Faculty/Staff

Alan Rowan Named Director of FSU’s Public Health Program

Published: | 8:00 am | Posted in: Faculty/Staff, News

Alan Rowan, DrPh, has been named the new Director of the Public Health program for a three-year term. Dr. Rowan specializes in epidemiology and diseases of environmental origin and has taught courses in Public Health Program at FSU since 2003. Most recently he served as the internship director for the program. 

Looking Back with COSSPP: Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Published: | 11:30 pm | Posted in: Faculty/Staff, News, Students

The Interdisciplinary Social Science (ISS) program is one of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy’s (COSSPP) largest undergraduate majors, with over 600 students. ISS empowers students to study the world’s complex issues and problems holistically. The program was founded in 1974 within Florida State University’s College of Arts and Sciences, and the major was named social sciences. It was initially designed to provide training for public service and a practical background for citizenship within U.S. democracy with contributions from the Departments of Economics, Geography, History, Political Science and Sociology.  

Looking Back with COSSPP: Political Science

Published: | 8:30 pm | Posted in: Faculty/Staff, News, Students

The Department of Political Science within the College of Social Science and Public Policy has a rich history dating back to Florida State University’s genesis. While courses exploring government, law, and politics can be found as far back as the very first university bulletin in 1851, the Department of Political Science was established in 1947, when the Florida State College for Women became Florida State University. Under the leadership of Marian D. Irish, Ph.D., the department began with only six faculty members. Dr. Irish would serve as the department chair until her retirement in 1966. The current Political Science Department Chair Brad Gomez, Ph.D., leads the department as it continues to ascend in prestige to this day. 

Looking Back with COSSPP: Public Health Program

Published: | 1:00 pm | Posted in: Faculty/Staff, News, Students

Established in 2003, the Public Health Program at Florida State University is the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy’s newest interdisciplinary program. Under the leadership of Professor Emeritus of Political Science William Weissert, Ph.D., the program’s first director, the program had its first Master of Public Health (MPH) graduates matriculate in 2004. 

Looking Back with COSSPP: African American Studies

Published: | 12:30 pm | Posted in: Faculty/Staff, News

Established in 1970, the African American Studies Program offers an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary approach to the study of ethnicity, identity, human relations, and cultural dynamics. Students gain the opportunity to understand American society and the international arena from the unique vantage point of the African diaspora, especially Americans of African descent.  The program began as […]

Looking Back with COSSPP: Center for Demography and Population Health (CDPH)

Published: | 12:00 pm | Posted in: Faculty/Staff, News

Since its founding in 1967, the Center for Demography and Population Health (CDPH) has been a hub for interdisciplinary research and education. Founded by Charles B. Nam, Ph.D., a professor of sociology and former chair of the Sociology Department at FSU, the center was initially called the Population and Manpower Resource Center.  In an effort […]

Looking Back with COSSPP: International Affairs Program

Published: | 11:00 am | Posted in: Alumni News, Faculty/Staff, News, Students

Established in 1953, the International Affairs (IA) Program at Florida State University is one of the oldest international affairs programs in the South. IA strives to support its students through a holistic learning experience through internships, study abroad programs, and other professional development opportunities. The program is also recognized as one of the most demographically varied programs here at Florida State. According to the latest rankings by Niche, IA is ranked 35th among public university programs nationwide. 

Looking Back with COSSPP: Department of Geography

Published: | 10:30 am | Posted in: Faculty/Staff, News

Florida State University’s Department of Geography has been a long-standing institution at FSU, existing as a department since 1946 with roots going even further back. FSU was established in 1851, then called Seminary West of the Suwannee River. After the Civil War, the institution taught primary and secondary schoolers, and classes on descriptive geography and physical geography were made available in 1887. Seminary West became Florida State College in 1901, and geography was taught at the college level in the 1903-1904 school year. The Department of History and Geography at Florida State College for Women was officially established in 1924.  

Looking Back with COSSPP: Urban and Regional Planning

Published: | 10:00 am | Posted in: Faculty/Staff, News, Research That Works, Students

Established in 1965, the Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP) at Florida State University has a rich history of academic excellence and community impact. Under the leadership of Edward McClure, Ph.D., who served as the department’s first chairperson from 1965 to 1974, the Department welcomed its first student in 1965 and its first graduate in 1966. Under Dr. McClure’s tenure in 1970, the department was moved from the College of Arts and Sciences to the newly created College of Social Sciences. During the 2023-2024 academic year, the department was chaired by Chris Coutts, Ph.D., who succeeded Jeffrey Brown, Ph.D., in the role. Going into the 2024-2025 academic year, Michael Duncan, Ph.D., will assume the role of chair. Dr. Duncan has a doctorate in city and regional planning from the University of California, Berkeley.