Have a question about the Graduate Certificate Program in Quantum Information Science & Technology at FSU? Browse the answers below. If you don't find what you're looking for, feel free to contact us.
It is an interdisciplinary graduate-level credential offered by Florida State University through the FSU Quantum Initiative. It provides training in the principles and applications of quantum science and technology, drawing on courses from Physics, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Engineering. The certificate is designed to complement a student's primary graduate degree and prepare them for careers or research in the quantum workforce.
The certificate is open to two groups of applicants:
(A) Current FSU graduate students enrolled in a relevant STEM discipline and in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
(B) Non-degree-seeking students who can demonstrate satisfactory completion of upper-level undergraduate courses in relevant scientific disciplines, also with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
External post-baccalaureate applicants may apply as non-degree-seeking graduate students.
The certificate requires 14 credit hours in total:
Yes. Courses taken for the certificate may count toward a PhD or MS degree with the approval of the corresponding graduate program at FSU and the student's primary research advisor.
No — the courses can be taken in any order that is convenient for a student, provided that a course is offered in a specific semester.
Yes, it can.
In such case, only one 3-credit course can be counted toward the certificate requirements. You will have to take three more 3-credit courses and the seminar course to obtain the certificate.
The program is accepting applications starting in Fall 2026, for enrollment in the Spring 2027 semester. Students can elect to pursue the certificate at any point during their graduate studies, but must do so before completing the second required course in the program.
A student has up to 3 years to complete all certificate requirements.
Applications are submitted online. The deadlines are:
Admission decisions are made by a five-member committee of FSU Quantum faculty. The committee evaluates each application based on:
No — in fact, students are strongly encouraged to take at least one course outside of their primary department. Interdisciplinarity is a core feature of the program, and the curriculum is designed to expose students to quantum science perspectives from multiple disciplines.
If your application is not approved, you will receive a notice explaining the reason. You may then request a meeting with the QIST Certificate Program Director and Co-Director to discuss the decision and learn how to strengthen a future application.
Not at the moment. The certificate is offered in-person (face-to-face) in Tallahassee. Online delivery will be developed as the program grows and matures.
Yes. The certificate prepares students for careers in quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing and metrology, quantum materials research, and related fields. Graduates will be well-positioned for roles in industry, national laboratories, and academic research. The quantum technology sector is rapidly growing, with increasing job opportunities at all levels.
Questions can be submitted online via the FSU Quantum Initiative contact page at quantum.fsu.edu/about/contact.
Certificate students have access to world-class research facilities at FSU, including the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (the most powerful continuous magnetic field on Earth), the Interdisciplinary Research & Commercialization Building (IRCB) with cleanroom and nanofab facilities, dilution refrigerators, advanced materials synthesis labs, and high-performance computing clusters.
The location of each seminar depends on the speaker and the host. See the list of seminars for specific locations.