Bachelor of Arts, Major in Liberal Studies with Emphasis in Global and Multicultural Studies

at Montana State University - Bozeman USA

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.

Financial engineers combine economic theory and engineering problem-solving skills to assist businesses with risk management strategies, which is an increasingly important role in today’s globalized economy. In the Financial Engineering program at Montana State, students undergo rigorous training in economics, engineering mathematics and actuarial methods that are at the core of the financial industry.

Students in the Graphic Design program at Montana State launch their studies with a series of core and foundation courses before passing a sophomore portfolio review to gain admittance as a full Graphic Design student in their junior and senior years. Graphic Design students develop a variety of professional and design skills that later translate into opportunities in advertising, publishing, marketing, public relations, user interaction and other creative-based industries. Over the past 30 years, graduates of the Graphic Design program at Montana State have been placed at in-house corporate design positions such as Adidas, Starbucks, Nike, K2 Skis and Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply, amongst others.

Students in the Child Development program at Montana State are actively engaged in a variety of settings that include children, their families and other professionals in the field.  Course work and field experience provide students with multiple opportunities for applied understanding of children's growth and development, building family and community relationships, conducting observations and assessments, understanding developmentally appropriate practices and promoting the well-being of young children and their families.

In the Mental Health Counseling option at Montana State, students gain the skills to address a variety of mental health issues through the lens of human development, counseling theory, learning theory, group dynamics and the etiology of mental illness and dysfunctional behavior. Mental Health Counseling students engage in projects that enhance their personal and professional development as counselors and develop their knowledge and skills on how to identify and care for various client populations and their concerns. Each student in the Mental Health Counseling program undergoes 700 hours of supervised experience in appraisal, individual, group counseling, and consultation in clinic and community agencies prior to graduation.

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 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.

The Master of Fine Arts program at Montana State is structured as a project-based, non-media specific program that advances both artistic development and creative leadership. Over the course of three years, students who practice a variety of different media within their art form a community that fosters exploration, professionalism and creative success. Students within the M.F.A. program enjoy a studio experience that both centers the conceptual and production processes of the art-making experience while developing the skills needed for professional artists to develop, organize and execute complex artistic or entrepreneurial endeavors. The M.F.A. program at Montana State is highly competitive and only accepts a limited number of students per cohort.

The Department of Ecology offers a Master of Science degree and a doctorate in Biological Sciences. These programs cover a broad array of ecological topics and are suited for students primarily interested in research careers with federal or state agencies or academic careers in ecology.

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.