Fitchburg State College
Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420
`-
Overview
Fitchburg State College integrates an interdisciplinary, multicultural, liberal arts and sciences core program with selected strong professional and arts and sciences majors at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. A comprehensive public college, Fitchburg State College is committed to providing excellent yet accessible and affordable lifelong learning opportunities in undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education. A dynamic force in New England, the College shares leadership and resources with and draws expertise from the Montachusett region of Massachusetts. Valuing the diversity of the learning community, the College helps students become personally and professionally responsible citizens by promoting their intellectual, social, and ethical development.
There are 1,465 graduate students enrolled at Fitchburg State, including CAGS program students. Approximately 440 graduate degrees and CAGS are conferred annually.
Recent Fitchburg State College graduate program alumni are teachers at various levels in Massachusetts public school systems (including special and vocational education); psychological counselors in schools, colleges, hospitals, and public agencies; or management and management information systems specialists in both the public and private sectors. Almost 90 percent of graduates report they are satisfied with both their graduate major and their current employment.
The Location and Community
Fitchburg State College is located in the attractive Montachusett region of north central Massachusetts, an hour's drive from Boston and just minutes from some of New England's finest skiing, camping, hiking, and fishing spots.
Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
Fitchburg State College (FSC) offers Master of Arts/Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A./M.A.T.) degrees in biology, English, and history and Master of Education degrees in arts education, early childhood, educational leadership and management, elementary, general studies, middle school, occupational education, science education, secondary education, special education (with program areas in guided studies, moderate disabilities, reading specialist and severe disabilities), and technology education. The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) is offered in accounting, human resource management, and management. Master of Science (M.S.) degrees are offered in applied communication, computer science, counseling (with program areas in marriage and family therapy, mental health, and school guidance), criminal justice, and forensic nursing. Certificates of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) are offered in educational leadership and management and interdisciplinary studies. New postbaccalaureate programs in biology, English, history, and mathematics begin in fall 2004 to serve the needs of those who want to enter the teaching profession. The Fitchburg State College academic year consists of two 15-week semesters (fall and spring), two intensive five-week summer terms, and a three-week intensive winter term. Graduate courses in all degree fields and in other nondegree areas of study are offered in both the fall and spring sessions, and many courses are also offered during the two summer sessions as well as during the winter session.
Facilities & Resources
The FSC Library is a comprehensive information center dedicated to the educational development of students. The main library serves on- and off-campus students in the undergraduate and graduate programs. The library is open 97 hours and seven days a week. The library's home page (http://www.fsc.edu/library) allows all students and faculty members to access the catalog of approximately 233,000 books and 1,400 periodical titles; a Distance Learning button for library services; approximately 87 electronic online databases (encyclopedias, indexes/abstracts, directories, etc.); approximately 6,400 full-text online periodical titles; and Electronic Library Reserves. It also houses the papers of authors Robert Cormier and Robert Salvatore.
The Information Technology Department serves the technology needs of the entire college community for networking, Internet access, research, telecommunications, and student record-keeping systems. The FalconNet telecommunications upgrade project provided Fitchburg State College with a campuswide, scalable ATE/Ethernet Network. With that came enhanced technological tools of voice, video, and data communications as well as comprehensive network security measures. An extensive User Services and Support Program, in the form of a Help Desk and an updated, end-user training program and facility, manifests the College's commitment to excellence in the delivery and upkeep of its systems and services.
Expenses and Aid
Graduate tuition Is $259 per credit. An additional comprehensive fee of $75 per student and a capital projects fee of $7 per credit are charged each semester.
Financial Aid:
Graduate scholarships, in the form of tuition and fee waivers, are available in amounts ranging from $55 to $1500 per year. The application deadline is February 15 of each academic year. Students admitted to a graduate program may apply for graduate assistantships. Graduate assistants are paid $5500 for the academic year, are awarded a tuition waiver for 18 semester hours for the academic year, must carry a load of 6 semester hours per semester, and are required to work no more than 20 hours per week. Applications for graduate assistantships are due annually by May 31. Matriculated graduate students who enroll in a minimum of 5 semester hours per term may apply for the Federal Perkins Loan, the Federal Work-Study Program, and Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans.
Housing/Living Expenses:
On-campus housing is not available for graduate students. Campus Living posts rental announcements submitted to the office by local landlords on an office bulletin board. International students are encouraged to contact the Office of International Education for local housing information at 978-665-3089.
How to Apply / Application
The College employs a rolling admissions policy. Deadlines vary. MAT, GRE, or GMAT scores are required for degree programs. Students must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year institution with a GPA of 2.8 or better. For more information, students should visit FSC's Web site.
Who to Contact
Office of Graduate Admissions
Fitchburg State College
160 Pearl Street
Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420-2697
978-665-3144
Fax: 978-665-4540
E-mail: gce@fsc.edu
Graduate Programs and Chairs
CAGS-Interdisciplinary Studies
• Harry Semerjian, Chair; Ed.D., Massachusetts (978-665-3279; hsemerjian@fsc.edu).
M.A./M.A.T.-Biology
• Christopher Cratsley, Chair; Ph.D., Tufts (978-665-3617; ccratsley@fsc.edu).
M.A./M.A.T.-English
• Chola Chisunka, Chair; Ph.D., Syracuse (978-665-3445; cchisunka@fsc.edu).
M.A./M.A.T.-History
• Teresa Thomas, Chair; Ph.D., Clark (978-665-4587; tthomas@fsc.edu).
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
• Joseph McAloon, Chair; M.S.P.A., Massachusetts (978-665-3125; jmcaloon@fsc.edu).
M.Ed.-Arts in Education
• Harry Semerjian, Chair; Ed.D., Massachusetts (978-665-3279; hsemerjian@fsc.edu).
M.Ed.-Early Childhood/Elementary/Middle School Education
• Pamela Hill, Chair; Ed.D., Boston University (978-665-3515; phill@fsc.edu).
M.Ed.-Educational Leadership and Management
• Daniel Nomishan, Chair; Ed.D., Indiana of Pennsylvania (978-665-3516; dnomishan@fsc.edu).
M.Ed.-General Studies
• George Miller, Chair; Ph.D., Michigan (978-665-3191; gmiller@fsc.edu).
M.Ed.-Occupational Education
• James Alicata, Chair; Ed.D., Massachusetts (978-665-3047; jalicata@fsc.edu).
M.Ed.-Science Education
• Christopher Cratsley, Chair; Ph.D., Tufts (978-665-3617; ccratsley@fsc.edu).
M.Ed.-Secondary Education
• Nancy Kelly, Chair; Ph.D., Massachusetts (978-665-3447; nkelly@fsc.edu).
M.Ed.-Special Education
• Anne Howard, Co-Chair; Ph.D., Brandeis (978-665-3309; anhoward@fsc.edu).
• Denise O'Connell, Co-Chair; Ed.D., Massachusetts (978-665-3238;doconnell@fsc.edu).
M.Ed.-Technology Education
• Steven Therrien, Chair; MNS, Worcester Polytechnic (978-665-3384; stherrien@fsc.edu).
M.S.-Applied Communication
• John Chetro-Szivas, Co-Chair; Ph.D., Massachusetts (978-665-3257; jchetro@fsc.edu).
• Randy Howe, Co-Chair; Ed.D., Boston University (978-665-3544; rhowe@fsc.edu).
M.S.-Computer Science
• Nadimpalli Mahadev, Chair; Ph.D., Waterloo (978-665-3270; nmahadev@fsc.edu).
M.S.-Counseling
• John Hancock, Chair; Ph.D., Professional School of Psychological Studies, San Diego (978-665-3604; jhancock@fsc.edu).
M.S.-Criminal Justice
• Paul Weizer, Chair; Ph.D., Temple. (978-665-3272; pweizer@fsc.edu).
M.S.-Forensic Nursing
• Rachel Boersma, Chair; Ph.D. candidate, Boston College (978-665-3036; rboersma@fsc.edu).
• GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Certificate in Adolescent and Family Therapy
• Mike Bloomfield, Chair; Ed.D., Massachusetts (978-665-3610; mbloomfield@fsc.edu).
Certificate in Child Protective Services
• Mike Bloomfield, Chair; Ed.D., Massachusetts (978-665-3610; mbloomfield@fsc.edu).
Certificate in Communications/Media
• Randy Howe, Director; Ed.D., Boston University (978-665-3544; rhowe@fsc.edu).
Fine Arts Directors Program Certificate
• Harry Semerjian, Director; Ed.D., Massachusetts (978-665-3279; hsemerjian@fsc.edu).
Forensic Case Work Certificate
• Paul Weizer, Director; Ph.D., Temple (978-665-3272; pweizer@fsc.edu).
Forensic Nursing Certificate
• Barbara Cammuso, Chair; Ph.D., Clark (978-665-3365; bcammuso@fsc.edu).
School to Career Certificate
• Steven Therrien, Chair; MNS, Worcester Polytechnic (978-665-3384; stherrien@fsc.edu).
Substance Abuse Services Certificate
• G. Jefferson Breen, Director; Ed.D., Clark (978-665-3601; gjbreen@fsc.edu).