[4] Notable growth in Montana State University graduate programs began during 1950s and continued into the 1960s.

In addition to coursework, most graduate programs require students to produce original research culminating in a master's thesis, professional paper, or a doctoral dissertation.

[15][16] All Montana State University graduate students completing a thesis or dissertation are required to submit an electronic version of the work.

The Graduate School works in conjunction with Montana State University Library to archive these documents.

Each electronic version is entered into ScholarWorks, an open access repository of intellectual work at Montana State University.

In 2015, MSU Library digitized over 5,000 theses and dissertations making the research of virtually every Montana State University graduate student since 1902 available online to the public.

However, the following notable individuals teach and advise graduate students at Montana State University.