Best Psychology Programs in Montana for 2027

Each year of Montana State University's Psychology BS adds a research step. Freshmen take Introduction to Psychology and Psychology Pathways, sophomores take Psychological Statistics and Research Design and Analysis, juniors complete Undergraduate Research or a Field Practicum in Applied Psychology, and seniors finish with Senior Thesis Capstone. The electives are split into four groups, so you take at least one course each in biological, cognitive, social and personality, and developmental and psychopathology topics, then four more electives of your choice. The 120-credit degree needs 42 credits numbered 300 or above, and a minor or second major in a career-related area is worth considering.

Research Sequence

Psychological Statistics, Research Design and Analysis, then Undergraduate Research or Field Practicum, then Senior Thesis Capstone.

Elective Groups

Biological, cognitive, social and personality, and developmental and psychopathology, with one course required from each.

Credits

120 credits, 42 of them at the 300 level or above.

Math Entry

Contemporary Mathematics, College Algebra or Introduction to Statistics in the first year.

Program Sources: B.S. in Psychology | Montana State University Academic CatalogDepartment of Psychology | Montana State University Academic Catalog

Upper-division electives let you steer The University of Montana's Psychology B.A., with five chosen from a list that runs from Evidence-Based Cognitive and Behavioral Treatments and Forensic Psychology to Trauma and Resilience and Comparative Psychology. Before that you take Intro to Psychology, Introduction to Psychological Research Methods and Psychological Statistics, then four foundation courses such as Child Development, Psychological Disorders, Social Psychology and Psychology of Personality, and two fundamentals courses in biological psychology, learning, or memory and cognition. The degree adds a math course, and at least 60 credits must come from outside psychology.

Lower-Division Core

Intro to Psychology, Introduction to Psychological Research Methods and Psychological Statistics or Introduction to Statistics.

Foundation Courses

Four from Psychology of Aging, Child Development, Psychological Disorders, Social Psychology and Psychology of Personality.

Fundamentals Courses

Two from Biological Psychology, Psychology of Learning, and Memory and Cognition.

Credits

45 to 46 psychology and math credits, plus 60 credits outside psychology.

Program Sources: Psychology B.A. | University of Montana Academic Catalog

Labs shape how you fill the electives in Montana State University Billings' Psychology BS. You choose seven courses from two groups, and at least two must come from the group where each course is paired with a lab, such as Physiological Psychology, Sensation and Perception, Memory and Cognition, or Psychology of Learning. The required core is Introduction to Psychology, Psychological Statistics, Research Design and Analysis with its lab, History and Systems in Psychology and a Senior Thesis, plus field work, a practicum, independent study or an internship. A writing course, a mathematics or language option and a 20-credit minor round out the 120 credits.

Required Core

Introduction to Psychology, Psychological Statistics, Research Design and Analysis with lab, History and Systems in Psychology, and Senior Thesis.

Applied Experience

Three credits of field work, independent study, practicum or internship.

Lab Electives

Seven electives, with at least two courses and a lab from Group 1.

Other Requirements

A writing course, a mathematics, computer science or language option, and a 20-credit minor.

Grade Rule

A C or higher in every psychology course used for the major.

Program Sources: Psychology Bachelor of Science Degree | Montana State University Billings Catalog

A seminar, an internship or a senior thesis ends The University of Montana-Western's Psychology BA. The 40-credit major starts with Quantitative Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences, Probability and one more statistics course, then six content courses from a list of seven: Developmental Psychology, Fundamentals of Memory and Cognition, Abnormal Psychology, Human Neuropsychology, Social Psychology, Behavior Modification and Psychology of Personality. You also complete a minor such as Constitutional Studies, Modern History, Systems of Thought or Popular Culture Studies, and a second major outside psychology can replace it.

Research and Statistics

Quantitative Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences, Probability, and Psychological Statistics, Intermediate Statistical Concepts or Biostatistics.

Content Courses

Six of seven options, each four credits.

Capstone Choice

Seminar, internship or senior thesis.

Credits

40 in the major, 32 in general education and 120 overall.

Program Sources: Program: Psychology, BA - University of Montana Western

Research Methods is a four-credit course at Carroll College where each student designs and runs a psychological research project and presents a poster, and it is the centerpiece of the Psychology BA. Around it you take Abnormal Psychology, Theories and Practice in Counseling Psychology, Physiological Psychology, Brain and Behavior, Junior Seminar and Introduction to Statistics. You choose between pairs such as Developmental Psychology or Child and Adolescent Psychology, and Learning and Behavior or Cognitive Psychology. Two psychology electives and one hands-on option, either a teaching assistantship, an internship, independent research or a senior thesis, complete the major, and seniors sit the Major Field Test in Psychology in spring.

Required Courses

General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Counseling Psychology theories and practice, Research Methods, Physiological Psychology and Brain and Behavior.

Hands-On Option

Teaching assistantship, internship, independent research or senior thesis.

Credits

41 to 48 credits, depending on the hands-on option.

Major Field Test

Taken in the spring of senior year.

Program Sources: Psychology BA | Carroll CollegePsychology | Carroll College

Your emphasis area sets the research path in The University of Montana's Experimental Psychology PhD: cognitive, comparative animal behavior, developmental, quantitative or social. The program takes at least 72 hours, including Teaching of Psychology, two statistics courses, Research Design, an M.A. research project in the second year, a dissertation in the fourth year, and at least four advanced content courses such as Multivariate Statistics, Advanced Social or Advanced Cognition. The department shares 19 assistantships a year across its clinical, school and experimental doctoral programs, with departmental teaching assistants working about 20 hours a week. Applications for fall are due December 1 and ask you to name the faculty whose work matches yours.

Emphasis Areas

Cognitive, comparative animal behavior, developmental, quantitative and social psychology.

Required Courses

Teaching of Psychology, Statistics I and II, Research Design, M.A. research project, dissertation and at least two seminars.

Credit Hours

At least 72, including research and dissertation credits.

Funding

Departmental teaching assistantships, about 20 hours a week.

Application

December 1 for fall, three letters of recommendation and a personal statement naming faculty.

Program Sources: Experimental Psychology | University of MontanaProgram Requirements | University of Montana

The PhD in Psychological Science at Montana State University is a research degree with no faculty in clinical, counseling, community or school psychology. Each student works with a major professor and a three-person mentoring committee, finishes a master's thesis by the second year and writes a dissertation between about the fourth and sixth years. The 61 credit hours cover design and analysis of research, content courses, teaching in psychology, and thesis and dissertation research. Faculty research spans cognitive, developmental, health, learning, physiological and social psychology, plus applied statistics. A limited number of teaching assistantships pay a monthly stipend and usually include a tuition waiver, and applications are due January 1.

Credit Hours

61, including a master's thesis and a doctoral dissertation.

Research Areas

Cognitive, developmental, health, learning, physiological and social psychology, and applied statistics and research methods.

Mentoring

A major professor plus a three-member mentoring committee.

Funding

Teaching assistantships with a monthly stipend, usually a partial or full tuition waiver, and about twelve students supported in a typical year.

Application

January 1 deadline, three letters of reference, official transcripts and a personal statement.

Program Sources: Graduate Students - Department of Psychology | Montana State UniversityApplication Info and Financial Aid - Department of Psychology

Blackfeet Community College's Psychology AA looks at human services and psychology through the Blackfeet worldview, with Blackfeet culture and Indigenous ways of knowing built into the learning outcomes. Over four semesters you take Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Cultural Psychology and Psychology of Personality, along with Introduction to Social Science Research Methods, Family Violence Building Healthy Families and Piikani Language. Human services electives are chosen with an advisor from an approved list. The degree prepares you for entry-level human services work and for transfer to a four-year psychology program at a partner institution.

Psychology Courses

Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Cultural Psychology and Psychology of Personality.

Research

Introduction to Social Science Research Methods in the fourth semester.

Culture and Language

Piikani Language plus a program focus on the Blackfeet worldview.

Electives

Human services electives chosen with a Human Services advisor from an approved list.

After the AA

Entry-level human services positions or transfer to a four-year partner institution.

Program Sources: Blackfeet Community College 2026-2028 Academic Catalog

Native American studies and computer technology are part of the 31-credit general education core in Fort Peck Community College's Psychology AA. The program courses are Introduction to Psychology, Careers in Psychology (two credits), Research Methods, Developmental Psychology, Adult Development and Aging, and Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology, and 12 elective credits come from PSYX or CAS courses. Program outcomes ask students to discuss cross-cultural issues in psychology and to apply psychological principles to everyday situations. If you plan to finish a bachelor's degree, check the requirements of the school you're headed to when you plan your courses.

Psychology Core

Introduction to Psychology, Careers in Psychology, Research Methods, Developmental Psychology, Adult Development and Aging, and Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology.

Program Credits

30 credits of program courses, including 12 elective credits.

General Education

31 credits across communications, mathematics, science, arts and humanities, social sciences, Native American studies and computer technology.

Elective Options

PSYX or CAS courses.

Program Sources: Fort Peck Community College - Psychology

A Behavioral Health emphasis is optional in Salish Kootenai College's Psychology AA. Both versions run 94 credits over six terms and feed into the college's Psychology BA. The foundation plan takes Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Biological Psychology, Research Methods in Psychology, Cross-Cultural Issues in Psychology, Social Psychology and Introduction to Personality. The Behavioral Health emphasis swaps in applied courses such as Introduction to Addiction Studies, Trauma, Stress, Coping and Health, and Group Process, and finishes with an advanced internship, a cooperative internship or a practicum. Every required course needs at least a C.

Credits

94 credits in either version.

Core Psychology

Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Biological Psychology, Research Methods in Psychology and Social Psychology.

Behavioral Health Emphasis

Addiction studies, trauma and coping, group process, psychopharmacology or pharmacology of psychoactive substances, and a field placement.

Cross-Cultural Focus

Cross-Cultural Issues in Psychology and a Native American studies requirement.

Next Step

Junior-level entry into the Psychology BA or another four-year program.

Program Sources: Salish Kootenai College - Psychology, Associate of Arts