2013–2014 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology

MINOR PROGRAMS
Minors in psychology and forensic psychology are offered through the
School of Psychology. A complete policy statement regarding minors
can be found in the Academic Overview section. Information about
current minor offerings is available through the individual colleges/
departments.
Forensic Psychology (20 credit hours)
Minor Code: 6146 Degree Awarded: none
Age Restriction: N Admission status: undergraduate
Delivery Mode/s: classroom only Location/s: main campus
PSF 2551 Survey of Forensic Psychology
PSF 3515 Special Topics in Forensic Psychology
PSY 1411 Introduction to Psychology
PSY 2512 Psychology Research Methods and Statistics 1
SOC 1551 Introduction to Criminal Justice
One Social Bases of Behavior course:
PSY 2442 Adult Development and Aging
PSY 2541 Group Behavior
PSY 3441 Social Psychology
PSY 3442 Psychology of Personality
PSY 3531 Child Psychology
PSY 3541 Psychology of Leadership
PSY 3543 Psychology of the Workplace
One 3-credit PSF 2xxx or above course
Psychology (19 credit hours)
Minor Code: 6144 Degree Awarded: none
Age Restriction: N Admission status: undergraduate
Delivery Mode/s: classroom only Location/s: main campus
PSY 1411 Introduction to Psychology
PSY 2512 Psychology Research Methods and Statistics 1
One Experimental Bases of Behavior course:
PSY 3421 Psychology of Learning and Motivation
PSY 3423 Psychological Psychology
PSY 3522 Human Cognition
PSY 3524 Sensation and Perception
PSY 3543 Psychology of the Workplace
PSY 4521 Animal Learning and Behavior
One Social Bases of Behavior course:
PSY 2442 Adult Development and Aging
PSY 2541 Group Behavior
PSY 3441 Social Psychology
PSY 3442 Psychology of Personality
PSY 3531 Child Psychology
PSY 3541 Psychology of Leadership
Two 3-credit PSY 3xxx or above courses
Note: At least nine (9) credit hours of the psychology minor must be taken in a
Florida Tech psychology program.
GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
Applied Behavior Analysis, M.S. _________________
Major Code: 8147 Degree Awarded: Master of Science
Age Restriction: N Admission status: graduate
Delivery Mode/s: classroom, off-site Location/s: main campus, Orlando
Admission Materials: 3 letters of
recommendation, résumé, objectives, GRE
Program Chair
David A. Wilder, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Mission Statement
Behavior analysis is a scientific approach to the study of behavior,
concerned with describing, explaining, predicting and changing
behavior. The mission of the behavior analysis degree programs is to
produce competent behavior-analytic practitioners and consultants,
168 Florida Tech 2013–2014
who are solidly grounded in basic principles derived from the
experimental analysis of behavior, who approach the world from a
radical behaviorist perspective, who will continue to inform their
practice with current research findings, who will continue to contribute
to behavioral research, who attain Board Certified Behavior Analyst ®
(BCBA ® ) certification, and who are prepared to enter doctoral programs.
The graduate program in applied behavior analysis is fully accredited
by the Association for Behavior Analysis International. The Behavior
Analyst Certification Board Inc. ® (BACB ® ) is the only credentialing
organization for the discipline. The BACB has approved the Florida
Tech behavior analysis core course sequence, which is part of all our
degree programs, as meeting the coursework requirements for eligibility
to take the BCBA examination. In addition, The BACB has
approved Intensive Practical Training in ABA (BEH 5250) as meeting
the intensive practicum requirements for eligibility to take the BCBA
examination when taken for a total of 12 credits over the course of
three terms. Florida Tech’s degree programs in ABA, and ABA and
OBM provide our students with all three requirements to sit for the
BCBA examination immediately upon graduation.
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the design, implementation and
evaluation of environmental modifications to produce socially significant
improvements in behavior. ABA includes the use of direct observation,
measurement and functional analysis of the relations between
environment and behavior. Based on the findings of descriptive and
functional analyses, ABA uses antecedents and consequences to produce
practical change. ABA is based on sound scientific principles
and has a solid research foundation that proves its effectiveness. ABA
is based on the belief that an individual’s behavior is determined by
past and current environmental events in conjunction with organic
variables such as genetics. Thus, it focuses on explaining behavior in
terms of external events (that can be manipulated) rather than internal
constructs (that are beyond our control).
Applied behavior analysts may specialize in clinical applications (e.g.,
developmental disabilities, mental health and traumatic brain injury),
educational applications (e.g., learning disabilities, and designing and
evaluating instructional technology), health and fitness, and other
areas. They typically spend more time in the problem environment
than in their offices. Behavior plans are implemented in the settings
where behavior problems occur, rather than the client attending sessions
at an office.
Graduates are encouraged to apply for admission into the Ph.D.
program in behavior analysis. The ABA program is offered both on
the main campus in Melbourne and in Orlando, Florida. Classes are
primarily offered at the Orlando campus on Friday afternoons and
weekends, while the main campus program offers most of its classes
only on weekdays. Regardless of location, full-time students typically
complete the program in four regular semesters plus the intervening
summer. The organizational behavior management and the applied
behavior analysis and organizational behavior management graduate
degree programs are only offered at the main campus in Melbourne.
The ABA degree program provides coursework and practical experience
for those who plan to work as behavior analytic practitioners or
consultants in community-based and residential programs. Graduates
will conduct functional assessments and functional analyses.
Admission Requirements
An applicant should hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology, education
or other related fields, although graduates from other fields are
encouraged to apply. An applicant should have a grade point average