Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 66.77
Liaison Paul Edlund
Submission Date May 31, 2023

STARS v2.2

Montana State University
AC-4: Graduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Rose Vejvoda
Project Coordinator
Office of Sustainability
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Majors and degree programs 

Does the institution offer at least one sustainability-focused major, degree program, or the equivalent for graduate students?:
Yes

Name of the sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program:
Sustainable Food Systems

A brief description of the graduate-level degree program:
The sustainable food systems program focuses on sustainable food production, food preparation and processing, distribution, nutrition, and community food security in order for students to better understand how food systems influence health.

This program offers many opportunities to engage in experiential learning through management of projects at MSU’s Towne’s Harvest Garden and in the surrounding communities. Students can tailor their program to their own specific interests by choosing supporting coursework in health promotion and education, political science, economics, business, Native American Studies, and agriculture.

Masters’ projects and theses can potentially cover topics related to food system curriculum development and assessment of field experiences in sustainable food systems, food system education and public awareness, local food system development or localizing diets, institutional purchasing of local foods, food policies, community supported agriculture and distribution, community food security or community-based food and nutrition assistance, or local or statewide food system assessment.

Website URL for the graduate-level degree program:

Additional degree programs (optional) 

Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (2nd program):
Environmental Engineering

None
A brief description of the graduate degree program (2nd program):
The Environmental Engineering program is an integrated effort of the Departments of Civil and Chemical and Biological Engineering. The vision of the program is to educate students who will develop sustainable solutions to environmental and industrial needs for physical/chemical/ biological treatment, environmental restoration, and waste management using a cross-disciplinary approach.
The degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering is awarded through either the Civil or Chemical and Biological Engineering departments, depending on the student’s background, academic program and research work. Areas of specialty within the program include water quality management, design of water and waste water facilities, and chemical/microbial process analysis and design. Environmental Engineering is also one of the options for the Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering.

Website URL for the graduate degree program (2nd program):
Name of the sustainability-focused, graduate-level degree program (3rd program):
Land Resources and Environmental Sciences

None
A brief description of the graduate degree program (3rd program):
The M.S. program in Land Resources and Environmental Sciences is designed to provide outstanding graduate training opportunities across a substantial breadth of disciplinary interests. Research and coursework programs are specifically adapted to each graduate student. Research projects are directed toward improving our understanding of principles and processes important to land resources and environmental sciences, with opportunities for direct ties to management in many cases. Many projects address processes at multiple scales through well-integrated, multi-disciplinary efforts. Understanding is developed through targeted advanced coursework tailored to the student and to the research project. Research projects involve topics such as hydrology, watershed analysis, integrated management of invasive plant species, soil nutrient management, bioremediation, land reclamation, restoration ecology, fluvial systems ecology and restoration, riparian ecology, microbial ecology of natural systems, chemical fate and transport, water quality, crop diversification, precision agriculture, environmental risk assessment, remote sensing applications, and climate variability.

Website URL for the graduate degree program (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused graduate-level degree programs:
Earth Sciences, https://www.montana.edu/earthsciences/graduate-program/index.html
Ecology and Environmental Sciences, https://www.montana.edu/ees/
Fish and Wildlife Biology, https://www.montana.edu/ecology/phd_fwlbiology.html
Fish and Wildlife Management, https://www.montana.edu/ecology/MS_FWLManagement.html
Land Rehabilitation, https://landresources.montana.edu/grad/gradprogams.html#LAND
Native American Studies, https://www.montana.edu/nativeamerican/grad.html

Minors, concentrations and certificates 

Does the institution offer one or more graduate-level sustainability-focused minors, concentrations or certificates?:
Yes

Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate:
Science Education: Climate and Earth Science

A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:
Science Education graduate courses, supported by MSU's Master of Science in Science Education (MSSE) program, are designed to help elementary, secondary, community college, and informal educators develop a deeper understanding of science concepts, while interacting with and learning new techniques from other educators and researchers around the globe.

Our faculty are university scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and science educators, all experienced in online teaching.

Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate:

Additional minors, concentrations and certificate programs (optional) 

Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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Name of the graduate-level sustainability-focused minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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A brief description of the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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Website URL for the graduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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None
The name and website URLs of all other graduate-level, sustainability-focused minors, concentrations and certificates:
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Optional Fields 

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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