Bachelor of Arts in Arts

at MSM Group - Montana State University - Billings USA

The B.F.A. in Art is considered the professional undergraduate degree in studio art and is designed to provide students with a thorough grounding in fundamental principles and techniques with opportunities for emphasis in one or more specific studio art areas.

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 Master of Science in Athletic Training program is designed to prepare students to become athletic training professionals. It prepares students for the Board of Certification Examination (BOC). The curriculum is based upon cognitive and psychomotor learning experiences.

In order to become eligible to sit for the BOC examination, students within this major must complete all of the course work within the professional areas, as well as accumulate competencies, proficiencies and a minimum clinical experience each semester over the two-year (6 semesters), program. The program begins in the third summer session. The athletic training program has been granted initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, CAATE.

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.

Management Option

The Management Option is designed to provide students with the problem-solving and leadership skills needed to manage employee productivity, company operations, and the 21st century challenges in the business environment.  A degree in management provides the advantage needed to succeed in a competitive business environment.

A degree focusing on management teaches students how to innovate; create competitive business strategies; use best practices in hiring, developing, and leading employees; and develop the analytical skills that are needed to facilitate decision-making in complex situations. Management students take courses focusing on international business, sustainable business practices, project management, interpersonal skills, human resource management, entrepreneurship, and business strategy. These are built on a broad foundation of learning in the areas of accounting, economics, business law, finance, business analytics, management information systems, and marketing.

Students are given opportunities to practice leadership, motivation, and team building in their courses. Students get hands-on experience developing business plans for real clients and interacting with community businesses on classroom projects. Internship opportunities exist to provide practical and networking experiences important to obtaining employment.

Studying management prepares students for careers in a variety of industries including manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, wholesale and retail trade, service industries, banking, construction, transportation, finance, education, utilities, entertainment, and government.

Graduates of the B.S. in Human Services program have found employment in state agencies, community based rehabilitation and mental health centers, rehabilitation facilities, and public social service organizations.  The B.S. in Human Services is a venerable program that has been preparing professionals for a wide range of positions in the fields of case management and social work related employment since the 1980’s.

The program is one of the few that broadly focuses on the field of human services in Montana, which is closely related to the field of social work.  However, students focus more specifically on concentrations that include serving populations in mental health, disability, and family systems.

Although this degree is meant to prepare most graduates for employment primarily as professionals capable of casework with a diverse population, in an effort to expand employment opportunities for graduates, a concentration in Substance Abuse Counseling was recently added.  The addiction counseling emphasis adds addiction assessment and treatment classes to increase the student's knowledge of addiction and their eventual employability in the community.

Art students at MSUB explore their research interests through developing visual language and critical thinking skills. With small class sizes and easy access to studios, students emerge as professionals boasting solo exhibitions and ready to enter creative fields or seek higher degrees.

Located in the urban center of Montana, our students grow their professional experience and artistic practice in an engaged learning environment. We aim to develop each artist as an individual in small group settings by integrating critical thinking, advanced technology, and creative space.

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 History Department provides a broad general education, an intensive study of history, proficiency in a foreign language, and courses in a selected minor field of study. The department offers a variety of courses in the areas of Early America, Modern U.S., the Ancient World and Archaeology, Early Modern and Modern Europe, Women’s and Gender History and Global History.

A thorough understanding of history is the hallmark of an enlightened, concerned and self-critical citizen. In our history courses, students examine the discipline and methods of history in order to cultivate an appreciation for the past. Students study various approaches to the past, craft historical questions, understand historical methodology and theory, learn and practice research and writing skills and challenge themselves to think historically.

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.