2013–2014 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology

doctorate, students complete one year of supervised internship training.
Graduates are licensed throughout the United States and hold
positions of responsibility in mental health clinics, hospitals, medical
centers, HMOs, PPOs and independent practice.
Students are expected to be aware of various theories of human nature
and of various treatment modalities. Students are encouraged to assess
the problems of the clients, to select the procedures for behavioral
change most appropriate to the problem, to assess the effectiveness
of the procedure and, if necessary, to select alternate procedures.
Every effort is made to emphasize the value and dignity of psychology
as a profession. To this end, the importance of a problem-solving
approach, as well as knowledge of the results of scientific investigations
in psychology and the other behavioral sciences, is stressed.
The university’s program in clinical psychology subscribes to the
American Psychological Association Code of Ethics and all students
are bound by the principles enumerated in that code.
Students who accept admission into the program are subject to the
ethics, professional standards and laws relating to psychologists and
the practice of psychology. To engage in activities that are either
unethical or inappropriate to their level of training will be cause for
dismissal from the program.
Licensing/certification laws vary for the various states. Although the
curriculum is based on recommendations of the Board of Educational
Affairs of the American Psychological Association, and the clinical
psychology program is fully accredited by the American Psychological
Association’s Commission on Accreditation (750 First Street NE,
Washington, D.C. 20002-4212; phone (202) 336-5979), completion
of any program does not ensure admission to the licensing/certification
examinations of any state. The applicant or admitted student should
obtain and study the laws and regulations pertinent to licensing/
certification in the state or states in which they plan to practice and
should consider the educational demands on choosing both elective
work and internship positions.
The program is designed with the view that the essence of professional
psychology involves process and content. The process is the
problem-solving approach and the content involves the knowledge of
basic principles and professional skills. Both process and knowledge
are in a continuous state of change but this state of change does not
negate their significance. Because the model emphasizes the quality
and quantity of professional skills, the practicum and internship
experiences are of special importance in our program.
Program Goals and Objectives
The overarching goal of the Psy.D. program is to prepare qualified
students for postdoctoral entry into the field of clinical psychology.
To accomplish this, the program has three sub-goals with corresponding
specific objectives, including 1) the preparation of graduates with
strong and continually developing clinical competencies, with an
objective of the development of clinical competencies in relationship,
assessment, intervention, research and evaluation, supervision, consultation,
and administration; 2) the preparation of graduates whose
clinical competencies are informed by, and in turn inform, the scientific
and theoretical knowledge base of the discipline of psychology,
with an objective of the development of knowledge bases in biological
bases of behavior, cognitive/affective bases of behavior, social and
176 Florida Tech 2013–2014
cultural bases of behavior, individual differences, history and systems
of psychology; and 3) the preparation of graduates who will respect
and value cultural and individual differences and whose work will
be guided by the highest of ethical and professional principles and
standards, with an objective of development of a strong knowledge
base and sensitivity to cultural and individual differences, and the
attainment of the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to become
ethical and professional clinical psychologists.
Admission Requirements
An applicant must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
of higher learning. Although it is not necessary for the major area to
have been psychology, it is expected that those entering without a previous
degree in psychology will have completed at least 18 credit hours of
psychology coursework at the time of application. These courses must
have been taken in a department of psychology, and should include statistics,
personality theory, abnormal psychology, learning, physiological
psychology and social psychology.
All application materials must be received by January 15. The application
and application fee should be received by the university before
receipt of reference letters and transcripts, so the applicant’s file can be
established. Applications cannot be acted on until all required materials
have been received. Applicants may apply online at www.fit.edu.
All applicants are required to submit the completed graduate school
application form with the application fee and the psychology supplemental
form (forms are available online from the graduate admissions
website at www.fit.edu/grad/forms/php); a résumé of professional
experience; a statement of professional career objectives; three letters
of recommendation from psychologists familiar with the applicant’s
academic and/or clinical work, to be mailed directly by the recommenders
(forms are available online from the graduate admissions
website at www.fit.edu/grad/forms/php); official undergraduate and
graduate record transcripts, sent directly from the degree-granting
institutions; and Graduate Record Examination General Test (required)
and Psychology Subject Test (recommended) results. Please plan to
take the GRE early enough to allow test results to be reported by
January 15. Results may take up to six weeks to be reported by the
Educational Testing Service. Attendance at the Open House/Interview
Day is recommended.
Degree Requirements
To receive the doctoral degree, the candidate must have been a
matriculated student in full-time residence at the school for a minimum
of four years (eight semesters and three summer terms). This
period represents the minimum of attendance to complete the course
requirements. In addition to these years of coursework, the internship
requires an additional year for completion. To obtain an approved
internship, students must make application and be accepted at one
of the many APA-accredited internship training facilities located
throughout the country.
A student admitted to the doctoral program is awarded the master of
science degree when the following 36 credit hours are successfully
completed and when the student has successfully completed the
Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE):
PSY 5101 Statistical Research Methods 1 .............................................. 3
PSY 5102 Statistical Research Methods 2 .............................................. 3
PSY 5105 Biological Foundations of Behavior ........................................ 3
PSY 5121 Cultural and Social Psychology .............................................. 3