Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes! Designed to give residents structure and motivation across the challenging curricula housed in the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. Attend programs and workshops to connect you with NACOE faculty and alumni and find opportunities to further your in-class experiences through group study sessions, concierge tutoring, and social events. 

You can learn more about living learning communitys on the Residence Life website.

The MSU guideline is to multiply the number of academic credits by 3 to get a rough estimate of the number of hours students can expect to spend per week on a course. Of course, this can vary depending on the student and the course, but this estimate is a good place to start.

For example, a 3-credit course will meet for about three hours per week. Students should expect to spend an additional 6 hours per week outside of class studying and completing homework. Therefore, if students are registered for 15 credits, they should expect to devote around 45 hours per week to attending classes and completing schoolwork.

The Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success offers success advising to help with time management and organization.

The MSU NACOE does not require students to have their own computer or recommend specific computers. Students use a range of devices including both PCs and Macs. Here’s some general information:

Campus computer labs, including engineering labs, are open to all students. Some advanced engineering design software is too large and costly to run on personal devices, making it necessary to use the campus labs. More info on student labs can be found at studentlabs.montana.edu.

Having your own computer is convenient for working in your room or around campus. A device with Ethernet/Wi-Fi, word processing, and spreadsheet software is sufficient for most tasks. In addition, MSU offers a variety of free software downloads. A gaming-level video graphics card helps with CAD software if you choose to download student versions.

The Engineering Peer Academic Leaders (ePALs) are engineering or computer science students just like you, but with recent experience taking the classes you are currently navigating. As Juniors or Seniors in their majors, their experience, combined with training and preparation as mentors, have prepared them to be valuable resources in helping you navigate your college career. Want to learn more and connect with an ePAL?

Internships are not required, but we highly recommend that you plan to seek meaningful engineering employment during the summer, part time during the school year, or perhaps by spending an academic term away from school. Employers who visit our campus increasingly emphasize the importance of work experience to complement your academic studies in engineering. Having some real-world experience on your résumé—and a letter of recommendation from an engineering supervisor—can be a great step on the way to landing an ideal post-baccalaureate position. It is also possible arrange to enroll in an internship for academic credit. Additional information may be found on a students’ home department website. 

Most Departments/Schools and MSU Career Services post information about internships that have been announced by a sponsor, or a student may identify a sponsoring company individually through on-line research, personal contacts, or referrals.

The Office of Admissions has a detailed guide for credit transfer questions.

For Engineering courses, you will work with your academic advisor to receive approval from the Department Head or faculty. They may ask for syllabi, so please be ready to provide this when possible.

You may also need to work with other Departments, such as Math, Physics or Chemistry as well. Your academic advisor will discuss this with you during your orientation meeting.

Listed below are the salary highlights for MSU engineering graduates. Please note that these figures represent medians and are not guaranteed for NACOE post-graduates, as many factors can influence salary expectations.

In The Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering, all students are entitled to the same supports regardless of international status. Information about campus and NACOE supports can be found on our website.

For information about International Student requirements and documentation, please connect with the Office of International Programs.