Bachelor of Arts in Biology

at MSM Group - Montana State University - Billings USA

Through coursework, research, laboratory, and internship experiences, the Human Performance Option prepares students with a thorough understanding of human movement.

Students in this option are equally well-prepared for work in professional positions in medical, community, corporate, or school settings such as:

• Strength Training Facilities
• Rehabilitation Programs
• Fitness Centers
• Medical Sales

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Accurately assess, plan, supervise, and evaluate a person's health and human performance.
• Critically and ethically evaluate human movement and performance.
• Develop, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions in health and fitness activities
• Correctly interpret, apply and conduct research in human movement and performance.
• Effectively communicate to diverse constituencies.

As a general Liberal Arts degree, Psychology majors develop excellent interpersonal, research, writing, and analytical skills and are attractive to a wide variety of employers. Students may wish to take appropriate courses in other areas to enhance their skills and marketability. To prepare for a career in Psychology with a Bachelor’s degree, students are encouraged to consult with faculty to take appropriate courses and to pursue internships in the Billings community.

The Department of Music educates musicians by combining a thorough professional training in music with sound general education. It is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. The MSU Billings Department of Music stresses high standards of performance, a strong theoretical background, a broad exposure to music history, opportunities in pedagogy, and a significant encounter with other academic disciplines.

The varied functions of music in the world today present many interesting and challenging opportunities to students as educators, performers, creative artists and employees in the music industry. Because of the many opportunities available to students, the faculty of the Department of Music has established a program of training which allows first year students to determine the course of study they may wish to follow.

Through an emphasis in music history and theory as well as performance instruction and participation in various ensembles, students are prepared for graduate study, studio teaching, teaching in the public schools, and employment in the field of music.

The Master of Science in Psychology provides advanced, concentrated study for students wishing to prepare for additional graduate study, employment in a clinical or research setting, teaching at the community college level, or preparing for licensure.

Sociology is the study of social life and the social causes of human behavior. The sociologist's interests range from the intimate family to the hostile mob, from crime to religion, from race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, from work to sports. Few fields have such a broad scope.

The criminal justice program at MSU Billings is designed to provide students with an understanding of the principles and practices of the criminal justice system in the United States.  Students will learn about the essential components of the criminal justice system, including police, courts, and corrections.  The program is especially suited for people who are planning a career with a criminal justice agency as well as those who are interested in the study of crime and criminal justice.  A degree in Criminal Justice provides the background for a student to enter a variety of occupations in the criminal justice field such as law enforcement officer at the local, state or federal level, corrections officer, or probation officer.  Students with a degree in criminal justice may also find employment with regulatory agencies, social service agencies, and in business.  The major also prepares students to enter graduate programs in criminal justice, sociology, and public administration.

The curriculum builds students’ understanding of environmental issues as reflections of societal values and behaviors, environmental technologies and sciences, and environmental policies. As an interdisciplinary program, students have course options in beginning and advanced Geographical Information Systems (GIS), advanced ecology, environmental advocacy and applied social media campaigns, historical perspectives of the environmental movement, Native American perspectives on environmental issues, environmental sociology, and artistic and literary representation of the environment, and more.

The Master of Science in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling (MSCRMHC) degree program offers a rigorous curriculum of live and online coursework and fieldwork experiences designed to prepare graduates for state licensure eligibility and national certification.
The program is fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for Rehabilitation Counseling.  CACREP has established standards for the accreditation of graduate programs in the counseling fields.

The Outdoor Adventure Leadership degree is designed to prepare students for careers in a wide variety of leadership settings with hands-on learning activities. The program develops student’s skills in group dynamics, leadership principles, educational philosophy, as well as teaching and communication. This degree combines the study of educational and leadership theory and practice with technical outdoor travel and adventure. Students will acquire and enhance environmental skills and knowledge related to a variety of populations including senior citizens and youth at risk; and explore issues ranging from ethical controversies and risk management to program design.

Specialized skills acquired with Outdoor Adventure Leadership include sequencing, facilitation, and processing of activities, with specific attention to transferring the learning from activity-based experiences to the “real lives” of participants. In addition, the ability to safely engage in and provide outdoor activities and effectively teach skills in outdoor and indoor settings are central to the degree.

An Outdoor Adventure Leadership degree will allow the student to teach outdoor skills to others, safely oversee outdoor programs, and design programs for corporate and community organizations while preparing students for Professions with agencies that have a natural resource base foundation and public and private entities for utilizing the outdoors.

Programs offered through the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences share many outcomes.  Upon program completion students will:

• Understand the basic principles and laws governing our world and have a global awareness of their discipline.
• Demonstrate basic competency in laboratory, field and computer skills related to the sciences.
• Be familiar with accessing and interpreting the scientific literature.
• Be proficient in written and oral communication in the sciences.
• Understand scientific methodology, and conduct scientific investigations using it.
• Be prepared to participate in professional activities.