FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY
2024-2025 University CATALOG
University Catalog Navigation and Publication Policy
This University Catalog enumerates policies, requirements and other essential details regarding both undergraduate and graduate degree programs at Florida Atlantic University. Published annually by the Office of the Registrar, the catalog serves as an informational publication for the University community and the public. This catalog does not constitute an offer for contracts and should not be used for verifying the equivalency of courses to transfer courses or for recording credit on transcripts.
The navigation tiles in the catalog's opening page direct readers to the three main sections of the catalog. The General Information tile leads to specific University units or services. Academic policies, degree requirements, admissions information, student activities and financial assistance programs are among the resources found under the General Information tile. The Academic Programs tile leads to a listing of Florida Atlantic's colleges and a separate section for programs that are interdisciplinary. All degree program information can be found in these sections. The third tile, Course Descriptions, directs readers to FAU's individual course offerings listed by the colleges in which they are offered. The catalog search option at the top of all catalog pages is also a helpful tool for finding specific information within the catalog.
The University reserves the right to amend, adopt or make effective any provision, offering, requirement or policy at any time without notice within the student’s period of study at FAU to carry out its purposes and objectives. When incorporating changes, the University will make every reasonable effort to honor the curriculum requirements appropriate to each student’s catalog year. However, some courses and programs may be discontinued and requirements may change as a result of curricular review or actions by accrediting associations or other agencies.
This catalog incorporates by reference and is subject to all applicable state and federal laws and rules and the rules and policies of the Florida Board of Education and Florida Atlantic University, which are subject to change at any time.
Academics — Florida Atlantic'S Chief Priority
Welcome to the academic world of Florida Atlantic University. Here you will find a wide choice of majors, a top-notch faculty, small classes and personal attention, all in a beautiful subtropical setting. Florida Atlantic offers its programs at several sites throughout its six-county service region in Southeast Florida, with state-of-the-art student housing available on the Boca Raton and Jupiter campuses. With more than 170 undergraduate and graduate degree programs available, FAU's 30,000 students are receiving the preparation they need to face the future with confidence.
With more than 50 percent of its student body classified as minority or international students, Florida Atlantic ranks as the most racially, ethnically and culturally diverse institution in Florida’s State University System. It is designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report for "Social Mobility," and a top degree producer for African American and Hispanic students. U.S. News & World Report also ranks FAU as a top public university. The student-to-faculty ratio is 23:1, an advantage normally offered by small, private colleges. Similarly, classes are taught primarily by the University’s full-time faculty rather than by graduate students or part-time instructors.
Florida Atlantic is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, specialist and doctorate degrees. Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of FAU.
Students who have a complaint about their educational experience at Florida Atlantic that is not resolved through internal University procedures may also use the above address to contact the SACS Commission, whose complaint procedures are listed here, or they may submit a complaint form to the Florida Board of Governors at 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1614, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400. Normal inquiries about the University, such as admission requirements, financial aid, educational programs, etc., should be addressed directly to the institution.
In 1993, Florida Atlantic was elected to membership in the prestigious National Association of State Universities and Land-grant Colleges (now the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities), the country’s oldest higher education association. FAU is also a member of the Council of Graduate Schools.
Faculty
The University’s full- and part-time faculty includes 1,300 accomplished scholars and researchers, with 90 percent having doctorates or terminal degrees in their fields. The faculty includes 17 Eminent Scholars, widely acclaimed authorities in their fields who bring special excitement to the classroom and new ideas to research programs.
Library
The University Libraries house approximately 3.7 million items, including books, periodicals, government documents, microforms, maps, media and other materials. For more information, visit the Libraries' website.
Office of the Ombuds
The Ombuds works toward solving problems, not as an advocate for individuals or the University but as a supporter for fair outcomes. As an independent agent of the University, reporting to the Division of Administrative Affairs, the Ombuds has access to information from any office within the institution. The Office of the Ombuds is informal and does not generate records or take legal notice, nor does it accept official complaints; however, it can assist you by making appropriate referrals if this is your goal.
Your visit to the Ombuds is confidential except when there is a concern about danger to you or to others. If it is necessary to disclose your identity and your specific issue to gain information essential to the case, you and the Ombuds will discuss this and determine the limits of confidentiality. You should visit the Office of the Ombuds if you need assistance with disputes about fees, academic concerns, housing issues, parking problems, discrimination and/or harassment, red tape and many other matters. The Ombuds may help you to identify and evaluate options to formulate a plan to address your issue, to find the correct person to address your concern or to explain University regulations or policies. The Ombuds will listen to you.
An appointment with the Ombuds can be made by calling 561-297-3693. The Office of the Ombuds is located in the S.E. Wimberly Library, Room 156B. For more information, visit gqu8.skyupiradio.com/ombuds.
Policy of Non-discrimination
Florida Atlantic University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination. It is against the policy of the University to discriminate against, or exclude from participation in benefits or activities, either on the staff or in the student body, any person on the grounds of race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, national origin, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or students, applicants for employment, faculty and staff (hereinafter collectively referred to as “University Community Members”), as well as third parties providing services to FAU. This Regulation 5.010 (“Regulation”) establishes procedures for a University Community Member to file a complaint of alleged discrimination, harassment or retaliation.
Discriminatory conduct in the form of sexual misconduct/sexual harassment is also prohibited, and procedures for processing and investigation claims of sexual misconduct/sexual harassment by a University employee will be processed in accordance with current University policy on prohibited sexual conduct.
Academic Calendar
(Click here to see the latest and future Academic Calendars.)
Academic Programs
* Programs leading to teacher certification at the secondary school level are available in Art.
** Bachelor's degrees in teacher education programs at the secondary school level are available in these specific subjects. Students must enroll in the degree program in the subject they wish to teach.
*** Click here for a list of Honors College major concentrations and here for a list of Honors College minors.
KEY to Degree Designations
| B.A. | Bachelor of Arts | |
| B.A.C.S. | Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science | |
| B.A.E. | Bachelor of Arts in Education | |
| B.Arch. | Bachelor of Architecture | |
| B.B.A. | Bachelor of Business Administration | |
| B.E.C.E. | Bachelor of Early Care and Education | |
| B.F.A. | Bachelor of Fine Arts | |
| B.G.S. | Bachelor of General Studies | |
| B.H.S. | Bachelor of Health Services Administration | |
| B.M. | Bachelor of Music | |
| B.M.E. | Bachelor of Music Education | |
| B.P.M. | Bachelor of Public Management | |
| B.P.S. | Bachelor of Professional Studies | |
| B.P.S.A. | Bachelor of Public Safety Administration | |
| B.S. | Bachelor of Science | |
| B.S.C.E. | Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering | |
| B.S.C.S. | Bachelor of Science in Computer Science | |
| B.S.C.V. | Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering | |
| B.S.E. | Bachelor of Science in Education | |
| B.S.E.E. | Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering | |
| B.S.E.V. | Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering | |
| B.S.G.E. | Bachelor of Science in Geomatics Engineering | |
| B.S.M.E. | Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering | |
| B.S.N. | Bachelor of Science in Nursing | |
| B.S.O.E. | Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering | |
| B.S.W. | Bachelor of Social Work | |
| B.U.D. | Bachelor of Urban Design | |
| B.U.R.P. | Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning | |
| D.N.P. | Doctor of Nursing Practice | |
| D.S.W. | Doctor of Social Work | |
| Ed.S. | Education Specialist | |
| M.A. | Master of Arts | |
| M.A.T. | Master of Arts in Teaching | |
| M.AC. | Master of Accounting | |
| M.B.A. | Master of Business Administration | |
| M.D. | Doctor of Medicine | |
| M.Ed. | Master of Education | |
| M.F.A. | Master of Fine Arts | |
| M.H.A. | Master of Health Services Administration | |
| M.M. | Master of Music | |
| M.N.M. | Master of Nonprofit Management | |
| M.P.A. | Master of Public Administration | |
| M.S. | Master of Science | |
| M.S.N. | Master of Science in Nursing | |
| M.S.T. | Master of Science in Teaching | |
| M.S.W. | Master of Social Work | |
| M.TX. | Master of Taxation | |
| M.U.R.P. | Master of Urban and Regional Planning | |
| Ph.D. | Doctor of Philosophy | |
| P.S.M. | Professional Science Master | |
University Profile
Florida Atlantic University is in subtropical South Florida with campuses in Palm Beach, Broward and St. Lucie counties. The six-county (Broward, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie) region, with a population of more than five million, offers all the cultural advantages of a major metropolitan setting and natural treasures ranging from beaches to the Everglades.
Life as a Florida Atlantic University Owl has never been better! From clubs that serve every academic and leisure-time interest to 19 intercollegiate sports teams, including a football team playing in a 30,000-seat on-campus stadium, there's something for everyone at FAU. Enrichment programs, including honors education, internships and hands-on research in beautiful campus environments, coupled with FAU's outstanding faculty of accomplished scholars and researchers, provide bountiful opportunities for FAU students.
The University’s 10 colleges function across six sites, with most colleges offering programs at several locations. The University’s original campus is in Boca Raton, a suburban residential community midway between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. FAU Boca Raton is the administrative home of the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice. It is a residential campus with programs at lower-division, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist’s and doctoral levels in many fields.
The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters and the College of Business offer programs at FAU's downtown Fort Lauderdale campus, as well. Arts and Letters and Business also offer programs at FAU Davie, along with the College of Education, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice. The Florida Center for Environmental Studies is headquartered on the Davie campus. In Fort Lauderdale and Davie, FAU is co-located with Broward College. Also in Broward County, FAU Dania Beach provides outstanding research facilities, hosting SeaTech, FAU's Institute for Ocean and Systems Engineering.
FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter offers upper-division and graduate courses from the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Education, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice. The campus is home to the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, a four-year residential liberal arts and science college for high-achieving undergraduates. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida Atlantic University provides non-credit liberal arts courses for adults of all ages. FAU's partnership with the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, a unit of the renowned Max Planck Society in Germany, gives graduate, undergraduate, and high school students the unique opportunity to learn from, and work alongside, some of the finest minds in the world, including Nobel Laureates.
Located on the Indian River Lagoon in northern St. Lucie County, FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute is dedicated to exploration, innovation, conservation and education related to the oceans. As a base of operations for a host of research and academic programs — such as coral reef and estuary studies, marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, semester by-the-sea programs and a variety of research positions and internships — FAU Harbor Branch provides undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty with a high-tech and dynamic environment that is perfect for their varied pursuits.
Research
Research plays a vital role in fulfilling the mission of Florida Atlantic University. The Division of Research provides oversight, expertise and guidance for all research activities throughout the University. FAU is taking its place among the world’s great research centers and has been designated a “High Research Activity” institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
To enhance interdisciplinary and collaborative research, FAU has established four university-wide research institutes focused on the University’s strengths. These are dedicated to improving and addressing diseases of the brain, enhancing human health and quality of life, protecting the environment locally and globally, and using sensors to monitor the world around us. More information can be found here.
Oversight
The Florida Board of Governors and FAU’s Board of Trustees provide guidance and governance to the University.
Tuition
Tuition fees are charged for each credit scheduled based on the course level and the residency status of the student. Tuition fees per credit appear in the link below. Tuition fees are subject to change by the Florida Board of Governors at any time. The most current tuition fees can be found here. To view our full cost of attendance information page, visit http://gqu8.skyupiradio.com/finaid/other/cost-of-attendance/
Facts and Figures
Enrollment
| Total Enrollment (Fall 2023) |
30,859
|
| Undergraduate Enrollment (Fall 2023) |
23,464
|
| Graduate Enrollment (Fall 2023) |
5,934
|
| Degree-Seeking (95 percent) |
29,398
|
| Non-Degree (5 percent) |
1,461
|
| Florida Residents (81 percent) |
25,116
|
Student Statistics
| College |
Headcount, Fall 2023
|
Degrees Awarded, 2022-2023*
|
| Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters |
4,154
|
1,140.5
|
| College of Business |
8,781
|
2,212.5
|
| College of Education |
1,788
|
496
|
| College of Engineering and Computer Science |
4,051
|
677
|
| Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College |
610
|
127
|
| Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine |
316
|
35
|
| Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing |
990
|
506
|
| Charles E. Schmidt College of Science |
6,510
|
1,631
|
| College of Social Work and Criminal Justice |
1,762
|
626
|
| Undergraduate Studies |
22
|
3
|
| Non-Degree |
1,873
|
* Degrees awarded include only bachelor's, master's, specialist's and doctoral.
Temperature
Average daily high and low temperatures (in degrees Fahrenheit):
| Month | High | Low |
| January | 76 | 60 |
| February | 77 | 61 |
| March | 79 | 63 |
| April | 83 | 68 |
| May | 85 | 70 |
| June | 89 | 74 |
| July | 91 | 76 |
| August | 92 | 78 |
| September | 89 | 76 |
| October | 85 | 72 |
| November | 81 | 67 |
| December | 78 | 63 |
Distances
Distance (in miles) from Boca Raton to major Florida cities and attractions:
| Cape Canaveral | 150 |
| Daytona Beach | 220 |
| Fort Lauderdale | 17 |
| Fort Myers | 140 |
| Gainesville | 250 |
| Jacksonville | 300 |
| Key West | 160 |
| Miami | 45 |
| Orlando/Disney World | 190 |
| Palm Beach | 25 |
| Pensacola | 610 |
| St. Augustine | 265 |
| Tallahassee | 425 |
| Tampa | 220 |
Distance (in miles) from FAU Boca Raton to nearby airports:
| Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International | 25 |
| Miami International | 50 |
| Palm Beach International | 25 |
Distance (in miles) from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport:
| FAU Dania Beach (SeaTech) | 5 |
| FAU Davie | 9 |
| FAU Fort Lauderdale | 5 |
Distance (in miles) from Palm Beach International Airport:
| FAU Harbor Branch | 75 |
| FAU Jupiter | 17 |
Maps
An interactive map of the Boca Raton campus can be found here. Maps to other campuses — Dania Beach, Davie, Fort Lauderdale, Harbor Branch, and Jupiter — are here.
National and State Testing Information
Information bulletins for the following state and national tests are available in the Office of Testing and Evaluation in SU 210 on the Boca Raton campus. Bulletins also may be obtained at FAU partner campuses.
Specific test dates, deadlines, fee information and direct links to specific testing programs may be found by accessing the Office of Testing and Evaluation website or by calling 561-297-3160.
Testing and Evaluation also offers test preparation courses in GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT and SAT. For more information, call 561-297-1260 or visit the Test Prep website.
ACT Assessment
Paper-and-pencil format
www.act.org
Phone: 319-337-1270
Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE)
Most tests are offered in paper-and-pencil format. Obtain a registration bulletin to complete form. Some tests are computer-based.
Register online at www.fl.nesinc.com
General information available through the Florida Department of Education website.
Phone: 866-613-3281
Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
GMAT is computer-based testing only, by appointment.
www.mba.com/us
Phone: 1-800-717-GMAT
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
The GRE General Test is computer-based only; phone for an appointment. The GRE Subject Test is paper and pencil, offered several times a year. Registration is available online.
www.gre.org
Phone: 1-866-473-4373
Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
Registration is available online.
www.lsac.org
Phone: 215-968-1001
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
www.aamc.org
Phone: 202-828-0690
Scholastic Assessment Tests
(SAT-I and SAT-II)
www.collegeboard.com
Phone: 866-756-7346
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Computer-based testing. Paper-and-pencil format available in some locations. Phone registration is available. www.ets.org/toefl
Phone: 877-863-3546