2006–2007 - Florida Institute of Technology

College of Business students are prepared to compete in a
global, technologically driven business environment by integrating
personalized and applied business instruction into a
focused, high-quality academic learning experience.
The College of Engineering includes seven departments:
chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer sciences,
electrical and computer engineering, engineering systems,
marine and environmental systems, and mechanical and
aerospace engineering. Programs offered in addition to those
included in the department names are biological oceanography,
chemical oceanography, coastal zone management, engineering
management, environmental resource management, environmental
science, geological oceanography, marine environmental
science, meteorology, ocean engineering, physical
oceanography, software engineering and systems engineering.
The College of Psychology and Liberal Arts includes
the School of Psychology, the Department of Humanities and
Communication, the division of languages and linguistics, and
military science (Army ROTC). Florida Tech offers two- and
four-year Army ROTC programs to interested, qualified
students. Students may qualify for a reserve commission in
the U.S. Army through normal completion of both the college
basic and advanced cadet programs, or may enter directly into
the advanced program after completing their basic program
requirements before entering the university.
The college offers bachelor’s degrees in communication,
humanities, psychology and forensic psychology, and master’s
degrees in applied behavior analysis, industrial/organizational
psychology, and technical and professional communication.
Doctoral degrees are awarded in clinical psychology and
industrial/organizational psychology.
The College of Science is comprised of the departments of
biological sciences, chemistry, mathematical sciences, physics
and space sciences, and science and mathematics education.
Bachelor’s degrees are offered in all of these areas and in biochemistry
and interdisciplinary science. Master’s degrees are
offered in applied mathematics, biological sciences, chemistry,
computer education, environmental education, mathematics
education, operations research, physics, science education,
space sciences and teaching. Advanced degrees include the
Specialist in Education and doctoral degrees in applied mathematics,
biological sciences, chemistry, mathematics education,
operations research, physics, science education and space
sciences.
University College includes the Center for Distance
Learning, the Center for Professional Development, Florida
Tech Consulting and Partnership Programs, as well as the
School of Extended Studies, which began in August 1972
as “Off-Campus Programs,” when 42 students enrolled in a
master’s degree program in electrical engineering at the Naval
Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland. Today master’s
degree programs are offered at 12 graduate centers in five
states. Curricula and course content are tailored to meet the
needs of the students and their employers, while maintaining
the highest possible academic quality and integrity. Class
times and locations are selected for the convenience of the
students. Since 1972, nearly 16,000 Florida Tech master’s
degrees have been conferred on off-campus candidates.
In all programs, Florida Tech believes in helping well motivated
students use every opportunity to learn self-reliance in
developing their skills and knowledge to the highest individual
potential. The academic programs at the university provide a
vigorous challenge to those in quest of answers to unsolved
questions.
History
Founded in 1958 as Brevard Engineering Institute by Dr.
Jerome P. Keuper, Florida Institute of Technology initially
offered continuing education opportunities to scientists, engineers
and technicians working at what is now NASA’s John F.
Kennedy Space Center. The new school grew quickly, in many
ways paralleling the rapid development of space technology
that was taking place at Cape Canaveral. In 1966, the name
was changed to Florida Institute of Technology to acknowledge
its growing identity as a scientific and technological university,
the only such independent institution in the Southeast.
From its inception, Florida Tech has shown its commitment
to graduate education. An article in the New York Times in
1962 described Brevard Engineering College as “the only space
engineering college in the country … Its graduate course offers
engineers the opportunity to obtain a master’s degree and
keep up with the advancement taking place daily at the Cape.”
Originally, all graduate students attended classes on a parttime
basis, but at present approximately one-half of the oncampus
graduate students attend class and carry out research
full time.
The university moved to its current Melbourne campus in
1961, and construction began immediately on administration
and classroom buildings to augment existing buildings that had
been used by the former University of Melbourne. From that
beginning, growth of the campus has been continual through
the years, as shown on the campus map at the end of this
catalog.
More than 38,000 degrees have been earned by students at
Florida Institute of Technology. As the institution advances
and the alumni ranks multiply, the university remains
dedicated to developing concerned scientists, engineers and
business leaders who will make positive contributions to our
society.
Accreditation and Memberships
Florida Institute of Technology is accredited by the Commission
on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097;
(404) 679-4501) to award associate, baccalaureate, master’s,
education specialist, and doctoral degrees.
The university is approved by the Office of Education of the
U.S. Department of Education.
The university is a member of the Independent Colleges and
Universities of Florida, the American Council on Education,
the College Entrance Examination Board, the American
Society for Engineering Education and the Oak Ridge
Associated Universities.
The undergraduate programs accredited by the Engineering
Accreditation Commission of ABET are aerospace engineering,
chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer
engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering,
Welcome to Florida Tech 3
Welcome to Florida Tech