Frequently asked questions about the program
Are the graduate MSFES courses available both on-campus and online?
What are the requirements for admission to the MSFES program?
How many courses do you need to complete for the degree?
What if I want to take a few courses, but am not ready to pursue a degree?
How do I apply and what are the application deadlines?
Do MSFES student’s qualify for financial aid?
Who do I contact about Veteran’s benefits?
How and when do I pay for my courses?
Are there required textbooks to buy?
Where do I find my courses?
Who do I contact if I forget my username or password?
When are courses offered?
Are all courses offered each semester?
How do I register for courses?
May I skip a semester and not register for a course?
What is UF’s policy for dropping and adding courses?
How do I get a UF Gator 1 (student) ID card?
How do I contact my professor?
How do I obtain my certificate once I’ve completed it?
May I attend a graduation ceremony?
May I purchase football tickets?
Is this degree as valid/equal as an on-campus UF degree?
How do I clear registration holds?
Still have a question?
Who is the MSFES advisor?
Dr. Dennis Mitterer
Lecturer/Graduate Advisor
(352) 273-1084
FESGraduate@dcp.ufl.edu
Are the Graduate FES Program courses available both on-campus and online?
No, MSFES is an online distance education program. All courses are conveniently delivered utilizing a web-based e-Learning system.
What are the requirements for admission to the MSFES program?
For Degree Seekers
- an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- For international applicants a TOEFL score of 80 or higher on the Internet-Based exam (550 on the Paper-Based) or a 6 or higher on the IELTS.
- three academic or professional letters of recommendation
- a statement of purpose
- a current resume
For Certificate Seekers
- an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
- one academic or professional letter of recommendation
- a statement of purpose
- a current resume
We recommend contacting the MSFES/ESDM Program Advisor to review your qualifications prior to submitting an application.
How many courses do you need to complete for the degree?
Students must complete 11 approved Graduate level FES courses. Courses must be approved by the advisor.
What if I want to take a few courses, but am not ready to pursue a degree?
If you have short term career advancement goals, enroll as a certificate student and obtain a specialized certificate in Emergency Services/Disaster Management by submitting a certificate application.
We recommend contacting the MFES Program Advisor to review your qualifications prior to submitting an application.
How do I apply and when are the application deadlines?
- For the master’s degree program: Complete UF’s online graduate admission application.
- Certificate students complete a Certificate application by going to UF Admissions and scrolling down to the certificate application options.
- Currently enrolled UF students
- NOT currently enrolled UF students
Application deadlines:
Spring admission – September 15 of the previous year
Summer admission – March 1 of the same year
Fall admission – June 1 of the same year
Applicants will need to pay the application fee and have official transcript(s) sent to the UF Office of Admissions
Do MSFES student’s qualify for financial aid?
Degree seeking students may qualify for federal financial assistance, and should fill out the FAFSA for a determination. Contact Student Financial Affairs, 352-392-1275, http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/ for more information.
Certificate students do not qualify for federal financial assistance but may be eligible for personal student loans. Check with your bank or credit union or agencies such as Sallie Mae for more information.
The MSFES degree and ESDM certificate do not qualify for the Employee Education Program.
Who do I contact about Veteran’s benefits?
Contact the Office of Veterans Services, 352- 294-3261, http://veterans.ufl.edu/
How and when do I pay for my courses?
Go to ONE.UF, http://one.uf.edu/, login with your Gatorlink username and password, click on Financial Services, then Make a Payment. Electronic check is a free service; credit card payments have a service charge. Note that UF does not accept VISA. If you mail a check, it must be received by the due date (not the postmarked date).
The deadline for payment each semester can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog,https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/Pages/dates-and-deadlines.aspx
Are there required textbooks to buy?
Much of the course material is presented in the courses themselves and/or you are directed to websites where you can download additional information. If you are required to purchase a book, the professor will inform you in the course where you can purchase it online. The UF Bookstore does not order books for the FES program.
Where do I find my courses?
Go to ONE.UF, http://one.uf.edu/, click on My Record, then e-Learning, and login with your GatorLink username and password.
Who do I contact if I forgot my username or password?
Contact the Help Desk at 352-392-HELP (4357) or helpdesk@ufl.edu
When are courses offered?
Our program follows UF’s calendar with courses offered Spring, Summer-session C, and Fall semesters. For dates and deadlines please see the UF Graduate School’s academic calendar.
Are all courses offered each semester?
No. Please contact the FES Advisor for course offerings.
How do I register for courses?
You should send an email to the graduate advisor, see MSFES Registration for details. Please note that you will need to clear any active holds before you can be registered for classes.
May I skip a semester and not register for a course?
Yes, two semesters. If you skip three consecutive semesters or more without registering for courses, then you will become inactive. To become an active student again, you will need to reapply and register for classes for the term that you wish to begin again.
- Degree seeking students will need to submit a graduate readmission application
- Certificate students will need to submit a new certificate application
What is UF’s policy for dropping and adding courses?
Courses can be dropped or added during the drop/add period without a penalty. During Spring and Fall semesters this period is the first week of classes (first 5 days); Summer drop/add is allowed the first 2 days of classes.
The dates for the drop/add period each semester can be found on the UF Graduate School’s website. Reference their Academic Calendar.
How do I get a UF Gator 1 (student) ID card?
A distance education student can order a UF identification card online through Gator 1 Central. Students cannot order a card until they have registered for a course.
How do I contact my professor?
The faculty will provide their contact information in each of their courses including office or cell number, an email address, and times when they can be reached. Please do not hesitate to contact your instructor with a question or concern.
How do I obtain my certificate once I’ve completed it?
Go to ONE.UF, http://one.uf.edu/, under My Record, click on Certificate/Degree Application, and apply for it in the semester you are completing the final course(s) for it. UF mails your certificate to you after the semester ends and posts it to your official transcript.
May I attend a graduation ceremony?
Yes, we hope you will come and walk in one of the graduation ceremonies! Please contact the MSFES Program Advisor during your last semester for the steps you need to take to graduate. Information about commencement can be found on the UF Registrar’s website.
May I purchase football tickets?
Yes! You can get in the football lottery or purchase tickets that become available by contacting the Gator Ticket Office, 352-375-GoUF (4683) or 800-34-GATOR (42867),http://www.gatorzone.com/tickets/
Is this degree as valid/equal as an on-campus UF degree?
Yes, there is no difference in the degree you receive whether you are taking courses online in a distance education program or you are an on-campus student. You will receive a Master of Science in Fire and Emergency Sciences from the University of Florida.
How do I clear registration holds?
You are required to clear holds placed on your account each semester before your registration can be processed.
To clear your holds:
Log into your ONE.UF account https://one.uf.edu/ > select Holds Check for holds on your student record > Check Holds
Follow prompts to eliminate all holds. Holds may include; emergency contact information, registration prep, and current address verification.
As part of the University of Florida’s ongoing effort to build a comprehensive emergency notification plan, the University requires emergency contact information for all students.
Still have a question?
Dr. Dennis Mitterer
Lecturer/Graduate Advisor
(352) 273-1084
FESGraduate@dcp.ufl.edu