Admission Requirements
Cyndy Caravelis
Current Ph.D. Student
Hometown
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Research Interests
Social Control, Race and Sentencing, White Collar Crime, and Terrorism
“My doctoral coursework has allowed me to become not only a student, but a researcher functioning at a competitive level. Working in close association with faculty, we are a community of learners advancing criminological scholarship. To date, my most enriching academic experience has been collaborating with Dr. Chiricos and Dr. Bales on habitual offender research. This project has given me the tools and experience necessary to conduct a high caliber of research as a criminologist post-studies.”
Doctoral Program
For consideration to admission in the doctoral program, applicants must fulfill these requirements:
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
- A 3.5 GPA or higher for the final two years of undergraduate study or a 3.5 GPA or higher for all masters coursework*
- A minimum score of 1,000 on the combined verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE
- Three letters of recommendation, preferably from professors familiar with your academic qualifications
- A 300- to 500-word personal statement describing your background, career goals, and why you want to study criminology
- International students whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score at least 600 on the paper-based test, or at least 250 on the computer-based test, or at least 100 on the new Internet-based ibTOEFL test. Applicants may be asked to confirm their scores by retaking the exam when they arrive at FSU.
PhD Application Materials
To apply for admission, please submit the following materials on-line at admissions.fsu.edu. To be considered for funding, apply for admission by February 15. Applications are accepted until July 1.
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
- Official GRE scores – FSU institution code is 5219. Check the GRE Web site, www.gre.org, for additional information.
- Three letters of recommendation (preferably academic references).
- Personal statement of 300-500 words describing your background, career plans, and interest in the fields of criminology and criminal justice.
- Completed graduate application. This can be found on the FSU Web site, www.fsu.edu/prospective/admissions/online/
- Application fees can be paid online or sent to:
FSU Admissions
P.O. Box 5000
Tallahassee, FL 32314-5000
- Completed area paper or thesis*.
- International students must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score. Check the TOEFL Web site at www.toefl.org for additional information.
*Students entering with a master's degree must have a completed master's thesis, area paper, or equivalent research paper, or complete one in their first year in the doctoral program.