Bachelor of Science, Major in Earth Sciences with Emphasis in GIS/Planning Emphasis

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.

In the Organismal Biology program at Montana State, students enter a rigorous program of study will the goal of understanding plant or animal biology from the inner-most workings of internal biological systems to those organisms’ interaction with their immediate ecosystem on a communal level. With the option to tailor their plan of study to their personal interests, Organismal Biology students are able to specialize their degrees based on career interests in either the job market or advanced education.

Students in the Soil & Water Science program at Montana State gain a core foundation in the biological, chemical and physical sciences and how they affect two of the core resources on Earth: water and soil. Soil & Water Science students undergo advanced training in soil science and hydrology so that they might be able to apply their skills to land resource management, watershed management, pollution treatment and prevention, land rehabilitation bioremediation.

Students in the Sustainable Livestock Production program at Montana State focus on the relationship between animal agriculture, its continued presence in sustainable grazing systems and its potential role in sustainable farming. Sustainable Livestock Production students learn about the science of animal production within the context of sustainability, from the methods that impact the production, process and preservation of meat to the role of strategic grazing in landscape management, among other subjects.

Montana State’s American Studies undergraduate program provides world-class training for students who are seeking a broad understanding of American culture. Students can choose to study fields such as American Arts, American History and American Literature. The program is ideal for students who want to pursue a flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum that will explore the experiences and values of the people of the United States embodied in their history, literature, art and other forums of cultural expression.

Students within the Quaternity program at Montana State explore their education through the lens of a traditional liberal arts education, with a flexible student-centered course plan that views the world through four concepts of knowledge: thinking, feeling, intuition and sensation. As part of the Liberal Studies department, Quaternity 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.

In the Rangeland Ecology & Management program at Montana State, students are given a background in ecological principles as preparation for managing rangelands in the western United States. Along with coursework in resource inventory, watersheds, rangeland restoration and vegetation ecology, Rangeland Ecology & Management students are able to select courses which focus on either production agriculture or other natural resource areas.

Housed within the Department of Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology, the Landscape Design option at Montana State prepares students to solve aesthetic and functional landscape problems. Emphasis is placed on utilization of plant materials to solve specific site problems and students learn written, oral and graphic communication skills necessary to convey creative solutions for landscape planning. Graduates are employed by landscape nurseries, landscape contractors and planning agencies, while others become self-employed as landscape designers and contractors. Many students have chosen to continue advanced studies in programs of landscape architecture.

Industrial & Management Systems Engineers optimize the ways in which organizations deliver goods and services, often bridging gaps between management and operations teams in business organizations. In the Industrial & Management Systems Engineering program at Montana State, students learn how to apply mathematical models and engineering problem-solving skills to improve efficiency and create safer and more productive workplaces. For interested students, Montana State has a seamless master’s degree program for qualified Industrial & Management Systems Engineering undergraduate students as well.

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