florida state university accreditation

Florida State University Degree Programs Available

Florida State University appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Most Affordable Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans.

Florida State University is a premier, comprehensive graduate university. The school has been recognized for preserving, expanding and disseminating knowledge in many areas while embracing a philosophy of learning that is rooted in liberal arts and critical thinking. The campus is the oldest continuous site of higher education in the state of Florida and has received the Carnegie Commission classification of “Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity.”

Florida State University has a 94 percent retention rate and over a 68 percent four-year graduation rate. The school offers 301 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, certificate and professional levels. The highest ranked degrees offered at Florida State University include Criminal Justice and the graduate degree in Sport Management.

The Bachelor of Science in Criminology at Florida State University provides students with an understanding of how their mind is the strongest tool in fighting crime. Students are taught to be critical, independent thinkers with instruction from expert faculty. The program is available both online and on campus. Courses required may include:

  • Crime and Victim Services
  • Crime Victimization and the Media
  • Criminal and Delinquent Behavior
  • Criminal Justice and Public Policy
  • Crimes Against Humanity
  • Criminology
  • Human Behavior
  • Individual and Society
  • Introduction to Criminal Justice
  • Minorities, Crime and Social Policy
  • Religion and Crime
  • The Social Reality of Black Males
  • Victimology
  • Violence in America
  • White Collar Crime
  • Women, Crime and Justice

The graduate degree in Sport Management at Florida State University prepares graduates for leadership roles in the sports industry. Students may choose either a thesis track or a non-thesis internship track. The thesis track is designed for those who wish to enter research in the field of sports or who wish to develop particular expertise in a certain area. The non-thesis track requires an additional course in a specific interest plus an internship that provides hands-on experience. Courses required may include:

  • Advanced Coaching*
  • Athletic Administration*
  • Athletic Recruitment*
  • Challenges in Sport Management*
  • Diversity in Sport*
  • Facility Management in Sport*
  • Global Issues in Sport Management*
  • Global Sport Venues*
  • Fundraising in Sport*
  • Issues in Sport Law
  • Marketing Sport
  • Motor Learning for Coaches*
  • Professional Development in Sport
  • Research Methods in Sport Management**
  • Sport and Exercise Psychology for Coaches*
  • Sport and the Media
  • Sport, Culture and the Body*
  • Sport Governance*
  • Sport Sponsorship and Sales*
  • Strategic Management for Sport Organizations

*Internships

**Theses option only

About Florida State University

Florida State University unofficially began when the Territorial Legislature of Florida began planning a higher education system in 1823. In 1825, two townships were reserved by the federal government for institutes of higher learning. When Florida was admitted as a state in 1845, two more townships were added as part of the act that gave the territory statehood. State legislature determined that two institutes of higher learning, one male and one female, be established.

By 1854, the City of Tallahassee had established a male school known as the Florida Institute with plans to allow the state to take over the school. The first request by the Florida Institute to be named one of the colleges in Florida failed. In 1856, Mayor Francis Eppes, the grandson of President Thomas Jefferson, again approached Congress about naming the school as a state-supported institution of higher education. Congress accepted the offer not only because of Eppes connections but also due to the railway connections in the city. In 1858, the school absorbed the Tallahassee Female Academy and became co-educational.

In 1863, the name of the school changed to the Florida Military and Collegiate Institute after a military training department was added. Cadets from the school fought in the Battle of Natural Bridge during the Civil War, helping Tallahassee become the only capital east of the Mississippi to resist capture during the war. In honor of their efforts, the Florida State University ROTC is one of only three in the country authorized to display a battle streamer, which reads Natural Bridge 1865, with its flag.

In 1897, the school had evolved into a liberal arts college, the first in the state, and, in 1901, became Florida State College. In 1905, six state institutions were consolidated into two after the establishment of the University of Florida in Gainesville, which was designated a men’s college. Florida State University became a women’s college known as Florida Female College. Male students enrolled at Florida State University were transferred to Gainesville.

The name of the school changed again in 1909 to the Florida State College for Women and become the third largest college for women in the country during the 1930s. After World War II, men were once again appeared on campus with the creation of the Tallahassee Branch of the University of Florida. This was established to provide programs for soldiers returning from the war and using the GI Bill. In 1947, the school became co-educational again and it was renamed Florida State University.

Today, Florida State University is considered a best value public university by Kiplinger and Forbes has ranked the school among the best public institutions.

Florida State University Accreditation

Florida State University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, an independent agency approved by the federal government for their criteria that indicates excellence in education. Accreditations allow students at Florida State University to apply for federal financial assistance. In addition, the school undergoes periodic evaluation to confirm that programs continue to meet the Association’s guidelines. Programs throughout the school are also accredited by the following organizations:

  • Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
  • American Art Therapy Association
  • American Bar Association
  • American Chemical Society
  • American Institute of Certified Planners/Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning/Planning Accreditation Board
  • American Library Association
  • American Music Therapy Association
  • American Psychological Association
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International
  • Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
  • Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • Computing Accreditation Council of ABET
  • Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
  • Council for Interior Design Accreditation
  • Council of Education for Public Health
  • Council on Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
  • Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech/Language Pathology
  • Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
  • Council on Social Work Education
  • Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
  • Liaison Committee on Medical Education
  • National Association of School Psychologists
  • National Association of Schools of Art and Design
  • National Association of Schools of Dance
  • National Association of Schools of Music
  • National Association of Schools of Theatre
  • Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration
  • Professional Golf Association

Florida State University Application Requirements

In order to apply for the Bachelor of Science in Criminology, applicants must hold an associate of arts degree. They must provide official high school transcripts as well as transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Official ACT and SAT scores may also be required.

Applicants to the graduate program in Sports Management must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0. They must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Official GRE scores are also required along with a statement of purpose, at least three letters of recommendation and a current resume.

Florida State University Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition for the online Bachelor of Science in Criminology is $180.49 per credit hour for residents and $686.04 per credit hour for non-residents. On-campus tuition is $215.55 per credit hour for Florida residents and $721.10 per credit hour for non-residents. On-campus graduate tuition is $479.32 for residents and $1,110.72 for non-residents. Online graduate tuition is $444.26 for residents and $1,075.66 for non-residents.

Florida State University has one of the lowest tuition rates in the country. In addition, the school offers a wide range of financial aid programs. Students may be eligible for assistance that is based on need, merit or both. In order to qualify for grants, scholarships, grants, work-study, fellowships or assistantships, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA must be renewed annually.

Florida State University is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and service to the community. They instill strength, skill, and character as well as a desire for lifelong learning in all students. Florida State University also stresses personal responsibility and achievement in the community that embraces diversity while fostering free inquiry.