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Celebrating 50+ years of COSSPP
The College of Social Sciences and Public Policy was established in the fall of 1973 as part of a university-wide academic reorganization and consisted of just five departments: Economics, Geography, Government, Sociology, and Urban and Regional Planning.
There’s been much growth over the years, with 12 departments and interdisciplinary programs now housed within the College, along with 12 centers and institutes. As the third-largest college at FSU, COSSPP equips students with the knowledge, skills, and real-world experiences they need to launch impactful careers.
COSSPP History Series
Since its creation in 1973, COSSPP has grown into the third-largest college at FSU, preparing students with the knowledge, skills, and real-world experiences they need to launch impactful careers. Learn more about what our programs, departments, and the college has accomplished over 50 years.
Sign up for our Alumni and Friends Newsletter!
Subscribe to our COSSPP’s quarterly Alumni and Friends Newsletter for info about the latest news and events happening at the College and opportunities to stay connected with your fellow alumni.
Alumni Spotlights
We’re proud of the successes of our 50,000+ alumni worldwide working to address the world’s challenges and better their communities.
Give Back to the College
Your philanthropy makes it possible for us to provide opportunities for students that cannot be covered by State of Florida funds. The College uses private contributions to deliver programming under the College’s Get More Than a Degree initiative that supports student intellectual growth and professional development.
We are grateful to each of our donors for their interest and investments in our students and work. Thanks to you, we are not just turning out graduates; we are producing leaders ready to take on the challenges of an ever-changing world.
Our Senior Director of Development Katherine Cline Ashler would love to connect with you to identify how to make a meaningful impact in your area of interest. Please email her at kcline@foundation.fsu.edu or
call 850-294-3343.
FSU Researcher Receives NASA Grant to Map Extreme Heat and Protect Public Health
June 17, 2026
A collaborative, interdisciplinary team with researchers from Florida State University’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy has received an $840,000 grant from NASA’s Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team. …
Student Spotlight: ​​Liz Arnold
June 17, 2026
Liz Arnold – a third-year student majoring in Political Science with a minor in Communications – was selected as one of 50 students from more than 650 applicants for the Florida State University College of Law Summer for Undergraduates Program, an ABA award-winning pre-law program modeled after the first-year law s …
FSU Spatial Data Science Center Lands Two Awards for Innovative Use of AWS Cloud ComputingÂ
June 12, 2026
Florida State University's Spatial Data Science Center won two awards from the FSU/AWS Research Acceleration Fund on May 3, 2026. As cloud computing continues to reshape the boundaries of what's computationally possible, researchers from FSU’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (COSSPP) are positioni …