MSU Billings Catalog

The Department of Psychology

Department website: https://www.msubillings.edu/class/psych/index.htm

Dr. Matthew McMullen, Chairperson
LA 500, (406) 657-2242

Transfer Credit

Transfer credits will be approved by the advisor. Two copies of official transcripts recording the transfer must be sent directly from the registrar of that institution to the Office of Graduate Studies. No course credit may be transferred unless the grade received was at least a “B.” If approved, a student may transfer a maximum of six semester hours of approved graduate credit from an accredited institution.

Correspondence courses are not accepted as transfer graduate credit.

Thesis, Thesis Defense and Oral Exams

The student will meet with an advisor to explore a master’s thesis topic and design a suitable project. A formal proposal, the format of which is to be determined by the advisor, will be written and presented before the graduate faculty. Following completion of the project, a defense of the thesis project will be conducted before the graduate faculty. Oral examinations, generally conducted at the end of a program, will be conducted on a date agreed upon by the student and graduate faculty. Students failing the thesis defense or oral examinations will be assigned additional academic activities that will satisfy the requirement by the graduate faculty.

Clinical Internship

Students choosing to complete a clinical internship can, in consultation with an advisor, choose among numerous internships that are available throughout the Billings area. These internships, established through a long history of cooperation between the Department of Psychology and local agencies, provide students with professionally-supervised training opportunities, off campus research associations, and practical experience in assessment. Potential internship sites include an inpatient psychiatric center, a community mental health center, a prison pre-release center, and residential and day-treatment centers for children and adolescents.

Psychology Master of Science

Psychology Bachelor of Science/Psychology Master of Science Accelerated Option (3+2)

Psychology

PSYC 505 Clinical Research Methods. 3 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Summer (odd years)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

Examines important topics in clinical research design. Familiarizes students with current theories and strategies in designing clinical trials ranging from case studies to more expansive group research designs.

Lecture Hours 3

Department: Psychology

PSYC 510 Adv Social Psychology. 3 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Fall (even years)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

Provides an overview of social-psychological perspectives on mental health, adjustment, and self-esteem. Readings include original empirical and theoretical articles.

Department: Psychology

PSYC 515 Psychopathology. 3 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Fall (odd years)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

Uses the DSM-IV as a framework to present current knowledge regarding the identification, classification, and treatment of psychological disorders.

Department: Psychology

PSYC 520 Human Neuropsychology. 3 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Fall (odd years)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

Examines brain/behavior relationships with special emphasis on health care issues. Focuses on neurological disorders and their treatment including epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and topics such as aphasia, apraxia, and amnesia. Utilizes an extensive case study approach.

Department: Psychology

PSYC 525 Psyc Assmnt of Cgntv Abilities. 3 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Fall (odd years)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

Qualifies the advanced student to administer and interpret individual measures of intelligence, memory, academic achievement, and related neuropsychological traits. Advances understanding of cognitive factors in the diagnosis of mental retardation, learning disabilities, and dementia.

Lecture Hours 3

Department: Psychology

PSYC 527 Psyc Assmnt of Clinical Dsrdrs. 3 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Spring (even years)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

Qualifies the advanced student to administer and interpret standardized personality instruments. Prepares the student to conduct clinical interviews and write professional assessment reports.

Lecture Hours 3

Department: Psychology

PSYC 530 Psychopharmacology. 3 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Fall (even years)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

Presents an overview of pharmacology with an emphasis on clinical uses of behavior-altering drugs. Covers all major classes of psychopharmacologic agents, their use in therapy and historical development.

Department: Psychology

PSYC 535 Techniques of Psychotherapy. 3 Credits

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Serves as a clinical case conference for student’s work at their practicum sites.

Department: Psychology

PSYC 537 Psychotherapy Outcomes. 3 Credits

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Reviews the extensive research literature on how well the major psychotherapy approaches work as treatments for various problems.

Lecture Hours 3

Department: Psychology

PSYC 540 Theories of Psychotherapy. 3 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Spring (even years)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate Standing or consent of instructor.

Surveys the major approaches to psychotherapy, reviewing theories and examining their practical implications for clinical practice.

Department: Psychology

PSYC 541 GR Stats for Behavioral Sci. 3 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Spring (odd years)

Prerequisite(s): Consent of instructor.

Provides students with proficiency in using the most common statistical techniques for analyzing research data, including analysis of variance, correlation, regression, and nonparametric statistics.

Lecture Hours 3

Department: Psychology

PSYC 545 Stress and Health. 3 Credits

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Covers common causes of stress, including life-change, personality, environmental, and job-related factors. Provides working knowledge of stress-reduction techniques including imagery, biofeedback, relaxation, cognitive, and behavioral techniques.

Lecture Hours 3

Department: Psychology

PSYC 547 Group Psychotherapy. 3 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Fall

3cr. Introduces the theory and practice of group psychotherapy. An exploration of basic principles of group dynamics including basic issues, treatment strategies, and interactional group process in conducting group psychotherapy is emphasized. Learning methods will include both didactic and experiential components.

Lecture Hours 3

Department: Psychology

PSYC 550 Child Psychopathology. 3 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Spring (even years)

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Engages students in the study of mental health disorders of children and adolescents. Advances the understanding of developmental factors in psychopathology and introduces the principles of psychological diagnosis and treatment of youth in educational, correctional, and clinical settings.

Lecture Hours 3

Department: Psychology

PSYC 552 Attachment Theory. 3 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Spring

3cr. Covers the history of attachment theory from the foundational contributions of Bowlby and Ainsworth through present day research and clinical applications.

Lecture Hours 3

Department: Psychology

PSYC 555 Psychology of Religion. 3 Credits

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

Reviews the major psychological theories about religious belief and practice, and surveys research findings on the relations between religiosity and other phenomena such as psychopathology, ethical behavior, and maturity.

Lecture Hours 3

Department: Psychology

PSYC 561 Vocational Psychology. 3 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Summer

3cr. Provides an introduction to theory and practice of career development and decision-making. Focuses on career and life balance issues and mental health. History, contemporary issues, diverse populations, and applications are covered.

Lecture Hours 3

Department: Psychology

PSYC 580 Professional Issues. 3 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Fall

3cr. Explores professional and ethical issues confronting mental health professionals in modern practice. Introduces students to the APA ethics code and examines ethical considerations related to assessment and intervention, technology, informed consent, scope of practice, and working with diverse populations.

Lecture Hours 3

Department: Psychology

PSYC 590 Internship. 1-9 Credits

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or consent of instructor.

V cr. Provides students pursuing a Master’s thesis the opportunity to conduct original research with a faculty advisor. Alternatively, clinically oriented students will receive faculty supervision for clinical work at their practicum sites.

Department: Psychology

PSYC 591 Independent Study. 1-6 Credits

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of the instructor, approval of the department chairperson and Dean of Arts and Sciences, and Independent Study contract filed with the Office of Graduate Studies prior to registration.

Provides an opportunity for students of superior academic standing to explore material beyond that covered by undergraduate courses in Psychology.

Department: Psychology

PSYC 592 Seminar. 1-3 Credits

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Examines professional and ethical issues confronting clinical psychologists in modern practice. Provides students an opportunity to discuss issues such as assessment and intervention, confidentiality, publishing and advertising. Introduces students to the APA ethics code and conduct standards.

Department: Psychology

PSYC 593 Workshop. 1-8 Credits

Provides an opportunity for experimental study at the advanced level in Psychology.

Department: Psychology

PSYC 596 Coop Education/Internship. 1-11 Credits

Provides university credit for graduate work experience in the area of Psychology, supervised by faculty. Learning agreement must be completed prior to registration (restricted).

Lecture Hours 1-11

Department: Psychology