Master of Science in Sustainable Food Systems

at Montana State University - Bozeman USA

Students in the Equine Science track of Animal Science at Montana State are immersed in a program that combines the scientific and technical knowledge required in the industry with practical aspects of management, horsemanship and training. Students gain experience with business and management tools for the equine industry, colt breaking and horse behavior, land management for small acreage grazing and equine growth and development. In addition to hands-on learning experiences and internships, students can also take advantage of the program’s amazing facilities and affiliated Farrier School.

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 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 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.

Students in the Geospatial & Environmental Analysis program at Montana State combine knowledge of core natural sciences with courses in remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS) and statistics to assist in supporting balanced land management decisions. Throughout the program, Geospatial & Environmental Analysis students are encouraged to gain hands-on experience with land, people and information through field trips, internships and the capstone field course.

Students in the Civil Engineering program at Montana State learn how to design and build the big things that society relies on: roads, bridges, buildings, water treatment plants and more. Whether touring a construction site during class or working with a professor on research to make new kinds of high-strength concrete, Civil Engineering students are afforded a variety of opportunities to develop skills that will serve them in positions in construction, transportation, structural engineering and more.

Students in the Statistics program at Montana State are trained in the core principles of quantitative reasoning. By discovering patterns in data, how to display data, how to construct mathematical models and how to detect data bias and other uncertainties, Statistics students are able to then design and analyze observational studies, surveys and scientific experiments that contribute to understanding data across a wide variety of industries.

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.

Students in the Restaurant Management: Farm-to-Table option at Montana State dig into hospitality-specific subjects such as systems management, quantity food preparation and the culinary arts, as well as investigate sustainability due to the program’s emphasis on farm-to-table and healthful cuisine. Courses are conducted at Towne’s Harvest Garden, MSU’s organic campus farm, as well as with restaurant and food service management businesses in the community. Graduates of the Restaurant Management: Farm-to-Table program enjoy careers in food-service, restaurants, healthcare facilities and more.

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.