Florida Institute of Technology

The Florida Institute of Technology has its roots in the founding of the University of Melbourne. Three women, Virginia Wood, Elizabeth Nutting and Margaret Hutchison, all from Dayton, Ohio, created a university that paved the way for higher education in Brevard County.

In 1958, Dr. Jerome Keuper founded the Brevard Engineering College as a way to provide educational opportunities to NASA engineers, scientists and technicians. Classes began in Eau Gallie Junior High School in 1959. That same year, Brevard County Schools threatened to close the engineering college because African-American students were permitted to attend. Julius Montgomery, an African-American, agreed to withdraw, saving the school from closure. He later returned to the school and eventually became Melbourne’s vice-mayor. In addition to Eau Gallie Junior High School, classes were also taught in the First Methodist Church until a permanent home was found when 40 acres and a building were donated by the University of Melbourne.

In 1966, the name of the school changed to the Florida Institute of Technology to more accurately reflect the character of the university. In 1970, Melbourne’s first schoolhouse was gifted to the university and, later that same year, the Aerospace Technical Institute merged with the Florida Institute of Technology, becoming the College of Aeronautics. In 1972, FIT acquired the Jensen Beach Campus and began offering degrees in Oceanography and Ocean Engineering. That same year, the Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering was launched at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland at the request of the United States Navy.

Today, FIT is one of the top 200 universities in the world according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings and is the only independent, technological university in the Southeast. It is also names as one of the top technological institutions by the Fiske Guide to Colleges.

Florida Institute of Technology Accreditation Details

Florida Institute of Technology is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. In addition, specific degree programs are accredited by the following institutions and organizations:

• Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
• Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI)
• American Chemical Society
• American Psychological Association

Florida Institute of Technology Application Requirements

Students who wish to attend Florida Institute of Technology who have no previous college credits must submit high school transcripts, ACT or ACT results, an essay and a letter of recommendation. Students who are transferring from another college or university must provide official transcripts from every college or university attended as well as a high school transcript or GED.

Graduate students must have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university. Doctoral admission is limited to those who have both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, although exceptions may be made for superior students. Students must have an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 or a graduate cumulative GPA of 3.2 for doctorate admission. Some programs may have higher admission standards.

Florida Institute of Technology Tuition and Fees

Tuition for full-time undergraduate students in engineering and science majors is $19,270 and for all other majors $17,560. Part-time tuition is $1,115 per credit hour on campus and $510 per credit hour for online courses. Graduate tuition is:

• Melbourne Campus - $1,205 per credit hour
• Aeronautics Online - $600 per credit hour
• Extended Studies Master’s - $600 per credit hour
• Extended Studies Doctorate - $1,179 per credit hour
• MBA Online - $896 per credit hour
• Online programs other than MBA - $777 per credit hour

Many types of financial aid are available at Florida Institute of Technology. The Airport Minority Advisory Council Scholarship is the featured scholarship for undergraduate students pursuing Aviation, Business Administration, Accounting, Architecture, Engineering or Finance. There are many other scholarships available with some only available to Florida residents while others are career related. Student employment is also available for students to offset the cost of tuition or earn spending money while in attendance. There are also grants available through the state of Florida for residents of the state as well as grants from the federal government. Students may also qualify for both federally subsidized and private loans. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to qualify for financial aid.

Florida Institute of Technology Online Degrees Available

Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology

The Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology degree at Florida Institute of Technology offers students’ knowledge and skills in basic human behavior. Students learn how psychological principles can improve health, business management, product design or law. The program combines a broad-based liberal arts curriculum with scientific approaches to understanding human behavior. It is offered completely online and allows students to choose from a variety of third and fourth year electives in five different concentrations.

Students gain an understanding of basic psychological processes, including both natural and social science effects on psychology. Students will discover major concepts of applied psychology, including theoretical perspectives, historical trends and empirical findings while recognizing the value of empirical evidence and ethical behavior. The skills learned in the program can be immediately applied in the workplace.

Students learn how to identify, understand and develop solutions to problems that face today’s organization as well as to distinguish between various psychological and other interdisciplinary theories of human behavior. Students gain an understanding of the critical nature of reliability and validity regarding tests and measurements as well as how to value complexity and key concepts of sociocultural and international diversity. Graduates of the program are prepared for careers as counselors, applied behavior science specialists, psychiatric technicians or case managers.

Florida Institute of Technology offers many different online programs that are designed for students who have barriers to attending traditional college classrooms. Adult learners who have work, family and social obligations that keep them from achieving their higher education goals are able to arrange classes with a flexible schedule in order to not only meet their other requirements, but advance their education. Students who have completed online degree programs through the Florida Institute of Technology have gained the skills and knowledge to advance in their current career or to seek positions in a different career.