Master of Public Administration

at Montana State University - Bozeman USA

Montana State’s interdisciplinary Data Science program draws on courses in three programs: Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics. Candidates within the program delve into topics such as machine learning, algorithms, data mining, and artificial intelligence while also gaining skills in data analysis and contextualization. With the education Master of Data Science students attain at MSU, they’ll be able to actively contribute to the field through technical writing, data visualization, presentations, and active software solutions.

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.

Students in the Plant Biology program at Montana State start with a broad education of issues connected to the plant sciences before focusing their interest in the field with a cellular, molecular, organismal, ecological or genetic perspective to botany. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the program, Plant Biology students are able to personalize their studies with additional coursework in departments such as Ecology or Land Resources & Environmental Sciences to complement their interests.

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.

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.

The Conservation Biology and Ecology program at Montana State is an interdisciplinary program focused on understanding the structure and function of ecological communities. Combining study of ecology with history, philosophy, political science, economics and law, the degree provides a strong foundation that prepares students for graduate studies, reflecting the reality that most jobs in ecology, conservation and wildlife biology require an advanced degree.

In the Mathematics graduate program at Montana State, candidates work in a variety of areas including real and complex analysis, applied mathematics, dynamical systems, mathematical biology, mathematical imaging and probability. Additionally, candidates are able to take advantage of the prestigious MT PEAKS Fellowship, which is specifically designed to broaden candidates’ training beyond academia and into business, industry or governmental pathways.

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.

Electrical engineering graduates are key contributors at the frontier of science and engineering, using physics, electronics and electromagnetism to work with everything from nanotechnology to smart grids, inside human bodies to deep outer space. The Montana State electrical engineering program emphasizes hands-on laboratory work from EELE 101 through graduation. Electrical engineering students have access to state-of-the-art equipment and software, including electrical systems, advanced digital design, communications, control systems and even a fully functional microfabrication clean room facility. Needless to say, Montana State electrical engineering graduates have a great reputation for confidence and effectiveness in engineering design, analysis and troubleshooting.

Students in the Physics program at Montana State work closely with faculty on cutting-edge research projects that range from subjects as varied as astrophysics, biophysics, optics, solar physics and space science. The Interdisciplinary option in the Physics program allows for students to gain a solid foundation in mathematics and the physical sciences while also specializing in another subject such as chemistry, biology, computer science, engineering, material science, optics and beyond. Using this broad base, students enter into careers as diverse as education, business administration, journalism, education or technical writing.