PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

 

1.            Briefly describe the proposed new program. Please indicate if it is an expansion of an existing program, a new program; cooperative effort with another institution, business or industry; or an on-campus or off-campus program. Attach any formal agreements for this cooperative effort.

The Interdisciplinary Master of Science program (IMS) will allow students to work with faculty in the design of a graduate curriculum tailored to their unique academic, creative and professional objectives. The program will contain an Engineering track and a Science track. Because of the unusual nature of this program, they carry a number of special admission and programmatic limitations that are described in this section.

2.              Summarize a needs assessment conducted to justify the proposal. Please include how the assessment plan was developed or executed and the data derived from the effort.

There are increasing numbers of students seeking dual master's degrees and expanding into new areas such as biomedical and nanomaterials under traditional areas. The students are seeking a unique blend of the conventional and expanding areas of science and technology. They are blending specialty fields like: environmental engineering and mining engineering; mechanical engineering and biology; conventional metallurgy and nanomaterials; environmental engineering and biology. The growing numbers of Montana Tech master's students working on their research at the Heart Institute in Missoula is evidence of the expanded need for engineering applications in medical fields. Much of this is fueled by grant funded faculty research positions by INBRE-$2.25MM, NSF $250K.

3.            Explain how the program relates to the Role and Scope of the institution as established by the Board of Regents.

Montana Tech of The University of Montana is a specialty institution emphasizing science and engineering, with occupational programs through graduate work. MT Tech strives to assist every student attain success in their academic, professional, and individual goals. MT Tech strives to meet the changing needs of society by supplying knowledge and education through a strong undergraduate curriculum augmented by research, graduate education and service.

4.              Please state what effect, if any, the proposed program will have on the administrative structure of the institution. Also indicate the potential involvement of other departments, divisions, colleges, or schools.

There will be no effect on the administrative structure of the institution.

Faculty in the College of Math And Science, College of Humanities, Social Science, And Information Technology, and the School of Mines And Engineering will work with the students to develop the appropriate plan of study for the education goals of the students in alignment with the requirements for master's degrees at MT Tech.

5.              Describe the extent to which similar programs are offered in Montana, the Pacific Northwest, and states bordering Montana. How similar are these programs to the one herein described?

UM-M offers a similar option in its graduate school. Montana Tech's requested program is modeled after UM-Missoula's.

MSU-Bozeman offers a BA and BS in directed interdisciplinary studies.

6.            Please name any other accrediting agency(ies) or learned society(ies) that would be concerned with the particular program herein proposed. How has this program been developed in accordance with criteria developed by said accrediting body(ies) or learned society(ies)?

There are no specific accrediting agencies concerned with this program. The program was developed in accordance with the criteria for the existing master's level degrees at MT Tech.

7.              Prepare an outline of the proposed curriculum showing course titles and credits. Please indicate any plans for expansion of the program during its first three years.

Curriculum

The IMS program will offer both non-thesis options and thesis options. The non-thesis options will typically be available to only those students who can document a history of written and oral publications and presentations.

Non-Thesis option - 37 credits, including 2 seminar credits and 1 communications credit, comprehensive exam and project report.

Thesis Option - 31 credits, including 6 thesis credits, 2 seminar credits and 1 communications credit, comprehensive exam and a thesis or a paper submitted in a nationally recognized journal.

IMS Application Materials and Deadline: Open deadline

  •                GRE score with a test date that is within the past five years OR verifiable GRE scores if the test date is over five years old.
  •                TOEFL of at least 525 Paper Based Test or 195 Computer Based Test is required of all international applicants.
  •                Students must have developed a plan of study in consultation with their faculty Program Committee before submitting an application.
  •                An Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or an Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in the last two years of study.
  •                A Personal Narrative outlining academic and professional goals and how they relate to the chosen field of study.

Establishing a Program Committee

All prospective applicants must first consult with the Vice Chancellor of Research and Graduate Studies before beginning the application process.

Applicants may wish to spend at least a term of enrollment at Montana Tech, either as a non-degree graduate student or as a student admitted to an existing graduate degree program. Experience has shown that it is nearly impossible for a student to find members of a committee and negotiate a program of study from a distance.

The student must seek out and identify a Program Committee of at least 3 university faculty from at least two different academic departments who are willing to serve. At least one committee member must be from a Master's Degree granting department of Montana Tech. The chair of the Program Committee does not have to be from a Master's Degree granting department. Each discipline in the proposed interdisciplinary program must be represented on the Program Committee.

In consultation with the chair and other members of the Program Committee, the applicant will develop a clear set of goals for their research program and curriculum plan, listing each course the student will take in the degree program. For the IMS, this degree plan should strike a rough balance of work among the various disciplines represented.

Half of the credits (excluding 6 semester credits for thesis research) must be at the 5000 level.

Admission Recommendation

Before the Program Committee members and the Department Chairs sign their approval of the student's admission, they must review the students entire admission file, including transcripts, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, plan of study, and personal narrative.

The Program Committee will be the student's surrogate department and will meet and discuss the student's application materials and submit those materials and an admission recommendation to the Graduate School.

Other Requirements

Any other requirements and regulations not specifically addressed in the above will be found in the General Information section of the Graduate School Regulations for Academic Programs of the Montana Tech Catalog.

Student graduations will be credited in equal shares to the Departments participating on the student's Program Committee.

FACULTY AND STAFF REQUIREMENTS

1.              Please indicate, by name and rank, current faculty who will be involved with the program proposed herein.

Current doctoral faculty to be involved are:

General Engineering

Dr. Leroy Friel (Ph.D.,Georgia Institute of Tech)

Dr. Bruce Madigan (Ph.D., Colorado Mines)

Dr. Jack McGuire (Ph.D., U/Utah)

Dr. Daniel Trudnowski (Ph.D., MSU-Bozeman)

Dr. Richard Donovan (Ph.D., U/Wyoming)

Dr. Butch Gerbrandt (Ph.D., U/New Mexico)

Dr. Neil Wahl (Ph.D., MSU-Bozeman)

 

Geophysical Engineering

Dr. Curtis Link (Ph.D., U/Houston)

Dr. Bill Sill (Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Tech.)

Dr. Marvin Speece (Ph.D., U/Wyoming)

 

Petroleum Engineering

Dr. Margaret Ziaja (U/Mining & Met, Poland)

Dr. Todd Huffman (Ph.D. U/CA at Berkely)

 

Environmental Engineering

Dr. Richard Appleman (Ph.D., U/California-Irvine)

Dr. William Drury (Ph.D., MSU-Bozeman)

Dr. Kumar Ganesan (Ph.D., Washington State University)

Dr. Rodney James (Ph.D., MSU-Bozeman)

Dr. Holly Peterson (Ph.D., Washington State University)

 

Geological Engineering

Dr. Christopher Gammons (Ph.D., Penn State University)

Dr. Mary MacLaughlin (Ph.D., U/California-Berkeley)

Dr. Mark Sholes (Ph.D., U/Texas)

Dr. Willis Weight (Ph.D., U/Wyoming)

Dr. Diane Wolfgram (Ph.D., U/California-Berkeley)

 

Metallurgical and Materials Engineering

Dr. Hsin Huang (Ph.D., Stanford University)

Dr. Larry Twidwell (D.Sc., Colorado School of Mines)

Dr. Courtney Young (Ph.D., U/Utah)

Dr. Kevin Jansula (Ph.D., Royal Military College of Canada)

 

Mineral Economics

Dr. John Brower (Ph.D., Penn State University)

 

Mining Engineering

Dr. Paul Conrad (Ph.D., U/Kentucky)

Dr. Pete Knudsen (Ph.D., U/Arizona)

Dr. Richard McNearny (Ph.D., Colorado School of Mines)

 

Professional and Technical Communications

Dr. Pat Munday (Ph.D., Cornell Univ)

Dr. Henrietta Shirk (Ph.D., Bryn Mawr)

Dr. Bill MacGregor (Ph.D., Univ of Colorado Boulder)

Dr. David Carter (Ph.D., University of California Riverside)

 

Biological Sciences

Dr. Rick Douglass (Ph.D., MSU)

Dr. Martha Apple (Ph.D., University of Rhode Island)

Dr. Grant Mitman (Ph.D., Oregon State University)

Dr. Amy Kuenzi (Ph.D., University of Arizona)

Dr. William Good (Ph.D. The UM-M))

 

Mathematical Sciences

Dr. Rick Rossi (Ph.D., Oregon State University)

Dr. Suzan Gazioglu (Ph.D., University of Toledo)

Dr. Chip Todd (Ph.D., MSU)

Dr. Nina Lupkiewicz (Ph.D., Kansas State University)

Dr. Michael Poole (Ph.D., University of Colorado)

 

Computer Science

Dr. Celia Schahczenski (Ph.D., University of Florida)

Dr. Michael Grinder (Ph,D., MSU)

Dr. Lou Glassy (Ph.D., MSU)

 

Chemistry & Geochemistry

Dr. Doug Coe (Ph.D., Oregon State University)

Dr. Doug Cameron (Ph.D., Purdue University)

Dr. David Hobbs (Ph.D., University of New Mexico)

Dr. Doug Drew (Ph.D., University of Wyoming)

Dr. Donald Stierle (Ph.D., MSU)

Health Care Informatics

Dr. Yaseen Hayajneh (Ph.D. University of Iowa)

Business and Information Technology

Dr. Doug Abbott (Ed.D., The UM-Missoula)

2.              Please project the need for new faculty over the first five-year program. Include special qualifications or training. If present faculty are to conduct the new program, please explain how they will be relieved from present duties.

None needed.

3.              Please explain the need and cost for support personnel or other required personnel expenditures.

No additional costs will be incurred. The graduate school will continue to process the applications and appropriate paperwork as with all other graduate programs.

CAPITAL OUTLAY, OPERATING EXPENDITURES, AND PHYSICAL FACILITIES

1.            Please summarize operating expenditure needs.

Operating expenditures from grant sources include student fee waivers and student stipends. As a rule each graduate student is awarded at least a fee waiver and receives a stipend.

2.              Please evaluate library resources. Are they adequate for operation of the proposed program? If not, how will the library need be strengthened during the next three years?

Each program at Tech is currently serviced by resources in the library. No new library sources will be required.

3.              Please indicate special clinical, laboratory, and/or computer equipment that will be needed. List those pieces of equipment or computer hardware presently available in the department.

None required. Research funds will provide for any equipment necessary.

4.              Please describe facilities and space required for the proposed program. Are current facilities adequate for the program? If not, how does the institution propose to provide new facilities?

Current classrooms and facilities are adequate.

EVALUATION OF PROPOSED PROGRAM

1.              Please name faculty committees or councils that have reviewed and approved the program herein proposed.

Montana Tech Graduate Advisory Council

Montana Tech Curriculum Review Committee

Montana Tech Faculty

2.            If outside consultants have been employed, please list the names of these consultants, their current positions and titles. Append copies of their written reports (this is a requirement of new doctoral programs).

No outside consultants were employed