Montana State University

Schedule of Courses - General Information

Montana Hall at Montana State University

Click here to access the Summer Session 2012 Class Schedule.

(Schedule is in process of updating; will be mostly complete by Jan. 31, 2012)

Instructions for Class Schedule Page (access via link above):

  • Select Term: 2012 Summer Session
  • Select Subject: Highlight one or more consecutive subject areas, or click and drag to highlight all subject areas
  • Click on "Search Class" (bottom left-hand corner of page)
  • Click on course titles to view course descriptions

For more information, click on the links below:

Course Offering Contingencies

Montana State University strives to offer all courses listed in the class schedule.

The schedule will contain a few new courses offered on a trial basis.  A notation stating a minimum enrollment number will be included with each; if this number is not reached, the course may be cancelled.  Also, in the rare case when an instructor is not available due to a last minute emergency, courses may be cancelled.

Some courses are offered on a to-be-arranged basis, in which case class times, days, location, and instructor will not appear in the course schedule.  Check with the offering department for details.

Click here for 2011 Summer Class Schedule
Click here for Course Descriptions

Numbering System

001-099—Courses below college level; no college credit given
100-199—Freshman—Lower Division
200-299—Sophomore—Lower Division
300-399—Junior—Upper Division
400-499—Senior—Upper Division
500-599—Graduate Courses
600-699—Graduate Courses

Core Courses

Core courses are designated by a letter following the course number (e.g., WRIT 101W). The following letters are used to specify the core groups:
US—University Seminar

W—College Writing

Q—Quantitative Reasoning

D—Diversity

CS—Contemporary Issues in Science

IA—Arts Inquiry or
RA—Arts Research

IH—Humanities Inquiry or
RH—Humanities Research

IN—Natural Science Inquiry or
RN—Natural Science Research

IS—Social Science Inquiry or
RS—Social Science Research

R—Additional Research and Creative Experience Courses

Classification of Courses in the Course Bulletin

In the second line of each course description in the MSU Course Bulletin, following the number of credits for the course, there appears a course classification designation which indicates the mode of instruction for that course.  In some cases two classifications are listed along with the number of credits in each.  Following is an explanation of course classifications.

LEC—Lecture: Presentation of course material by the instructor, utilizing the lecture method.
LAB—Laboratory: Instructing and supervising students in laboratory investigations.
STU—Studio: Instructing and supervising students in studio investigations.
RCT/DIS—Recitation-Discussion: Presentation of course materials designed to involve students in recitation and/or discussion.
SEM—Seminar: Students share, with the instructor, responsibility for preparation and presentation of course material.
IND—Independent Study: Directed study and/or research on an individual basis, under supervision of instructor.

Graduate Credit

Courses which may be taken for graduate credit are designated by a 500 or 600 number.

Uniform Course Numbers

Uniform numbers are used in all departments.
294, 394, 494, 500, and 594—Seminar
292, 492, 570, and 592—Individual Problems (individual projects)
291, 491, 580, and 591—Special Topics (group or class project)
290R—Undergraduate Research
475—Undergraduate Projects
490R—Undergraduate Scholars Program
298, 498, 576, and 598—Internship
575—Graduate Research Paper (professional paper/project)
588—Professional Development
589—Graduate Consultation
590—Master’s Thesis
689—Reading and Research
690—Doctoral Thesis

These courses may be repeated for credit.  Specific titles of Special Topics courses are listed in the Schedule of Classes, on the Class Rolls and on the student’s permanent record.

Some courses such as Special Topics, Individual Problems and Internship are offered for varying amounts of credit, e.g., 1-5. A maximum number of credits is also imposed, e.g., Maximum 6 cr. A student may repeat such courses to earn the maximum number of credits by registering for two or more projects with credits for each project totaling the maximum allowed. Credits earned beyond the maximum cannot be applied toward graduation.

Special Topics & Individual Problems Courses

The maximum number of credits allowed toward graduation of 291 and 491 courses in each rubric is 12, and the maximum number of 492 credits in each rubric is six.  Some departments have established lower limits than these, and the student is responsible for checking the specific course listings to see that he or she does not exceed the allowable number of credits.  The maximum number of 570 credits applicable to a graduate degree depends upon the degree.  No 492 credits are applicable to a graduate degree.

Undergraduate Course Prerequisites

Courses beyond the freshman year usually have “prerequisites.”  This means that certain lower-level courses must be taken before the student may register for the advanced course.  The prerequisite for undergraduate courses may be “consent of instructor.”  The student must secure the permission of the instructor of the course before registering for it.  “Consent of instructor” is usually required for courses in which there is limited laboratory space and/or equipment or in which specific skills are required.

Graduate Course Prerequisites

Courses at the 500 and 600 levels may be taken only by qualified students.  Unless otherwise stated under course prerequisites, graduate level courses are open only to:
  • Students with graduate standing (post-baccalaureate students admitted to the Graduate School, enrolled in non-degree status or second bachelor’s degree candidates)
  • Seniors with a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher
  • Other seniors who have a petition approved by the head of the department offering the course, the head of the student’s major department, and the Dean of Graduate Education

Some courses are limited to students with graduate standing or certain levels of graduate standing. These specific conditions are indicated within the course prerequisite or description statements. Students below senior standing are not eligible to take graduate-level courses.

Building Abbreviations

ABB

AJM
BFH      
BOZ       
BOZC 
CHBCH
CHMN
CHMS    
CHVR
COBH
EPS 
FCMO       
GH
HAM      
HANH     
HAYH     
HELN      
HH         
HOWH    
JONH
LEWH 
LINH 
MARL     
MCH
MH         
MSP       
NS      
PBS        
PEC        
PLGR     
REID 

RLIB
ROBH           
ROM           
SHC       
SHER     
SUB       
TAYH
THTR      
TRAP      
VCB      
WIL         
WL          

Animal BioScience Building

Arthur J.M. Johnson Hall
Breeden Fieldhouse
Bozeman (Nursing, Deaconess Hospital)
Bozeman Convalescent Center
Chemistry/Biochemistry Building
Chemistry Modular North
Chemistry Modular South
Cheever Hall
Cobleigh Hall
Engineering Physical Science
Faculty Court Modular
Gaines Hall
Hamilton Hall
Hannon Hall
Haynes Hall
Helena
Herrick Hall
Howard Hall
Leon H. Johnson Hall
Lewis Hall
Linfield Hall
Marsh Research Laboratory
McCall Hall
Montana Hall
Miller Stock Pavilion
Nursery School
Plant Bioscience Building
Physical Education Complex
Plant Growth Center
Reid Hall

Renne Library
Roberts Hall
Romney Gymnasium
Student Health Center
Sherrick Hall
Strand Union Building
Taylor Hall
Theater, Strand Union
Traphagen Hall
Visual Communications
Wilson Hall
Wool Laboratory

Days of the Week Abbreviations

The following abbreviations are used in the Schedule of Courses:

M—Monday
T—Tuesday
W—Wednesday
R—Thursday
F—Friday
S—Saturday
U—Sunday

 

Updated 10/6/11