Bachelor of Science, Major in Biological Sciences with Emphasis in Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management

at Montana State University - Bozeman USA

In the Science, the Environment, Technology & Society (SETS) program at Montana State, students study history through the lens of science, technology and the environment within broader cultural contexts, such as intellectual and social history, environmental history, religious studies or philosophy. SETS students choose one of several specialties as a focus for their coursework, including Philosophy of Science, History of Science and Technology, Science and Technology Policy or Environmental History.

In this interdisciplinary program in the departments of Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Chemistry and Biochemistry, Optics and Photonics graduate students at Montana State learn to harness the power of light to prepare for in-demand jobs or research careers in laser engineering, remote sensing and more. Montana State's Optical Technology Center, founded in 1995, has supported a culture of interdisciplinary research and has a long history of partnership with Bozeman's thriving optics and photonics industry.

Students within the Environmental Studies program at Montana State combine the traditional foundation of a broad-based liberal arts education with in-depth study of environmental issues from both a scientific and public policy perspective. As part of the Liberal Studies department, Environmental Studies students take a series of integrative seminars designed to provide a sense of academic community and improve their critical thinking and communication skills, all while obtaining a better understanding of the factual knowledge and theoretical foundations of the subjects they’re studying.

Students within the Agricultural Education – Communications, Leadership and Extension program at Montana State develop professional skills to advocate for the agriculture industry and educate diverse audiences on emerging agricultural issues. Depending on the students’ interests, they can focus on agricultural communications, agricultural extension, or agricultural leadership as part of their course of studies. Regardless of their track, every Agricultural Education – Communications, Leadership and Extension student completes a Leadership Fellows certificate, as well as an internship with an agricultural agency, Extension office or agricultural organization.

Students in the Film program at Montana State gain a hands-on education in motion picture production with a variety of studio and theory courses that expose future filmmakers to both the practical and historical aspects of the field. After applying to the Film program, students focus on scriptwriting, acting, documentary film and production for film and theatre, among other subjects – all while having ample opportunity to gain on-the-job experience through internships with major names in the film industry, submissions to major film festivals and more.

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.

Students in the Exercise Science option at Montana State focus on clinical and performance-based understandings of human movement throughout their studies. Core courses in the Exercise Science program range from anatomy and physiology to math and statistics, as well as biomechanics, nutrition and physiology. Students also have opportunities to learn through hands-on experiences such as internships and research opportunities. Graduates of the Exercise Science option go onto careers in corporate wellness programs, exercise rehab programs or graduate programs that relate to physical or occupational therapy.

Students in the Chemistry (Professional) program at Montana State delve into a core of chemistry courses and technical electives to prepare for careers within the field, as well as medicine, patent law, science writing and more. Depending on their interests, students are also encouraged to engage with additional mathematics and/or physics courses as well. Additionally, all students in the Chemistry (Professional) program are assigned to an on-campus lab to conduct laboratory research as part of their degree, preparing them for either on-the-job laboratory work or higher education.

In the Wildlife Habitat Ecology & Management program at Montana State, students are given a background in wildlife habitat, rangeland ecology and wildlife-livestock interactions as preparation for managing the relationship between livestock and the wildlife which share habitat within the western United States. Along with coursework on wildlife habitat, major vegetation types, rangeland livestock production, soil science and hydrology, Wildlife Habitat Ecology & Management students are also able to select coursework in wildlife habitat ecology, habitat restoration, wildlife-livestock habitat issues and wildlife-livestock nutrition.

In the Dietetics program at Montana State, students interested in pursuing a career as a registered dietician gain a strong foundational understanding in food and nutrition, food service management and clinical nutrition. At the conclusion of their undergraduate study, Dietetics students should be prepared to enter a graduate degree-level dietetic internship such as the Montana Dietetic Internship, which is required in order to be eligible to take the exam for dietetic registration.