The undergraduate program reflects current trends in the field of Psychology through its emphasis on the science of Psychology (integrated via the Research Sequence) and through the inclusion of courses that represent recent trends in psychological theory and practice (e.g., child psychopathology, environmental psychology, and legal psychology).
All undergraduate majors should have a copy of the Department of Psychology Major's Handbook. This handbook will provide you with in-depth information about the degree requirements, course outline and post- graduate opportunities.
Program breadth is insured by way of the area requirements, which serve to familiarize students with five key sub-disciplines within psychology (experimental, social, applied, personality/abnormal, and developmental). Program depth is facilitated through the requirement for three psychology electives included in the degree program and by the option for students to take additional psychology courses beyond the 36 semester hours required for the major.
The current 36 semester hour requirements for the B.A. in Psychology are as follows:
Research Sequence: 12 semester hours
STA 3123 Introduction to Statistics II (4 semester hours)
PSY 3213 Research Methods in Psychology (3 semester hours)
Advanced Senior Laboratory/Field Experience (5 semester hours)
Area Distribution Requirements: 15 semester hours
Students are required to tak 15 semester hours in Area Distribution requirements. Students must take one course in each of the following five areas:
Area A: Experimental Psychology
Required Psychology Course Electives: 9 semester hours
Three additional upper-division psychology courses are required. They may not include independent study, supervised research, or supervised field experience credits. These three courses may include additional courses from those listed as fulfilling Area Distribution Requirements, additional senior labs, or any other upper-division Psychology course taken for a letter grade.
In addition to the 36 credits that are required for the major, the student must take 12 additional 3/4000 level general elective coursework to meet the Arts and Sciences 48 hour upper division requirement. The student is also required to have a total of 120 credits required by FIU. Finally, during the last 60 credits, a student is required to take at least 9 credits outside the department of psychology.
