The main difference between the B.S. degree and the B.A. degree is the foundation: B.S. students will spend more time in science classes (usually biology and chemistry) while the B.A. students have a larger foundation in liberal arts (foreign languages and communications classes)

What is a Psychology degree?

The psychology degree program at Florida Tech offers in-depth preparation for careers and graduate study in behavior analysis, clinical psychology, criminal justice, social work, organizational management and law. All psychology degree students benefit from small classes, personal interaction with faculty and exciting research opportunities. All of our concentrations can fit into the B.A. degree plan, but often those pursuing a B.A. choose concentrations in clinical psychology, applied behavior analysis, sports psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, and forensic psychology.
Advantages

Why Florida Tech: The psychology degree at Florida Tech offers:

• Individual attention
• Solid graduate school preparation
• Abundant community resources
• Hands-on fieldwork
• Specialize as an undergraduate

The Numbers: Average class size within department: 23,Faculty members: 22

Learning

Clubs and Organizations: Psi Chi/Psychology Honor Society, Undergraduate Psychology Student Association, Forensic Psychology Association

Research: Florida Tech psychology degree students can take one-credit or three-credit research experience classes to gain exposure to applied research. Students work with faculty in ongoing research projects as observers or participants at various levels of commitment. Florida Tech's School of Psychology also operates a variety of clinics and service and consulting programs including:

• Family Learning Program
• East Central Florida Memory Clinic
• Community Psychological Services
• Center for Organizational Effectiveness

Internships and Cooperative Learning: All undergraduate psychology degree majors complete an internship as part of a three-credit-hour course during the senior year. Honor students write a thesis in place of the internship. Internships offer students direct experience with the day-to-day conduct of some area of applied psychology. Such experience allows students to see applications of the knowledge they have gained in their psychology course work and acquaints them with the activities of working psychologists. The following companies have recruited Florida Tech interns:

• Best Buy (industrial/organizational)
• Brevard County Sheriff's Department (criminal justic/forensic)
• Brevard Zoo (animal behavior)
• Children's Home Society (clinical)
• Circles of Care (clinical)
• Dolphin Quest Oahu (animal behavior)
• EPCOT (animal behavior)
• Palm Bay Police Department Victim Services Unit (forensic)
• Space Coast Early Intervention Center (applied behavior)

Future Outcomes

Outcomes - Grad School: Nearly half of psychology degree graduates continue their studies in graduate programs in counseling, social, clinical or forensic psychology or law school at universities such as:

• The Ohio State University
• University of Central Florida
• Nova Southeastern University
• Boston College
• Colorado State University

Liberal arts degrees are pre-professional degrees, and there is an expectation that sooner or later you should go to graduate school for specialized training that will lead to a satisfying career that optimizes your contribution to society. Psychology majors go to graduate school in Psychology, Business (M.B.A.), Law, Social Work (M.S.W.), Education (usually counseling), and occasionally medicine (M.D., R.N., N.P., etc.) or other social sciences. At small private schools students receive adequate counseling, guidance, assistance, and preparation to apply to graduate schools.

Outcomes - Career and Salary: Psychology degree majors find jobs in business, mental health facilities, and social service agencies. Businesses often prefer Psychology majors over Business majors because they are better educated, presumably more people-oriented, and can be trained within the organization. In the mental health field, Psychology majors find jobs as mental health technicians, behavior analysts and informal counselors. This is often difficult work that might encourage you to think about going to graduate school. Social service organizations frequently hire Psychology majors to do the same kind of work as graduates of Social Work programs or to manage programs. A career path can be found in this setting by rising through the ranks in an organization, although a graduate degree may eventually be useful.