Academic Advising in the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering
Welcome to the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering (NACOE)!
First watch a video welcoming you to the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. Then click on your declared major to expand a section of important videos and information. After you have watched the videos, read the content, and most importantly, feel confident that you understand all of the information, you may return to your Orientation/Class Registration pathway in CatsConnect to proceed with scheduling an appointment with your Academic Advisor.
Please note:
- Only expand the appropriate sections for your major. Expanding extra sections may be confusing.
- You only need to read the information and watch the videos for your own declared major.
Welcome to the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering!
The Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering is dedicated to providing an inclusive, hands-on learning environment that supports academic excellence, strives for innovation in research and aligns with the core of Montana State University's land-grant mission.
Select Your Declared Major
Major Overview
The basis of both chemical and biological engineering is the useful transformation of matter from one form to another. That transformation can be brought about by direct chemical reactions, or chemical reactions mediated by living organisms. The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CHBE) prepares students with the knowledge and skills to contribute to society and their profession. Our Biological engineering graduates practice in a variety of fields: chemical manufacturing using biological processing, biofuel production, environmental engineering and remediation, biomaterial manufacturing and biologically compatible materials, food processing, agrichemical processing, pharmaceutical production, medical device design, and biomedicine.
Right now, chemical and biological engineers can work in many of the same areas. That may change as biological engineering develops as a profession, but biological engineers are likely to work closely with chemical engineers for the foreseeable future.
In the first three semesters the focus is on basic math and science courses, and both biological engineers and chemical engineers need chemistry, calculus, and physics. The curricula start diverging in the junior year when biological engineering majors and chemical engineering majors take more discipline specific courses.
Welcome to the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering!
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Academic Advising and Class Registration
Major Overview
The Bachelor's of Science in Biomedical Engineering is a flexible and versatile degree that weaves together core engineering curricula, pre-med classes like anatomy and biochemistry, and new courses specifically designed for the biomedical engineering degree. The program is designed to prepare students for careers in the fast-growing biomedical sector. The degree also allows students who are considering medical school to fulfill pre-med requirements while opening an alternate door to jobs in engineering.
Welcome to the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering!
Major Overview
The basis of both chemical and biological engineering is the useful transformation of matter from one form to another. That transformation can be brought about by direct chemical reactions, or chemical reactions mediated by living organisms. The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CHBE) prepares students with the knowledge and skills to contribute to society and their profession. Our Chemical engineering graduates practice in a variety of fields: chemical manufacturing and petroleum refining, environmental engineering, materials and microelectronics, pharmaceutical manufacturing and delivery, food processing, and many others.
Right now, chemical and biological engineers can work in many of the same areas. That may change as biological engineering develops as a profession, but biological engineers are likely to work closely with chemical engineers for the foreseeable future.
In the first three semesters the focus is on basic math and science courses, and both biological engineers and chemical engineers need chemistry, calculus, and physics. The curricula start diverging in the junior year when biological engineering majors and chemical engineering majors take more discipline specific courses.
Welcome to the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering!
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Academic Advising and Class Registration
Major Overview
Civil Engineers design and construct facilities which improve the welfare and raise the living standards of society. Civil Engineers are also involved with protecting and restoring our natural environment. These activities often are conducted at a large scale, involve a substantial investment of society's resources, and are expected to perform their intended function well into the future; each such project is unique and demands ingenuity and creativity in its execution. A registered civil engineer is a professional with the legally recognized education and experience to work on these challenging projects under their own authority. Civil Engineering graduates enjoy extensive opportunities for employment in Montana, the Pacific Northwest, and the rest of the nation, both in private industry and government agencies involved in infrastructure development, operations and maintenance, and protection of the natural environment.
Welcome to the Department of Civil Engineering!
Major Overview
The computer engineering program at MSU is interdisciplinary and incorporates substantial coursework from both the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and the Computer Science Department. All students in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department develop common skills in basic science, mathematics, basic electronics and circuits; however, the computer engineering student diverges from the electrical engineering student by taking more computer science and computer architecture courses, as well as a full complement of courses in microprocessors and programmable devices.
In the senior year each computer engineering student takes part in a capstone design project. This project allows the student to function as part of a team on a real world problem, and the student, in addition to accomplishing the design, must also communicate his or her work in both a written paper and an oral presentation. All projects are intended to bring the student's academic training to a logical conclusion and further develop the problem-solving skills and the communication skills of the computer engineering graduate.
Welcome to the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering!
Major Overview
A computer science degree is highly marketable. Between 2010 and 2020, one study projects that there will be a shortfall of 32 million technically specialized professionals in the U.S., Europe, Japan, China and India. Consequently, students who graduate with a bachelor's degree in CS are in high demand. The average starting salary is $65,000.
Our curriculum is designed with considerable flexibility, due to the numerous types of computer science jobs that exist. The bachelor's degree provides every student with a strong fundamental understanding of the field. Students may then select from exciting computer science electives such as artificial intelligence, computational biology, computer networks, databases, machine learning, robotics, operating systems, software engineering, web design and special topics courses. Students who complete a bachelor's degree will find themselves both highly marketable and well-prepared for graduate school.
Advising & Curriculum for Computer Science Majors
Advising & Curriculum for Your First Semester
Gianforte School of Computing (GSoC) Tips and Tricks
Major Overview
The Construction Engineering Technology Bachelor of Science Program is a technically rigorous and production-oriented program that prepares graduates to enter and advance to leadership positions in the construction industry. Knowledge of mathematics and physical sciences along with applied courses in business management, law, and human relations form a background to transform design, research and planning ideas into physical reality using contemporary construction practices. Faculty with industry experience instruct students in surveying, estimating, scheduling, quality control, safety, testing, and field analysis.
Graduates use their skills and abilities to construct transportation systems, utilities, buildings, dams, public health and environmental systems, irrigation, industrial facilities, municipal and public works, and also in surveying, mapping, and support of engineering design. Building, industrial, and heavy highway construction are emphasized with particular attention directed toward preparation for employment in management and supervisory positions in both field and office operations.
Welcome to the Department of Civil Engineering!
Advising & Curriculum for Construction Engineering Technology Majors
Major Overview
Electrical Engineering offers the graduate extensive opportunities in such fields as telecommunications, control systems, microprocessors, instrumentation, electromagnetic systems, optical and electro-optical systems, power electronics, fuel cells, electrical power, and computer-controlled devices. In addition, electrical engineers play key roles in interdisciplinary efforts such as communications networks, remote sensing, aerospace systems, medical instrumentation, transportation systems, manufacturing, and numerous other applications of great social impact. Electrical engineers are leaders in the development of such technological innovations as the Internet, high definition television, fiber optic communications, and personal communication systems. As an electrical engineer, employment opportunities are available in numerous engineering careers, such as advanced research and development, design and applications engineering, manufacturing engineering, sales, and management.
The undergraduate program is designed to provide the student with the fundamental background in Mathematics, basic science, engineering, and personal communication to allow the graduate to be a contributing member in the engineering community. The electrical engineering curriculum provides the integrated educational experience whereby the student develops the skills to identify and to solve technical problems by applying pertinent electrical engineering knowledge to the solution of practical problems. This breadth of engineering knowledge and the ability to communicate that knowledge requires a broad-based education in various fields as well as professional elective courses. These professional electives enable the student to study in depth one or more of the following areas: logic design, digital signal processing, computer and microprocessor applications, electromagnetic theory, optics and photonics, control systems, electrical power systems, electronic circuits, and telecommunications.
Welcome to the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering!
Major Overview
The Environmental Engineering (ENVE) degree program merges principles from engineering, biology and chemistry in preparation of students to address the complex environmental challenges of today. Environmental engineering has, and continues to be, a critical expertise needed to address all forms of environmental challenges encountered in contemporary society. Notably, fully one-third of the fourteen grand challenges in engineering in the 21st century identified by the National Academy of Engineering significantly involve environmental engineering, from supplying clean drinking water to all the world’s inhabitants, to renewing our urban infrastructure, to managing the nitrogen cycle, to sequestering carbon. Environmental engineers perform an essential function for society, working on a myriad of issues at the interface between the natural and built environments. There are, and will continue to be, strong career opportunities and a high demand for environmental engineering services in the marketplace.
MSU’s Environmental Engineering program provides a strong foundation in engineering mechanics with a further focus in upper division classes specifically on fluid mechanics and hydraulics, which underpin analysis and design of many environmental engineering solutions.The program also incorporates the traditional physical, chemical and biological processes applied in water and wastewater treatment and ground water contamination. The program has a broad-based biological/microbiological process emphasis which addresses contemporary environmental problems including wetland treatment systems and treatment of wastes from energy and resource extraction industries. The degree program closely collaborates with MSU’s internationally recognized Center for Biofilm Engineering, providing basic and applied research opportunities for students.
Welcome to the Department of Civil Engineering!
Advising & Curriculum for Environmental Engineering Majors
Major Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Financial Engineering (FE) is a multidisciplinary major that emphasizes the creation of new financial economic instruments as well as the combining of existing instruments to manage risk, create strategic business opportunities, lower costs, and access new markets. Risk management is essential in today’s highly leveraged domestic markets as well as the global business environment. Successful market, credit, and production risk management requires complex financial economic modeling and analysis.
The objective of the program is to provide students with the necessary tools to help manage a business’s financial risks. In keeping with this objective, financial engineering majors undertake rigorous training in financial economics, engineering mathematics, and actuarial methods:
- Mathematics similar to engineering but expanded to include more statistics and probability theory
- Financial economics with a solid background in classical economic theory and markets (capital, commodity, and derivative)
- Software engineering and modeling
Financial engineers are commonly employed in banking, corporate finance, securities, insurance, manufacturing, agricultural businesses, and other industries that require sophisticated financial analysis skills. To remain competitive, regional industries as well as national and international firms will employ financial engineers because of the increased complexity and sophistication of business risk management. Due to their rigorous training, the demand for financial engineering graduates is high with a forecasted growth rate of 18 to 20% annually over the next seven years, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. The financial engineering major is a joint program of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and the Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics.
Welcome to the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering!
General Advising & Curriculum for Financial Engineering
Advising & Curriculum for Financial Engineering in Your First Semester
Overview
General Engineering is not a degree plan. Students are able to use their status as a general engineering student to explore engineering and computer science disciplines and careers while taking courses aligning with degree plans for majors in the College of Engineering. General Engineering students work with Jennifer Clark to identify the appropriate degree path that meets their interest.
Strategizing Your A-Game
Finding Your Fit
Choosing Courses
Major Overview
The mission of the undergraduate program in Industrial and Management Systems Engineering (IMSE) is to produce graduates well-grounded in industrial and management systems engineering knowledge and skills consistent with the land-grant mission of MSU. Graduates will be prepared to be productive citizens and contributors to the economic well-being of employers.
The undergraduate curriculum in Industrial and Management Systems Engineering (IMSE) includes mathematics, basic sciences, humanities, social sciences, engineering sciences, design, and communication courses distributed over a four-year period. An important feature of the program is to teach students to foster the ability to comprehend, define, and analyze problems; synthesize alternatives; and rationally choose appropriate solutions. This requires a broad technical education that motivates life-long learning to keep pace with technological and social changes.
Industrial and Management Systems Engineering is a broad engineering discipline. IMSEs are "people-oriented problem solvers" who enjoy diversity in their assignments and careers, and are employed in every facet of American business and industry. They are uniquely qualified to analyze a company's customer needs, relate those to products or services, and examine the flow of materials, processes, people and information to "re-engineer" how people work. IMSE alumni include plant managers, manufacturing engineers, change agents, hospital administrators, consultants, quality assurance managers and engineers, technical sales engineers, production supervisors, and department heads. Today IMSEs are active in all kinds of manufacturing and in service operations such as hospitals, banks, airlines, transportation and distribution companies, retailers, utilities, and local, state, and federal governments.
Welcome to the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering!
General Advising & Curriculum for Industrial & Management Systems Engineering
Advising & Curriculum for Industrial & Management Systems Engineering in Your First Semester
Major Overview
The specific mission of the undergraduate Mechanical Engineering (ME) program is to prepare students for successful mechanical engineering careers, responsible citizenship, and continued intellectual growth. The goal of the program is to produce graduates strong in fundamentals, applications, design, communication, and professional responsibility. The ME undergraduate program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
The undergraduate Mechanical Engineering program is principally oriented toward career preparation, providing students with the engineering and technical education appropriate to the challenges presented by today's technologically complex and difficult problems. The coursework in mechanical engineering provides four years of study in mathematics, basic sciences, university core subjects, and engineering topics. The overall curriculum provides an integrated educational experience directed toward the development of an ability to apply pertinent knowledge to the identification and solution of practical problems in mechanical engineering.
Welcome to the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering!
General Advising & Curriculum in Mechanical Engineering
Advising & Curriculum in Mechanical Engineering in Your First Semester
Major Overview
The mission of the Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) program is to prepare students for successful Mechanical Engineering Technology careers, responsible citizenship, and continued professional growth. The MET program seeks to produce graduates with a foundation in engineering fundamentals, applications, design, problem recognition and resolution, project management, communication, and professional and ethical responsibility. The MET undergraduate program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET.
The undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Technology program is designed with an applications-oriented structure. Many of the technical science courses have an accompanying laboratory component providing hands-on activities. Coursework emphasizes mechanical design, measurement, data collection and analysis, documentation, and written/oral report preparation/presentation.