social Sciences and Public Policy offers the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. MPH degree graduates will be trained principally as health policy analysts. They will have a rich background in epidemiology, environmental health, health economics, health behavior, health administration, health policy and policy analysis, and statistical and qualitative analytic skills. Careers are likely to include government agency or legislative staff positions, policy and consulting firms, healthcare organizations, advocacy organizations and lobbying firms, international organizations focused on health and population issues, and academic or media positions. For additional information, please refer to the "Public Health" chapter in this Graduate Bulletin, call (850) 644-4418, or visit https://coss.fsu.edu/publichealth/.
College of Nursing
The College of Nursing offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Graduates are educated for a variety of advanced practice nursing roles, with an emphasis as a family practitioner, adult gerontology acute care, psychiatric mental health, lifestyle medicine, and executive health systems leadership. Although the content delivery format is online, students interact closely with faculty in a limited number of synchronous one-on-one mentoring, seminars, online class meetings, as well as planned campus visits to support student learning objectives. Clinical opportunities are designed to develop each student's ability to make decisions using evidence based critical thinking, practice creatively and imaginatively to improve patient outcomes, as well as how to navigate and manage the changing landscape of scholarship, discovery, and practice in nursing and healthcare. For additional information, please refer to the "Nursing" chapter in this Graduate Bulletin, e-mail info@nursing.fsu.edu, call (850) 644-3296, or visit https://nursing.fsu.edu.
College of Health and Human Sciences
The Department of Human Development and Family Science's mission is optimizing human development and family well-being. The primary strategy used to achieve this mission is translational family science designed to compress the 17-year gap between scientific finding and implementation of that finding in everyday practice. Human Development and Family Sciences' signature areas of graduate study within translational family science are: a) parenting and peer relationships for minimizing risky behaviors and optimizing child and adolescent development; b) interventions that build individual and family strengths in clinical and community contexts to prevent problems and promote quality of life; and c) methodological training to exploit the untapped potential of large existing data. A particular focus on those made vulnerable by social or legal marginalization. Our commitment to science, both in discovery and its application in practice, prepares graduate students to assume leadership roles in community-based organizations dedicated to protecting children from harm, that promote primary prevention through individual and family resilience, and public sector services to children and families. Doctoral students are eminently equipped to assume positions in higher education, research scientist positions in "think tanks" as well as state and federal government, and to direct program evaluations at local, state and national levels. For additional information, please refer to the "Human Development and Family Science" chapter in this Graduate Bulletin, call (850) 644-4048, or visit https://humansciences.fsu.edu.
The Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology's mission is to contribute to the prevention and/or treatment of chronic diseases through basic and applied research and strong teaching programs that prepare the next generation of scholars and practitioners. The department trains graduate students to become well-grounded in science, to be able to rely on health and information technologies, to be equipped with critical thinking skills, to possess cross-functional knowledge and skills, and to be able to work in interdisciplinary environments. Programs are dedicated to training researchers and practitioners in techniques necessary for effective intervention for the prevention and/or treatment of chronic diseases. Florida State University was the first university to develop majors in nutrition and exercise physiology at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Students are provided with in-depth study of nutrient metabolism, nutrition support in health and disease, health behavior, food science and technology, exercise physiology, and sports sciences. Students may pursue degrees at the master's and doctoral levels with options in nutrition and food science and exercise physiology. Master's students are trained as clinical exercise physiologists and as food scientists or technologists, and are also trained in: dietetics, sports nutrition, sports sciences, fitness, nutrition education, and health promotion. Doctoral graduates are prepared for academic and nonacademic positions. For additional information, please refer to the "Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology" chapter in this Graduate Bulletin, call (850) 644-1829, or visit https://humansciences.fsu.edu/.
College of Social Work
Based on values of service, social and economic justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, and integrity and competence in practice, the purposes of social work are to: 1) enhance human well-being and alleviate poverty, oppression, and other forms of social injustice; 2) enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities by involving them in accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress; 3) formulate and implement social policies, services, and programs that meet basic human needs and support the development of human capacities; 4) pursue policies, services, and resources through advocacy and social or political actions that promote social and economic justice; 5) develop and use evidence-based research, knowledge, and skills that advance social work practices; and 6) develop and apply practice in the context of diverse cultures.
The purpose of social work education is to prepare competent and effective social work professionals, to develop social work knowledge, and to provide leadership in the development of service delivery systems. Social work education is grounded in the profession's history, purposes, and philosophy and is based on a body of knowledge, values, and skills. Social work education enables students to integrate the knowledge, values, and skills of the social work profession for competent, evidence-based practice.
The College of Social Work offers curricula leading to a Master in Social Work (MSW), with specializations in clinical practice and social work leadership, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), along with several certificate programs and Joint Graduate Pathways. For information, please refer to the "Social Work" chapter in this Graduate Bulletin, e-mail info@csw.fsu.edu, call (800) 378-9550 or (850) 644-4751, or visit https://csw.fsu.edu/.