Engaging Today’s World, Producing Tomorrow’s Leaders

College of Social Sciencesand Public Policy

According to a recent survey, those in key leadership positions in the public and private sectors throughout the world — the people who make the big policy decisions and effect social change — most often have backgrounds in the social sciences.

We know another important factor is that the social sciences attract the kind of people with innate leadership qualities and a passion for tackling the major social and public policy issues facing today’s world.

What we do here at the college, what private support for our students and programs helps make possible, is to take that raw material and mold it into dynamic, effective leadership. The interdisciplinary approach at the basis of our academic programs gives our students a solid background in drawing from multiple perspectives, a key trait of successful leaders.

We have also instituted a number of opportunities for educational and career advancement beyond the classroom through our Get More Than a Degree initiative, which encourages students to actively engage with the world while still at the university, broadening their understanding and focusing their

commitment to become agents of positive change.

From our award-winning faculty to our nationally ranked programs to our engaged and motivated students, we’re proud of the work we do here at the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy and invite you to engage with us.

Inside: More about our initiative for undergraduate enhancement

n Social Sciences at FSU rank #20

among U.S. public universities

and #48 among the top 200

universities in the world.

n Our academic programs

consistently rank #1 in the

state, in the top 40 in U.S.

n Our students account for 12% of

the FSU student body and 30%

of national awards won at FSU.

n Our students are active campus

leaders: 5 of the last 6 student

body presidents, 40% of all

student body presidents in

FSU history.

Get More Than a Degree: Building Leadership,

INTERNATIONAL STUDY AND SERVICE

Our students are encouraged to study abroad, engage in international service and research projects, and obtain internships outside the U.S. to broaden their global awareness.

WORLD AFFAIRS PROGRAM

This student-run academic program was established to promote an increased awareness of the global community, while at the same time encouraging personal, social and political growth through such activities as guest speakers, mentor programs, campus political activity, model U.N., crisis simulations and travel. Membership is free and open to students of all majors and levels.

GLOBAL PEACE EXCHANGE This international development organization establishes relationships with nongovernmental organizations in developing countries to allow students the opportunity to work on sustainable development projects in the summer on a grassroots level.

This is a great way to gain professional and academic experience and help foster a new civilization founded on mutual cooperation and understanding.

INTERNSHIPS AND CAREER SERVICES

The Career Center liaisons embedded within the college offer useful information and preparation for job searches through such programs as ProfessioNole, connecting students with alumni in their fields.

The college works with alumni and others in business, government and nonprofits to secure internships that give students a better understanding of their field of choice, improved resumes and valuable work experience.

LECTURES AND TALKS

Our endowed lecture series — along with talks, presentations and campus visits from notable scholars and professionals sponsored by our departments and centers — offer valuable insights from prominent experts speaking on an array of topics of interest to social science students.

These events are open to the general public and all FSU students and personnel — another important way the college engages with the university community and the world.

SOCIAL SCIENCE SCHOLARS

This program was created to select outstanding juniors through a competitive process. Those selected participate in a leadership seminar during the spring semester of their junior year. The seminar prepares students for research or service projects that are undertaken during the following summer and/or fall semesters.

Each Social Science Scholar receives financial stipends for approved travel and other expenses related to domestic or international internships, service projects or research.

“Teaching English in Peru as a Social Science Scholar was more than an internship. It awakened my passion for economic development and guided my postgraduate goals. I will return to Peru through Fulbright or my own means to continue learning about the relationship between education and development.”

— Economics major Shannon McGuire (B.S. ‘13)

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION

This interdisciplinary initiative brings together award-winning faculty, experienced practitioners and committed supporters to provide passionate students with the perspective, skills and technical training to create sustainable ventures that address pressing social needs.

Students participate in classroom instruction, conferences and competitions, and partnerships with successful businesses and nonprofits.

Enhancing Education Beyond the Classroom

APPLIED AND PROFESSIONAL MASTER’S DEGREES

Starting with a solid basis of study in each discipline, students go beyond the classroom, applying what they’ve learned to internships, policy analyses and hands-on projects in real-world circumstances.

Several of these programs can be completed in one year of full-time study beyond the baccalaureate, and others allow students to begin taking graduate-level courses while still undergraduates, making these degrees a fast-track, cost-effective way to extend educational and job prospects.

For career-minded students who do not wish to enter the academic field, these practical, advanced programs provide the skills needed for work in business, government and nonprofits.

“The Master of Public Health Program is policy-based, so my transition to the workplace post-graduation was seamless. During the master’s program, I was able to intern at the Florida Department of Health, which gave me a strong background in policymaking. I learned so much from the public health program,

not only from my professors, but also from the diverse backgrounds and experiences of my classmates.”

- Caroline Fernandez (M.P.H. ‘10) Policy Analyst, U.S. Office of Personnel Management

DOCTORAL PROGRAMS

Six of our programs offer doctorate degrees in which students master a discipline’s literature, complete original research and gain experience as classroom teachers.

Recruiting and retaining outstanding doctoral students is essential to advancing new knowledge produced by FSU and maintaining the high standards of excellence at the university.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

The council is composed of exemplary social science students who work directly with the dean and administration to provide a student perspective in deciding and implementing the goals and initiatives of the college.

The council oversees such programs and events as student and alumni mentoring programs and the annual Get More Than a Degree Fair, providing its members with skills in leadership, teamwork and policymaking.

ADVANCED RESEARCH

Students gain high-caliber research skills and practical experience working in an academic research environment in the college’s Department of Political Science to earn the Research Intensive Bachelor’s Certificate.

Opportunities for advanced research are available in other departments and within the college’s centers and institutes, such as the DeVoe Moore Center, where students take part in developing policy papers on a wide range of issues.

While state funding covers classroom activities and materials, it cannot be used to support all of the activities and organizations that are vital to enhancing the educational experience for our students and ensuring their future success.

Generous, tax-deductible gifts to the college-wide and departmental general development funds listed on this page enable the college and its departments, programs and centers to:

n sponsor symposia and conferences

n offer travel grants and applied master’s degree scholarships

n bring notable scholars and experts to campus

n fund professional development activities

n facilitate the recruitment and development of the nation’s best doctoral students

n support student groups, such as the competitive Social Science Scholars program

The world needs leaders who can handle complexity and give diverse perspectives on the challenges we all face, and sponsorship of our programs makes that possible. Whether your gift supports a student this year or a named endowment that will fund academic endeavors year after year in perpetuity, you can be sure that you have an impact today on shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

You can contribute online to any of the funds below (coss.fsu.edu/giving/make-a-gift) or by contacting our development staff for information and assistance:

Jesse Colvin (850-644-1920, jcolvin@foundation.fsu.edu)

Cindy Michelson (850-645-9549, cmichelson@fsu.edu)

College General Development Fund (#4808)

College Endowment Fund (#7381)

Askew School of Public Administration & Policy (#4806)

Economics (#4767)

Political Science (#4805)

Sociology (#4809)

Urban & Regional Planning (#4799)

International Affairs (#4803)

Geography (#4774)

“Our students receive university-wide and national

awards and recognition for their outstanding

research, service to the campus and community,

entrepreneurship, leadership, and breadth of

global knowledge and experience. It shows how

vital the Get More Than a Degree initiative is.

Thanks to private support from alumni and

friends, we’re not just turning out graduates; we’re

producing people ready to take on the challenges

of an ever-changing world.”

-Dean David W. Rasmussen