Is people-watching one of your favorite pastimes? Do you enjoy analyzing the actions of others? Do you like to pick brains? As a student in the Department of Psychology at Florida Southern, you’ll explore the connection between the thought process and the behavior of humans as they interact with their environment.

At FSC, you’ll gain an intuitive sense of how to study psychology through the observations you’ll make in class during exchanges between students and faculty. In addition, you’ll learn to apply scientific method, sound experimental designs, and sense perception to understanding human behavior, ranging from the biological basis of behavior to the complexities of interpersonal relationships.

The distinctiveness of the psychology programs at Florida Southern draws nearly 100 students each year, and here’s why:

Comprehensive curriculum: Prepare for a broad range of careers or advanced study through a curriculum that offers courses in a variety of sub-areas in psychology that give you a competitive edge in a diverse job market. We offer two bachelor’s degrees in psychology and the option of creating a customized concentration that matches your career goals and interests.

Fascinating courses: Apply the principles of psychology through special courses offered by faculty. For example, one class required students to critique the validity of psychological principles as seen in American films over the past 50 years.

Diverse faculty: Learn from a faculty of five professors who bring a wide range of specialty areas and perspectives in understanding behavior to the classroom. Their specialty areas include developmental, social, abnormal, cognitive, experimental, and physiological psychology; experimental design/statistics; testing/assessment; and learning/motivation theory. In addition, numerous adjunct faculty teach courses such as industrial psychology, clinical psychology, and counseling psychology.

Active learning: Test theory, observe behavior, and help others at the same time through participation in service activities. Students in the psychology department at FSC are known campus-wide for their involvement in events ranging from community functions to volunteer experiences in their fields of interest.

Innovative research: Apply your knowledge in the form of research projects, which you may present at professional meetings and publish in professional journals.

Practical experiences: Gain hands-on skills in the field in psychology through in-class demonstrations, such as studying different brain specimens (human and animal) in a physiological psychology class. In addition, FSC has established connections in many different areas for internships. For example, students interested in counseling or school psychology have interned at the Foundation School, a local charter school for at-risk children. Other students have applied behavioral modification techniques working with animals at SeaWorld, while others have worked with autistic children on behavior improvements. Additional opportunities include internships in a community facility, such as a mental health center, private psychiatric hospital, or correctional facility. You may also obtain experience as a student assistant helping faculty members with course and laboratory work.

Professional development: Gain new insights into the field through participation in seminars, guest speakers, and opportunities to attend national and international meetings for psychology. You can also join Psi Chi Honor Society, a national organization for psychology undergraduates and graduates. Organization activities include community service projects, special events, and social gatherings that connect social interaction with academic support.