Bachelor of Arts in American Studies

at Montana State University - Bozeman USA

Students in the Liberal Arts Studio program at Montana State begin their undergraduate artistic journey with Foundations courses, which aim to introduce students to the design thinking and visual literacy skills needed for the subsequent years in the program. From there, Liberal Arts Studio students have the opportunity to focus their creative personal vision in one of six areas of study: painting, drawing, printmaking, sculptureand extended media, metalsmithing or ceramics. In addition to the medium of their choice, Liberal Arts Studio students balance studio time with a robust liberal arts education.

At Montana State, students in the Snow Science track have one of the best laboratories in the nation in which to study: the Rocky Mountains. Alongside some of the most preeminent scientists in the field, students gain a foundational understanding of the distribution, mechanics and composition of snow before further defining their study before graduation. Snow scientists find careers in snow safety and consulting in land use planning, transportation and avalanche protection, as well as post-graduate study to further prepare for positions in the field.

In order to provide students with the skills needed in a globalized world that increasingly pivots on Asia, Montana State University offers an interdisciplinary Asian studies major. In the Asian Studies program at Montana State, students are given the option to study either Arabic, Chinese or Japanese as a core language, as well as explore cultural electives and literature courses that span the continent.

Environmental Design students at Montana State learn how to design the spaces and structures where people live, work and play. Coursework focuses on scientific knowledge, technical expertise and high-level architectural design thinking both inside the studio and in the community at large. The Environmental Design program is specifically designed to prepare all graduates for acceptance into a Master of Architecture program, which licenses that candidate to work as a professional in the field.

In the graduate Animal & Range Sciences program at Montana State, candidates pursue research projects across a wide variety of subject matter, including livestock nutrition, livestock breeding and genetics, meat science, production systems, rangeland management, land-use planning, wildlife management and more. Graduate candidates choose between Animal or Range Sciences for their research emphasis, with projects that open up opportunities to conduct research with cooperating ranches, the USDA, federal and state agencies, and research laboratories across the Mountain West.

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 Political Science department at Montana State develop knowledge of American political institutions, world politics, political theory, public administration and policy through the lens of a political scientist. In addition to the courses available, Political Science students are also able to learn more about the discipline through a variety of hands-on opportunities such as the department’s internship program, as well as study abroad opportunities.

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.

Candidates in the Innovation and Management graduate program at Montana State develop skills and knowledge in an innovative one-year program designed to accelerate their career potential, either through entrepreneurship or leadership in existing organizations. The Innovation and Management program is made for candidates interested in innovating, leading, and solving challenging problems, especially in the design, science, technology, engineering, or math fields. Innovation and Management students will expand their skill sets through first-hand experiences working on projects with researchers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and government programming.

The graduate Applied Economics program at Montana State develops students’ understanding of economic theory and quantitative and econometric data analysis applied to a broad range of economic problems. These capabilities are developed through a breadth of coursework and collaborative research with department faculty. The Applied Economics program offers the opportunity to undertake advanced coursework in economics and conduct high-level research without committing to a lengthy Ph.D. program.