DURP

Alumni Spotlight: Sarah Vitale

Sarah Vitale, AICP – a two-time FSU alumna (B.S. Interdisciplinary Social Science ‘14; M.S. Planning ’17) – was recently promoted to planning director of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC).

The TBRPC coordinates planning among local governments in the Tampa Bay region, fostering collaboration and sharing solutions for community development. Since 1962, the organization has assisted with economic development, emergency preparedness, planning and design visualization, and more to assist government, non-profit, and private entities.

COSSPP Celebrates Fall 2024 Graduates at Commencement Day Celebration

The College of Social Sciences and Public Policy invites our Fall 2024 graduates and their families and friends to join us for a come-and-go reception in Bellamy’s First Floor Atrium on the morning of Friday, December 13, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., the day of Commencement!

President of U.N. General Assembly Ponders Climate, Human Rights, and Energy Resources in FSU Visit

His Excellency Dennis Francis, President of the United Nations General Assembly at its 78th Session, visited Florida State University this week to engage with students, learn about the university’s groundbreaking research, and lecture about some of the world’s most pressing issues.  

Apply to COSSPP’s prestigious Social Science Scholar program’s 2025 cohort

Apply for the College’s prestigious Social Science Scholars program online by Friday, October 4 at bit.ly/2025sssp.  

The Social Science Scholars Program provides career-accelerating leadership training and experiences to 18 outstanding COSSPP undergraduate students with a major in the College, cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher, participation in on-campus, community, and/or business organizations, and is graduating no sooner than the Fall 2025 Semester.

COSSPP Celebrates 50 Years of Excellence

Established as the College of Social Sciences in the fall of 1973 as part of a university-wide academic reorganization, our college began with just five departments: economics, geography, government (now political science), 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 11 centers and institutes.

COSSPP History Series: 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.