Department of Psychology

Page 119-124
Lynne Koester, Chair

Psychology is the science of the behavior of humans and other animals. The psychologist, using scientific methods, seeks to understand the causes and purposes of behavior. Psychologists pursue their research and its application in academia, business, government, health, military and social service. The department offers the Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to any emphasis of the psychology major, a student must satisfy the following requirements: 1) completion of 30 credits overall 2) completion of 6 credits in psychology courses In addition, to be admitted to the pre-professional emphasis of the psychology major, students also must have: 3) a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 Students who intend to major in psychology but who have not yet met the above requirements are admitted to the program as pre-psychology majors. Prior to meeting the above requirements for admission pre- psychology students should go to University College in Corbin Hall for advising.

Special Degree Requirements

Refer to graduation requirements listed previously in the catalog. See index.

To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, the student must complete a minimum of 30 credits in psychology and must complete one of the three emphases. Students are not restricted to the courses listed under any emphasis, although one emphasis must be completed by majors.

Majors are required to remain in periodic contact with departmental advisors to facilitate advanced and individual program planning, to deal with impending difficulties, and as a communication channel between student and department. Students who are particularly interested in child, adult or family development should investigate the human and family development minor. See index.

General Emphasis

The general emphasis is intended for students who have a major interest in psychology, but do not intend to pursue graduate training in psychology.

  1. Psyc 100S_Introduction to Psychology
  2. Psyc 120_Introduction to Psychological Research Methods
  3. Psyc 220_Psychological Statistics
  4. Psyc 330S_Abnormal Psychology
  5. One of:
  6. Psyc 240S_Developmental Psychology
  7. One of:
  8. Psyc 260S_Fundamentals of Learning
  9. Psyc 270N_Fundamentals of Biological Psychology
  10. One of:
  11. One of:

Pre-Professional Emphasis

The pre-professional emphasis provides the student with an adequate foundation for graduate studies in psychology. The requirements for the pre-professional emphasis are the same as those for the general emphasis plus:

  1. Psyc 320_Advanced Psychological Research Methods
  2. Psyc 397_Supervised Research (2 credits)

The pre-professional emphasis students should understand that psychology is a science of unusual breadth. A psychologist should understand scientific processes in general, and basics of closely related scientific disciplines. The following courses are recommended to students preparing for graduate training in psychology. Not all of the courses listed are equally important for all subfields within psychology, so it is advisable for students to consult with advisors in selecting those most crucial. An indication of possible applicability is included with each suggested course.

Technician Emphasis

The technician emphasis is intended for those students who wish to work at the bachelor degree level as behavioral technicians in group homes or state institutions for the developmentally disabled or emotionally disturbed.

  1. Psyc 100S_Introduction to Psychology
  2. Psyc 120_Introduction to Psychological Research Methods
  3. Psyc 220_Psychological Statistics
  4. Psyc 240S_Developmental Psychology
  5. Psyc 260S_Fundamentals of Learning
  6. Psyc 337_Principles of Cognitive Behavior Modification
  7. Psyc 397_Supervised Research
  8. Psyc 438_Behavioral Technology
  9. Psyc 498_Practicum in Behavioral Technology (3 cr. in junior year)
  10. Psyc 498_Practicum in Behavioral Technology (9 cr. in senior year)

Teacher Preparation in Psychology

Major Teaching Field of Psychology: For an endorsement in the major teaching field of Psychology, a student must complete the requirements for the B.A. degree with a major in Psychology, General Emphasis. Students also must complete C&I 428, gain admission to Teacher Education and Student Teaching and meet the requirements for certification as a secondary teacher (see the School of Education section of this catalog).

Students are advised that the demand in Montana high schools for teaching of courses in this field is limited. Students should complete the required second endorsement (major or minor) in a field other than Drama, Economics, Geography, Journalism or Sociology.

Minor Teaching Field of Psychology: For an endorsement in the minor teaching field of Psychology, a student must complete the requirements for the psychology minor as given in the section, Requirements for a Minor. Students also must complete C&I 428, gain admission to Teacher Education and Student Teaching and meet the requirements for certification as a secondary teacher (see the School of Education section of this catalog).

Suggested Course of Study

First Year
*Semester of enrollment depends on beginning letter of student's last name.

Second Year

Requirements for a Minor

To earn a minor in psychology the student must complete a minimum of 21 credits of psychology including:

  1. Psyc 100S_Introduction to Psychology
  2. Psyc 120_Introduction to Psychological Research Methods
  3. One of:
  4. One of:
  5. Two of:

Courses

U = for undergraduate credit only, UG = for undergraduate or graduate credit, G = for graduate credit. R after the credit indicates the course may be repeated for credit to the maximum indicated after the R.

Faculty

Professors


Associate Professor


Assistant Professors


Adjunct Faculty


95-96 UM Undergraduate Catalog