Bachelor of Arts in American Studies

at Montana State University - Bozeman USA

In the Sustainable Food Systems graduate program at Montana State, candidates dig further into special topics on sustainability and the food industry to better understand the relation between food systems and public health. Sustainable Food Systems graduate student projects can potentially cover a broad range of topics, including but not limited to food system education and public awareness, how local food systems can localize diets, institutional purchasing of local foods, food policies, community supported agriculture, food processing and distribution, community food security, community-based food and nutrition assistance and more. Additionally, students are able to tailor the program to their specific interests by taking coursework connected to health promotion and education, political science, economics, business, Native American Studies, agriculture and food science.

Students in the Business – Marketing program at Montana State gain the tools to enter this growing and continuously-changing sector of the global economy through hands-on projects in and out of the classroom. Marketing students focus on skills such as statistical analysis, market tests and product research with interdisciplinary courses, extracurricular networking and consultation projects with the community. Once they enter the workforce, students in the program go on to become marketing and sales managers, retail buyers, sales professionals, digital marketing specialists or advertising account representatives.

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

Candidates in the Physics graduate program at Montana State conduct a wide variety of research projects from solar physics to superconductivity with MSU’s state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment. The program prides itself on collaborative research, whether it’s interdisciplinary teams on the MSU campus or working with national and international experts. In addition to the groundbreaking research conducted in the department, Physics candidates have the opportunity to conduct public outreach and educational research through the MSU Physics Education Research (PER) group.

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.

Students in the Political Science department at Montana State develop knowledge of American political institutions, world politics, political theory, public administration and policy through the lens of a political scientist. In addition to the courses available, Political Science students are also able to learn more about the discipline through a variety of hands-on opportunities such as the department’s internship program, as well as study abroad opportunities.

The History program at Montana State allows students to specialize in the study of the American West, U.S. history, environmental history and the history of science and technology. History students participate in original research projects and student-centered learning activities, as well as internships at historical societies, museums and Yellowstone National Park, among other organizations.

Students within the Animal Systems program at Montana State start their studies with a strong foundation in coursework on chemistry, physics, biology, microbiology and genetics during the first two years of the program. From there, students will apply both molecular and cellular biological concepts and associated techniques to address problems facing animal production systems. 

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 Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program at Montana State immerse themselves in the fundamentals of computing while exploring fields such as artificial intelligence, multimedia and computational biology. Computer Science B.S. students have two tracks to choose from: the Professional Option, which allows students to delve more deeply into computer science and related technical areas, and the Interdisciplinary Option, which allows students to intersect their technological interests with other fields that range from Entrepreneurship to Japanese Studies.