Bachelor of Arts in American Studies

at Montana State University - Bozeman USA

Housed within MSU’s Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry as an option within the Chemistry major, the teaching option provides a thorough background in the basic fields of chemistry and an acquaintance with the more relevant aspects of chemistry in society, which are essential to any practicing chemistry teacher.

In the German Studies program at Montana State, students are able to explore a full range of courses on German language, culture and literature. German Studies students start with a grounding of the German language throughout their freshman and sophomore years before delving into advanced language labs and other in-depth research surrounding German interests.

The Livestock Management & Industry option at Montana State stresses the application of science to livestock production, especially in the western United States. In the program, students learn about the principles of economics, range science and physiology to help manage and raise sustainable livestock herds, as well as develop the business acumen to manage ranches, stockyards and other businesses related to livestock production.

Focused on writing, teaching, and literary studies, the graduate English program at Montana State covers a range of literary topics from different countries of origin and time periods, but always centering on a focus on the vital role of space. Such inquiry may consider the iconic terrain of the American West, the battlefields of Europe, and other settings both rural and urban. Students develop close mentoring relationships with faculty members who have expertise in fields such as writing studies, education and pedagogy, British literature and the literature of the American West.

Students within the Photography option at Montana State focus on fine art and commercial approaches to the medium. As students master both analog and digital photography techniques in the studio, they also explore photography as a medium of expression under the close guidance of award-winning faculty mentors with a breadth of experience in the gallery and publication worlds. Coursework ranges from traditional silver-based darkroom techniques to alternative analog processes, as well as an emphasis on digital photographic processes.

Candidates in the graduate History program at Montana State contribute to historical research and scholarship in four concentrated areas: environmental history; the history of science, technology, medicine and society; the history of the American West; and public history. Candidates investigate research interests through diverse opportunities that include seminar discussions, collaborating with their graduate committee, classroom instruction, teaching assistantships and internships. At the conclusion of the degree, master’s students are expected to submit a thesis or professional research paper, while doctoral candidates are expected to submit a dissertation on a topic of their choice.

Students in the Philosophy department at Montana State take a wide range of courses that explore diverse topics through the writings of important philosophers, both past and present. Emphasis is placed on understanding different solutions to questions about such topics as the role of emotion in film, the moral questions surrounding medicine and bioethics, the importance of the environment and animals, the origin of life or the nature of consciousness, as well as how to analyze and criticize these solutions.

In the graduate Art History program at Montana State, candidates have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with faculty that possess extensive experience in field, museum and archival research. With a strong record of scholarly publications and backgrounds in art historical theory and methodology, candidates are able to collaborate on scholarship that spans from antiquity to the core of Western art history, as well as foci in Ancient to Contemporary China, the Americas, decorative arts and museum studies.

Candidates within the Earth Sciences graduate program at Montana State are encouraged to dive into independent thesis research across a variety of specializations within the fields of geography and geology. Faculty and advisor expertise spans many subfields of the discipline, including settlement geography, bioclimatology, GIS, planning, snow science, volcanology, paleobiology, dinosaur taphonomy, stratigraphy and geomorphology. Recent M.S. students have produced groundbreaking research and have expanded our knowledge of issues from GIS-based assessment of landslide hazards to exotic species assessment in Grand Teton National Park.

The Mechanical Engineering Technology program at Montana State trains students in the core skills of engineering fundamentals, manufacturing applications, mechanical design and thermal sciences in hands-on activities both inside and outside of the laboratory. Upon graduation, Mechanical Engineering Technology students are equipped to enter jobs in which they produce computer models, design drawings, operate manufacturing equipment, inspect manufacturing floor, analyzes production problems or assists in making a brand new product come to life.