Study Psychology at the University of Montana

Every time you order coffee, have a social interaction or make a decision, psychology is at work. As a psychology major at UM, you’ll study how and why people and animals do what they do, using analytical and creative tools to explore meaningful questions.

The psychology program at the University of Montana provides a foundation in the science of psychology, preparing you for diverse career options or continuing on to graduate education. Students are also able to earn credit toward their major or minor through field-based, hands-on learning — including psychology internships and opportunities to participate in cutting-edge faculty research.

400+

undergraduate psychology majors at UM

100%

of those with a graduate degree in psychology from UM find a job in their chosen field

10.4%

employment growth for school psychologists between 2020 and 2030

Other degree options for psychology at UM

Minor in Psychology

PhD in Clinical Psychology

PhD in Experimental Psychology

PhD in School Psychology

Specialist in School Psychology (SSP)

What can you do with a psychology degree?

Psychology is a versatile degree that can prepare you for a career in mental health services, business, research, and more. Many of our psychology majors also continue on to graduate school in mental health treatment-related fields (including counseling, social work, school psychology, and clinical psychology) and training in specific areas of research psychology.

Psychology jobs

What can you do with a bachelor’s in psychology? Your study of psychology will provide the foundational knowledge for a wide range of jobs. Here are a few career options psychology graduates go into, including some that require graduate training:

  • Social worker
  • Career counselor
  • School Psychologist*
  • Psychologist*
  • Mental health counselor* 
  • Human resources specialist
  • Corrections officer
  • Business, marketing, and sales
  • Real estate agent
  • Preschool teacher
  • Politics
  • Business owner
  • Statistician
  • Attorney*
  • Advocacy

(*Requires additional graduate training)

Psychology salaries

Graduates with a bachelor’s in psychology earn a national average of $68,557 per year.

Allumni Success Story

Undergraduate student Stephanie Kowal earned a Gilman Scholarship in 2022 and will take courses in psychology and sociology while exploring the rich culture and history of the United Kingdom. Earning the Gilman “means that I have an opportunity I never previously dreamed of existing for me – to go and explore another country and gain enriching experiences and new perspectives that will make me a better individual and student,” Kowal said. View the stories of other UM Gilman Scholarship winners.

Experiential learning in the psychology bachelor’s degree program

Engage in hands-on, real-world training that will make you stand out to employers when you graduate and hit the ground running in your career. As a psychology major at UM, you’ll have access to numerous internship opportunities in the mental health field — working with addiction treatment centers, group homes, mental health centers and other organizations in Missoula and around Montana. 

We also offer exciting opportunities for undergraduate research, which give you the chance to join faculty in their laboratories as undergraduate research assistants and engage in every aspect of research projects from conception to presentation. Faculty specializations within our psychology department include:

  • Clinical psychology (with specializations in adult and child psychopathology, trauma, LGBTQ+, health psychology, eating disorders, intimate partner violence, addictions, neuropsychology, and Indigenous issues).
  • School psychology (with specializations in crisis prevention, resilience, culturally responsive evidence-based practices, and bullying prevention in school settings).
  • Experimental psychology (with specializations in cognition, social psychology, quantitative psychology, child development, nature of mind, cognitive neuroscience, and comparative psychology).

Indians into Psychology

UM is home of one of only three Indians into Psychology programs in the country. The goal of InPsych is to prepare licensed American Indian and Alaska Native clinical psychologists for work in reservation communities and urban Indian health programs to fill the need for culturally competent care and to address health disparities. The program includes scholarship opportunities for undergraduate students.

Living Lab

The City of Missoula and UM received a $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to build a living lab and sculptural DNA climber in the new Missoula Public Library — offering majors in psychology and other UM students unique opportunities to share research with the public.

Career development in the psychology major

At the University of Montana, we help you succeed in your career as well as in the classroom. Although the bachelor’s in psychology is one of our largest programs here on campus, you’ll never feel lost in the mix — we offer incredible opportunities to work one-on-one with faculty, engage in research that will position you for success post-graduation, and learn in a caring and supportive environment. 

Our program also prepares students for advanced study in the field. Bachelor’s students who are interested in pursuing graduate degrees in psychology are encouraged to participate in research experiences (all our faculty have active labs), take a wide variety of courses and pursue specialization options that interest them. 

With dedicated advisors serving undergraduate psychology students, our faculty’s open-door policies and a department-wide commitment to mentoring students, our psychology graduates go on to successful careers in a wide range of fields.

Psychology scholarships

Get help paying for your bachelor’s in psychology. We offer several departmental scholarships and awards in the psychology program at UM. Learn more about scholarship opportunities for psychology majors.

Requirements for a psychology degree at UM

Our psychology bachelor’s degree program includes courses such as Psychology Statistics, Advanced Psychological Research Methods, Child Development, Psychology of Aging, Abnormal Psychology, Human Neuropsychology, Forensic Psychology, Psychology of Family Violence, Health Psychology, and Multicultural Psychology.

View all classes for the psychology bachelor’s degree at the University of Montana.