BA in Psychology

Diverse Concentrations

Florida Tech gives students the ability to pursue either a B.A. or B.S. degree in psychology. Students tailor their education to their area of interest. The Bachelor of Arts degree is designed for those students interested primarily in the social sciences and humanities. With a foundation in liberal arts, courses facilitate concentrations in human and animal behaviors.

• Animal Behavior: Courses in both biological sciences and behavior analysis emphasize biological bases of behavior and species-typical learning as well as standard principles of training that cross-species lines. Most animal behavior psychology degree students also add a minor in biology. The culmination of the program is an internship within a facility or institution that emphasizes animal training, husbandry, or public education.
• Clinical Psychology: The clinical/counseling concentration psychology degree exposes students to courses and field placements that emphasize the assessment and treatment of mental and emotional disorders. Such areas of study include substance abuse, abnormal psychology, clinical psychology, professional ethics, and assessment techniques.
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology: This degree prepares students to enter business directly after graduation, in industrial/organizational psychology, business law, management, human resource management, organizational behavior, and substance abuse. Students who choose this concentration for their psychology degree are encouraged to add a minor in business administration.
• Social/Cultural Psychology: This psychology degree brings together psychology and social sciences, exploring sociology, anthropology, economics, and political science to provide a complete understanding of the human condition. A psychologist with a postgraduate degree might choose international consulting, academia, government, training, research, or even law school – particularly if a student is interested in law firms concentrating on multinational corporations, government, or international business.

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
• Concentration Courses Credit Hours: 3
• EDS 1032 Survey of Science 2: Life Science or Science Elective Credit Hours: 3
• Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
• Social Science Elective Credit Hours: 3

Sophomore Year

Fall (16 credit hours)

• PSY 2512 Psychology Research Methods and Statistics 1
• Communication Elective Credit Hours: 3
• Physical/Life Science Elective Credit Hours: 3
• Restricted Elective (Foreign Language) 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)

• Concentration Courses Credit Hours: 6
• Restricted Elective (Foreign Language) Credit Hours: 3
• Social Science Elective 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
• Concentration Courses Credit Hours: 9
• Humanities Elective (HU) 3000-level or higher recommended Credit Hours: 3

Spring (15 credit hours)

• PSY 3421 Psychology of Learning and Motivation
• PSY 4512 Personal and Professional Development
• Communication Elective Credit Hours: 3
• Concentration Courses Credit Hours: 3
• Free Elective Credit Hours: 3

Senior Year

Fall (15 credit hours)

• PSY 4000 Field Internship and Research Project
• PSY 4514 Psychological Research Methods and Statistics 2 (Q)
• Concentration Courses Credit Hours: 3
• Free Electives Credit Hours: 5

Spring (15 credit hours)

• Concentration Courses Credit Hours: 6
• Free Electives Credit Hours: 6
• Social Science Elective Credit Hours: 3

Total Credits Required: 120

Get Recruited upon Graduation

Employers that have recruited Florida Tech students for internships and careers include, Children's Home Society, Circles of Care, EPCOT, Space Coast Early Intervention Center, and more.

Career Outlook

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides detailed information about hundreds of careers, entry-level education, overall working environment, and employment prospects.

Careers in clinical psychology are expected to increase as people continue to turn to psychologists to help solve or manage their problems. Psychologists also help other special groups, such as the elderly, veterans suffering from war trauma, and individuals with Autism. Job prospects are best for those who have a doctoral degree in an applied specialty. Check the handbook about careers in clinical psychology to learn more.