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)
| PSYC301F | Seminar in Upper Division Psychology | 1 |
| DIGD101 | Intro to Digital Design Technology | 5 |
| ENGL306 | Writing Research Papers | 3 |
| SCWK160 | Introduction to Addiction Studies | 3 |
ELECTIVE
| (Studio Arts) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Winter (Third Year)
| PSYC301W | Seminar in Upper Division Psychology | 1 |
| MATH241 | Statistics | 5 |
| SCWK203 | Domestic Violence: Breaking the Cycle of Abuse | 2 |
| SPCH360 | Professional Presentation Skills | 3 |
| ELECTIVE | Psychology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Spring (Third Year)
| PSYC472 | Indigenous Research Methodologies in Psychology | 5 |
| ELECTIVE | Psychology Focus Elective from List | 3 |
| PSYC375 | Group Process | 3 |
| NASD250 | History of Federal Indian Policy | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Fall (Fourth Year)
| PSYC372 | Advanced Research Methods in Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC415 | Counseling Methods | 5 |
| ELECTIVE | Psychology | 3 |
| ELECTIVE | Psychology Focus Elective from List | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Winter (Fourth Year)
| NASD210 | Introduction to Indigenous Science | 3 |
| PSYC450 | Capstone I | 3 |
| PSYC405 | Exploring Community Networking | 1 |
| PSYC430 | Diverse Issues in Historical Trauma | 3 |
ELECTIVE
| NASD (from List) | 3 |
| ELECTIVE | Psychology Focus Elective from List | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
See List of Native American Studies electives, below.
Spring (Fourth Year)
Bachelor of Arts NASD CREDITS (6 required; selected from list, or by advisor consent)
| ARTD255 | Contemporary Native American Art History | 3 |
| EDUC235 | Introduction to Indian Education | 3 |
| ENGL201 | Native American Literature | 3 |
| NASD102 | Flathead Reservation History Before 1850 | 3 |
| NASD103 | Flathead Reservation History 1850 - 1910 | 3 |
| NASD106 | Pre-European Contact | 3 |
| NASD176 | Introduction to Traditional Tool Making | 3 |
| NASD202 | Introduction to Alaska and It's Peoples | 3 |
| NASD215 | North American Archaeology | 3 |
| NASD225 | American Indian Education and Federal Policy | 3 |
| NASD252 | History of Tribal Government on the Flathead Reservation | 3 |
| NASD262 | Contemporary Issues in American Indian Life | 3 |
| NASD305 | Native American Women | 3 |
| NASD306 | Gender and Identity in Indian Country | 3 |
| NASD307 | Native American Leaders after 1900 | 3 |
| NASD308 | Ethnobotany | 3 |
| NASD310 | Museum Science and its Applications in Indian Country | 3 |
| NASD320 | Federal Indian Law | 3 |
| NASD341 | Principles of Tribal Sovereignty | 3 |
| NASD443 | Tribal 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.
| ARTD109 | Self-Expression through the Arts | 3 |
| BUMG220 | Management and Supervision | 3 |
| | |
| BUMG257 | Business Law | 3 |
| AND | |
| BUMG258 | Business Law Laboratory | 1 |
| | |
| BUMG302 | Advanced Management: Leadership | 3 |
| BUMG325 | Business Law II | 3 |
| CAPP161 | Electronic Spreadsheets | 3 |
| CAPP162 | Data Management Systems | 3 |
| CDAR245 | Multicultural Competency and Ethics in CD | 3 |
| CDAR251 | Co-Occurring Disorders in CD | 3 |
| CDAR259 | Chemical Dependency Assessment and Case Management I | 3 |
| CDAR260 | Chemical Dependency Assessment and Case Management II | 3 |
| CDAR261 | Treatment Planning & Documentation in CD | 3 |
| CDAR262 | Chemical Dependency Counseling I | 3 |
| CDAR263 | Chemical Dependency Counseling II | 3 |
| CDAR264 | Chemical Dependency Counseling III | 3 |
| CDAR270 | Gambling and Gaming Disorders Assessment and Counseling in CD | 3 |
| ECON410 | Economic Development on Indian Reservations | 3 |
| ECED100 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | 2 |
| EDUC221 | Parent Partnerships and Community Collaboration | 2 |
| EDUC235 | Introduction to Indian Education | 3 |
| ENGL107 | Communication in the Workplace | 3 |
| GNSD350 | Introduction to Grant Writing | 3 |
| OFED121 | Human Relations | 3 |
| NASD102 | Flathead Reservation History Before 1850 | 3 |
| NASD103 | Flathead Reservation History 1850 - 1910 | 3 |
| NASD105 | Indians of Montana | 3 |
| NASD106 | Pre-European Contact | 3 |
| NASD202 | Introduction to Alaska and It's Peoples | 3 |
| NASD215 | North American Archaeology | 3 |
| NASD225 | American Indian Education and Federal Policy | 3 |
| NASD252 | History of Tribal Government on the Flathead Reservation | 3 |
| NASD262 | Contemporary Issues in American Indian Life | 3 |
| NASD271 | Foundations Of Leadership and Ethics | 3 |
| NASD305 | Native American Women | 3 |
| NASD306 | Gender and Identity in Indian Country | 3 |
| NASD307 | Native American Leaders after 1900 | 3 |
| NASD320 | Federal Indian Law | 3 |
| NASD341 | Principles of Tribal Sovereignty | 3 |
| NASD415 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
| NASD441 | Tribal Health and Wellness | 3 |
| NASD443 | Tribal Courts | 3 |
| SCWK263 | Pharmacology of Psychoactive Substances | 3 |
| SCWK470 | Working 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