Dear Graduate Students,

On behalf of the College of Sciences, I am pleased to welcome you as you embark on another exciting journey into the world of research and creative work. 

Graduate school is a time filled with possibilities but also with uncertainty. We are here to help you take full advantage of the wonderful opportunities that UCF and the College of Sciences offer. Our faculty are some of the best scholars in their fields, and they are eager to share their knowledge and expertise with you. 

Remember to enjoy the journey. Graduate school is about so much more than walking across the stage and receiving your diploma. As a graduate student, you are involved in creating new knowledge; your creative work, scientific papers and presentations will have a lasting impact on your field.

I encourage you to make connections with experts in your field, both in and out of UCF, and with your fellow graduate students.  Go to conferences, meet with faculty other than your advisor, have coffee with other grad students, offer to mentor a new student. These connections are likely to last many years.

I am also here to support you throughout your journey. Look for announcements for Office Hours with the Dean, which are scheduled virtually several times each semester. The Dean's Office organizes events and workshops throughout the year. If you have an idea of how the Dean's office can better support you, please email me. I am always happy to talk.

Sincerely,

Tonya Walker serves as the academic program coordinator for the College of Sciences' graduate studies team.

This summer she was selected for the Dean's Office ACE Award, which recognizes “movers and shakers” in COS departments who inspire others with their leadership skills. 

UCF's graduate game design program continues to earn national accolades, with the Princeton Review and PC Gamer ranking the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) No. 2 in 2023 — its fourth consecutive year in the top two. It's also ranked No. 6 in the world. 

Here's what the grad students of Cohort 19 have to say about game design. 

Brandon Brennan says
FIEA has shown "what life is like at a game studio and the many different ways I, as a producer, can help empower not only a project, but a team."

Hanna Martinez fell in love with gaming with Age of Empires III. "I played it all the time on my dad’s computer when I was a kid, and I still love it to this day!"

Oliver Thomas says "learning about the pipelines for art and design has been a lot of fun!"

Two graduate students with a deep interest in global conflict recently received a financial endorsement for their work toward a dissertation.

The 2023 Peace Scholar Fellowship Program supports the work of Salah Ben Hammou and Erika Ricci, both of whom are pursuing a Security Studies Ph.D. from the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs. 

The Peace Scholar Program offers financial and academic support to Ph.D. candidates currently writing a dissertation on conflict management and peace building.

Congratulations Salah and Erika!

Summer 2023 College of Sciences Ph.D. Graduates

The College of Sciences congratulates its 73 Summer 2023 graduate program graduates! We wish our 43 Master of Arts/Science/Fine Arts, 26 doctoral and four certificate graduates all the best for their future endeavors. 

Go Knights!

Federico López Borghesi, graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Biology, was recognized this Spring for excellence in graduate teaching by the College of Sciences. 

He is an aspiring quantitative ecologist with a strong interest in conservation. 

"Students and professors who are passionate about their work always help me expand my horizons and drive me to dig a bit deeper in my own research. Their curiosity is contagious."

 Read Federico's full interview here.  

Health politics and practices and drug use in Latin America and the United States are specialities of cultural and medical anthropologist Associate Professor Shana Harris, Ph.D. 

Her work with graduate students earned her recognition this year for excellence in graduate teaching. She shares some of her takeaways for graduate student success. 

"It is important to know that things will and should be different in graduate school, and that is okay."

Blake Battle ’12MS translated his degree from FIEA into a successful career in game development. Today, he's an accomplished producer at Bungie, which has developed popular games like Destiny and Halo.

Check out what he has to say about building a career post-graduation. 

Transfer of Credit Policy

Graduate program directors are responsible for determining quality and eligibility of course credits earned through external institutions or at UCF prior to grad program admission.  Students requesting credit transfer should submit a Plan of Study during their first semester of enrollment. 

Find peers, gain skills and grow as a professional through classes and opportunities offered by the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD).  

Questions? Concerns? We look forward to serving you:

cosgrad@ucf.edu

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