2019-2020 Catalog

Psychology, Bachelor of Arts

Students who earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology may pursue graduate studies, or work in a field where a solid grounding in human behavior is needed. Students focus on areas of particular interest through coursework in various subject areas, including adult or child counseling, Indigenous research, biological psychology, school-based counseling, administration/management, human relations, or law enforcement. Coursework in the BA program draws from multiple academic departments at Salish Kootenai College.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Objectives

The curriculum of the Psychology Bachelor of Arts program is intended to:

  • Provide a generalist degree with coursework across a broad range of subject areas in psychology and other disciplines
  • Train students in a variety of skills, including computer applications, written communication, speaking and presentations, and interpersonal relations
  • Address the educational needs of Tribal College students who live and work in a reservation setting
  • Provide coursework that helps prepare the student to use psychology in a multicultural context, with specific emphasis on Native American cultures and values
  • Increase skills in understanding and applying research methodology using both Western and Indigenous styles of research
  • Offer upper division psychology courses in preparation for graduate studies
  • Offer a broad-based program for careers requiring knowledge and understanding of human behavior.

Student Learning Outcomes

In addition to the Learning Outcomes for the Associate of Arts, upon completion of the Bachelor of Arts degree, students will:

  • Show development of a broad knowledge base in psychology subject areas, including an awareness of ethical issues in the fields of psychology and counseling
  • Develop baccalaureate level skills in psychological writing, public speaking, computer applications and interpersonal communication
  • Demonstrate understanding and application of research methodology as applied to Western and Indigenous styles of research, including use of psychological literature to find, review, understand and keep current in the subject areas of psychology
  • Apply knowledge of psychology to real-world situations in meaningful ways across multiple settings and conditions
  • Continue to develop self-knowledge and its application to interpersonal psychology, including the ability to understand and assess the influence of one’s own perspectives, abilities, strengths and weaknesses
  • Develop flexibility in working within and across cultures by building upon cultural knowledge and awareness
  • Integrate Native American cultural perspectives into knowledge and application of psychology and counseling theory and be able to apply this knowledge to issues, perspectives and situations encountered in a reservation setting

The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology curriculum is organized to serve two general purposes. It is an appropriate degree for students who plan to go to graduate school in Psychology, Counseling, Mental Health, School Counseling, or Law. The curriculum is designed for students who may pursue either a Master’s Degree or a Ph.D.

The degree also serves as a broad-based program for students who want to enter the workforce after earning a Bachelor’s degree. Students may enter psychology fields such as Mental Health or Case Management or non-psychology fields such as Personnel, Human Resources, Administration, Corrections, Law Enforcement, or any field requiring an understanding of human behavior.

Focus Courses: The Psychology degree balances psychology course work with coursework in concentration areas of the student’s choice. The concentration area is made up of Focus Electives selected by the student in consultation with their advisor and in pursuit of their educational/career goals. In Focus Courses, students may learn practical skills that are helpful in a variety of careers, such as electronic data management, grant writing, conflict resolution, Native American policy, public presentation, and so on. Students select a total of 9 Focus Elective credits. 

Senior Capstone: All students develop a Senior Capstone project, in which they deeply explore a topic in psychology, while demonstrating and refining their written communication skills. This project is developed and completed in the three quarters of the senior year. Projects include perspectives related to Indigenous psychology. Format may be a literature review or a small empirical study. The Capstone project culminates in an APA-style paper and formal presentation during spring quarter of the 4th year.

Junior Year Entry

Upon completion of the AA Psychology degree or equivalent AA degree, students may apply to the Bachelor of Arts program. The Junior Year Placement Application helps determine the student’s writing proficiency at time of entry into the BA program, and informs the student of behavioral and professional expectations for upper division psychology students. The Placement Application includes: Completed Application, TABE Writing test scores (current), Psychology writing proficiency exercise, signed Statement of understanding and willingness to follow guidelines set out in the SKC Psychology Student Conduct Code and Guidelines for Professional Development; Plagiarism Quiz and signed Statement of understanding and compliance with SKC Plagiarism Policy.

Requirements:

  • A student must maintain an overall GPA of 2.75 in the upper two years of the psychology program in order to graduate with the Bachelor of Arts degree
  • Students are expected to comply with campus conduct codes as delineated in the SKC Student Handbook and the SKC Psychology Student Conduct Code and Guidelines for Professional Development (see Psychology page of the SKC website)
  • See SKC Catalog Course Descriptions for specific prerequisites
  • A student must maintain a 3.0 in the Writing ­Sequence classes (ENGL 306 Writing Research Papers and SPCH 360 Professional Presentation Skills)

Curriculum

Fall (Third Year)

PSYC301FSeminar in Upper Division Psychology

1

DIGD101Intro to Digital Design Technology

5

ENGL306Writing Research Papers

3

SCWK160Introduction to Addiction Studies

3

ELECTIVE
(Studio Arts)

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Winter (Third Year)

PSYC301WSeminar in Upper Division Psychology

1

MATH241Statistics

5

SCWK203Domestic Violence: Breaking the Cycle of Abuse

2

SPCH360Professional Presentation Skills

3

ELECTIVEPsychology

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring (Third Year)

PSYC472Indigenous Research Methodologies in Psychology

5

ELECTIVEPsychology Focus Elective from List

3

PSYC375Group Process

3

NASD250History of Federal Indian Policy

5

Total Credit Hours:16


Fall (Fourth Year)

PSYC372Advanced Research Methods in Psychology

3

PSYC415Counseling Methods

5

ELECTIVEPsychology

3

ELECTIVEPsychology Focus Elective from List

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Winter (Fourth Year)

NASD210Introduction to Indigenous Science

3

PSYC450Capstone I

3

PSYC405Exploring Community Networking

1

PSYC430Diverse Issues in Historical Trauma

3

ELECTIVE
NASD (from List)

3

ELECTIVEPsychology Focus Elective from List

3

Total Credit Hours:16
See List of Native American Studies electives, below.

Spring (Fourth Year)

HMNT301Social and Environmental Ethics

3

PSYC451Capstone II

3

ELECTIVEPsychology

3

ELECTIVEPsychology

3

ELECTIVENative American Studies Advanced General Education from List

3

Total Credit Hours:15

Bachelor of Arts NASD CREDITS (6 required; selected from list, or by advisor consent)

ARTD255Contemporary Native American Art History

3

EDUC235Introduction to Indian Education

3

ENGL201Native American Literature

3

NASD102Flathead Reservation History Before 1850

3

NASD103Flathead Reservation History 1850 - 1910

3

NASD106Pre-European Contact

3

NASD176Introduction to Traditional Tool Making

3

NASD202Introduction to Alaska and It's Peoples

3

NASD215North American Archaeology

3

NASD225American Indian Education and Federal Policy

3

NASD252History of Tribal Government on the Flathead Reservation

3

NASD262Contemporary Issues in American Indian Life

3

NASD305Native American Women

3

NASD306Gender and Identity in Indian Country

3

NASD307Native American Leaders after 1900

3

NASD308Ethnobotany

3

NASD310Museum Science and its Applications in Indian Country

3

NASD320Federal Indian Law

3

NASD341Principles of Tribal Sovereignty

3

NASD443Tribal Courts

3

NASL
Any Native American Language Course

3

Bachelor of Arts FOCUS CREDITS (9 required; selected from list, or by advisor consent)

Focus courses are selected from the following list in consultation with advisor, according to student educational goals. Additional Upper Division Psychology courses can be used as Focus courses when Psychology electives are completed. 

ARTD109Self-Expression through the Arts

3

BUMG220Management and Supervision

3

 

BUMG257Business Law

3

AND

BUMG258Business Law Laboratory

1

 

BUMG302Advanced Management: Leadership

3

BUMG325Business Law II

3

CAPP161Electronic Spreadsheets

3

CAPP162Data Management Systems

3

CDAR245Multicultural Competency and Ethics in CD

3

CDAR251Co-Occurring Disorders in CD

3

CDAR259Chemical Dependency Assessment and Case Management I

3

CDAR260Chemical Dependency Assessment and Case Management II

3

CDAR261Treatment Planning & Documentation in CD

3

CDAR262Chemical Dependency Counseling I

3

CDAR263Chemical Dependency Counseling II

3

CDAR264Chemical Dependency Counseling III

3

CDAR270Gambling and Gaming Disorders Assessment and Counseling in CD

3

ECON410Economic Development on Indian Reservations

3

ECED100Introduction to Early Childhood Education

2

EDUC221Parent Partnerships and Community Collaboration

2

EDUC235Introduction to Indian Education

3

ENGL107Communication in the Workplace

3

GNSD350Introduction to Grant Writing

3

OFED121Human Relations

3

NASD102Flathead Reservation History Before 1850

3

NASD103Flathead Reservation History 1850 - 1910

3

NASD105Indians of Montana

3

NASD106Pre-European Contact

3

NASD202Introduction to Alaska and It's Peoples

3

NASD215North American Archaeology

3

NASD225American Indian Education and Federal Policy

3

NASD252History of Tribal Government on the Flathead Reservation

3

NASD262Contemporary Issues in American Indian Life

3

NASD271Foundations Of Leadership and Ethics

3

NASD305Native American Women

3

NASD306Gender and Identity in Indian Country

3

NASD307Native American Leaders after 1900

3

NASD320Federal Indian Law

3

NASD341Principles of Tribal Sovereignty

3

NASD415Human Resource Management

3

NASD441Tribal Health and Wellness

3

NASD443Tribal Courts

3

SCWK263Pharmacology of Psychoactive Substances

3

SCWK470Working with Children and Families at Risk

3

NASD courses that are on NASD list can be used for EITHER (but not both) FOCUS or NASD

Total Credit Hours: 184