You don’t need advanced math; we focus on practical, applied skills and support you as you build confidence with data.

Probably. Can you study geography without a love of maps?

Yes—many students combine Environmental Studies with fields like Chemistry, Political Science, Communication, or Business. If you want a minor in Geography, we will make it happen. Please ask for a Geography minor.

That fits this program very well. Alongside physical and environmental science courses, you can focus on human geography, environmental justice, and policy to study how communities experience and respond to environmental change. Many student projects center on topics like housing and heat, energy transitions, water access, and community resilience—so you can work directly on people–environment relationships while still building strong analytical and geospatial skills.

You will be in good company—many of us are happiest with our field notebook, a good dataset, and a trail under our boots. You can lean into courses and projects that emphasize ecosystems, land cover, water, and climate, and our unofficial program mascot (a very friendly dog named Rita) is always on your side when you need a break from humans.

You’ll work with ArcGIS Pro, StoryMaps, QGIS and user‑friendly tools for organizing and analyzing environmental data. Upper-level courses offer opportunities to learn R and python coding. Do NOT be intimidated! If Dr. Nelson can learn these skills from Dr. Akanga, literally anyone can!

Yes. Students frequently join faculty‑led research on topics like water quality, energy transitions, and urban or rural environmental change, and many design their own independent projects that lead to conference presentations or capstone work. You can also pursue internships with regional partners—such as agencies, nonprofits, consulting firms, and tribal or local governments—where you apply GIS and environmental skills in real‑world settings while building a professional network before graduation.

MSU Billings is a bit of a hidden gem: small, hands‑on classes with faculty who know you by name, paired with a GIS and Environmental Studies curriculum that is steadily ramping up in technical depth and professional preparation. Our vision is to grow into a world‑class hub for environmental and geospatial learning while keeping class sizes small enough that you get real feedback, real mentoring, and the kind of portfolio that makes you stand out in competitive job markets and graduate programs.