PSYC:BA - Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
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Academic Progression Requirements
Students admitted to the university are admitted directly to their chosen major. Students are expected to make good progress based on critical indicators, such as GPA in specific courses or credits earned. In cases where students are not making good progress, a change of major may be required. Advisors work to redirect students to more appropriate majors when critical indicators are not met.
Applied Behavior Analysis Track
The track in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) provides coursework that leads to the Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) certificate. Careers in the field of ABA can include working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities, as well as others seeking assistance to reduce problem behaviors or develop skills.
Students in this track will learn to define behavior as the unit of study, identify functional relationships between behavior and the environment, observe and measure behavior objectively and implement behavior analytic interventions for behavior change.
The ABA track consists of the courses below, which have been designated as a Verified Course Sequence and meet the Behavior Analysist Certification Board coursework requirements for BCaBA certification. Courses in the track may be used to fulfill area requirements for the psychology BA degree, as indicated below.
For a list of all state-approved common prerequisites, including alternatives, visit https://cpm.flvc.org.
Note: PSY XXXX (Or any other lower level Psychology class within the Psychology Inventory (i.e., CLP, DEP, EAB, EXP, INO, PCO, PPE, and PSB prefixes).
Industrial-Organizational Psychology Track
The track in Industrial-Organizational Psychology is for students interested in applying the principles of psychology to workplace issues. Students completing this track will be able to work with organizations in designing selection systems, validating performance assessment systems and developing/delivering training programs. They will also be able to work with consulting companies that design and market selection and training programs. Students will also be competent for managing (1) leadership development programs, (2) talent management, especially High Potential (HIPO) programs and (3) occupational health and safety initiatives.
Bachelor's Degree with Honors
Students must undertake an independent project, which must be approved by and carried out under the supervision of a full-time faculty member of the Department. Upon completion of an independent project, a satisfactory oral defense of the work must be presented to a Department committee, of at least two members.
Other Curricular Offering: 4+1 BA in Psychology to MPA Accelerated Degree Pathway
The MPA program allows qualified students to earn both their Bachelor’s and MPA degrees in a shorter amount of time than typically required for earning degrees sequentially. A student admitted to the Accelerated (4+1 degree) BA in Psychology/MPA Degree Pathway will be considered to have undergraduate status until the student applies for graduation from their bachelor’s degree program. Upon conferral of the bachelor’s degree, the student will be granted graduate status and be eligible for graduate assistantships.
course must be taken within the first two semesters after a student is accepted into the combined degree pathway
Students may select two of the following courses to be double counted:
Students may select one additional graduate-level course to be double counted. The course must have a course number of 5000 or higher and have a prefix of PAD, PUP, URP or URS.
Students in the Accelerated (4+1 degree) BA in Psychology/MPA Degree Pathway should consult their advisor regarding substitutions of the courses mentioned above for undergraduate courses in their program.
Students must pass graduate courses with a grade of B or higher to count them toward their MPA degree. Students accepted into the Accelerated Degree Pathway must fulfill all the MPA requirements to receive their MPA degree
Admissions Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology
See general university admissions requirements at admissions.fiu.edu.
Students are strongly urged to contact their Psychology academic advisor for advisement in curriculum planning.
Applied Behavior Analysis Track: Successful completion of EAB 3002 is required for admission to the ABA track.
Admissions Requirements for the BA in Psychology with Honors
Application must be made, and departmental approval granted.
Transfer Credits
Psychology majors are allowed to transfer a maximum of eighteen semester hours in upper division psychology courses. Course substitutions may be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
There are no majors associated with this program.
Students must take these three courses in the following order:
Note: Because the three courses in this component of the program must be taken in sequence, it is recommended that the first course should be taken no later than the first semester of the sophomore year.
For Applied Behavior Analysis Track only: Instead of course students should enroll in course.(Prerequisites: Research Methods in Psychology or Research Methods and Data Analysis in Psychology II, and Applied Behavior Analysis: Assessment and Intervention).
Students are required to take one course from each area.
Students must have at least 36 credits hours in total of upper division hours for the psychology major. Students may, with the permission of the instructor, enroll in course Independent Research in Psychology, or courseHonors Research Project, or course Experiential Learning/Internship in Psychology, or PSY 4XXX Research Internship in Psychological Science which are given pass/fail grades.
A maximum of 6 credits of course, course,course and /or PSY 4XXX PSY can be used to satisfy Psychology Elective Requirements.
Please Note: (1) Students are strongly urged to contact their Psychology academic advisor for advisement in curriculum planning; (2) Psychology majors are allowed to transfer a maximum of eighteen semester hours in upper division psychology courses. Course substitutions may be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Admissions Requirements for the 4+1 BA in Psychology to Master of Public Administration (MPA) Accelerated Degree Pathway
Students accepted into the Accelerated (4+1 degree) BA in Psychology/MPA Degree Pathway may take up to four MPA courses, 12 graduate credits, which will be double counted for their Bachelor’s and MPA degrees.
Admissions Requirements for the Accelerated Degree Pathway:
(1) The applicant must have an overall GPA of 3.25 or better.
(2) Letter of recommendation from a faculty member at FIU or from a supervisor.
(3) Current resume.
(4) Letter-of-intent not to exceed three double-spaced pages explaining how earning the MPA is consistent with long-term career goals. Students may also use this letter to discuss their passion for public service or policies and to communicate to the admission committee if they feel that their admission file does not properly reflect their potential to succeed in graduate school.
(5) Students can apply after having completed 75 credits in a bachelor’s degree program.
(6) Students must apply prior to the semester in which graduate credits will be counted towards their undergraduate degree program.