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GRADUATE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES (rev. 11/17/2009)

1. Application & Admission

APPLICATION: Apply to Graduate Admissions, A2500 University Center, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306, for forms and catalog.

Departmental Contact: Wendy Pigott (wpigott@fsu.edu).

For more detailed information about the application process, please see: MLL Graduate
 

REQUIREMENTS: Baccalaureate or equivalent, complete and acceptable academic transcripts ("good standing"); GPA (of last two baccalaureate years) of at least 3.00 on a 4-point system, or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Aptitude score (Verbal and Quantitative) of 1000 or higher. Foreign nationals must pass the TOEFL English language test with a minimum score of 550 on paperbased test, or 80 on the internet-based test, or 6.5 on the IELTS examination, or 77 on the MELAB examination.
 

GRADUATE RECORDS EXAMINATION: All applicants must submit official GRE scores to be admitted to Florida State. For more information about registering and taking the GRE examination, visit www.gre.org .
 

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Students from abroad who receive or expect to receive financial aid from Florida State University (fellowship or assistantship) must apply for a U.S. Visa certified by the "host" department. All foreign nationals must be processed through the International Admissions Office of Florida State University.
 

READMISSION: After two (2) consecutive semesters of absence, or after having received a degree from Florida State University, or after having been registered "for examination only" expecting but failing to complete a degree, any student who wishes to resume studies or candidacy or undertake a subsequent graduate program at Florida State University must apply to the Registrar for readmissions and must secure the formal approval of the Department.

2. Financial Aid & Scholarships

ASSISTANTSHIPS: Graduate teaching assistantships are available. Graduate assistants pursue their studies on a basis which will normally require about two (2) years to complete the M. A. program. Continuation or renewal of divisional assistantships depends upon maintaining a satisfactory academic and teaching record, as well as upon making satisfactory progress towards completion of the degree.

For more detailed information, please see Assistantships  

FELLOWSHIPS: Graduate University fellowships are available on a competitive basis to a limited number of students. Additional financial assistance may be furnished by work/study assistance. Other forms of financial aid are available through the Financial Aid Office.

Winthrop-King Summer Graduate Scholarship in German. This award is open to FSU graduate students majoring in German who are seeking support for a research project or for language development in a German-speaking country during the summer semester.
 

FEE WAIVERS: Registration fees must be paid by all except fellows, but tuition waivers may be for both fellows and teaching assistants. Eligibility for consideration for any grant-in-aid for a given academic year depends first and foremost on admission to graduate status at Florida State University and second on the qualifications documented in the application for assistantships submitted to the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, Florida State University. Graduate teaching assistantships are subject to federal income tax, whereas university fellowships are not. Deadline for complete application for fellowships is January 15; teaching assistantships may be applied for at any time, but since appointments usually are made in the spring for the following academic year beginning in the fall, it is recommended that applications be made in February 15.
 
 
3. Graduate degree requirements and regulations

Graduate credits are normally taken in 5000-level courses or above.

Full-time enrollment of 12 hours per semester is required. For teaching assistants, this requirement is modified, normally to 9 hours. Teaching assistants usually teach 12 hours (three courses) in two consecutive semesters, 4 hours (1 course) in one semester and 8 hours (2 courses) in the other.

Students with teaching assistantships must register each semester they teach for 5940r, Teaching Practicum. This registration may be for 0 hours, at no cost, or may be for as many as 5 semester hours. Only 3 hours of this course, however, will count toward the M. A. degree, and only 5 hours can be accumulated in the program.

A grade average of "B" or better must be maintained.

A graduate student should see that a Major Professor and Supervisory Committee are appointed as soon as possible. Until they are appointed, graduate students are counseled by the Divisional Coordinator.

Progressive steps toward the completion of the degree requirements are reported by signed Warrants ("Certifications of Graduate Exams and Degrees") to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies for departmental recording and transmittal to appropriate university officials.
 
 

M. A. Degree

The M. A. Supervisory Committee consists of the student's Major Professor, one Minor Professor (if any), and two other faculty members from the major field. All of those must hold Master's Directive Status.

Minor(s) are permitted, but not required. If a student elects to have a minor program, 9 semester hours of credit must normally be earned in graduate courses in the minor field. If acceptable to the Minor Professor, some courses (no more than 6 semester hours) on the 4000 level in the minor field may be counted toward the M. A. Degree.

Except by express permission of the Chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics, no M. A. candidate may apply toward the degree more than 6 semester hours of credit in GEW 5900r courses.

No more than 6 semester hours of graduate credit can be transferred from another school to count toward the M. A. degree at Florida State University.

The M. A. degree must be completed within seven (7) years from the time a student first registers for graduate credit.

Before taking the M. A. Comprehensive Examination, a formal Program of Studies must be prepared by the candidate, for the approval of the Major Professor, Minor Professor (if any), and Chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics. This Program of Studies becomes a part of the student's permanent record.

For more detailed information, please see the Graduate Handbook
 
 

Types of M. A. degrees

 THESIS PROGRAM: A minimum of 30 semester hours of credit in graduate courses, including minor, if any, and 6 hours of thesis credit. At least 18 of the total of 30 hours must be taken on a letter grade basis. The thesis must be submitted to the Supervisory Committee at least ten (10) days before the oral defense of the thesis, which must be no less than one (1) week prior to the date on which candidate expects to receive the degree.

 COURSE PROGRAM: A minimum of 32 semester hours of credit in graduate courses (including minor, if any), at least 21 of which must be taken on a letter grade basis.

The Master's Comprehensive Examination will be on the courses taken in the M. A. Program. Questions will be specific in nature, will normally be of the essay type, and will be written in a period of eight (8) hours (normally in two periods of four hours on consecutive days).

An oral examination, approximately one week after the written portion, is required when the student has failed one or more sections of the written examination.

It is the student's responsibility to register for degree examinations (GEW8966) during the regular registration period, in the semester the student expects to receive the degree. It is also the student's responsibility to make all necessary arrangements with the Registrar's Office concerning his/her diploma, fees, degree clearance, etc.

GERMAN STUDIES: The German Division also offers an M. A. in German Studies. The degree requires a thesis. The courses are determined in consultation with the Major Professor.

READING PORTFOLIO: Each candidate for an M. A. in German must complete the reading list. Each student will compile a portfolio based on readings selected in consultation with the major professor. This portfolio must be completed before the degree is awarded.