The University of Montana Western » Business & Technology

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Featured Profiles

Julie Bullard

professor of early childhood education

For the third time in as many years, Montana Western has a Carnegie Foundation Professor of the Year. (read more) Featured Faculty

Delena Norris-Tull

professor of education

The 2010 Montana Professor of the Year is continuing a proud tradition at Montana's premier teacher education institution. (read more) Featured Faculty

Kara Einarson

equine studies major

With a post-graduation job already secured in the equine industry, Kara Einarson’s career is off to a promising start. (read more) Featured Featured Profiles

Layne Carlson

assistant professor of equine studies

University of Montana Western equine studies professor Layne Carlson brings his 30 years of professional experience as a mixed animal practitioner into the classroom. (read more) Featured Faculty

Alan Weltzien

professor of english

University of Montana Western English professor Alan Weltzien is a champion of Montana literature. (read more) Featured Faculty

Anne Kish

assistant professor, librarian

As a librarian and head instructor of the School of Outreach’s library endorsement program, Anne Kish exemplifies experiential learning. (read more) Featured Faculty

Diana Taylor

school of outreach student

Diana Taylor is pursuing an early childhood education degree to enrich her life and bolster her skills for her job at a Head Start in Butte, Mont. (read more) Featured Outreach

Rob Thomas

professor of geology

The Carnegie Foundation's 2009 U.S. Professor of the Year is taking Montana Western's experiential learning to the national stage. (read more) Featured Faculty

Sean Eudaily

associate professor of political science

Sean Eudaily challenges his students to think critically to fully understand how lessons learned in his classroom impact life outside campus. (read more) Featured Faculty

Mike Morrow

associate professor of biology

Montana Western's biology program is now competitive in the national arena thanks to nearly $2 million in grants secured by Mike Morrow. (read more) Featured Faculty

Gay Garard-Brewer

visiting assistant professor of music

As a student in Montana's rural Bitteroot Valley plays their home piano, Gay Garard-Brewer sees and hears the notes over 100 miles away. (read more) Featured Faculty

Eric Dyreson

professor of mathematics

Mathematics is more than mere numbers for Eric Dyreson; it is also a philosophy capable of transforming one's perception of the world. (read more) Featured Faculty

Rebecca Petersen

education major

Rebecca Petersen is a living testament to the proud tradition of teaching educators at the University of Montana Western. (read more) Featured Students

Cathleen Flanagan

history major, drama education minor

For Cathleen Flanagan — secondary education, history major and drama minor — life's a stage and she's in the director's chair. (read more) Featured Students

Sheynoa Mataafa

general studies

On a frigid, snowy day in Dillon, Sheynoa Mataafa, a Hawaii native, does not regret her decision to move to Montana. (read more) Featured Students

Kaitlin Ens

english major

English major Kaitlin Ens counts five published articles to her name. For Ens, it's only the beginning of a promising career. (read more) Featured Students

Mitch Jessen

secondary education major

While most students entering college struggle with the decision of what to do with their futures, Mitch Jessen always knew what he wanted. (read more) Featured Students

Amanda Kortum

biology major

Amanda Kortum, a cellular molecular biology major, is already making a name for herself in her field. (read more) Featured Students

Berett Rosenkrance

environmental sciences major

One of the most shocking moments of Berett Rosenkrance's life came upon her return as a sophomore to the Montana Western campus. (read more) Featured Students

Brandon Brown

health & human performance major

For Brandon Brown, the transition from urban western Washington to Montana Western was like playing basketball: natural. (read more) Featured Students

Montana Western’s business and technology program is the first in Montana to receive accreditation through the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education.*

The business and technology department incorporates current technology, problem-based learning and hands-on team projects that combine to let students experience their education while preparing to excel in the business world.

With an emphasis on small business, business majors have the opportunity to learn entrepreneurship from the ground up while incorporating the latest technologies and trends of the day.

The business and technology department’s programs are designed to challenge students to acquire the practical, intellectual, technological, problem-solving, and communications skills necessary for successful participation in a diverse, dynamic, and global society. While the program is delivered using a small business, rural context, graduates are well prepared for joining a large corporation as well as pursuing a master’s degree in business administration.

*For more information on IACBE accreditation, click here.

Degrees
Courses
Careers
Faculty
Contact

A degree in Business and Technology from Montana Western will prepare you for a career as:

An investment banker
A business manager
A loan officer
A management consultant
A construction manager
A marketing director
A foundation director
A hospital administrator
A realtor
A systems analyst
An industrial technician
A business teacher
A computer science teacher
A human resource coordinator
A computer network administrator

Sample Courses

Here are just two great examples of business and technology courses at Montana Western. For a full course selection, please see the 2010/2011 catalog.

BUS 217, Business & Electronic Communications

As the first required course for all business majors, this course establishes the communications foundation for the degree program. Students will learn to write measurable objectives; how to analyze and use case studies; practice writing, speaking, and listening skills through multiple applications and learn how to work with a team. The dynamic course is adjusted each term to help meet the expressed objectives of the students. Each student will leave the course with a portfolio showcasing their writing skills.

BUS 461, Small Business Management & Strategic Planning

Analysis of the operations of small businesses and the roles they play in the economy is the focus of this capstone course, which is taken prior to the internship experience. Using a strategic planning context, the following topics are covered: strategic planning, marketing, finance, production, management, legal issues, and technology. Activities, many of which involve teams, include case studies, shadowing, consulting, guest speakers, and simulations. A national standardized exam is administered at the conclusion of this course.

Business and technology degrees available from Montana Western:

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Business Administration. With this degree graduates will be prepared for Business administration in the global business society. Majors include:

Equine Management
Health and Fitness Management
Industrial Technology
Small Business Management
Tourism
Web and Digital Media

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Secondary Education, Business and Computer Applications Education. This degree prepares middle school and high school business and computer applications teachers

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Business. This broadly based program provides the knowledge and skills with which to enter the business world in business management, computer-aided manufacturing or office systems technology.

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Tourism and Recreation. This degree introduces students to the tourism industry as preparation for entry-level positions in hospitality, tourism and recreation.

Information Technology & Network Administration Certificate Program. This certificate program will prepare its graduates as administrators with advanced computer skills.

Shauna Basile
Fredrick Chilson
Kevin Engellant
Jim Falvey
Christian Gilde
Denise Holland
Cecil Jones

Shauna Basile. M.B.A.

Shauna Basile’s focus is on accounting, finance and ethics. Her teachings encourage an entrepreneurial spirit in students through projects integrating real-world business activity with course-specific requirements. She develops case studies and live simulations that are continually  updated based upon current world events. Professor Basile advises Montana Western’s Business Club, and she is an active member of the Dillon community through involvement with audit committees of local organizations.

Fredrick Chilson, Ph.D.

Fredrick Chilson is the chair of the Business and Technology department. His area of research is distance learning pedagogy and evaluation. In New Mexico, Chilson created the first completely on-line higher education program. He is interested in helping faculty transition from teaching face-to-face to facilitating classes on-line. Chilson is also devoted to integrating “Brain-Based Learning” into the classroom and workplace for retention and motivation.

Kevin Engellant, M. Ed.

Kevin Engellant is currently is his second year teaching full time in the business and technology department. He is also the faculty advisor for the Office Simulation Computer Lab. Engellant was the head women’s basketball coach at UMW for 13 years in addition to teaching classes in the business and technolgy department and serving as the director of the Microcomputer Center. Engellant is a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist in the following programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook. He is currently a faculty advocate for Pearson Higher Education and is working on his Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with an Instructional Technolgy emphasis. Engellant incorporates new technologies and software in his computer courses.

Jim Falvey, Ph.D.

Jim Falvey is an economist with a great interest in resource economics. He believes a strong role for free markets and individual decision-making in the economy is compatible with sustainable management of natural resources. He recruits students to his resource economics course who are interested in bridging the gap between economists and scientists/conservationists.  Falvey especially encourages science students to join business students in his classes to provide their perspectives in discussions of economic models of resource management.

Christian Gilde

Christian Gilde’s teaching interests include marketing, consumer behavior, management, and operations management. His previous research translated into a book on higher education. Gilde has presented his work and participated in numerous conferences such as the Academy of Management Conference, the International Conference in Higher Education Marketing, and the European Marketing Academy Conference. He gave guest lectures at various universities including London Metropolitan University and is a guest lecturer on the Doctor of Business Administration in Higher Education Management program at the University of Bath. He serves as a reviewer for journals such as the Journal of Consumer Behaviour and the Journal of Marketing for Higher Education.

Denise Holland

Denise Holland teaches the methods courses for the Business and Computer Applications, Technology for Elementary Teachers courses, and serves as the post baccalaureate coordinator for students wanting licensure. Holland has a love for technology and the potential it has to serve both students and teachers. Holland’s students work on projects they can use in their classrooms and encourages them to learn as much about technology as possible. Her professional history includes educating college students in business, computer applications, and technology education for the past 10 years; teaching public high school courses in business and marketing; and assisting elementary teachers in creating technology projects for their classes. Holland’s research interest focuses around the topic of technology and education.

Cecil Jones, J.D.

Cecil Jones has practiced law for 25 years. His practice currently focuses on estate planning.  In his business law class, students train for the real business world by drafting their own legal documents. In his investments class, which runs over the entire spring semester, students use the skills acquired in the business law course to try to increase their starting capital of $500,000 through judicious “investments.”  Professor Jones anticipates an especially interesting version of the class in the fall of 2010 as the market fallout from the recent national financial crisis continues.

Contact

For more information about business and technology at Montana Western, contact department chair Frederick Chilson:

Business Building 212
(406) 683-7178
f_chilson@umwestern.edu

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Julie Bullard 2011 Montana Professor of the Year

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