Minnesota State University Moorhead

Moorhead became the site for a new normal school in Northwestern Minnesota after State Senator Solomon Comstock introduced a bill to the Minnesota State Legislature in 1885, declaring “…it would be a fine thing for the Red River Country and especially for Moorhead.”

Comstock then donated six acres of land and the next session of the Legislature appropriated $60,000 for the construction of Main Hall, which included classrooms, administrative offices and a library. When The Moorhead Normal School opened in the fall of 1888, President Livingston Lord presided over five faculty members and a class of 29 students. Classes offered: science, music, history, algebra, Latin, English and literature. Expenses were $5,000; President Lord’s salary was $2,500; faculty salaries were $800. Tuition was free to all students promising to teach two years in Minnesota. At the time, the campus towered on the outskirts of the city. Charles Loring, later Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court, rode his pony five miles each day to his classes.

Moorhead State University’s enrollment reached a record 9,151 and the school’s most popular majors became elementary education, business administration, mass communications and accounting. President Roland Dille, the longest serving president in the history of Moorhead State  (who oversaw the additions of Owens Hall, Nemzek Fieldhouse and Livingston Lord Library and the Center for Business to the campus), retired in 1994 after 26 years at the helm. He was succeeded in 1994 by Dr. Roland Barden, a McGregor, N.D., native with a PhD. in biochemistry.

Mission
Minnesota State University Moorhead is a caring community promising all students the opportunity to discover their passions, the rigor to develop intellectually and the versatility to shape a changing world.

Vision
Minnesota State University Moorhead will be a welcoming educational community that offers rigorous courses of study and places high expectations upon its students. Our strong commitment to faculty-mentored undergraduate research and intellectual growth will provide students with continual opportunities for personal and professional achievement. MSUM will continue to foster an environment that encourages students to become versatile, thoughtful, innovative, and engaged leaders who contribute to their professions and their communities.

Courses Offered
Undergraduate Programs

• Art & Design
• History
• Music
• Film Studies
• English
• Communication Studies
• B.S. in Athletic Training
• B.S. in Health Education
• B.S. in Physical Education: Exercise Science
• B.S. in Physical Education: Teaching
• B.S. in Community Health
• B.S. in Health Services Administration
• Bachelor of Social Work
• B.S. in Speech/Language/Hearing Sciences
• School of Teaching and Learning Home Page
• B.S. in Elementary or Early Childhood Education
• B.S. in Special Education

Graduate Programs

• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)
• Master of Liberal Arts(MLA)
• M.S. in Counseling and Student Affairs
• M.S. in Nursing
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• M.S. in Speech/Language Pathology
• M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction
• M.S. and Education Specialist in Educational Leadership
• M.S. in Special Education
• Graduate Certificate in Literacy Instruction

Schools & Colleges

• College of Arts & Humanities Arrow
• College of Business & Industry Arrow
• School of Business
• College of Education & Human Services Arrow
• College of Social & Natural Sciences
• Graduate Studies

Contact Details
Minnesota State University Moorhead
1104 7th Ave South
Moorhead, MN 56563 USA
1.800.593.7246
Official Website: http://www.mnstate.edu/