Bachelor of Arts in American Studies

at Montana State University - Bozeman USA

The Latin American and Latino Studies program at Montana State provides students interested in Latin American and Latino history, culture, and language with valuable interdisciplinary skills. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the program, Latin American and Latino Studies students are given the option to not only study courses focusing on Latin American and Latino socio-cultural subjects but other relevant content from other departments such as sociology, political science or gender studies, as well. Although the equivalent of four semesters of Spanish language is required, students with prior experience in Spanish language or heritage students may have some of those language requirements waived.

Students in the Paleontology program at Montana State focus on studying fossils within their geologic context, both inside the classroom and at MSU’s summer field courses located across the Mountain West. Designed for students with a strong interest in geology and biology, students gain a solid understanding of geology in addition to studying invertebrate and vertebrate fossils. This program structure allows students the versatility for careers not only within paleontology but also in jobs that require geological knowledge, such as those within the petroleum industry and more.

Music Technology students at Montana State develop skills across areas such as music composition and theory, recording, sound synthesis and design, film scoring, orchestration, music instrumentation and instrumental or vocal performance. Alongside faculty, students in the program compose original music and collaborate on artistic works with other students from across campus and within the School of Music. Graduates of the Music Technology program go on to pursue careers in audio and sound design, music composition for performance media, sales representative in music technology, sound engineering, private studio instruction and further graduate study in the field.

The Montana State Civil Engineering department prepares construction engineering technology graduates to plan and supervise construction for major projects such as highways, buildings and industrial plants. The CET program offers experienced and well-connected faculty who teach students hands-on problem-solving techniques that will serve them throughout their careers.

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.

In the graduate program for Plant Pathology at Montana State, candidates investigate major problems in plant pathology within MSU’s state of the art agricultural facilities. Sample research projects include, but are not limited to, soil-borne diseases in cereals, the genetic root of disease resistance in field crops, cereal leaf spots, viral diseases inherent in cereals and potatoes, bacterial diseases in plants, and the biochemistry and molecular genetics of general plant diseases. Not only does this research apply to making a healthier and more robust food supply, but the research also seeks to develop new technology to manage crop pests.

Candidates within the Fish & Wildlife Management graduate program at Montana State conduct applied research on the ecology and management of the diverse mammal, bird and fish species within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Established in 1936, the Fish & Wildlife Management Program at Montana State is one of the oldest and most successful resource management programs in the United States and graduate students benefit both from this tradition and the resources provided by the Department of Ecology and mentorship from the Montana Cooperative Fishery Research Unit of the USGS Biological Resources Division. The Master of Science in Fish & Wildlife Management can act as a terminal degree leading to professional employment as a fisheries or wildlife biologist but can also lead to a Ph.D. in Fish & Wildlife Biology or other disciplines.

Students in the Equine Science track of Animal Science at Montana State are immersed in a program that combines the scientific and technical knowledge required in the industry with practical aspects of management, horsemanship and training. Students gain experience with business and management tools for the equine industry, colt breaking and horse behavior, land management for small acreage grazing and equine growth and development. In addition to hands-on learning experiences and internships, students can also take advantage of the program’s amazing facilities and affiliated Farrier School.

Agroecologists explore how crops and pest organisms interact with their environment, and the application of technology to efficiently and sustainability produce crops. In the Agroecology program at Montana State, students focus on community ecology, environmental science and cropland ecosystems and how they affect agricultural production decisions. After mastering fundamental principles of ecology, soil science, agronomy and pest management, Agroecology students are prepared to enter careers in the food or bioenergy sectors.

Students in the Liberal Arts Studio program at Montana State begin their undergraduate artistic journey with Foundations courses, which aim to introduce students to the design thinking and visual literacy skills needed for the subsequent years in the program. From there, Liberal Arts Studio students have the opportunity to focus their creative personal vision in one of six areas of study: painting, drawing, printmaking, sculptureand extended media, metalsmithing or ceramics. In addition to the medium of their choice, Liberal Arts Studio students balance studio time with a robust liberal arts education.