Gain a foundational understanding of issues in the earth sciences and applicable skills for the urban and land use planning industries, as well as spatial analysis in the public and private sectors.
Geography – B.S. in Earth Sciences, Geography Emphasis
Students within the Geography program at Montana State are introduced to a series of core geography courses that explore world regional, physical and human geography concepts. After gaining a core understanding of spatial relationships, global distributions of physical and cultural phenomena and the factors contributing to the evolution of the Earth’s varied landscapes, students then have the opportunity to declare an emphasis in physical or human geography depending on potential careers ranging from environmental management to city planning.
At Montana State, undergraduates are offered hands-on experiences in labs, studios, teaching farms and in the surrounding wilderness.
The Department of Earth Sciences has connections at various local, state and federal planning agencies within Montana and throughout the West.
University of the Yellowstone™
Montana State students make the surrounding Yellowstone ecosystem their classroom, laboratory and playground.
Within their first year of graduation, more than 96% of Montana State graduates are employed, continuing their education or not seeking employment, and career guidance website Zippia consistently ranks MSU as the #1 school in the state where alumni are most likely to land jobs.
Career Coaching & Professional Skills Studio
Professional career coaches help students with their career exploration, employer networking opportunities and job or internship searches. They also critique resumes and help students practice job interviews. Additionally, the Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success offers free workshops for students to develop the professional communication and collaboration skills that are highly sought after by employers.
Geography students at Montana State University go into careers such as:
- Site Planning
- Resource & Environmental Management
- City/Urban Planning
- Geographic Information Science (GIS)
To explore more career possibilities, the Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success has a variety of tools available , including self-assessment and working with career coaches.