Fall 2009 Geography Graduate Orientation

Dr. Mark W. HornerGraduate Program Directormhorner@fsu.edu644-8377Office hours: 9:00-11:00 am Fridays during semester

Christina DippreProgram Assistantcrd04g@fsu.edu644-1706Available daily

Hosuk LeeGraduate Program Coordinatorhl04f@fsu.eduHours TBA

Acknowledgements

• Dr. Tony Stallins– Prior graduate director and creator of the

original presentation

Departmental History and Focus

• Department dates to 1925, geography courses offered before that

• Free-standing in 1946• Early master’s program• Ph.D. program created in 1990’s• MS-GIS program created in 2005• Departmental focus on Human-

Environment Interactions and Geographic Information Science

Where do I go for information?

FSU Department of Geography

http://www.fsu.edu/~geog/

Geography Graduate Student Guide

Outlines departmental procedures and degree requirements for new and current students

https://campus.fsu.edu/bbcswebdav/orgs/SCD_3757_org/gradguide/grdbkv.htm

Geography Graduate Student Organization site

Geography Graduate Student Organization site

Geography Graduate Student Guide

Access to forms for thesis and dissertation

Forms for graduation

FSU Office of Graduate Studies

http://www.gradstudies.fsu.edu/

https://campus.fsu.edu (Blackboard)

Access requires that you activate your FSUID. You must first obtain your FSU card to obtain your FSUID.

Access the Secure Apps tab for functionalities.

FSU Graduate Bulletin

http://registrar.fsu.edu/bulletin/grad/default.htm

http://www.fsu.edu/FSUcampusmap/

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=%20114549680488788430542.0004544317c7f04004f50

Where do I have to be this week?

University New Graduate Student Orientation

, Tuesday (8/18)Student Services Fair, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.New Classroom Building (next to Bellamy and behind the Student Union). Student organizations and campus offices will host informational tables.

New Graduate Student Orientation Sessions Register for one of two sessions, from 12:00 -12:50 p.m. or 1:15 – 2:05 p.m. in the New Classroom Building (HCB), room 101

Orientation will include what to expect academically and financially as graduate students; the professional ethics associated with graduate research and creative endeavors; and FSU's academic and social opportunities and services available to graduate students.

http://gradschool.fsu.edu/Professional-Development/Professional-Development-Workshop-Series/The-Graduate-School-s-New-Graduate-Student-Orientation

All new students who hold departmental assistantships must acquire the PIE certification by attending the mandatory sessions of this conference. Those graduate students who do not hold departmental assistantships but are interested in teaching courses in the future at FSU or teaching as a future career are encouraged to attend. All sessions take place in the New Classroom Building. Since seating is limited please register through the links below:

http://gradschool.fsu.edu/Events/PIE-Conference

FSU Program for Instructional Excellence, Wed and Thurs (8/19 – 8/20)

New student introductionsFaculty introductionsNew program informationGeneral announcements

Mandatory meeting for all students, 3:00 Friday, Sept. 4 in Room 316 HCB

Basic operations

Parking

• Come early first week

• Permits can be acquired directly through the Parking Services or directly through Blackboard under Secure Apps

FSU ID and email

• Walk to the FSU Card Center and obtain your FSUID card. Bring photo identification and $10– Call Street Parking Garage across from Carraway

Bldg

• Activate your FSU ID online. This will automatically activate your email account.

• For more information go to: http://www.ucs.fsu.edu/getStarted.html

• Access email at FSU Webmail

FSUSN

• FSU will no longer use your Social Security Number. Instead, a personalized “FSUSN” will be assigned to you.

• Log onto Blackboard (https://campus.fsu.edu).

• Look for the “Tools” link. Find, “FSUID” and click.

• Locate “Quicklinks” on left of the screen. Click “See Your FSUSN.”

Telephones

• The telephone in the graduate student/adjunct office area (Room 312) is 644-5194, and it is configured for local outgoing calls only.

• Graduate students may use telephones located the front office for professional communications.

Using computer labs

• Class computer accounts only (accounts wiped each semester)

• Contact Shawn Lewers (swl2727@fsu.edu, 644-8373) if you would like to request an account outside of class use

• Campus computer labs/nice machines in library• Inexpensive laptops a good investment; flash

drives a ‘must’• PhD students will be provided with a used

desktop computer.• Make frequent backups

Computer and building access

• 24-hour computer room on 3rd floor• After-hours building access (Bellamy main

doors and 3rd floor lobby doors)• Fridge and microwave (Rm 310)• Office space for funded graduate students;

Room 310 is always available• Access will be granted asap, email Christina

Dippre (crd04g@fsu.edu) the following:– FSUID number (16 digit number on front of card)– FSUSN

Electronic postings

• Geograds listserv– When you email Cristina your info for building access, also include

your FSU email only. Important information is distributed via the listserv. Be sure you can receive messages!

• Web page listing– Signup sheet:

• Name• Email address• Degree• Academic interests• Provide a web address if you have a home page

Registering for classes

• Registration windows: • New grad students: Monday, August 17, 2008 8:00

am through Friday, August 21, 2008 at midnight• Minimum full-time load (Fall and Spring): 12 hours -

unfunded students; 9 hours - funded students. • Funded students should reserve any 9 hours of

courses as soon as window opens. • For summer full-time loads consult

Geography Grad Student Guide• Costs: http://www.sfs.fsu.edu/tuition.html• Registration and payment : https://campus.fsu.edu

and look in Secure Apps• Mandatory first-day attendance policy

http://apps.oti.fsu.edu/RegistrarCourseLookup/SearchForm

Registering for classes

Health insurance mandatory for all full-time students• Health Insurance Requirement

– New full time students with at least nine graduate hours and all international students entering Florida State University must show proof of health insurance.

• Small subsidy available to funded students for university plan

http://www.gradstudies.fsu.edu/Funding-Awards/Health-Insurance

Residency

• Out-of-state students are required to apply for in-state residency their first year.

• If funded by department, failure to obtain residency will result in termination of award. You must apply

• See Geography Graduate Student Guide for more information

Classes and degree programs

What classes do I take my first semester?

• As many required courses as you can• Fill in remainder with electives• Required classes taught Fall 09 for all MS and PhD students

– Geographic Thought – Quantitative Geography– Geographic Research

• Required class taught Fall 09 for MS-GIS students:– Remote Sensing with Lab– Intro GIS with Lab– Quantitative Geography***

• ***No longer ‘required’ but strongly recommended• Not necessary to map out all of your classes into the future• Consult the Geography Graduate Student Guide for degree

requirements

MS-GIS: What if I have had GIS/RS as undergrad at FSU?

• If you have had intro GIS or RS elsewhere as undergrad at another university, probably re-take at FSU

• If you have had intro GIS or RS as undergrad several years ago at FSU, you may want to re-take again at FSU, particularly if a different instructor, substantial time away from the material. The course will count.

• If you have had intro GIS or RS in the last few years as undergrad at FSU, may wish to skip these courses, particularly if the same instructor– What to do?– Take an approved elective to replace the class– Many students end up taking the URP Intro to GIS– You will need to replace the 1 or 2 credits for the labs you won’t be

taking• Sign up for 1 or 2 credit DIS with a member of GIS committee• Usually can work out an ESRI on-line course, for example

If you have more questions about classes:

• PhD students and MS-thesis students: Contact the professor you are interested in working with. You may decide upon another professor in the future; the intent of this initial pairing is to begin the process of providing feedback on your program of study.

• Non-thesis MS students: Contact faculty who matches your general academic interests or a member of the Departmental Graduate Committee (Tony Stallins, Xiaojun Yang)

• MS-GIS: Contact a member of the GIS committee for advisement (Victor Mesev, Xiaojun Yang or Tingting Zhao)

Advising

• I will be available this Friday Aug 21 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. BEL 306 for walk-in advising

• Available to take questions about schedules, courses, etc.

• I will post when walk-in hours are for the regular semester

Counting previous coursework

• Maximum of 12 hours from FSU. Cannot have been used to meet other degree requirements

• Maximum of 6 hours from another institution but cannot have been used to meet degree requirements.

• See Geography Graduate Student Guide

Counting previous coursework

• Can waive required core classes for MS students. However you will still be required to earn 32 hours or 30 hours for MS thesis degree

• PhD students can waive core courses and not be required to make them up. However, you will still be required to take 27 hours of elective coursework

Courses

• Incomplete Grades (I’s)– Students are responsible for making up incompletes

the following semester in which they are enrolled.– If work is not made up the following semester, the

student must contact the professor and request submission of an Incomplete Extension Form

– Failure to file an IEF will result in a conversion of an I to an IE, an equivalent of F in your GPA

• Directed Independent Studies (DIS; GEO 5908)– Limit 6 hours for MS and 9 hours for a Ph.D.

degree– No DIS in MS-GIS degree

• Courses outside of Geography– All outside courses must be approved by the

Graduate Director. Limits apply.

Courses

• All student who have finished coursework and all requirements (prelims for PhD students) except for the submission of a thesis or dissertation are required to take at least 2 hours of Thesis hours or Dissertation hours each semester.

Courses

Finding a major advisor

• No major professor required for MS-GIS and MS non-thesis degree

• MS thesis students should obtain a major advisor by the end of the second semester.

• PhD students should obtain a major advisor by the end of the first semester following a year of matriculation.

Interacting with faculty

• Meet with faculty during office hours• Avoid drop-in visits• Get to the point• Take the initiative to problem solve on your own• Be wary of demands on your time that do not

aim toward finishing your degree• Never assume that a professor, staff, or the

university will remember tasks you ask of them • Manners, etiquette apply, especially with

electronic communications

Departmental responsibilities

Departmental responsibilities

• Attend weekly departmental colloquium– 3:30-4:30 pm on Fridays – Colloquia are typically research presentations

by students, faculty, and visiting speakers; faculty interview presentations; and special instructional sessions

• Attend all called meetings

Professional organizations: SEDAAG and AAG

• The Association of American Geographers– April 14-18, Washington, DC– Abstracts due by 10/28/09

• Southeastern Association of the Association of American Geographers– Nov 21-24 ‘09 Knoxville, Tennessee– Papers due by September 11, 2009; posters

September 25, 2009

Geography and Environmental Studies Student Association (GESSA)

• See “Helpful hints for new students”

• GESSA organizes sponsors recreational and academic events, and procures travel funding to professional conferences.

• A GESSA representative attends faculty meetings to provide independent collective perspectives from all students

Student funding and awards

• Office of Graduate Studies

• Conference travel funds – SGA Congress of Graduate Students– Departmental funds (as available)

• Consult with your major advisor

How long do I have?

• 7 years for MS

• 5 years after coursework for PhD

• Departmental funding– 3 years of funding for PhD, contingent upon

progress– 4 years of funding for BS to PhD, contingent

upon progress

Finish your degree.

Departmental theses and dissertations

Survive.

PhD students who are teaching• Required to attend Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE)

during orientation week• When teaching assignment given, find a faculty mentor who

can go over:– Textbook ordering– Syllabus requirements and university policies– Student rolls– Evaluations (SUSSAI)– Photocopy access and teaching supplies– Classroom technology– Teaching approaches– Access to lecture materials

Office spaceAssigned to PhD students first then MS students

Keep office doors locked at all times

Limit your visits to other offices insofar as you might be interrupting someone else’s study time.

Take home your food containers and keep the fridge clean.

Again, room 310 is good for study, breaks

PhD students on assistantships• See Brenda Daniels,

Office Manager, to insure appointment papers are in order.

• Present Social Security card (not a copy).

• Paychecks are distributed by direct deposit.

• Pay schedule: twice a month

• Tax information

Brenda Danielsbjdaniels@fsu.edu644-1706

Desktop computers

• Funded PhD students first priority• Confirm with Shawn Lewers or Jim

Mogle Shawn Lewersswl2727@fsu.edu644-8373

Jim Mogle

jsm06k@fsu.edu

Office keys and mailboxes (PhD only)

• See Christine Dippre, Program Assistant, to order an office key.

• Pick up key at the Key Bank/Service Center, 150 MMA (Mendenhall Bldg A) off Wildwood Drive.

• In a couple of weeks, confirm with Christine that your name is listed on the mailboxes in the main office (PhD only)

Christina Dipprecrd04g@fsu.edu644-1706

Thanks and have a great semester!

Dr. Mark W. Horner

mhorner@fsu.edu