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7146
Bachelor of Arts
Classroom
No
Undergraduate
Main Campus - Melbourne
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Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology
The Bachelor of Arts degree program in forensic psychology is a unique program designed to provide knowledge and skills in preparation for careers in several areas of criminal justice in the context of a firm foundation in basic psychology. Graduates of this program can pursue careers in criminal justice professions, such as crime analysts, police or probation officers and victim advocates, and in nonprofit and social service agencies that coordinate efforts with legal/justice systems, such as domestic violence shelters and victim’s rights groups. Some graduates may choose to pursue graduate study in criminal justice, forensic psychology, criminology or law.
The forensic psychology program emphasizes skills in crime analysis (tracking patterns and social correlates of criminal activity), crime prevention, and community liaison work among legal, law enforcement and social service agencies. Statistical analysis, program development and program evaluation are some of the competencies students are expected to acquire. Students in this program perform an internship in a criminal justice organization.
Degree Requirements
Candidates for a Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology must successfully complete 120 credit hours as indicated in the suggested curriculum below.
Restricted Electives
The Restricted Elective in a foreign language requires two semesters of a foreign language other than a student’s home language. PSY and PSF courses other than PSY 2444 cannot be used as the Social Science Elective. PSF 3511, PSF 3512, PSF 4515 (if different topic is chosen), PSF 4551 and PSY 4511 may be used as restricted electives (PSF), if not used in the theory and practice, or research and applications categories. Communication Electives may be satisfied by any COM 2xxx, 3xxx or 4xxx courses, foreign languages or linguistics.
Curriculum
Freshman Year
| FALL | CREDITS | |
| ASC 1000 |
University Experience |
1 |
| COM 1101 |
Composition and Rhetoric |
3 |
| EDS 1031 |
Survey of Science 1: Physical Science | 3 |
| MTH 1701 | College Algebra | 3 |
| PSY 1400 |
Freshman Seminar |
1 |
| PSY 1411 |
Introduction to Psychology |
3 |
| 14 | ||
| SPRING | CREDITS | |
| COM 1102 | Writing about Literature | 3 |
| CSE 1301 | Introduction to Computer Applications | 3 |
| EDS 1032 | Survey of Science 2: Life Science | 3 |
| SOC 1551 | Introduction to american Criminal Justice | 3 |
| Restricted Elective (Foreign Language) | 3 | |
| 15 | ||
Sophomore Year
| FALL | CREDITS | |
| HUM 2051 |
Civilization 1 |
3 |
| PSF 2551 | Survey of Forensic Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 2512 |
Psychology Research Methods and Statistics 1 |
4 |
| Restricted Elective (Foreign Language) | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
| SPRING | CREDITS | |
| PSF 3551 |
Integrated Theories of Crime |
3 |
| PSY 3513 | Psychology Research Methods and Statistics 2 | 4 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities Core Course* | 3 | |
| Psychology Bases** | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
Junior Year
| FALL | CREDITS | |
| COM 3070 |
Professional Communication for Executives |
3 |
| PSF 3515 |
Special Topics in Forensic Psychology |
1 |
| SOC 2541 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
| Psychology Bases |
3 | |
| Restricted Elective (PSF) | 3 | |
| Restricted Elective (Science) | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
| SPRING | CREDITS | |
| PSF 3515 |
Special Topics in Forensic Psychology |
1 |
| PSY 3999 |
Scholarly Project Planning Seminar (Q) |
1 |
| Communication Elective |
3 | |
| Psychology Bases | 3 | |
| Free Elective |
3 | |
| Restricted Elective (PSF) | 3 | |
| 14 | ||
Senior Year
| FALL | CREDITS | |
| PSY 4000 |
Field Internship and Research Project (Q) |
3 |
| Humanities Elective |
3 | |
| Psychology Bases |
3 | |
| Restricted Electives (PSF) |
6 | |
| 15 | ||
| SPRING | CREDITS | |
| PSF 3515 |
Special Topics in Forensic Psychology |
1 |
| PSF 4591 |
Critical Issues in Forensic Psychology |
3 |
| PSY 4001 |
Applied Research Analysis Seminar (Q) |
1 |
| Communication Elective |
3 | |
| Free Electives |
6 | |
| 14 | ||
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED 120
| *Humanities Core Courses | |
| 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 |
| HUM 2213 | British and American Literature 2 |
| HUM 2331 | American History: Pre-Columbian to Civil War Era |
| HUM 2332 | American History: From Reconstruction to the Present |
Not all humanities core courses are offered online or every term; check the current schedule of classes for humanities core options.
**Psychology Bases
| Social Science Bases (two courses from the following) |
CREDITS | |
| PSY 2442 |
Adult Development and Aging |
3 |
| PSY 3441 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 3442 | Psychology of Personality | 3 |
| PSY 3531 | Child Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 3541 | Psychology of Leadership | 3 |
| PSY 3542 | Survey of Industrial/Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| Experimental Science Bases (two courses from the following) |
CREDITS | |
| AHF 3101 | Introduction to Human Factors | 3 |
| PSY 3421 | Psychology of Learning and Motivation | 3 |
| PSY 3423 |
Physiological Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 3522 |
Human Cognition: Theory and Application | 3 |
| PSY 3524 | Sensation and Perception | 3 |
| PSY 4521 |
Animal Learning and Behavior | 3 |
Psychology Honors Program
Academically gifted, highly motivated students may participate in the department’s honors program. Students who plan to seek graduate degrees are strongly advised to consider this program.
The psychology honors program is available to juniors enrolled in all undergraduate psychology programs (B.A., B.S., psychology; B.A., forensic psychology). The honors program includes six credit hours of Psychology Honors Thesis (PSY 4515) taken in place of the internship (PSY 3999, PSY 4000, PSY 4001). Students must also complete a minimum of three (3) credits of the Psychology Honors Seminar (PSY 4590), usually taken in place of lower-level courses in the concentration area or in place of free electives. Only honors students may write a thesis.
Admission Requirements
Prospective honors students must have reached their junior year. Applicants should have completed a minimum of 12 hours of psychology (PSY, PSF) courses with a GPA of 3.5 in those courses and a minimum overall GPA of 3.2. These courses may be taken at Florida Tech or transferred from another four-year university. Community college courses will not be included in the GPA calculation.
To earn the honors distinction, students must successfully complete the program with a graduating GPA of 3.5 in psychology and an overall GPA of 3.2. Only courses taken at Florida Tech will be included in this calculation. A minimum average GPA of 3.0 in PSY 4590 is required. Successful students will receive a certificate indicating completion of the requirements.
Required Courses
| PSY 4515 | Psychology Honors Thesis | 3 |
| PSY 4590 | Psychology Honors Seminar (3 credit hours required) | 1 |