Florida Southern College

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Two Flexible, First-Rate Psychology Degrees From FSC

Florida Southern College appears in our ranking of the 50 Great Small Colleges for a Bachelor’s in Psychology.

At the Ordway Building, the School of Arts & Sciences provides a Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.) for Florida Southern College Moccasins to gain deeper insights into people’s thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and social habits. Chaired by Dr. Bruce Darby, an NIMH Fellow, this 124-credit, SACS-accredited path integrates 160 fieldwork hours into Lakeland courses like Neuroscience and Positive Psychology for 100 percent grad school acceptance. Starting in Fall 2020, the Master of Industrial/Organizational Psychology will study the application of behavioral theories in business for better work environments. Overseen by Dr. Charlie Law, this 33-credit, 1.5-year hybrid option will include one online and one face-to-face course, such as Personnel Selection or Training & Development, weekly for $26,400 total. Students could also conduct Goodman-Riley Lab research, intern with Tri-County Human Services, minor in Latin American studies, journey from Switzerland to Singapore, pledge Psi Chi, and attend the Child of the Sun Lecture Series.

About Florida Southern College

Florida Southern College originated in 1883 when President Claude A. Saunders opened the doors to the Sunshine State’s first four-year private school in Orlando. In 1885, the United Methodist Church sponsored its relocation to Leesburg and renaming as Florida Conference College. In 1906, it became Southern College with a new home in Palm Harbor. After a fire in 1921, President Rhenus Hoffard Alderman moved Southern College to Clearwater Beach. The next Fall, it acquired land in Polk County outside Tampa Bay for development. In 1935, the Florida Southern College name was adopted. In 1938, President Ludd Spivey recruited famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design the permanent campus. In 1941, the E.T. Roux Library was erected by Nils Schweizer for $120,000. In 1958, Florida Southern unveiled its Sharp Family Tourism & Education Center. By 2001, FSC had launched its Lawton M. Chiles Center for Florida History. In 2012, FSC was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Endowed for $94.7 million, Florida Southern College now employs 340 faculty inspiring 2,723 undergrad and 431 post-grad Moccasins from 50 countries online or on its 110-acre, 70-building Lakeland campus designed by Frank Lloyd Wright with 100+ organizations like Psych Club. In 2016, FSC won an Omicron Delta Kappa Presidential Circle of Excellence Award. In 2017, Florida Southern had the FICPA Foundation Outstanding Educator of the Year Award winner. Florida Southern College graduated three 2019 Fulbright Scholar Award recipients too. The U.S. News & World Report ranked FSC 10th regionally with the 13th best undergraduate teaching. On Niche, FSC boasts America’s 95th best Christian education, 223rd hardest academics, and 322nd top psychology program. Forbes picked Florida Southern College 321st among private four-year schools. The Princeton Review applauded FSC for the seventh most beautiful campus. WalletHub placed Florida Southern 156th for value and 97th for educational outcomes.

Florida Southern College Accreditation Details

On June 14, 2018, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Board of Trustees took action to renew the Level VI accreditation status at Florida Southern College through the next 2027-28 evaluation visit under President Anne B. Kerr, Ph.D., who earned the NSEE William Burke Presidential Award. Located 453 miles up Interstate 75 in Decatur, Georgia, this sizeable 11-state Southeast Region accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to review FSC’s 46 baccalaureate, six adult, 10 master’s, and four doctoral programs. Further, Florida Southern is approved by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) for online education.

Florida Southern College Application Requirements

Admission at Florida Southern College is classified as “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s because 3,644 of the 7,254 Fall 2018 applicants were selected for only 50 percent acceptance. First-year Moccasins seeking the Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.) must finish a college-prep high school diploma or the GED equivalent. The Class of 2022 reported an average GPA of 3.7. The middle 50th percentile had SAT scores of 1130-1260. Mid-range admitted ACT scores of 23-29. The Honors Program mandates a minimum 3.5 GPA, 29 ACT, and 1330 SAT mark. Transfers are welcome with 25-93 previous undergraduate credits graded C or better. International students must prove English fluency with at least 105 Duolingo, 79 TOEFL iBT, 6.5 IELTS, or 1110 SAT scores. Non-U.S. residents must verify funding of $53,500 or more before enrollment. The Adult & Graduate Admission Office will require a four-year bachelor’s for the Master of Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Minimum upper-division GPAs of 3.0 will be preferred. Post-grads with 3.2 or higher GPAs are exempt from the GRE test.

Featured Programs

Florida Southern College offers a freshman Early Decision deadline of November 1st. Regular Decision freshmen apply until March 1st for Fall or November 1st for Spring. Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.) transfers must file before June 1st or December 1st. Prospective post-grads are asked to apply early for the Master of Industrial/Organizational Psychology cohort starting on August 18, 2020. Accordingly, complete the FSC, Coalition, or Common Application online for free. Have registrars mail official transcripts to 111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive in Lakeland, FL 33801. Forward test results using SAT/TOEFL code 5218 or ACT code 0732. Send checklist items, such as the academic recommendation, personal essay, social standing form, passport or visa, and current resume. Contact (863) 680-4111 or fscadm@flsouthern.edu with questions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2019-20, Florida Southern College is billing full-time Psychology Major (B.A./B.S.) tuition of $18,820 per semester or $37,640 annually. Studying part-time incurs $998 per credit. Undergrads cover the $315 technology fee and $75 activity fee each term. Freshmen pay the one-time $100 orientation fee. Health insurance is approximately $1,610 unless waived. Residing at the Lakeland campus dorms like Joseph Reynolds Hall adds $5,600 to $8,000 for yearly rent. Standard 20-meal plans for Wynee’s Bistro are $4,710 extra per year. FSC budgets $1,250 for textbooks and $2,752 for personal expenses. Annual bachelor’s attendance equals about $52,020 in-state and $40,350 with family. The Master of Industrial/Organizational Psychology charges $800 per credit or $26,400 in total.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office in the Raulerson Building connects 100 percent of new full-time FSC Moccasins to median tuition assistance of $23,138 each for $16.61 million combined. Institutional funds include the Beulah Kahler Scholarship, Hazel Haley Scholarship, Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship, Advancing the Flame Scholarship, Lucius Ordway Scholarship, George Jenkins Scholarship, E.T. Roux Scholarship, Edna Mae Pearce Scholarship, Lockett Scholarship, Emile Watson Scholarship, Dr. Marcene Christoverson Scholarship, William Danforth Scholarship, and Thad Buckner Scholarship. The Hollingsworth Scholarship covers full tuition and fees for exceptional freshmen meeting the minimum 29 ACT or 1330 SAT requirement. The $5,000 Pre-Ministerial Award assists United Methodist Church members with 3.0 or better GPAs who pursue Christian service. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, require FAFSA applications coded 001488. Floridians could also apply for the Bright Futures Scholarship, Access to Better Learning Grant, Jose Marti Scholarship, Farmworker Student Scholarship, Rosewood Family Scholarship, and more.

Continue learning about Florida Southern College at the Psychology Department website.

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