The University of Montana Western is the only public college in the U.S. to offer Experience One, an innovative program in which students take one class at a time for about 18 days. This type of scheduling, called block scheduling, creates a unique learning experience that allows for students to learn in-depth one subject at a time.
It was founded as the Montana State Normal School in 1893, to train teachers according to a model used by other states. Education was considered highly important for the state. 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.