The College of Arts & Sciences

Dr. Tasneem Khaleel, Dean
LA 427, (406) 657-2177
tkhaleel@msubillings.edu
www.msubillings.edu/cas

The liberal arts and sciences are the core of a complete college education, stimulating our spirit, deepening our understanding, and broadening our horizons.  They cultivate clear and imaginative thinking, effective communication, critical evaluation of ideas, and effective adaptation of knowledge.  The student who experiences the liberal arts and sciences becomes informed, inquiring, critical, and concerned, while building strong foundations for future career opportunities.

In all of its programs, Montana State University Billings places great emphasis upon the liberal arts and sciences as the foundation of each student’s Academic Foundations.  Upper-division courses in those areas also fill an important role in the education of students across campus.

Academic Advising

All new, transfer, and re-admitted students are encouraged to visit the Advising Center in McMullen Hall, Room 100, to meet with an academic advisor.  New students will receive information regarding Academic Foundations requirements and Plan of Study worksheets related to their major and minor programs.  Transfer and readmitted students will work with an advisor to complete a transcript evaluation and to develop a Plan of Study.  After the initial contact with the Advising Center, students who have declared a specific major will be assigned a faculty advisor in their major department.

General Studies majors will work with the Advising Center and the Office of Career Services until a specific academic program has been selected and a Plan of Study has been developed.

Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees and Majors

The College of Arts and Sciences offers both the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degrees in the following majors:

Master of Science in Psychology:  A professional graduate degree and doctoral preparation degree in the Department of Psychology.

Master of Science in Public Relations:  A professional graduate degree in the Department of Communication and Theatre.

Master of Public Administration:  A professional graduate degree in the Department of Native American Studies, Political Science, and Sociology.

Associate of Arts:  Program of Study in Applied Psychology

Associate of Science:  Programs of Study in Allied Health, Environmental Science, and Pre-Engineering

Certification:  Social Science (Broadfield) Endorsement

These degree programs and other programmatic options are described in the specific discipline areas in this General Bulletin.  Information about programs and options approved subsequent to the publication of this Bulletin may be obtained from the Student Advising Center and the individual department offices.

See the Academic Support section, page 58, for some of the resources and opportunities the College of Arts and Sciences provides students and the public.

Graduate Education

The College of Arts and Sciences offers three graduate degrees, the Master of Science in Psychology, the Master of Science in Public Relations and the Master of Public Administration (MPA).

Mission Statement

The mission of the College of Arts and Sciences is to serve the educational needs of the people of Montana through:

• an Academic Foundations program providing a foundation of liberal education to all students;

• selected undergraduate degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences;

• selected pre-professional programs; and

• various graduate, continuing education, and non-conventional learning opportunities consistent with the mission of the University.

Through these learning experiences, the College seeks to provide knowledge and cultivate skills to allow a student to select realistic future directions for study and/ or employment.  These learning experiences should be of high quality and be consistent with the mission and resources of the University.  With its inherent diversity, the College serves as an intellectual and cultural resource for all students, faculty, and staff of the University, and for the larger community and region which it serves.

Career Areas

The liberal arts and sciences provide the basic background which is essential for careers in many areas.  Some examples are listed below:

The baccalaureate degree is sufficient preparation to begin a career in many such areas.  For others, graduate or professional training after the baccalaureate degree is necessary.  Montana State University Billings does not offer baccalaureate degrees in all of these areas, but information concerning career opportunities in specific areas and the kinds of college degrees and specializations that employers look for in a student’s preparation for a career is available through the various academic departments and the Office of Career Services.

NEXT: Requirements for Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degrees

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