BA in Forensic Psychology
Melbourne, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 19,295 / per semester
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Scholarships
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Introduction
What is a Forensic Psychology Degree?
The Forensic Psychology BA program at Florida Tech is designed for students who want to learn how psychological theory and research are used in the criminal justice system and related fields. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of human behavior, including criminality, as well as important skills in data analysis, writing, and research.
Whether you want to become a law enforcement officer, a leader in the field of criminal justice, or a crime scene analyst, a forensic psychology degree from Florida Tech develops a strong background in psychology with experience in criminology and statistics.
Why Pursue a Forensic Psychology Degree at Florida Tech?
Florida Tech is one of the only forensic psychology schools in the nation. In fact, its forensic psychology degree program is the only undergraduate program of its kind in the state of Florida.
At the intersection of psychology and the legal system, the program provides students with a strong forensic emphasis in a private school atmosphere of small classes and close interaction with faculty. Students benefit from a robust array of internship options, faculty-led research programs, and applied research projects through partnerships with the FBI and other agencies, reviewing and coding case files.
Specialize in Child Advocacy
Unlike other forensic psychology schools, Florida Tech offers a specialization in child advocacy. Focusing on ethical, realistic, and culturally sensitive content, this program is of interest to forensic, applied behavior analysis, and clinical psychology students who plan to work with children. Students learn about the various disciplinary responses to child maltreatment and will develop a multidisciplinary understanding of the most efficient responses.
Experts in Clinical, Social, and Criminological Psychology
Professors in this program represent various psychology disciplines and legal systems, providing students with broad exposure to the field. We have academics and practitioner experts in areas such as clinical, experimental, social, criminological, industrial-organizational, and multicultural areas, all with a wide variety of research and practitioner areas of expertise—something not usually found at other forensic psychology schools.
Small Classes — Personalized Attention
Students are matched with a faculty advisor who not only assists with selecting courses during their time at Florida Tech but also offers guidance for career and/or graduates school opportunities. In addition, after students complete their research methodology coursework, professors invite them to participate in faculty research teams, which is of particular value to students intending to apply to graduate school.
Located in the Heart of Florida’s High-Tech Corridor
Florida Tech is the perfect place for a BA in Forensic Psychology. The 130-acre campus is located on the Space Coast (so named because of the presence of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral just north of us), minutes away from the Indian River Lagoon, the most diverse estuary in North America.
The area has the fifth-largest high-tech workforce in the country, with more than 5,000 high-tech corporations and government and military organizations located nearby. This workforce also provides an abundance of internship and employment opportunities.
Florida Tech is just over the causeway from the Atlantic Ocean with its 72 miles of beautiful beaches, and a short trip to the Florida Keys or the Orlando theme parks. We also have a rich campus life that includes a wide range of intramural and collegiate sports, clubs, and social activities.
Build Lasting Professional Relationships through Campus Organizations
Beyond the classroom, forensic psychology degree majors build leadership experience through internships and participation in academic organizations like the Forensic Psychology Association, student government, and over 100 other campus-wide student organizations.
Florida Tech students can join our chapter of the Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology. Psi Chi is an active honor society that participates in community service and other campus-wide events.
Active Minds also offers students the chance to join a student organization that focuses on psychology and mental health. As members of Active Minds, students work together to bring about awareness and change perceptions of mental health on college campuses through seminars and lectures.
Curriculum
Gain Practical Experience
Our forensic psychology classes have low student-to-faculty ratios to encourage close collaboration and mentorship among students and faculty, along with individual creativity and leadership.
Students seeking a forensic psychology degree develop skills in crime analysis, understand crime prevention, and learn what it means to be a community liaison working among legal, law enforcement, and social services agencies.
As a senior, students engage in a scholarly inquiry project, completing an intensive field internship experience that includes a substantial research study.
Curriculum
Freshman Year
Fall (14 credit hours)
- COM 1101 Composition and Rhetoric
- EDS 1031 Survey of Science 1: Physical Science or Science Elective Credit Hours: 3
- FYE 1000 University Experience
- MTH 1701 College Algebra
- PSY 1400 Psychology Seminar
- PSY 1411 Introduction to Psychology
Spring (15 credit hours)
- COM 1102 Writing About Literature
- EDS 1032 Survey of Science 2: Life Science or Science Elective Credit Hours: 3
- SOC 1551 Introduction to American Criminal Justice
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective (Foreign Language) Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year
Fall (16 credit hours)
- PSF 2551 Survey of Forensic Psychology
- PSY 2512 Psychology Research Methods and Statistics 1
- Restricted Elective (Foreign Language) Credit Hours: 3
- Social Science Elective Credit Hours: 3
Select the first HUM Core Course:
- HUM 2051 Civilization 1: Ancient Through Medieval
- HUM 2141 World Art History 1: Pre-History to Early Global Awareness
- HUM 2211 British Literature and Culture
- HUM 2212 British and American Literature 1
- HUM 2331 American History: Pre-Columbian to Civil War Era
- HUM 2551 Survey of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
Spring (15 credit hours)
- PSF 3551 Integrated Theories of Crime
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Psychology Bases Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective (Science or Technology) Credit Hours: 3
Select the second HUM Core Course:
- HUM 2052 Civilization 2: Renaissance Through Modern
- HUM 2142 World Art History 2: Early Modern to Post-Colonial
- HUM 2212 British and American Literature 1 (may not be repeated for credit)
- HUM 2213 British and American Literature 2
- HUM 2332 American History: From Reconstruction to the Present
- HUM 2552 Survey of Modern and Contemporary Philosophy
Junior Year
Fall (15 credit hours)
- COM 3070 Professional Communication for Executives
- PSF 3512 Forensic Behavior Investigation and Identification or Restricted Elective (PSF)
- PSY 3421 Psychology of Learning and Motivation
- Psychology Bases Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective (PSF) Credit Hours: 3
Spring (15 credit hours)
- PSF 4551 Victim Studies and Advocacy or Restricted Elective (PSF)
- PSY 4512 Personal and Professional Development
- Communication Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Humanities Elective (HU) 3000-level or higher recommended Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective (PSF) Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year
Fall (16 credit hours)
- PSF 4791 Critical Issues in Child Advocacy or Free Elective
- PSY 4000 Field Internship and Research Project
- PSY 4514 Psychological Research Methods and Statistics 2 (Q)
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective (COM) Credit Hours: 3
Spring (14 credit hours)
- PSF 4491 Legal Psychology
- PSF 4591 Critical Issues in Forensic Psychology or Free Elective
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 2
- Psychology Bases Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective (PSF) Credit Hours: 3
Total Credits Required: 120
*Students are required to choose two courses from the social science bases list and one course from the experimental science bases list.
Forensic Psychology Electives (12 credit hours)
- PSF 3511 Introduction to Crime Analysis
- PSF 3512 Forensic Behavior Investigation and Identification
- PSF 3515 Special Topics in Forensic Psychology
- PSF 4515 Advanced Special Topics in Forensic Psychology
- PSF 4551 Victim Studies and Advocacy
- PSF 4562 Forensic Clinical Psychology
- PSF 4591 Critical Issues in Forensic Psychology
- PSF 4791 Critical Issues in Child Advocacy
- PSY 2413 Research Experience
- PSY 3541 Psychology of Leadership
- PSY 3551 Introduction to Child Advocacy
- PSY 3761 Abnormal Psychology
- PSY 4413 Undergraduate Research
- SOC 2541 Juvenile Delinquency
Psychology Bases
Social Science Bases (6 credit hours)
- BEH 4025 Applied Behavior Analysis and Exceptional Learners
- PSY 2000 Life Span Development and Psychology
- PSY 2442 Adult Development and Aging
- PSY 2444 Cross-Cultural and Ethnic Psychology
- PSY 2446 Sport Psychology
- PSY 2541 Group Behavior
- PSY 3441 Social Psychology
- PSY 3442 Psychology of Personality
- PSY 3531 Child Psychology
- PSY 3541 Psychology of Leadership
- PSY 3543 Psychology of the Workplace
- PSY 3551 Introduction to Child Advocacy
- PSY 3641 Political Psychology
- PSY 3761 Abnormal Psychology
- PSY 4462 Clinical and Community Psychology
Natural Science Bases (3 credit hours)
- PSY 3423 Physiological Psychology
- PSY 3520 Memory
- PSY 3522 Human Cognition: Theory and Application
- PSY 3524 Sensation and Perception
- PSY 4521 Animal Learning and Behavior
Career Opportunities
Career Outlook
The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides detailed information about specific jobs including median annual pay, working conditions, and job outlook, among other things.
According to the Bureau, overall employment of psychologists is expected to grow 22% through 2020, with employment growth varying among specialties such as forensic psychology; careers will be affected by government budgets, crime rates, and other outside factors, but those individuals with a doctoral degree will have the best advantage for job opportunities.
English Language Requirements
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