Mission Statement

The Community Psychology program engages students in civic and social interests, developing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required for professional careers of public service, guiding social systems, facilitating constructive change, advancing egalitarian principles, and optimizing the well-being of individuals and communities.

Community psychology explores person-environment interactions in order to better understand the ways in which society affects individuals, as well as the ways in which individuals impact society.  Understanding these relationships then enables us to develop interventions and strategies that empower individuals, facilitate collaboration within communities, and promote constructive social change.  The ultimate purpose of community psychology is to optimize the well-being of both individuals and communities.

Through MSU-Northern’s Community Psychology program you will gain a strong interdisciplinary foundation with coursework in the following fields and skill areas:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Political Science
  • Leadership Studies
  • Communications
  • Program Planning
  • Project Management
  • Program Evaluation
  • Conflict Management
  • Public Relations
  • Public Administration
  • Nonprofit Management
  • Grant Writing
  • Fundraising

The Community Psychology degree emphasizes applied learning through practical experience.  Through it all, you will have the opportunity to tailor your coursework to focus on specific issues and areas of service and leadership that interest you most.  You’ll also build a solid foundation for continuing your education towards a graduate degree in fields like counseling, social work, law, public administration, public health, or related specialized professions.

Learning Outcomes for Community Psychology

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Apply foundational principles of psychology and sociology to analyze and explain the dynamics of mental processes and behaviors, from individual to communal settings, across cultural contexts;
  • Apply foundational principles of communication studies to analyze and explain the dynamics of verbal, written, and nonverbal exchanges, from dyadic to mass communication, across cultural contexts;
  • Apply foundational principles of civics and political science to analyze and explain the dynamics of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in a democratic society with a mixed economy;
  • Apply foundational principles of systems theory to analyze and explain the structure and processes of communities;
  • Apply foundational principles of leadership studies to analyze and explain the dynamics of leader-follower interactions, exchanges, and relationships; and,
  • Apply foundational principles of change theory to plan, implement, and evaluate the collaborative and constructive transformation of communities.

To learn more about community psychology’s academic content and practice competencies, visit the Society for Community Research and Action, Division 27 of the American Psychological Association.