Florida International University

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From the College

Florida International University (FIU) is Miami’s public research university and one of America’s most dynamic institutions of higher learning. The University offers more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

Major academic divisions are the Colleges of Architecture and the Arts, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Engineering and Computing, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Social Work, Justice, and Public Affairs; the Honors College; and the College of Law. In addition, there are the Schools of Accounting, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Journalism and Mass Communication, Music, and Public Health. The Florida Board of Governors approved the creation of a College of Medicine at FIU. The College expects to admit its first class in the fall of 2009. The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The professional programs of the respective colleges and schools are accredited or approved by the appropriate professional associations. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifies FIU as an RU/H: Research University (high research activity). FIU is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the country’s oldest and most distinguished academic honor society. The University’s priorities are to graduate well-educated, technologically savvy, open minded individuals who can think critically about a changing world to create greater understanding among the people of the Americas and the world.

FIU has two main sites: the University Park Campus in southwest Miami-Dade County, 10 miles west of downtown Miami, and the Biscayne Bay Campus located on Biscayne Bay in North Miami. In addition, the Pines Center offers services to students in adjacent Broward County. A major research facility, the 40-acre Engineering Center is located near the University Park Campus. All campuses and the centers operate under a central administration.

The University has a diverse population of students. There are more than 38,000 men and women enrolled. Approximately 9 percent of the enrollment consists of international students who represent more than 130 countries. The University currently has more than 150 registered student organizations, which enrich campus life and contribute to the social, cultural, and academic growth of students. Nationally recognized lecturers appear regularly, and concerts and movies are offered, usually at no cost.

Athletic opportunities are numerous. Students can participate in intercollegiate, intramural, and recreational sports. NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics are available for men in baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, indoor and outdoor track and field, and soccer. Women can participate in NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics in basketball, cross-country, golf, indoor and outdoor track and field, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball. Both campuses offer state-of-the-art recreational facilities. Phase I construction is completed for the new state-of-the-art on-campus stadium. The stadium currently holds 18,000 seats. It will hold 45,000 seats when the final phase is completed.

The University offers apartment-style housing for students at both University Park and Biscayne Bay Campuses. The facilities provide students with the opportunity to live with others in a convenient and supportive residential setting. Most of the residence halls offer a full range of amenities for students, including cable TV, computer connectivity, study rooms, and computer labs as well as a swimming pool and various recreational areas. In addition, the second of three fraternity houses was recently completed.

Miami and FIU are comparable in their explosive growth, rich ethnic and cultural diversity, and quest for excellence. FIU is a leading institution in one of the most dynamic, artistically expressive, and cosmopolitan cities in the United States, a gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. The continued globalization of the world’s economic, social, and political systems adds to the importance of FIU’s mission and, combined with the subtropical environment and strategic location, strengthens southeast Florida’s role as an information and transportation center.

Disney World, the Everglades, marine and state parks, Miami Seaquarium, Metro Zoo, Fairchild Tropical Gardens, world renowned South Beach, and Parrot Jungle are popular student attractions. Other favorite year-round activities include swimming, waterskiing, scuba diving, sailing, tennis, golf, and horseback riding. Students can also head south for a weekend in the Florida Keys or the Bahamas.

The College of Architecture and the Arts offers a Bachelor of Arts in architecture, a Bachelor of Interior Design, and a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture. A Bachelor of Fine Arts is offered in art, music, and theater. The School of Music offers the Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Science in music.

The College of Arts and Sciences offers programs of study that lead to a Bachelor of Arts in art history, Asian studies (second degree), chemistry, earth sciences, economics, English, environmental studies, French, geography, history, humanities, information technology, international relations, liberal studies, philosophy, physics, political science, Portuguese, psychology, religious studies, sociology/anthropology, Spanish, theater, and women’s studies. The Bachelor of Science is offered in biology, chemistry, earth sciences, environmental studies, geology, marine biology, mathematical sciences, mathematics, physics, and statistics.

The College of Business Administration offers a Bachelor of Business Administration, with majors in finance, international business, management, management information systems, marketing, personnel management, and real estate. The School of Accounting offers a Bachelor of Accounting. The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management offers programs of study that lead to the Bachelor of Science in hospitality management. With the cooperation of industry executives, the school has an internship program that utilizes hotels, motels, restaurants, clubs, airlines, travel agencies, and cruise lines as practice labs for students.

The College of Education offers a Bachelor of Science in art education (1–12), biology education, chemistry education, early childhood education, elementary education with ESOL endorsement, English education, exceptional education with ESOL endorsement, exercise and sports sciences, French education, health occupations education, mathematics education, parks and recreation management, physical education, physics education, social studies education, and Spanish education.

The College of Engineering and Computing offers programs of study that lead to the Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, construction management, electrical engineering, environmental and urban systems, industrial and systems engineering, and mechanical engineering. Computer science offers a Bachelor of Science in computer science and information technology.

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in nursing, in addition to bachelor’s degrees in health information management. The College of Social Work, Justice, and Public Affairs offers Bachelor of Science programs in criminal justice, public administration, and social work. The Stempel School of Public Health offers a Bachelor of Science in dietetics and nutrition.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers a Bachelor of Science in communication, with tracks in advertising, print and broadcast journalism, production, and public relations.

Preprofessional programs are offered in dentistry, law, medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine.

At the undergraduate level, all students complete 36 semester hours of general education requirements before graduation. These consist of 6 semester hours each in the areas of humanities, mathematics, natural science, social science, and English composition and 6 semester hours in courses that require intensive writing. Students may tailor academic programs to fit their personal goals.

There are three terms in the academic calendar year: fall, spring, and summer. Two terms (or semesters) of full-time attendance constitute an academic year; a normal course load is defined as at least 12 semester hours per term. Mini-terms are also available within the summer semester.

At both University Park and Biscayne Bay Campuses, buildings house high-tech media classrooms, lecture halls, computer facilities, and offices. University Park also has laboratories, auditoriums, music and art studios, an international conference theater, and an experimental theater. The state-of-the-art Kovens Conference Center and the Wolfe University Center, located at Biscayne Bay Campus, are multipurpose facilities with ballrooms, theaters, and seminar rooms. The University’s libraries contain more than 1.5 million bound volumes, over 3.2 million microforms, and periodical subscriptions that exceed 10,300. FIU continues to expand structurally. New buildings include the marine science facility, the College of Law, a second health sciences building, and a Student Fitness Center. Completion of the Frost Art Museum is expected in 2008.

Tuition for undergraduate courses during the 2008–09 year is $122.88 per credit hour for Florida residents and $536.18 for non–Florida residents. Additional fees assessed per-term include a $134.40 health fee, a $20 athletic fee, and a $164.78 parking fee. (These costs are subject to change.)

The University adheres to the philosophy that a student is entitled to a university education regardless of his or her financial status. The financial aid program at the University includes scholarships, grants, loans, and employment. Awards are based on need, and individual attention is given to each applicant. To apply for aid, students should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are advised to apply before March 1 for priority consideration.

The University has more than 1,800 full-time and adjunct faculty members whose backgrounds reflect both quality and diversity. Nearly 90 percent hold terminal degrees in their fields. The faculty members work across disciplinary boundaries with issues central to the environmental, urban, and international missions of the University. The University gives primary consideration to selecting faculty members who have a strong sense of commitment to teaching, research, and counseling students.

FIU’s Student Government Association (SGA) seeks to include all interested students on University-wide committees and task forces to ensure student representation. The SGA strives to set up programs that entertain, educate, and challenge FIU’s community.

The University’s fall priority deadline is December 1 for incoming freshmen and May 1 for transfer students. All applicants are encouraged to apply and submit all required supporting documents by these dates. After December 1 and May 1, students are admitted on a space-available basis. It is the applicant’s responsibility to request official transcripts and test scores, when applicable, from all previously attended institutions. All applicants are considered for admission without regard to race, creed, age, disability, gender, marital status, or national origin.

The University seeks highly motivated students with strong academic backgrounds and exceptional test scores. The quality and number of applicants create competition for a place in the freshman class. Freshman admission requires graduation from an accredited secondary school, 18 academic units in college-preparatory courses, and official SAT or ACT scores. Decisions are based on the student’s academic preparation.

Transfer applicants from accredited Florida public community colleges should have an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree. Applicants who do not hold an A.A. degree must complete 60 semester hours of transferable credit. Applicants transferring from a Florida community college or university are required to take the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) prior to admission. For students transferring from out-of-state or private colleges, the test can be taken during the first semester of enrollment. All applicants must meet the criteria published for limited-access programs and should consult the specific college and major for requirements.

International students must submit a Declaration of Finance that shows financial resources sufficient for attending the University and for all living expenses. Students from non-English-speaking countries must also submit a minimum TOEFL score of 500 on the paper-based test, 173 on the computer-based test, or 63 on the Internet-based test (iBT).

Students are invited to visit FIU’s beautiful campuses. Tours are available every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and the first Saturday of the month, except on national holidays. For a complete schedule and to sign up for a tour, students should visit our Web site at http://admissions.fiu.edu/.

To apply online, students should go to http://admissions.fiu.edu/ Additional information about the University can be found on the University’s Web site.