Bachelor of Science, Major in Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems with Emphasis in Sustainable Crop Production

at Montana State University - Bozeman USA

Students in the Chemical Engineering major are constantly engaged in hands-on lab opportunities to explore the mechanics of chemical synthesis that are at the core of their profession. Whether it’s studying biofilms with a professor at the top of their field or earning a spot alongside students from across the country in the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) summer program, Chemical Engineering students are afforded a variety of opportunities to develop skills that will serve them in positions in chemical manufacturing and petroleum refining, pharmaceutical manufacturing and delivery, environmental engineering and more.

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.

Montana State’s Master of Architecture program is specifically designed to hone the creative and scientific skills obtained in a candidate’s undergraduate studies with comprehensive design studios, investigative projects and preparation to take the ARE in order to become a registered architect. Candidates will have opportunities to forge their design sensibilities and scientific knowledge with explorations of sustainable building practices and the impact of architecture and the environment.

In the Sustainable Food Systems program at Montana State, students focus on the interconnected relationships between production, food policy, food security and health in order to make informed decisions and solutions to complex problems in the food industry. Sustainable Food Systems students develop important skills through hands-on experience in service-based learning internships, organic farming, culinary fundamentals and management, training on research methods and carrying out research projects in surrounding communities.

Students in the Land Rehabilitation program at Montana State gain the critical knowledge and skills needed to analyze and manage lands requiring rehabilitation, which includes soil remediation, re-vegetation, inspecting impacted geologic resources, managing invasive species and more. Students focus on a foundation of chemical, biological and environmental science coursework before studying soil, water and plant science courses that range from molecular to landscape in scale.

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 in the Exercise Science option at Montana State focus on clinical and performance-based understandings of human movement throughout their studies. Core courses in the Exercise Science program range from anatomy and physiology to math and statistics, as well as biomechanics, nutrition and physiology. Students also have opportunities to learn through hands-on experiences such as internships and research opportunities. Graduates of the Exercise Science option go onto careers in corporate wellness programs, exercise rehab programs or graduate programs that relate to physical or occupational therapy.

Microbiology is a diverse discipline that has become an umbrella term for a variety of studies, including bacteriology, mycology, protozoology, phycology, parasitology and virology. In the Microbiology program at Montana State, students are able to delve into the study of all of these broad tracks of microbiology to prepare for careers in microbiology, the health profession, veterinary school or various topics in environmental microbiology.

Students within the Animal Systems program at Montana State start their studies with a strong foundation in coursework on chemistry, physics, biology, microbiology and genetics during the first two years of the program. From there, students will apply both molecular and cellular biological concepts and associated techniques to address problems facing animal production systems. 

In the Environmental Biology program at Montana State, students learn more about the diversity of organisms – from microorganisms to large mammals – and their interconnected relationships in various complex environments. Environmental Biology students engage in cross-training on various subjects in biology and microbiology in order to gain a better understanding of those interrelated relationships on both a physical and chemical level in the environment.