Master of Science in Optics and Photonics

at Montana State University - Bozeman USA

Candidates in the Microbiology and Immunology program at Montana State engage in state-of-the-art research within one of the premier infectious disease research programs in the Northwest. Studying alongside leaders in the field, candidates are able to explore research within the environmental sciences or biomedical sciences and are encouraged to develop interdisciplinary ties in their research with additional departments and programs.

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 Biochemistry program at Montana State delve into core chemistry, biochemistry, and biology courses to gain a comprehensive understanding of the molecular nature of biological materials and life processes. Depending on their interests, students have the opportunity to take electives in areas such as immunology, microbiology, veterinary molecular biology or the environmental sciences. Additionally, all students in the Biochemistry program are assigned to an on-campus lab to conduct laboratory research as part of their degree, preparing them for either on-the-job laboratory work or higher education.

In the graduate program for Plant Sciences at Montana State, candidates pursue research projects within state-of-the-art laboratories on subjects such as plant breeding and genetics, plant pathology, mycology, biotechnology, plant physiology and systematics, molecular evolution and biochemistry. Candidates conduct these projects in labs such as the Plant BioScience Facility or the Plant Growth Center, with over 29 glasshouse rooms and 8,300 square feet of bench space. They also train under award-winning researchers in the field.

In the Food Enterprise option students practice strategies on entrepreneurship and innovation in food growth and development. This means discovering how to make new and exciting products with specialty crops native to Montana, learning about sustainability and rural hospitality through hands-on opportunities, either with internships or working at the Towne’s Harvest Garden located on campus. Graduates of the Food Enterprise program enter careers in food processing, food distribution or opening their own business in the food sector.

Situated jointly within the College of Agriculture and the College of Letters and Science, the economics program at Montana State has an excellent reputation with regional, national and international firms as well as exceptional graduate schools. Students examine behavioral economics, development, public policy and more under award-winning faculty members who are dedicated to high-quality education, outreach and research. More than just a subject of study and memorization, economics at Montana State is a tool for understanding and improving the world.

Students within the Quaternity program at Montana State explore their education through the lens of a traditional liberal arts education, with a flexible student-centered course plan that views the world through four concepts of knowledge: thinking, feeling, intuition and sensation. As part of the Liberal Studies department, Quaternity students take a series of integrative seminars designed to provide a sense of academic community and improve their critical thinking and communication skills, all while obtaining a better understanding of the factual knowledge and theoretical foundations of the subjects they’re studying.

Students in the Philosophy department at Montana State take a wide range of courses that explore diverse topics through the writings of important philosophers, both past and present. Emphasis is placed on understanding different solutions to questions about such topics as the role of emotion in film, the moral questions surrounding medicine and bioethics, the importance of the environment and animals, the origin of life or the nature of consciousness, as well as how to analyze and criticize these solutions.

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 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.