FSU Significantly Reduces Distance Learning Graduate Program's Tuition Rate

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., June 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning in the fall 2012 semester, out-of-state distance learning students can benefit from reduced tuition rates at Florida State University's (FSU) nationally recognized College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. All distance learning graduate students enrolled in the Master of Criminal Justice Studies program will pay the in-state tuition rate of $513.34 per credit hour – a savings of more than $600 per credit hour compared to the College's current out-of-state tuition rate.

"The new tuition rate will provide more working professionals residing outside of Florida the opportunity to advance their criminal justice education," said Thomas Blomberg, Dean of the FSU College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. "Moreover, the new rate will allow additional distance learning students the opportunity to learn from the top-ranked research faculty in the nation."

The College's distance learning Master of Criminal Justice Studies program courses are taught by faculty members who have received national recognition for their research in the field criminology and criminal justice.  In May, FSU Associate Professor Kevin Beaver, Director of the College's distance learning program, was ranked No. 1 when measured by the number of articles published in a year by the "Criminology and Criminal Justice Hit Parade: Measuring Academic Productivity in the Discipline" study. Two other FSU assistant professors, Abigail Fagan and Brian Stults, were also named among the top in the nation of scholarly productivity in their field.  The study was published in the Journal of Criminal Justice Education.

FSU's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice also was ranked No. 1 nationally by the Journal of Criminal Justice Education for scholarly productivity of its graduates (in 2000) and for research productivity of its faculty (in 2011).

The FSU College of Criminology and Criminal Justice is known for its ground-breaking research, challenging coursework, and inspiring intellectual community. The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice faculty are teachers and scholars who prepare students to be leaders in shaping America's response to crime. A branch of the College, the Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research contributes to evidence-based policy-making and practice at local, state and national levels by producing policy-relevant research that is published in leading journals.

SOURCE Florida State University