FIU Legal Psychology

Legal Psychology
Department of Psychology • Florida International University

Admission Requirements and FAQ

WHEN IS THE DEADLINE FOR APPLYING TO THE GRADUATE PROGRAM?

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:

FIU Graduate Application Form
Certified transcripts of all college level work.
GRE scores: scores on the quantitative and verbal aptitude sections of the GRE, taken with the last five years.
It is recommended (but not required) that you submit scores from the Psychology subject test.
TOEFL: all students whose native language is other than English will be required to submit scores on the
Test of English as a Foreign Language

To the Psychology Department, c/o the Graduate Secretary (University Park Campus):

Curriculum vitae or resume.
A statement of intent, including a discussion of educational and career objectives and past experiences, including research experience.
Letters of recommendation. Three letters of recommendation from persons who are in a position to evaluate the applicant’s past academic and personal performance and the applicant’s potential for success in a graduate program. Letters should be written on letterhead stationary. No forms are available.
Two different writing samples

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

Related Admission and Program FAQs

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 (Charman, Schreiber, Parker, Rose, Winter and Wright) and the Biscayne Bay campus (Fisher & Ross). 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.