Great Falls College Montana State University

Upon completion of the Microcomputer Support Degree, students will be able to maintain personal computers, repair and troubleshoot common hardware problems, and use and assist end-users in using common software applications.

The Computer Information Technology (CIT) Program prepares individuals to assume a role in computer support with skills and responsibilities in user support, hardware and software troubleshooting, basic system maintenance, and cybersecurity.

The Network Support & Security Degree prepares students for a career in supporting Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN) with a focus on the skills required to understand and manage the operation of a small and large computer network. The students will learn valuable technical skills to identify the security needs of an organization as well as be able to implement the appropriate protection and security of the system.

Upon completion of the Network Support & Security Degree, students will be able to successfully design, implement, manage and maintain effective network infrastructures; analyze data to determine security threats; and identify and prevent data threats and privacy invasion for both home and corporate clients as an entry level network technician/system administrator/system analyst/security analyst.

This degree prepares students for employment as a computer programmer; developing web, desktop and enterprise applications. Understand the fundamentals of computer programming and data structures.
Understand the languages for web and enterprise applications such as Java, Python, PHP, and JavaScript.
Understand data modeling, database design, and structured query language (SQL).
Have proficiency in web server administration and application development environments.
Understand the software life-cycle, classical and current methodologies and best practices.

The Cybersecurity Certificate Degree will prepare students with additional, career tools to continue on the path to a technician/system analyst with a focus on the skills required to understand and conceptualize, design, procure, and/or build secure information technology (IT) systems.

Upon completion of the Cybersecurity Certificate Degree, students will be able to successfully provide the support, administration, and maintenance necessary to ensure effective and efficient information technology (IT) system performance and security as an entry level or higher systems technician/system analyst.

The Cybersecurity Degree prepares students for a career as a system technician/system analyst with a focus on the skills required to understand and conceptualize, design, procure, and/or build secure information technology (IT) systems.

Upon completion of the Cybersecurity Degree, students will be able to successfully provide the support, administration, and maintenance necessary to ensure effective and efficient information technology (IT) system performance and security as an entry level or higher systems technician/system analyst.

The Cybersecurity Certificate Degree will prepare students with additional, career tools to continue on the path to a technician/system analyst with a focus on the skills required to understand and conceptualize, design, procure, and/or build secure information technology (IT) systems.

Upon completion of the Cybersecurity Certificate Degree, students will be able to successfully provide the support, administration, and maintenance necessary to ensure effective and efficient information technology (IT) system performance and security as an entry level or higher systems technician/system analyst.

Dental Assistants are important members of the dental health care team and primarily help to increase the efficiency and productivity of the dental practice by assisting the dentist in delivering patient care. Other employment opportunities and/or responsibilities include dental health education, performing expanded duty dental care on patients, business practice, or working with dental insurance or dental supply companies. Because dentists employ two or three dental assistants, employment opportunities are excellent.

The Dental Hygienist is a licensed professional member of the healthcare team who integrates the roles of educator, consumer advocate, practitioner, manager, and researcher to support total health through the promotion of oral health and wellness. The focus of dental hygiene is on preventing oral disease.

Entry-level coders analyze health records and assign the appropriate code to each diagnosis and procedure according to national and international guidelines. They perform research and rely on their knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and disease processes to determine the correct codes and sequences.

Coders then use a software program to assign the patient to one of several hundred “diagnosis-related groups (DRGs),” or “ambulatory payment classifications (APCs)”. Other coding systems used by the medical coder are known as encoders. Those who specialize in coding are called health information coders, medical record coders, coder/abstractors, or coding specialists.

The Health Information Technology program is designed to prepare individuals to organize and evaluate health records for completeness and accuracy. Upon completion of the AAS degree in Health Information Technology, students will be prepared to begin a successful career as a health information technologist.

Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a Physical Therapist. PTAs help people of all ages who have medical problems, or other health-related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. The program is based from the 4 main areas of physical therapy which include: musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and integumentary as outlined in the Guide to Physical Therapy. PTAs work in a variety of settings including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health, nursing homes, schools, sports facilities, and more. PTAs must complete a 2-year associate of applied science degree and are licensed, certified, or registered in most states. Care provided by a PTA may include teaching patients/clients exercise for mobility, strength and coordination, training for activities such as walking with crutches, canes, or walkers, massage, and the use of physical agents and electrotherapy such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation.

The Practical Nurse program prepares individuals to function as entry-level practical nurses with the ability to give safe, effective nursing care. The Practical Nurse program at Great Falls College Montana State University is currently approved by the Montana State Board of Nursing.

Upon completion of the Certificate of Applied Science Degree in Practical Nursing, students will be prepared to begin a successful career as a practical nurse. Students are prepared to sit for the national licensure examination for practical nursing.

Are you a detail-oriented person looking for a rewarding health career? Would you like a job where you can make a real difference in a patient’s life? If you think you would thrive in the fast-paced world of a hospital operating room, consider a career as a surgical technologist! You may be able to hold a beating heart in your hand. You may be part of a team in the operating room that works on replacing a total hip or knee in the orthopedic rotation at your site. You will certainly hand many different instruments to the surgeon in the correct fashion and at the correct time. You will be the keeper of the sterile field. The goal is for surgical technologists to be able to anticipate the next move the surgeon is going to make in order to make the surgical procedure as smooth and efficient as possible.This is a very rewarding career in the Health Science Field. It is not nursing; you do a very specific technical job and work under the RN and Surgeon.

Surgical Technologists, often referred to as “scrub nurse,” “scrub tech,” or “operating room tech,” are integral members of the operating room team. Their role includes assisting the physician during surgery by preparing and handling instruments, equipment, supplies, and medications.

Program Offerings:
A.A.S. Paramedic Degree
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Two sections offered in the fall and spring
Basic Life Support (CPR)
Multiple sections offered in the fall and spring (summer based on sufficient demand)
HeartSaver First Aid/CPR
Multiple sections offered in the fall and spring (summer based on sufficient demand)
ALS/BLS Refresher (based on sufficient demand)
Continuing Education Units for EMTs (based on sufficient demand)
IV Therapy (based on sufficient demand)
Emergency Medical Responder (based on sufficient demand)
EMT Endorsements (based on sufficient demand)
Critical Care (CCEMTP) licensed site (based on sufficient demand)

Can you see yourself as a Paramedic, working on an ambulance, or at a fire department, maybe as a Flight Medic?

Great Falls College Montana State University's Paramedic Program may have a spot for you. We need individuals that are high in energy, strong minded, good communicators, and most of all caring. Our Paramedic Program offers an A.A.S degree as a Paramedic, with personalized instruction, high end simulated Hospital experience, and progressive clinical sites.

This program prepares students for operation and maintenance jobs dealing with industrial machinery. Program graduates have general skills in industrial safety, electrical troubleshooting, hydraulic and pneumatic system operation, and mechanical system repair. These skills are built on a strong educational foundation in math, writing, communications, and computing.

The Industrial Technician & Renewable Energy Technician Associate of Applied Science degree programs prepares graduates for technician jobs in the rapidly expanding energy, electro-mechanical, and manufacturing industries. Program graduates have general skills in industrial safety, electrical troubleshooting, hydraulic and pneumatic system operation, and mechanical system repair. They also have specialized skills in programmable logic controls, digital electronics, and wind turbine operations and maintenance. These specialized skills are built on a strong educational foundation in math, writing, communications, and computing.

The Industrial Technician & Renewable Energy Technician Associate of Applied Science degree programs prepares graduates for technician jobs in the rapidly expanding energy, electro-mechanical, and manufacturing industries. Program graduates have general skills in industrial safety, electrical troubleshooting, hydraulic and pneumatic system operation, and mechanical system repair. They also have specialized skills in programmable logic controls, digital electronics, and wind turbine operations and maintenance. These specialized skills are built on a strong educational foundation in math, writing, communications, and computing.

Graduates of the Welding CAS program are prepared to produce welds in all positions that meet industry standards using the following processes:
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
Graduates are also able to interpret welding blueprints and weld symbols, understand power sources and current types, and gain other skills necessary for entry-level welding jobs.

Graduates of the Welding CAS program are prepared to produce welds in all positions that meet industry standards using the following processes:
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
Graduates are also able to interpret welding blueprints and weld symbols, understand power sources and current types, and gain other skills necessary for entry-level welding jobs.

Graduates of the Welding CAS program are prepared to produce welds in all positions that meet industry standards using the following processes:
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
Graduates are also able to interpret welding blueprints and weld symbols, understand power sources and current types, and gain other skills necessary for entry-level welding jobs.