Florida Institute of Technology

The Florida Institute of Technology is a Florida university that emphasizes research and technical study. Though established in 1958, it went by the name of the Brevard Engineering College for three years before moving to its current location. It took just a few years for construction on the campus to finish, and it became the Florida Institute of Technology in the 1960s. The college also goes by the names of FIT and Florida Tech. It also developed a separate campus in the 1970s to offer technical training programs used by the Navy. The success of that campus led to the college opening separate campuses and training programs in 12 other locations, including in Florida, Maryland, Virginia and Alabama.

Many of the programs the college offers are highly technical in nature and require a lot of research on the parts of its students. It receives more than $10 million in funding from outside sources for some of its research projects every year, which is one reason why U.S. News & World Report labeled the campus one of the top research institutions in the country. The publication also ranked it 161st out of all colleges operating in the country. The Florida Institute of Technology, which has an enrollment of more than 6,000 students, also ranks nationally on reports released by Washington Monthly and Forbes and on a global level, according to Times Higher Education.

Florida Institute of Technology Accreditation Details

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc., better known as ABET, accredited the computer science program that FIT offers and its engineering programs in chemical, civil, aerospace, computer, mechanical, ocean, electrical and software engineering. It also has accreditation from the American Psychological Association for its doctoral program in clinical psychology and accreditation from the Aviation Accreditation Board International for its aviation management program. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) granted Florida Tech regional accreditation, which means that the college can give degrees to students who meet all the requirements of a specific program it offers.

Florida Institute of Technology Application Requirements

Florida Tech allows each program to create its own application deadline. Many require that students apply by the middle of January in the year they want to enroll, but other programs will accept applications up to four weeks before the fall semester starts. Keep in mind that those programs may meet their quotas and not have any spaces remaining later in the year. When you apply online, you must also pay an application fee, but if you earned your bachelor's degree from Florida Tech, the university will waive this fee.

Though you can submit the application online, you must mail other documents directly to the college's Florida campus. FIT requires an official transcript from any college where you gained course credit for your degree. This transcript must have the university's seal on it and come in a sealed envelope and come directly from that school. You must also supply the institute with a letter of recommendation from a full-time faculty member who oversaw some of the work you did in college. Other requirements include a copy of your most recent resume that shows any fieldwork or professional experience you might have and a statement of objective. FIT asks that you write 300 words on your past experiences, professional career goals and reasons for attending grad school. Depending on which program you enroll in, you'll also need to submit official scores from either the GRE or the GMAT.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Whether you attending college in Florida, or you move to Florida for grad school, you'll find that FIT charges one flat rate per credit hour for all students instead of charging separate rates based on where you lived. Its flagship campus charges a rate of $1,241 per credit hour. Those who enroll in a Florida Tech online program pay tuition rates of less than $900 per credit hour. You'll also face fees for getting your ID card, parking on campus and using student services. Florida Tech also offers health insurance plans for students who do not have coverage that start at around $1,200 a year. You can also sign up for additional coverage for your spouse and any dependents you have. With expenses, tuition and other fees, the institute estimates that grad students pay around $41,000 a year.

Florida Tech offers a number of scholarships and fellowships for graduate students. You can apply for these financial aid options after filing your application. Some programs will even cover most or all of your costs over the school year. When you file the FAFSA, FIT will send you a package letter that details the loans, grants and other financial aid you'll receive for the coming year. Though the institute has research assistant spots open, you need to apply for those positions early in the year.

Master of Science in Information Technology

The Florida Institute of Technology offers a Master of Science in Information Technology program that you can take on its Melbourne campus or online. This program goes beyond the basic computer science and IT classes you take in college and shows you how you can use IT in the professional world as a manager or business leader. Graduates can work as IT directors, software managers, data processing managers and in a range of other professional positions. This program teaches you how to create and lead others on complex and difficult projects, how to use information systems to your advantage and how to stay informed of new changes and innovations in the IT field.

Related Resource: 30 Most Affordable Online Master's in Information Technology

Though this program consists of 33 credit hours of work, only 24 of those credits will come from IT classes. The rest come from electives you can choose that relate to your future career goals. Your adviser can help you decide which electives to take to meet the requirements for graduation. The required 24 credit hours of IT classes include eight courses on organizational behaviors, corporate finance, financial accounting and information services. You must take an introduction to information science course before you can take an advanced capstone course on the same topic. The Florida Institute of Technology requires that all MS Information Technology students take this capstone course during one of their last two semesters and that they create an IT project as part of their work in that course.