Dr. Mark W. Horner
Graduate Program Director
mhorner@fsu.edu
644-8377
Office hours: 9:00-11:00 am Fridays
during semester
Christina Dippre
Program Assistant
crd04g@fsu.edu
644-1706
Available daily
Hosuk Lee
Graduate Program Coordinator
hl04f@fsu.edu
Hours TBA
Fall 2009 Geography
Graduate Orientation
Acknowledgements
• Dr. Tony Stallins
– Prior graduate director and creator of the
original presentation
Departmental History and Focus
• Department dates to 1925, geography
courses offered before that
• Free-standing in 1946
• Early master’s program
• Ph.D. program created in 1990’s
• MS-GIS program created in 2005
• Departmental focus on HumanEnvironment Interactions and Geographic
Information Science
Where do I go for information?
FSU Department of Geography
http://www.fsu.edu/~geog/
Geography Graduate Student
Guide
Outlines
departmental
procedures and
degree requirements
for new and current
students
https://campus.fsu.edu/bbcswebdav/orgs/SCD_3757_org/gradguide/grdbkv.htm
Geography Graduate Student
Organization site
Geography Graduate Student
Organization site
Geography
Graduate
Student Guide
Access to forms
for thesis and
dissertation
Forms for
graduation
FSU Office of Graduate Studies
http://www.gradstudies.fsu.edu/
https://campus.fsu.edu (Blackboard)
Access requires that you activate your FSUID. You must first obtain your FSU
card to obtain your FSUID.
Access the Secure Apps tab for functionalities.
FSU Graduate Bulletin
http://registrar.fsu.edu/bulletin/grad/default.htm
http://www.fsu.edu/FSUcampusmap/
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=%2011454968048
8788430542.0004544317c7f04004f50
Where do I have to be this
week?
University New Graduate Student
Orientation, Tuesday (8/18)
Student Services Fair, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
New Classroom Building (next to Bellamy and behind the Student
Union). Student organizations and campus offices will host
informational tables.
New Graduate Student Orientation Sessions
Register for one of two sessions, from 12:00 -12:50 p.m. or 1:15
– 2:05 p.m. in the New Classroom Building (HCB), room 101
Orientation will include what to expect academically and
financially as graduate students; the professional ethics
associated with graduate research and creative endeavors; and
FSU's academic and social opportunities and services available
to graduate students.
http://gradschool.fsu.edu/Professional-Development/Professional-Development-WorkshopSeries/The-Graduate-School-s-New-Graduate-Student-Orientation
FSU Program for Instructional
Excellence, Wed and Thurs (8/19 – 8/20)
All new students who hold departmental assistantships must
acquire the PIE certification by attending the mandatory sessions
of this conference. Those graduate students who do not hold
departmental assistantships but are interested in teaching courses
in the future at FSU or teaching as a future career are encouraged
to attend. All sessions take place in the New Classroom Building.
Since seating is limited please register through the links below:
http://gradschool.fsu.edu/Events/PIE-Conference
Mandatory meeting for all students, 3:00
Friday, Sept. 4 in Room 316 HCB
New student introductions
Faculty introductions
New program information
General announcements
Basic operations
Parking
• Come early first week
• Permits can be acquired directly through
the Parking Services or directly through
Blackboard under Secure Apps
FSU ID and email
• Walk to the FSU Card Center and obtain your
FSUID card. Bring photo identification and $10
– Call Street Parking Garage across from Carraway
Bldg
• Activate your FSU ID online. This will
automatically activate your email account.
• For more information go to:
http://www.ucs.fsu.edu/getStarted.html
• Access email at FSU Webmail
FSUSN
• FSU will no longer use your Social Security
Number. Instead, a personalized “FSUSN” will
be assigned to you.
• Log onto Blackboard (https://campus.fsu.edu).
• Look for the “Tools” link. Find, “FSUID” and click.
• Locate “Quicklinks” on left of the screen. Click
“See Your FSUSN.”
Telephones
• The telephone in the graduate
student/adjunct office area (Room 312) is
644-5194, and it is configured for local
outgoing calls only.
• Graduate students may use telephones
located the front office for professional
communications.
Using computer labs
• Class computer accounts only (accounts wiped
each semester)
• Contact Shawn Lewers (swl2727@fsu.edu, 6448373) if you would like to request an account
outside of class use
• Campus computer labs/nice machines in library
• Inexpensive laptops a good investment; flash
drives a ‘must’
• PhD students will be provided with a used
desktop computer.
• Make frequent backups
Computer and building access
• 24-hour computer room on 3rd floor
• After-hours building access (Bellamy main
doors and 3rd floor lobby doors)
• Fridge and microwave (Rm 310)
• Office space for funded graduate students;
Room 310 is always available
• Access will be granted asap, email Christina
Dippre (crd04g@fsu.edu) the following:
– FSUID number (16 digit number on front of card)
– FSUSN
Electronic postings
• Geograds listserv
– When you email Cristina your info for building access, also include
your FSU email only. Important information is distributed via the
listserv. Be sure you can receive messages!
• Web page listing
– Signup sheet:
• Name
• Email address
• Degree
• Academic interests
• Provide a web address if you have a home page
Registering for classes
• Registration windows:
• New grad students: Monday, August 17, 2008 8:00
am through Friday, August 21, 2008 at midnight
• Minimum full-time load (Fall and Spring): 12 hours unfunded students; 9 hours - funded students.
• Funded students should reserve any 9 hours of
courses as soon as window opens.
• For summer full-time loads consult Geography Grad
Student Guide
• Costs: http://www.sfs.fsu.edu/tuition.html
• Registration and payment : https://campus.fsu.edu
and look in Secure Apps
• Mandatory first-day attendance policy
Registering for classes
http://apps.oti.fsu.edu/RegistrarCourseLookup/SearchForm
Health insurance mandatory for all
full-time students
• Health Insurance Requirement
– New full time students with at least nine
graduate hours and all international students
entering Florida State University must show
proof of health insurance.
• Small subsidy available to funded students for
university plan
http://www.gradstudies.fsu.edu/Funding-Awards/Health-Insurance
Residency
• Out-of-state students are required to apply
for in-state residency their first year.
• If funded by department, failure to obtain
residency will result in termination of
award. You must apply
• See Geography Graduate Student Guide
for more information
Classes and degree programs
What classes do I take my first
semester?
• As many required courses as you can
• Fill in remainder with electives
• Required classes taught Fall 09 for all MS and PhD students
– Geographic Thought
– Quantitative Geography
– Geographic Research
• Required class taught Fall 09 for MS-GIS students:
– Remote Sensing with Lab
– Intro GIS with Lab
– Quantitative Geography***
• ***No longer ‘required’ but strongly recommended
• Not necessary to map out all of your classes into the future
• Consult the Geography Graduate Student Guide for degree
requirements
MS-GIS: What if I have had GIS/RS
as undergrad at FSU?
• If you have had intro GIS or RS elsewhere as undergrad at another
university, probably re-take at FSU
• If you have had intro GIS or RS as undergrad several years ago at
FSU, you may want to re-take again at FSU, particularly if a different
instructor, substantial time away from the material. The course will
count.
• If you have had intro GIS or RS in the last few years as undergrad at
FSU, may wish to skip these courses, particularly if the same
instructor
–
–
–
–
What to do?
Take an approved elective to replace the class
Many students end up taking the URP Intro to GIS
You will need to replace the 1 or 2 credits for the labs you won’t be
taking
• Sign up for 1 or 2 credit DIS with a member of GIS committee
• Usually can work out an ESRI on-line course, for example
If you have more questions about classes:
• PhD students and MS-thesis students: Contact the
professor you are interested in working with. You may
decide upon another professor in the future; the intent
of this initial pairing is to begin the process of providing
feedback on your program of study.
• Non-thesis MS students: Contact faculty who matches
your general academic interests or a member of the
Departmental Graduate Committee (Tony Stallins,
Xiaojun Yang)
• MS-GIS: Contact a member of the GIS committee for
advisement (Victor Mesev, Xiaojun Yang or Tingting
Zhao)
Advising
• I will be available this Friday Aug 21 from
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. BEL 306 for walk-in
advising
• Available to take questions about
schedules, courses, etc.
• I will post when walk-in hours are for the
regular semester
Counting previous coursework
• Maximum of 12 hours from FSU. Cannot
have been used to meet other degree
requirements
• Maximum of 6 hours from another
institution but cannot have been used to
meet degree requirements.
• See Geography Graduate Student Guide
Counting previous coursework
• Can waive required core classes for MS
students. However you will still be required to
earn 32 hours or 30 hours for MS thesis degree
• PhD students can waive core courses and not
be required to make them up. However, you will
still be required to take 27 hours of elective
coursework
Courses
• Incomplete Grades (I’s)
– Students are responsible for making up incompletes
the following semester in which they are enrolled.
– If work is not made up the following semester, the
student must contact the professor and request
submission of an Incomplete Extension Form
– Failure to file an IEF will result in a conversion of an I
to an IE, an equivalent of F in your GPA
Courses
• Directed Independent Studies (DIS; GEO
5908)
– Limit 6 hours for MS and 9 hours for a Ph.D.
degree
– No DIS in MS-GIS degree
• Courses outside of Geography
– All outside courses must be approved by the
Graduate Director. Limits apply.
Courses
• All student who have finished coursework
and all requirements (prelims for PhD
students) except for the submission of a
thesis or dissertation are required to take
at least 2 hours of Thesis hours or
Dissertation hours each semester.
Finding a major advisor
• No major professor required for MS-GIS
and MS non-thesis degree
• MS thesis students should obtain a major
advisor by the end of the second
semester.
• PhD students should obtain a major
advisor by the end of the first semester
following a year of matriculation.
Interacting with faculty
•
•
•
•
•
Meet with faculty during office hours
Avoid drop-in visits
Get to the point
Take the initiative to problem solve on your own
Be wary of demands on your time that do not
aim toward finishing your degree
• Never assume that a professor, staff, or the
university will remember tasks you ask of them
• Manners, etiquette apply, especially with
electronic communications
Departmental responsibilities
Departmental responsibilities
• Attend weekly departmental colloquium
– 3:30-4:30 pm on Fridays
– Colloquia are typically research presentations
by students, faculty, and visiting speakers;
faculty interview presentations; and special
instructional sessions
• Attend all called meetings
Professional organizations: SEDAAG
and AAG
• The Association of American Geographers
– April 14-18, Washington, DC
– Abstracts due by 10/28/09
• Southeastern Association of the
Association of American Geographers
– Nov 21-24 ‘09 Knoxville, Tennessee
– Papers due by September 11, 2009; posters
September 25, 2009
Geography and Environmental Studies
Student Association (GESSA)
• See “Helpful hints for new students”
• GESSA organizes sponsors recreational
and academic events, and procures travel
funding to professional conferences.
• A GESSA representative attends faculty
meetings to provide independent collective
perspectives from all students
Student funding and awards
• Office of Graduate Studies
• Conference travel funds
– SGA Congress of Graduate Students
– Departmental funds (as available)
• Consult with your major advisor
How long do I have?
• 7 years for MS
• 5 years after coursework for PhD
• Departmental funding
– 3 years of funding for PhD, contingent upon
progress
– 4 years of funding for BS to PhD, contingent
upon progress
Finish your degree.
Departmental theses and dissertations
Survive.
PhD students who are teaching
• Required to attend Program for Instructional Excellence
(PIE) during orientation week
• When teaching assignment given, find a faculty mentor
who can go over:
– Textbook ordering
– Syllabus requirements and university policies
– Student rolls
– Evaluations (SUSSAI)
– Photocopy access and teaching supplies
– Classroom technology
– Teaching approaches
– Access to lecture materials
Office space
Assigned to PhD students first then
MS students
Keep office doors locked at all
times
Limit your visits to other offices
insofar as you might be interrupting
someone else’s study time.
Take home your food containers
and keep the fridge clean.
Again, room 310 is good for study,
breaks
PhD students on assistantships
• See Brenda Daniels,
Office Manager, to insure
appointment papers are in
order.
• Present Social Security
card (not a copy).
• Paychecks are distributed
by direct deposit.
• Pay schedule: twice a
month
• Tax information
Brenda Daniels
bjdaniels@fsu.edu
644-1706
Desktop computers
• Funded PhD students first priority
• Confirm with Shawn Lewers or Jim
Mogle
Shawn Lewers
swl2727@fsu.edu
644-8373
Jim Mogle
jsm06k@fsu.edu
Office keys and mailboxes (PhD only)
• See Christine Dippre,
Program Assistant, to
order an office key.
• Pick up key at the Key
Bank/Service Center, 150
MMA (Mendenhall Bldg
A) off Wildwood Drive.
• In a couple of weeks,
confirm with Christine that
your name is listed on the
mailboxes in the main
office (PhD only)
Christina Dippre
crd04g@fsu.edu
644-1706
Thanks and have a great
semester!
Dr. Mark W. Horner
mhorner@fsu.edu