MENU

What is Psychology?

Get a Master's in Psychology

The Psychology B.A.

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior.

Psychology explores how people think, act and feel within the complex framework of human experience—from the biological bases of behavior to social factors, and beyond.

The B.A. in psychology offers a solid foundation in psychology and provides a well-rounded liberal arts and sciences education through a blend of core courses and electives. Degree concentrations allow you to personalize your program.

Psychology Degree Concentrations

  • Animal learning and behavior
  • Applied social psychology
  • Clinical/counseling psychology
  • Cognitive and neuropsychology

Whichever concentration you choose, you’ll be well-prepared for graduate training in all areas of psychology and for a range of careers.

Tier 1
Best National University
U.S. News & World Report
Top 10%
Best Colleges for Psychology
in America
Niche
No. 6
Student Experience
The Wall Street Journal

Why Choose Florida Tech for Psychology?

The B.A. in Psychology offers a customizable curriculum to align with your interests and career goals, preparing you for further studies and diverse career paths. You'll thrive in our nurturing academic community, benefit from the expertise of dedicated faculty and gain valuable experience through outstanding research and internship opportunities.

At Florida Tech, the low student-to-faculty ratio and small class sizes foster close collaboration, mentorship, individual creativity and leadership—and ensure personalized attention and support for each student.

Faculty are experts in a diverse array of psychology subdisciplines, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience into the classroom. Their active engagement in ongoing research projects offers students unique opportunities to participate in cutting-edge studies, enhancing academic experience and career preparation.

Both the B.A. and the B.S. in psychology require the same number of credits and share the same psychology core courses.

The B.A. in psychology is designed for students whose interests are primarily in the social sciences and humanities and is oriented to the liberal arts, including elements such as foreign language courses.

The B.S. in psychology is designed for students oriented toward the natural sciences and mathematics, incorporating courses in areas such as lab sciences and calculus.

While all four degree concentrations are available to students in either program, the B.S. is recommended for students choosing to concentrate in animal learning and behavior or cognitive and neuropsychology.

Psychology students benefit from research opportunities through their coursework, participation in faculty research teams, and psychology internships.

In your psychology core courses you’ll learn concepts and methods for psychology research and put your knowledge into practice in your senior research project and internship.

After completing research methods coursework, some students may also be invited to work with faculty-led research teams studying a variety of topics and issues within the field of psychology, such as autism and Alzheimer's research, animal training, gender studies, emotional wellness and criminal behavior.

Our affiliated institutes and centers serve as focal points for ongoing research in areas such as animal cognition, organizational effectiveness, autism and memory disorders.

Psychology internships are a great way to gain real-world experience and forge potential career connections. Students find internships at businesses, non-profit organizations and affiliated labs and centers, such as:

  • 211 Brevard
  • Brevard Public Defender
  • Circles of Care
  • Community Foundation Brevard
  • Institute for Culture, Collaboration and Management (ICCM)
  • Scott Center for Autism
  • United Way

Students interested in the study of animal learning and behavior can also obtain psychology internships with organizations such as the Brevard Zoo, Florida Tech Roach Lab, SeaWorld and many more.

Beyond the classroom, psychology majors connect with others and build leadership experience through participation in student organizations such as the Forensic Psychology and Science Society, Florida Tech Industrial/Organizational Psychology Society, student government and over 200 other student organizations.

When it’s time to kick back and relax, we’re just over the causeway from 72 miles of beautiful beaches, a short trip away from the Florida Keys or the Orlando theme parks and minutes away from all the Indian River Lagoon has to offer.  

But you won’t have to travel far for rest and relaxation. We also have a rich campus life with intramural and collegiate sports, over 200 campuswide student organizations and clubs and a wide variety of social activities.

Careers in Psychology

A bachelor’s degree in psychology provides a strong foundation for a variety of careers that leverage understanding of human behavior, research skills and interpersonal abilities.

Some careers and positions require additional prerequisites, such as an advanced degree (e.g., psychologist), but there are many rewarding career options for graduates at the bachelor’s level, such as:

  • Administrative roles in healthcare
  • Career counselor
  • Case manager
  • Child development specialist
  • Community service manager
  • Human resources specialist
  • Market research analyst
  • Probation officer
  • Psychiatric technician
  • Rehabilitation specialist
  • Residential care coordinator
  • Sales representative
  • Social and human services assistant
  • Youth counselor

While some positions might offer entry-level opportunities, others could provide a pathway to further specialization and advancement with additional experience or education.

Florida Tech Career Services assists students, alumni and employers in their search for careers and employee candidates. We help students develop career plans and job search skills. Explore our Career Toolbox to learn more about our services and access additional resources.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides information about specific jobs, including median annual pay, working conditions and job outlook, among other things. Check the handbook for information on the outlook for psychology and related careers.

Advanced Degree Options

Some psychology majors join the work force immediately following graduation, while others pursue advanced degrees, such as:

Explore the Psychology, B.A., Curriculum

The Psychology, B.A., Curriculum

The B.A. in psychology offers a solid foundation in psychology and provides a well-rounded liberal arts education, designed for students whose interests are primarily in the social sciences and humanities.

In your psychology core courses, you'll get started with an overview of psychology and research within the field, and then delve into specifics such as the principles of learning and theories of group behavior. Courses in your chosen area of concentration will let you pursue your interests within psychology.

You are also encouraged to pursue minors in other disciplines, such as biology, business administration, child advocacy studies or humanities.

Courses include:

  • Psychology of Learning and Motivation
  • Psychological Research Methods and Statistics 1
  • Social Psychology

 

Check the catalog for a description of all courses.

Download the Psychology, B.A. Curriculum now!

Students study at an outdoor table on campus

Degree Concentrations Focus on Your Interests

Choose from four degree concentrations. Each provides depth within a subdiscipline of psychology.

Animal Learning and Behavior
Gain specialized knowledge and skills in animal learning and training as you explore biological bases of behavior, principles of training and species-typical learning, culminating in an internship related to animal training, husbandry or public education.

Applied Social Psychology
Study social psychology principles and methods to solve practical problems in industry and society. Ideal for graduate school preparation and those interested in sociology, social work, child advocacy, business, industrial organizational psychology, law/criminal justice or public policy.

Clinical/Counseling Psychology
Prepare for advanced postgraduate study in clinical, counseling or school psychology, or lay the groundwork for a rewarding career in mental health or social services. Our program emphasizes the comprehensive assessment and effective treatment of a wide range of mental and emotional disorders. This includes focused study on disorders of adjustment and substance abuse.

Cognitive and Neuropsychology
Explore cognitive, brain, and neural functions and processes underlying animal and human behavior and prepare for graduate programs in experimental psychology, cognitive psychology, neuroscience, cognitive neuropsychology and clinical neuropsychology. 

Learn more about Psychology at Florida Tech on the website.

Research For Career Preparation and Practical Experience

As seniors, students engage in a scholarly inquiry project, for which they complete an intensive field internship experience and conduct a substantial research study on a topic of their choosing. As a result, psychology degree students get practical experience, an enhanced job search portfolio and the perfect preparation for finding a job or going to graduate school.

Student projects have included topics such as:

  • Evaluation of child protection curricula in the Southeastern United States
  • Exploration of context familiarity in episodic memory processes
  • Impact of adverse childhood experiences on college student’s health, well-being and academic success
Loading...
Edit Page