Undergraduate Certificate Programs

Emergency management and homeland security is a growing field in the United States and around the world. This certificate gives students in just about any program of study a way to stand out from the crowd and learn real world approaches to solving complicated problems.

This certificate program, offered at the graduate and undergraduate levels, includes courses on:

• Emergency management, both domestic and international
• EM policy development and planning
• Homeland security policy
• Terrorism, including international policy analysis
• Public health
• Public information
• Technology and disaster management

Program of Study:

This program includes skills and knowledge appropriate for practicing managers and all those interested in emergency management training. Successful completion of the courses applied to the EMHS Certificate is defined as a grade of C or higher. Students who receive grades lower than a C in any courses must repeat that course if they wish to have it apply to the EMHS certificate. S/U classes are not accepted in any of our certificates, unless the course is a Directed Individual Study (DIS) and the student has obtained approval from the department.

1. Required courses (6 hours):
   • DSC 4201 Foundations in Emergency Management (previously PAD 4391)
   • DSC 4702 Emergency Management Programs, Planning, and Policy (previously PAD 4393)
2. Elective courses (6 hours):
   • To view the approved list of elective courses, please visit:  https://em.fsu.edu/certificate-tracks.php

• Note for EMHS certificates: if completing multiple EMHS undergraduate certificates, one elective can overlap (no core class overlap). If completing EM and UAS certificate, PAD4391 cannot overlap.
• Note for EMIS Majors: You are not eligible to pursue the EM or USIS certificates if you are majoring in Emergency Management or Intelligence Studies. You can still pursue the UAS certificate.

Admission and Application Requirements

Student must submit the complete online application by the semester deadline.

State and local emergency managers have shown intense interest in what UAS (drones) can do for the field of emergency management, particularly emergency response, recovery and mitigation. While the use of UAS in these fields is expected to increase, experts are rare and even fewer are cross trained in management of these systems and the fields in which they are applied.

The UAS Certificate includes practical, hands-on usage of the technology as well as guidance in the regulatory frameworks, requirements, and realities of using this data in a variety of fields. Please note that while this certificate is not equivalent to the FAA’s Part 107 license, students who successfully complete the certificate will be well positioned to pass the Part 107 exam. 

Program of Study

Successful completion of the courses applied to the Application of UAS certificate is defined as a grade of C or higher. Students who receive grades lower than a C in any courses must repeat that course if they wish to have it apply to the Application of UAS certificate. S/U classes are not accepted in any of our certificates, unless the course is a Directed Individual Study (DIS) and the student has obtained approval from the department.

1. Required courses (6 hours):
   • DSC 4253 Unmanned Aircraft Systems in Emergency Management (previously PAD 4075)
   • DSC 4252 Application of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (previously PAD 4072) (Pre- or corequisite: DSC 4253 UAS in EM)
2. Elective courses (6 hours):
   • To view the approved list of elective courses, please visit:  https://em.fsu.edu/certificate-tracks.php

Admission and Application Requirements

Student must submit the complete online application by the semester deadline.

Growth in the US Intelligence Community has placed new importance on training analysts and decision makers. Those who successfully complete this certificate will learn real world approaches to solving complicated problems through courses on: analysis methods; critical thinking; plain-language writing; policy development; national security; and terrorism and conflict. Students may also choose interdisciplinary electives to hone knowledge of regions and cultures relevant to the current climate, such as Russia, the Middle East, and China.

Program of Study

This program includes skills and knowledge appropriate for practicing analysts and those within the community as well as all those interested in intelligence training. Successful completion of the courses applied to the USIS Certificate is defined as a grade of C or higher. Students who receive grades lower than a C in any courses must repeat that course if they wish to have it apply to the certificate. S/U classes are not accepted in any of our certificates, unless the course is a Directed Individual Study (DIS) and the student has obtained approval from the department.

1. Required courses (6 hours):
   • DSC 4523 U.S. Intelligence Policy (previously PAD 4842)
   • DSC 4594 U.S. Intelligence Analysis and Communication (previously PAD 4841)
2. Elective courses (6 hours):
   • To view the approved list of elective courses, please visit:  https://em.fsu.edu/certificate-tracks.php

• Note for EMHS certificates: if completing multiple EMHS undergraduate certificates, one elective can overlap (no core class overlap). If completing EM and UAS certificate, PAD4391 cannot overlap.
• Note for EMIS Majors: You are not eligible to pursue the EM or USIS certificates if you are majoring in Emergency Management or Intelligence Studies. You can still pursue the UAS certificate.

Admission and Application Requirements

Student must submit the complete online application by the semester deadline.

The Public Policy Certificate allows students to develop their abilities as policy advocates and policy analysts by focusing attention on areas of public policy that are of contemporary importance to Florida and to the nation.

By the end of the certificate students will be able to:

1. Apply key interdisciplinary social science concepts and methods useful in studying public policy. 
2. Interpret information about public problems and think critically about alternative methods of resolving these problems.
3. Integrate disciplinary perspectives to more holistically understand a policy problem within their chosen policy area.
4. Create a high-quality policy report that highlights the interdisciplinary nature of a chosen policy problem in Florida and demonstrates knowledge gained through the certificate work.

*This certificate is available to face to face and distance learners. However, not every course from the list below is offered online so students are encouraged to consider course availability before selecting their policy area.

Program of Study:

1. Three general policy courses (9 credit hours)
   1. ISS4014 Evidence Based Public Policy
   2. ISS3330 Interdisciplinary Research Methods
   3. One course from the following list
      1. ISS 4935 Advanced Seminar in Criminal Justice Policy
      2. ISS4304 Contemporary Social Problems and Integrative Solutions
      3. ISS4164 Policy
      4. PUP3002 Introduction to Public Policy
2. Two courses from ONE policy area (6 credit hours). These courses must come from TWO different disciplines within the policy area. See the policy areas and associated course lists here.
   1. Environmental Policy
   2. Government Regulation
   3. Health and Aging
   4. Poverty
   5. Risk Management
   6. Education & Family
   7. Criminal Justice
3. One Capstone project course (1 credit hour) 

This course is not offered over the summer session.

The capstone highlights the interdisciplinary nature of public policy and combines student’s knowledge gained through the certificate work to be prepared at the culmination of the program of study. Students will complete this project in a 1-credit hour DIS during their final semester of undergraduate work.

When students are approaching their final semester, reach out to Dr. Alexandra Cockerham for enrollment in this course. 

Admission and Application Requirements

• Minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA.
• Students must submit the complete online application by the semester deadline
• Students must identify their preferred policy focus area in one of: criminal justice, education & family, environmental policy, government regulation, health & aging, poverty, or risk management. 

The Research Intensive Bachelor’s Certificate (RIBC) Program in Political Science is a small-group educational experience for students who wish to gain high-caliber research skills and practical experience working in an academic research environment. Students must complete 12 hours of research-oriented classes and internships to earn the Research Intensive Program Certificate.

The program is limited to 25 students each year with competitive admission. The program begins each fall. We encourage students to begin the program in their Sophomore or Junior year. Students admitted to the certificate program progress as a group through a sequence of intensive research methods classes and complete the program with a research internship supervised by faculty at the Department of Political Science, where students will work one-on-one with faculty and doctoral students on current research projects. Research projects are available in American politics, comparative politics, public policy, and international relations.

Program of Study:

Fall I: POS3713 – Political Research and Analysis, Research Intensive

Spring I: POS3930 – Applied Research Design, Research Intensive 

Summer I or Fall II: POS4941 – Research Internship

Summer I or Fall II: 3 Hours Electives from the following list:

• POS 4715 – Politics and the Theory of Games
• POS 4941 – Research Internship (additional hours beyond those required)
• ISS 3363 – Data and Society
• ISS 3300 – Computational Tools for Social Science Research
• ISS 3330 – Interdisciplinary Social Science Research
• ECO 3431 – Analysis of Economic Data
• Assorted Graduate Level Seminars (see Director of RIBC for approval)
• Directed Individual Study (see Director of RIBC for approval)
• Other courses approved by the director of the RIBC program towards the certificate

Note that the Research Intensive Bachelor’s Certificate Program courses count towards fulfilling the requirements of the major in Political Science and the major in Interdisciplinary Social Science. POS 3713-I can be taken as a designated Honors course.

Additional considerations:

1. Exceptions can be made to the suggested program of study to either lengthen (e.g., study abroad) or shorten (e.g., rising seniors) it.
2. The program is still available to students who have already taken then non-RIBC version of POS 3713.

Admission and Application Requirements

In order to apply for admission to the RIBC Certificate program, students must submit the following:

• Two written responses (200-500 words each):
  • Describe a political/social science question that interests you
  • Explaining your interest in research
• Required documents (PDF format):
  • Resume (see https://career.fsu.edu/students/undergraduate-students/resumes-and-cover-letters for advice)
  • Unofficial FSU transcript
• Optional document: Writing sample demonstrating engagement with evidence or research
• The name of an academic reference: someone who can speak to your research potential (we will contact them directly—they do not need to write a letter in advance)