The Master of Science in Psychology provides advanced, concentrated study for students wishing to prepare for additional graduate study, employment in a clinical or research setting, teaching at the community college level, or preparing for licensure.

Admissions Procedures

Applicants seeking admission to the Master’s Degree program in Psychology must submit all application materials to the Office of Graduate Studies.  Applications submitted before April 15 will be given priority.  Later applications will be considered.  Application materials include:

1. A letter of application, which includes a personal statement of the applicant’s career goals and how the degree will be applied within those career goals.
2. Complete, official transcripts from all institutions attended.  Applicants should indicate, on a separate sheet overall GPA for undergraduate and graduate courses, GPA in all psychology courses, and GPA for the last two years of coursework.
3. Official notification of scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test (to be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies, Montana State University Billings).  Note:  For applicants with a 3.0 undergraduate and graduate GPA or higher, GRE admissions test scores are waived as a requirement.
4. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant’s academic performance and potential for graduate study.
5. A vita or resume.

The Department of Psychology uses a two-stage approach to determine admission of a limited number of entrants to degree candidacy in the Master’s Degree program.  First, the committee uses the letter of application, resume, and letters of recommendation to determine the appropriateness of the applicant’s academic background as well as the compatibility of the candidate’s educational and career goals within the scope of the program.  Next, if the academic background and career goals of the applicant are suitable to the program, the GRE scores and GPA are used to determine admission.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Examine Psychology's foundational content domains.
• Apply and synthesize knowledge of Psychology into an original work (thesis option).
• Apply knowledge of Psychology in a professional setting (Internship option).

Thesis Option Courses

Select 42 credits from below:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
PSYC 505	Clinical Research Methods	3
PSYC 510	Adv Social Psychology	3
PSYC 515	Psychopathology	3
PSYC 520	Human Neuropsychology	3
PSYC 525	Psyc Assmnt of Cgntv Abilities	3
PSYC 527	Psyc Assmnt of Clinical Dsrdrs	3
PSYC 530	Psychopharmacology	3
PSYC 535	Techniques of Psychotherapy	3
PSYC 540	Theories of Psychotherapy	3
PSYC 541	GR Stats for Behavioral Sci	3
PSYC 547	Group Psychotherapy	3
PSYC 550	Child Psychopathology	3
PSYC 552	Attachment Theory	3
PSYC 561	Vocational Psychology	3
PSYC 562	Native Am Culture & Psychology	3
PSYC 580	Professional Issues	3
PSYC 592	Seminar (Drugs and Behavior)	3
Total Minimum Credits		42

Once admitted to degree candidacy, each student will meet with an advisor and complete a program plan. Each plan will include a minimum 42 hours of classroom credit. A thesis project is required. No course in which a candidate received lower than a “C” may be applied towards graduation and only 3 semester hours of coursework in which a “C” was earned may be applied. 

Internship Option Courses

Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
PSYC 505	Clinical Research Methods	3
PSYC 510	Adv Social Psychology	3
PSYC 515	Psychopathology	3
PSYC 520	Human Neuropsychology	3
PSYC 525	Psyc Assmnt of Cgntv Abilities	3
PSYC 527	Psyc Assmnt of Clinical Dsrdrs	3
PSYC 530	Psychopharmacology	3
PSYC 535	Techniques of Psychotherapy	3
PSYC 540	Theories of Psychotherapy	3
PSYC 541	GR Stats for Behavioral Sci	3
PSYC 547	Group Psychotherapy	3
PSYC 550	Child Psychopathology	3
PSYC 552	Attachment Theory	3
PSYC 561	Vocational Psychology	3
PSYC 562	Native Am Culture & Psychology	3
PSYC 580	Professional Issues	3
PSYC 590	Internship	9
PSYC 592	Seminar (Drugs and Behavior)	3
Total Minimum Credits		60

Once admitted to degree candidacy, each student will meet with an advisor and complete a program plan. Each plan will include 51 hours of classroom credit and 9 hours of Internship credit. No course in which a candidate received lower than a “C” may be applied towards graduation and only 3 semester hours of coursework in which a “C” was earned may be applied. 

Suggested Plan of Study

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Year 1 (odd)
Fall
PSYC 540	Theories of Psychotherapy	3
PSYC 510	Adv Social Psychology	3
PSYC 520	Human Neuropsychology	3
PSYC 590	Internship	3
Spring
PSYC 535	Techniques of Psychotherapy	3
PSYC 541	GR Stats for Behavioral Sci	3
PSYC 562	Native Am Culture & Psychology	3
PSYC 592	Seminar (Drugs and Behavior)	1-3
PSYC 527	Psyc Assmnt of Clinical Dsrdrs	3
Summer
PSYC 561	Vocational Psychology	3
PSYC 590	Internship	3
Year 2 (even)
Fall
PSYC 515	Psychopathology	3
PSYC 530	Psychopharmacology	3
PSYC 580	Professional Issues	3
PSYC 590	Internship	3
Spring
PSYC 547	Group Psychotherapy	3
PSYC 505	Clinical Research Methods	3
PSYC 552	Attachment Theory	3
PSYC 525	Psyc Assmnt of Cgntv Abilities	3
Summer
PSYC 550	Child Psychopathology	3
PSYC 590	Internship	3