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
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.
