The student division of the Dean's office is located in Room 010 Longmire Building, within a block of the Westcott administration building on the Florida State University campus, and students may "walk-in" at any time between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on regular working days. Detailed information about academic requirements and other academic and university policies is included in the annual editions of the Florida State University General Bulletin.
Liberal Studies Requirements:
As a result of changes established at the institutional level and those mandated by the Florida Legislature, the specific course requirements for the Liberal Studies program have changed considerably in the last few years. Accordingly, three different versions are summarized. Each student should be certain which of these sets of requirements apply to them. For the most part, except for specific requests to "adopt" a more recent Bulletin year, the year in which the student first entered the university (e.g., 1995/96) will determine which of the following sets of requirements will be used in certifying eligibility for graduation.
Students must meet the University requirement of 120 unduplicated semester hours (unless specific courses are listed as repeatable).
Students must complete at least sixty (60) hours of course work from FSU and other four-year institutions. Community College/Junior College course work will not count toward the 60 hour senior institution requirement.
Courses that are repeatable have a limit either with regard to the number of times the course can be taken or the number of hours that can be earned by repeating the course.
Only two hours of physical education (PE) courses will count towards the degree.
No more than 8 total semester hours (combined) of applied music, physical activity, and office skills courses can be applied toward the 120 required for graduation.
If a course is taken under forgiveness (maximum of two times) the previous course will not count toward graduation and will not count in the student's grade point average.
If any regular (non-repeatable) course is repeated, the course will count toward graduation hours only once. However, each course enrollment will be used in calculating the student's grade point average (unless subsequent enrollment is completed under the university forgiveness policy).
A student's last 30 semester credit hours must be taken at FSU. Petitions for a waiver of this requirement must document unusual circumstances and be submitted through the offices of the College of Arts & Sciences and then to the Dean of the Faculties.
Upper-level courses:
Students shall complete 40 semester credit hours of course work at or above the 3000 level. Transfer course work that is not 3000/4000 level but is judged by the respective academic department to be equivalent to a 3000 or 4000 level course at FSU may receive upper level credit. Please contact the academic advisor in the respective department if you have questions about this evaluation.
Summer hours:
Students who have entered a university in the State University System of Florida with fewer than sixty (60) hours of credit are required to earn at least nine (9) hours prior to graduation by attendance of one or more summer terms in one of the following 10 State University System senior institutions. This requirement may be met through enrollment in any of the following institutions (but NOT through enrollment in Community College):
Florida State University
University of Florida
University of South Florida
University of West Florida
University of North Florida
Gulf Coast University
Florida A&M University
University of Central Florida
Florida Atlantic University
Florida International University
NOTE: for the purpose of establishing residency, the various summer terms are considered ONE semester.)
Requests for waivers of the summer enrollment requirement (normally for reasons of regular summer employment or other hardship) must be approved in the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences and by the Dean of the Faculties.
University Competency Requirements:
University-wide Wrinting Communications Competency
To satisfy these requirements (FAC Rule 6A-10.030 -- The "Gordon Rule"), students must complete, (or provide evidence of exemption or waiver) with a grade of "C-" or better in each course, the liberal studies requirements in Area I (Mathematics), Area II (English composition) and four more liberal studies courses designated by the Undergraduate Policy Committee as requiring 3,000 words of writing (courses indicated with a "W"). These requirements must be completed prior to receipt of an associate in arts certificate from The Florida State University or admission to upper division.
Through prior demonstration of oral communication competency or through enrollment in one of a series of approved courses, all first-time in college (FTIC) undergraduate students as of the Fall of 1997 or after will be required to fulfill an oral communication competency requirement. The list of approved courses and other means of demonstrating oral communication competency may be found in the General Bulletin.
University-wide Computer Skills Competency
First-time in college (FTIC) undergraduate students as of the Fall of 1998 or after, must demonstrate basic computer competency before graduation. This requirement may be fulfilled by completion of an approved course or by demonstration of existing computer competency though a "skills certification" procedure. The list of approved courses may be found in the General Bulletin. Students are encouraged to complete this requirement early in their academic career, preferably during the freshman year.
The CLAST exam:
The Florida College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) is required for all students in order to be admitted to upper-division status (3000/4000 Level Courses) in any of the state universities in Florida. It is the responsibility of the student to register for and complete the CLAST exam if not already passed prior to enrollment at FSU. To register for the next testing date, call 644-3017 or visit the office of Evaluation Services, 106 Johnson Building.
All subtests of the Florida CLAST must be passed by the term a student earns ninety-six (96) semester hours of credit. Students exceeding ninety-six (96) semester hours without passing the Florida CLAST will NOT be able to continue in major course work until appropriate scores have been achieved. Students must register for and take the Florida CLAST prior to completing their sophomore year.
Passing scores for students taking the Florida CLAST are as follows:
August 1986 through July 1989: Reading-270; English Language Skills-270; Computation-275; Essay-4.
August 1989 through September 1991: Reading-295; English Language Skills-295; Computation-285; Essay-4.
October 1991 through September 1992: Reading-295; English Language Skills-295; Computation-290; Essay-5.
After September 30, 1992: Reading, English Language Skills, Computation-295; Essay-6.
The CLAST exam can now be taken on computer (except for the essay portion) at the testing center in the William Johnston Building or during one of the regularly scheduled dates during the year.
(NOTE: because of a change in the grading scale, students not passing the Essay subtest prior to October 1, 1991 must earn a minimum score of 5 to complete the Essay subtest requirement.)
Multicultural Course Requirements:
Recognizing the importance of the appreciation of the interrelatedness of and the diversity within cultural traditions, the University requires enrollment in both a cross-cultural course ("x" course) and a multicultural course ("y" course). All students who enter the University with fewer than 60 semester hours must complete at least one "x" and one "y" course. Students transferring to the University with sixty credits or more must complete one multicultural course from either designation. The list of courses approved for these requirements is provided here.
