Montana State University

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Five MSU Degrees for Counseling and Psychology

Montana State University appears in our ranking of the Top 25 Master’s Degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy Online.

In Traphagen Hall, the College of Letters & Science awards a 120-credit B.S. in Psychology at an 18:1 student-professor ratio under Dr. Keith Hutchison for Montana State University Bobcats to learn brain processes in two tracks: Psychological Science or Applied Psychology. Chaired by Dr. Rebecca Koltz, a 2017 HERS Institute Award recipient, the M.S. in Marriage, Couples & Family Counseling admits cohorts of 25 each Summer term for 60 credits of LMFT preparation at Herrick Hall with 1,500 hours of supervised practicum off-campus. The M.S. in Mental Health Counseling follows a 60-credit, CACREP-accredited curriculum outlined by Dr. Anna Elliott for Montana’s LPC designation after 1,500 experience hours, including in the on-site Counseling & Psychological Services Center. Fulfilling Class 6 Specialist certification, the 48-credit, ASCA-aligned M.Ed. in School Counseling led by Dr. Mark Nelson integrates 700 internship hours at College of Education partners like Meadowlark Elementary and Great Falls High. Headed by Dr. Neha John-Henderson, the Ph.D. in Psychological Science utilizes cutting-edge research centers, including the Persuasion & Affect Lab, for thesis and dissertation projects in a tough 61-credit, five-year program.

About Montana State University

Montana State University first opened on February 16, 1893, as Montana Agricultural & Mechanical College with an inaugural coed class of eight at a 160-acre Bozeman farm donated by Gallatin County. In 1913, President James M. Hamilton renamed it the Montana College of Agriculture & Mechanical Arts. One decade later, its academics expanded to become Montana State College. Hit by the Great Depression, Montana State rebounded after World War II with growing veteran enrollment. On July 1, 1965, the Legislature approved its university status. On its centennial year in 1993, the College of Education, Health & Human Development earned its first CACREP accreditation. In 2016, its Department of Psychology created a premier Stress, Adversity, Resilience & Health Lab. Montana State University then won the 2018 APLU Innovation and Economic Prosperity Connections Award. Endowed for $151.7 million, MSU now educates 16,902 Bobcats from 76 countries online and on-site with 300+ clubs like Psi Chi Honor Society.

The U.S. News & World Report ranked Montana State the 205th best national university, 112th top public college, and 69th best clinical rehabilitation counseling school. On Niche, MSU boasts America’s 292nd top location, 306th best education college, 374th most student life, and 392nd top psychology degrees. Times Higher Education featured Montana State University among its top 600 globally. Forbes picked MSU 452nd overall with the 187th most impactful research. Money magazine labeled Montana State the 428th best value for a 20-year PayScale ROI of $369,000. College Factual noticed MSU for the country’s 429th best general psychology program and 307th highest-paid graduates. Washington Monthly crowned Montana State University the 187th top master’s institution. In 2018, Livability also proclaimed Bozeman the 96th best place to live nationwide.

Montana State University Accreditation Details

On February 4, 2019, Montana State University announced that its Level VI accreditation was reaffirmed by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) for a new seven-year institutional review cycle under its 12th president, Dr. Waded Cruzado, who notably received the 2011 Michael P. Malone Educator of the Year Award. Based 679 miles west via Interstate 90 in Redmond, this superb seven-state Pacific Northwest Region accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to evaluate MSU’s 68 baccalaureate, 41 master’s, and 18 doctoral offerings. Particularly, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited three Health & Human Development Department degrees through March 31, 2023. Montana State’s Doctoral Health Service Psychology Internship is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Montana State University Application Requirements

Admission to Montana State University is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s though 13,256 of the 15,996 Fall 2017 applicants were victorious for 83 percent acceptance. First-year Bobcats preying on the B.S. in Psychology must graduate from a licensed high school or pass the GED/HiSET equivalent. Four years of English plus three years of Math and Social Studies are crucial. Freshmen must rank in the upper half of their class with GPAs over 2.5. At a minimum, 1120 SAT and 22 ACT composite scores are needed. Undergrad transfers with 30+ accredited credits at 2.0 GPAs or better won’t have to live on-campus. The M.S./M.Ed. in Counseling options mandate four years of qualifying bachelor’s prep and at least “B” averages. Both Verbal and Quantitative GRE scores must be 150 or higher. The Ph.D. in Psychological Science seeks a social science bachelor’s, research background, and 3.3 GPA minimum.

The Montana State University Office of Admissions suggests undergrad deadlines of July 1st for Fall, December 1st for Spring, and May 1st for Summer entry. Dates move up to June 1st, November 15th, and March 15th respectively for non-U.S. residents. The Health & Human Development Department has a strict February 1st counseling program deadline. Ph.D. in Psychological Science cohorts must file before January 1st yearly. Accordingly, create an MSU account for the $38 Undergraduate or $60 Graduate School Application online. Have official transcripts sent electronically or by mail to 201 Strand Union Building in Bozeman, MT 59717. Other Cat Checklist items include the test scores (code 4488), two or three references, 500-word letter of intent, English proficiency results, résumé, and medical immunization form. Please contact (406) 994-2452 or admissions@montana.edu for more.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2018-19, Montana State University has billed in-state B.S. in Psychology majors $3,639 per semester or $7,278 annually. Non-resident undergrads paid $12,496 each term or $24,992 by year. The Gallatin College drops costs to $3,404 and $11,986 yearly respectively. These figures include $811 for mandatory semester fees. Living at the Bozeman campus’ dorms like Yellowstone Hall adds $10,100 for room and board. MSU budgets $1,450 for textbooks and $3,702 for transportation or miscellaneous expenses. Annual bachelor’s attendance equals $22,530 in-state and $40,244 out-of-state. The Graduate School has charged Montanans $2,663 and non-residents $7,830 each semester full-time. Studying part-time incurs $387to $1,095 per credit. Graduate apartments, such as Paisley Court, cost $562 to $862 per month.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid Services in Strand Union gets 83 percent of incoming MSU Bobcats clawing open median assistance of $5,661 for $12.14 million total. Over 1,000 institutional funds include the College of Letters & Science Memorial Scholarship, Dr. Jean Robinson Scholarship, Dr. Dorothy Christiansen Dennis Scholarship, Edna Tracy White Scholarship, Judith Hihnala Jeniker Memorial Scholarship, Dean’s Endowed Scholarship, Steve Rovig & Brian Giddens Scholarship, James Rannells Memorial Scholarship, Hodgskiss Scholarship, Moebus Graduate Scholarship, and Ruth Osborn Scholarship. The Non-Resident Freshman Achievement Award gifts up to $15,000 per year based on SAT/ACT scores. Native American Tribal Homelands Scholarship recipients save $16,000 annually by paying in-state tuition. The Montana University System offers aid like the 2+2 Honor Scholarship, Governor’s Best and Brightest Scholarship, and National Merit Scholarship. Ph.D. in Psychological Science candidates receive partial or full tuition waivers for graduate assistantships. Filing FAFSA applications coded 002532 unlocks federal resources, such as the Pell Grant and Work-Study.

Keep reading about Montana State University at the Department of Psychology website.