Apply for Florida State University’s one-year Master of Science in Demography (MSD) by June 1 for fall admission to develop demographic skills highly valued by employees.
With a 100% employment rate for recent graduates, our program is highly regarded, and our alumni have careers in federal, state, and local government agencies including the U.S. Census Bureau, Pfizer, and the Federal Institute for Population Research.
The MSD program, offered through the Center for Demography and Population Health (CDPH), provides students the opportunity to receive specialized attention from faculty and learn together in a small cohort, through hands-on education with our low student-to-faculty ratios.
“Our 2023-2024 cohort included six exceptional students who share a passion for demography but apply their skills in very different ways,” said John Taylor, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Demography and Population Health. “I’m very pleased with the work they’ve done to date. This summer, our students are finishing their capstone research papers and pursuing employment opportunities. The research papers offer students the opportunity to demonstrate the skills that they have acquired this year. Work opportunities range from work with the Census Bureau, local and state health departments, and private businesses.”
Throughout the program, faculty members give students the tools to learn about real-world issues affecting populations. The curriculum provides students with a firm understanding of demographic techniques and the statistical analysis of demographic data and assists in preparing students for careers in research and data-intensive positions in public and private sectors.
“The exceptional CDPH faculty was undoubtedly a vital component in the formula for my love for the MSD program at FSU,” said 2023-2024 MSD student Keno Williams. “By the gracious aid and wise counsel of ALL esteemed faculty of CDPH, in conjunction with the rigorous program, I have acquired invaluable skills that shall abide with me for eternity.”
During the fall semester students participate in a professional development seminar, which provides professional guidance in résumé and portfolio development, interviewing, and professional networking.
In the spring, students continue taking courses in sociology, economics, and urban and regional planning. Throughout the year, students also work on capstone research papers, often completing these in the summer.
During the summer semester some members of the cohort complete coursework and an internship, which allows them to gain practical skills and make connections that will help them advance their careers. Other students enroll in a master’s research course, which guides them through the process of completing a demographic research project on a topic of their choosing.
“Be assured, that Multivariate Analysis and Mathematical Demography reign as the quintessential courses within the distinguished MSD program,” said Williams.
Outside of the classroom, the cohorts travel together, attending conferences that give them an opportunity to learn about developing topics in demography.
In the fall of 2023, the cohort attended the Southern Demographic Association Annual Meeting, hosted in San Antonio, Texas. At the annual meeting, students heard from demography experts. Presenters included Robert Hummer, Ph.D., a Distinguished Professor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Steven Ruggles, a Regents Professor from the University of Minnesota.
MSD students are also encouraged to attend key lectures by CDPH faculty and industry experts throughout the year that enhance their knowledge of the field and provide them with networking opportunities.
These include the CDPH’s Brown Bag Seminars, which provide opportunities to engage with leading experts in demography in a small discussion-based setting. Brown Bag Seminars are hosted several times each semester and bring in speakers from FSU, as well as other universities.
In addition to the Brown Bag Seminars, students are encouraged to attend the Annual Charles B. Nam Lecture in the Sociology of Population. This lecture provides a formal opportunity to hear from a demographic expert from another university. In 2024, students had the opportunity to attend Jennifer Kara Montez, Ph.D., a Professor of Sociology at Syracuse University.
Students in the cohort can get more than a degree by engaging with clubs, programs, and institutes across FSU’s campus.
This year one member of the MSD cohort, Isabella Marmanidis, was selected as a Sustainability Fellow through FSU’s Sustainable Campus program. Marmanidis originally got involved with Sustainable Campus while working as their Communications Coordinator during her final year as an undergraduate student.
The fellowship allowed her to work with the Apalachee Regional Planning Council to create an economic framework for determining the economic impact of a local river. The fellowship, and this project, allowed Marmanidis to work towards her demographic goals outside of the classroom.
“The fellowship was a great experience as it helped me gain work experience in a sustainability-related role which is something I am passionate about, while also putting academic skills learned through the program to use,” said Marmanidis.
Applications for fall admission to FSU’s Master of Science in Demography program are currently open and will close on June 1.Students can complete the program full-time in one calendar year or as part-time students for more than one year.
To learn more about the Master of Science in Demography program and to apply, click here.
