 It was expanded with increased programs and had a four-year curriculum; the addition of other subjects and departments led to its being renamed as Western Montana College.It became part of the Montana University System in 2000, and is titled University of Montana Western.The first term of the Montana State Normal School began on September 6, 1897 with courses in elementary education for all grades below high school which took two years to complete, a one-year professional course for all teachers with two years of prior experience, an English-Scientific course which gave students a four-year diploma, a four-year Latin course, and a graduate course.