December 15 for admission for the following Fall semester.
CAN I APPLY FOR JANUARY ADMISSION?
No, admission decisions are made once a year and students are only admitted for the Fall term.
WHAT ARE THE ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES?
The admission process for the FIU Graduate Program begins online at the Graduate School's Admissions web site. All applicants must submit the following materials:
To the FIU Admissions Office:
To the Psychology Department, c/o the Graduate Secretary (University Park Campus):
The processed application with supporting documentation must be received in the Department of Psychology by December 15 for admission in the following Fall semester. Your file will not be reviewed until all materials are received. Applications completed after that date will be held over for consideration the following year.
WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM GRE SCORE AND GPA I NEED TO GET IN TO FIU'S PROGRAM?
You must have a minimum GRE score of 1100 (Verbal and Quantitative combined) AND a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be admitted into the program. If English is not your native language, you also must have a minimum score of 580 on the TOEFL. Admissions are competitive. Obtaining the minimum scores does not guarantee admission.
WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL GRE SCORES AND GPA FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ADMITTED TO YOUR PROGRAM WITH FULL FUNDING?
Qualifications of successful applicants to the Legal Psychology Doctoral Program for the past 5 years (2000-2001 to 2004-2005 academic years).
GPA and GRE (combined verbal and quantitative) scores for students who were admitted to the program with full funding.
|
1100-1199 |
1200-1299 |
1300-1399 |
1400+ |
Total | |
|
3.75-4.0 |
6 |
10 |
8 |
2 |
26 |
|
3.50-3.74 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
9 |
|
Below 3.50 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
|
Total |
9 |
15 |
12 |
2 |
38 |
Mean GPA = 3.82
Mean GRE = 1240
Qualifications of fully funded students who enrolled in the Legal Psychology Doctoral Program.
|
1100-1199 |
1200-1299 |
1300-1399 |
1400+ |
Total | |
|
3.75-4.0 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
|
3.50-3.74 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
|
Below 3.50 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Total |
8 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
17 |
Mean GPA = 3.87
Mean GRE = 1205
MY UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR WAS NOT PSYCHOLOGY. CAN I STILL APPLY?
You may apply to the program without a psychology major. However, you must have completed a statistics and a research methods course, at a minimum, in order to be admitted.
WHAT IS LEGAL PSYCHOLOGY? HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY?
Legal psychology is the application of non-clinical areas of psychology (e.g., social, cognitive, developmental) to the study of legal issues. It concerns topics such as jury decision-making, eyewitness memory, jury selection, and alternative dispute resolution. Forensic psychology is the application of clinical psychology to the study of legal issues (e.g., competence, insanity, risk assessments).
WILL MY LEGAL PSYCHOLOGY Ph.D. FROM FIU ALLOW ME TO PRACTICE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY?
No. Florida International University is in the process of establishing a graduate program in clinical psychology at this time, but that will be distinct from the legal psychology Ph.D. Therefore, we can not offer training that will enable you to become a licensed clinician.
IS THE LEGAL PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION?
No. APA only accredits clinical and counseling Ph.D. programs. Our program is based on applications of social and cognitive psychology to legal issues.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A PH.D. IN LEGAL PSYCHOLOGY?
A Ph.D. in Legal Psychology will allow you to oversee and conduct research in academic, professional, and government settings. Some of our students have become practicing trial consultants. Other students serve as consultants to government organizations concerned with public policy issues. Some students pursue academic careers and are professors at various colleges and universities across the country.
I NOTICE THAT THE APPLICATION REQUIRES THAT I APPLY FOR A PARTICULAR CAMPUS. WHICH CAMPUS CONTAINS THE LEGAL PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM.
Legal Psychology faculty are located at both the University Park campus (Schreiber, O'Neil, Parker, Rose) and the Biscayne Bay campus (Fisher). You may choose either campus on your application.
HOW MANY YEARS DOES IT TAKE TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM?
Most full-time students entering with a bachelor’s degree complete the program in 4-5 years. Students entering with a master’s degree typically complete the program in 3-4 years.
CAN I TAKE CLASSES PART-TIME? AT NIGHT?
No. Students are required to maintain full-time enrollment in classes (9 credits) and to maintain an active research program. Most classes meet during regular business hours.
CAN I GET A TERMINAL MASTER’S DEGREE?
We do offer a master’s program in Legal Psychology, but only for students who are enrolled in the joint J.D./M.S. program. There is no terminal Master's degree for psychology-only students. Students who do not have a master’s when they are admitted to the program will earn a master’s degree during the course of their doctoral studies.
I HAVE TAKEN GRADUATE COURSES ELSEWHERE. HOW MANY TRANSFER CREDITS WILL I RECEIVE?
It depends. A review of each student’s transcripts is done on a case-by-case basis. This review will determine whether previously completed coursework or master’s thesis fulfill the FIU Department of Psychology requirements.
ARE THERE ANY FACULTY MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT ACCEPTING STUDENTS NEXT YEAR?
We make admissions decisions as a committee. Students are not admitted to work with a particular faculty member but are admitted into the program. Many students work with more than one faculty member, although they must chose a primary faculty member to serve as their advisor. That choice is made during the first year. However, it is possible to change faculty advisors during the course of your studies.
WHAT TYPE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE?
The most common form of financial assistance is a teaching assistantship, which requires a 20-hour a week time commitment. During the first two years of graduate study, students with teaching assistantships will serve as TAs under the direction of a faculty member. After completing 30 credit hours, students will serve as instructors of their own classes. In exchange for their teaching responsibilities, students will receive a stipend (~$11,000 for 9-months) and a tuition waiver. When you apply to the graduate program, you are automatically considered for this type of assistance.
As funding permits, students may receive a research assistantship, which pays the same as a teaching assistantship. A research assistant assignment requires the student to work 20 hours per week assisting a faculty member with a grant-funded research project. This form of assistance is generally awarded to more senior students.
There is also a possibility of funding during the summer months. More senior students may be able to serve as an adjunct instructor. Adjunct instructors usually receive around $2000 for teaching a course. In addition, there may be the possibility of serving as a paid research assistant for a portion of the summer. Summer assignments are determined during the Spring semester each year and are dependent upon available funding.
Finally, students may apply for student loans. You may obtain the necessary forms from your own university’s financial aid office or by contacting the Financial Aid Office at FIU at 305/348-2389.
IS THERE ON-CAMPUS HOUSING?
Most (if not all) of our graduate students live in off-campus housing. However, residential housing is available on campus. You may contact Housing and Residential Life at 305/348-4190 for further information.
Last Updated October, 2004