At a Glance

The College of Letters & Science is the largest center for learning, teaching and research at Montana State University. Students learn to think critically, solve problems, and communicate clearly. The diversity of academic departments allows students to understand various disciplines, cultures, and perspectives. The college seeks to develop students into life-long learners and leaders by cultivating their inquisitive and scholarly instincts. Many of our faculty members are well-known nationally and internationally for contributions to their field. The College of Letters & Science has an impressive record of winning highly competitive grants to support research, and scholarship, with over $19.5 million in research grants last year. The college is dedicated to the success of our students and the future of Letters and Science.

Learning

The 13 departments and 7 interdisciplinary programs in the college offer many undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Scholarship

Our research expenditures were $28.6 million in 2023, providing opportunities for students to participate in cutting-edge research.

Engagement

Our outreach includes events, community-based participatory research, and collaboration with community and regional partners.

Mission, Vision and Goals

The intellectual foundation of Montana State University, the College of Letters and Science (CLS) is the largest and most academically diverse of the University’s colleges. It is the critical teaching and research unit in Montana’s land-grant institution. Our mission is to prepare students to think analytically, and creatively in a liberal arts tradition, to engage in research of the highest caliber, and to make meaningful contributions to our local community, the state of Montana, and national and global society.

We are the essential college. CLS faculty are internationally known scholars and teachers at the confluence of diverse intellectual traditions and cutting-edge research. Students benefit from a broad-based liberal arts and sciences education guided by distinguished scholars and teachers. The thirteen departments and seven interdisciplinary programs in our College offer a variety of undergraduate majors, minors, and options. Our graduate programs generated 22 percent of master’s degrees and 54 percent of doctoral degrees granted by MSU during the 2014-2015 academic year.

CLS encompasses humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), preparing our students to be independent thinkers and bold visionary leaders. The forefront of MSU’s external research funding, CLS faculty and students address the most pressing and complex issues facing our society. In the College of Letters and Science, we believe in transformational education, that inspires students to live responsibly, seek original answers, and effectively communicate practical solutions to our local, national, and global communities.

IDEALS

  • Integration
  • Discovery
  • Expertise
  • Engagement
  • Access
  • Learning
  • Stewardship

Please view the College of Letters & Science's Strategic Plan for a complete description of our
goals and detailed objectives for meeting our goals.


Letters & Science Advisory Council

Established in 2005, the Letters & Science Advisory Council is the college's outside advisory group that serves as a "cabinet" for the dean and associate deans. The council is comprised of distinguished leaders from the business, civic, and academic communities. Each member brings special qualities, expertise, and interests applicable to the college's initiatives in undergraduate education, strategic planning, financial management, and development priorities.