To take advantage of a growing tech sector in Montana and across the country, students should consider one of the many accredited computer science degree programs in Montana. These programs are accredited by the Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology, giving them an added degree of academic rigor and overall prestige that can directly benefit students as they seek rewarding positions in programming, information technology, systems development, and much more. Each of these ABET-accredited programs offers rigorous study at the undergraduate and graduate levels, giving students a background in programming, networking, security, the sciences, and much-needed quantitative skills. Offered at numerous Montana institutions, each program has some unique benefits for today’s students.

Montana State University

College of Engineering

As the flagship university of the Montana State University System, MSU affords some unique advantages to students at all levels of study once they’re accepted to a computer science program. The College of Engineering features a nearly all-doctoral group of faculty members who work with students to give them both classroom theory and hands-on experiences in everything from programming to computer training. The school has a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program that teaches the fundamentals of high-tech research and proper execution of scholarly studies. A Germany-based exchange program sees students work cooperatively with German computer science students on projects and experiments that are helping to further the global computer science industry in exciting new ways. All told, the College of Engineering and the Computer Science Department are responsible for producing some of today’s leading computer scientists all the way up to the doctoral level.

BS in Computer Science

The B.S. degree in computer science has been designed as a broad, generalist program that can help students discover their own innate talents and interests within a broad computer industry. All MSU students start off with the university’s general education core in humanities, science, and liberal arts courses. They then move into B.S. degree requirements, which includes added laboratory science classes and high-level mathematics reaching up to Discrete Mathematics classes for high-achieving students. Computer science requirements include computer programming, object-oriented programming, web design and web application programming, network security, software and hardware deployment, organizational training in technology, technology research, and management information systems. Students can exchange a semester’s internship for elective credits in their computer science major as well.

Computer Science Minor

A minor in computer science requires between 18 and 21 credits in the field, and starts off with basic prerequisites in the fundamentals of computers, basics of computer programming, and the basics of network security. Students advance into more advanced, object-oriented programming, advanced organizational security and network data encryption, and into classes that teach the fundamentals of hardware and software design. This minor is designed to pair with business degrees, or other majors offered by Montana State University that might benefit directly from the student’s more in-depth understanding of the issues, ethical dilemmas, and security risks posed by modern technologies.

MS in Computer Science

MSU’s Maser of Science in Computer Science is primarily targeted to those students who studied computer science, information technology, or management information systems, at the undergraduate level. As such, courses are advanced even during the first semester. Advanced database administration is a central focus of the master’s degree program, as is a more sophisticated course in network security and data encryption. Students will further their understanding of advanced programming languages and create sophisticated, real-world applications with real utility. Those students who intend to pursue a doctorate in computer science or a related field will assist with scholarly research and use it as the basis for a graduate thesis, which must be presented to a faculty panel prior to graduation. Other students will take a capstone course during their final two sessions on-campus.

PhD in Computer Science

Students will earn a Doctorate of Philosophy in Computer Science at MSU, achieving a degree that focuses much more on the theoretical nature of computing than on the practical development of modern applications. Even so, this extensive, full-time program does focus on practical skills that include machine learning, software engineering, wireless networks and wireless security, parallel and distributed computing, and much more. All students must take two foundational courses, in both computability and algorithms, prior to taking other doctoral-level courses at MSU. Research is a central part of the doctoral learning process, and a completed thesis must be presented to a faculty panel with full approval prior to graduation.

Accreditations

  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

Contact

Montana State University
College of Engineering
Bozeman, Mt 59717
Phone: (406) 994-0211
Website: http://www.cs.montana.edu

Montana Tech of the University of Montana

College of Technology

Originally founded as the Montana State School of Mines, as an institution designed to educate students about the mining industry and how to handle the numerous precious materials and minerals found throughout the state of Montana, the university became Montana Tech with an act of the legislature in 1994. Since then, Montana Tech has been a subsidiary of the University of Montana with a focus on career-oriented training and high-tech courses in computing and engineering. The school features a faculty of doctoral-level professors who maintain at least part-time employment in the local tech sector, giving them practical experience that students can put to use in their own programming, network administration, and other courses throughout their program of choice.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

The B.S. in Computer Science at Montana Tech is targeted to students who are looking to acquire a broad set of skills that can translate easily to corporate work, programming opportunities, and tech industry innovation. All students start off with at least six credits in basic programming that teaches the fundamentals of object-oriented programming across today’s most popular platforms. They advance into more complex studies of basic software engineering, network security and administration, workplace policy enforcement, and database administration. A significant quantitative component exists within the computer science program, with students required to take up to 12 credits of advanced mathematics in order to satisfy the College of Technology’s graduation requirements. The university also enforces a liberal arts core across all majors.

Accreditations

  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

Contact

Montana Tech of the University of Montana
College of Technology
1300 W Park St.
Butte, Mt 59701
Phone: (406) 496-4366
Website: http://cs.mtech.edu/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78

University of Montana

College of Humanities and Sciences

The University of Montana’s main campus is the flagship university in the broader, four-campus University of Montana System. It’s thought of in Montana as the primary rival to Montana State, with programs that often compete in terms of size, prestige, and innovative classroom learning tactics. Most professors hold a doctoral degree at U of M, though some adjuncts are used in core classes and general education pursuits. Students benefit from a large base of alumni and a fast-growing job market that surrounds the campus. Internships are strongly encouraged of undergraduates, who can then convert that off-campus work experience into three credits of on-campus, elective coursework in computer science. Graduate students can opt to participate in research and compose a thesis if they wish to pursue a doctoral degree, making that program quite extensive in its own way.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

The computer science major at the University of Montana results in the awarding of a Bachelor of Science degree, which means students will be required to take added science and mathematics requirements as compared to those enrolled in a B.A. program. Nine total credits of mathematics coursework are required, of which at least 6 credits must be in upper-level math. Computer science requirements include computer programming, object-oriented programming, and web programming, as well as courses in software deployment, hardware design and deployment, database administration, and network security. By the time they graduate, students will be able to understand and address business needs with high-tech solutions, and they’ll be able to create custom-coded solutions via numerous popular programming languages to solve complex computing problems.

Minor in Computer Science

The 18-credit minor in computer science exposes students to six key classes in the field. They’ll learn about work security, basic computer programming, database administration, systems deployment, computing ethics, and organizational technology as they pursue this limited array of courses. The computer science major is designed to pair with business degrees or other technical fields where students might benefit from a greater understanding of sophisticated systems.

Master of Science in Computer Science

Graduate students in the M.S. program have typically studied computer science or another IT-related field at the undergraduate level prior to enrollment. This is actually necessary, since coursework begins at a very advanced level. Those who enroll in the University of Montana’s M.S. in computer science will continue advancing their knowledge of today’s leading operating systems and programming languages, with a more significant emphasis on mobile application design and deployment. They’ll learn more in-depth legal and ethical issues that exist within today’s tech sector, and they’ll focus on network security, advanced database work, and more. Students have the opportunity to participate in supervised, on-campus research alongside a professor as they work on a graduate-level thesis. This thesis is then presented to a faculty panel and either approved or rejected. An approved thesis must be achieved by those who elect to craft one, prior to receipt of the M.S. degree. Other students will be subject to no such requirement ,and can graduate without conducting a significant amount of research or thesis creation.

Accreditations

  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

Contact

University of Montana
College of Humanities and Sciences
32 Campus Dr.
Missoula, MT 59812
Phone: (406) 243-4618
Email: yolanda.reimer@umontana.edu
Website: http://www.cs.umt.edu/academics/default.php

The tech world continues to grow at an unprecedented pace in the United States and around the world, with many companies noting that they have a shortage of skilled engineers, computer scientists, and programmers. Students with a tech-oriented mind and an affinity for learning about new and emerging technologies can benefit directly from the top-ranked computer science programs offered throughout Montana. The numerous ABET accredited computer science degree programs in Montana provide a solid foundation for a lifelong career in high-tech for students of all backgrounds and unique interests.