Multidisciplinary Studies

Department of Multidisciplinary Studies

Contact: Ti Pitts, Administrative Assistant
Department Office: Holmstedt Hall 291
Web site: indianastate.edu/academics/colleges/arts-sciences/multidisciplinary-studies
E-mail: Ti.Pitts@indstate.edu

The Department of Multidisciplinary Studies consists of Economics, Gender Studies, International Studies, Multidisciplinary Studies, Philosophy, and Sociology, and is the only department at Indiana State University that allows students to design their own majors. The department is designed to foster collaboration and innovation in interdisciplinary studies, teaching, and research at Indiana State University, and to encourage faculty and students to engage in cross-program and cross-discipline exchange. Students in Multidisciplinary Studies will examine various thematic and current issues using methodologies from the multitude of disciplines in the arts and sciences.

Regular advising is a central component of the Department of Multidisciplinary Studies. Majors and minors in the department are encouraged to maintain regular contact with their faculty academic advisor, and are expected to work with their advisor prior to registration each semester. Students who do so are more likely to meet their goals and achieve academic success. Students can find their assigned advisor by consulting the college or their degree audit tool.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Economics

The Economics major offers the opportunity for concentrated study of economic theory as well as specific economic and social issues, including: health care, the environment, labor relations, government regulation and finance, economic systems, crime, gender, economic development, and international trade and finance. Students may also choose the Quantitative Economics major which is a STEM-based program that utilizes mathematical, statistical, and economic analysis to solve economic problems. The program utilizes the foundational elements of calculus and statistics to prepare students for rigorous economic analysis.

The study of economics has always required a basic understanding of mathematics and statistics as well as the institutional arrangements of society. More recently, as economic analysis has come to play a central role in public policy debates, the interactions between economic theory and the physical and social/cultural sciences have become even more important. Our program emphasizes providing experiential learning and professional development opportunities for our majors, such as working as a teaching or research assistant, participating in professional conferences, and studying abroad. Students from many different majors will benefit from further study of economics as applied to relevant public policy issues. The certificate in Economic Policy gives students a cohesive path to progress further in their understanding of economics past the introductory level.

In support of the liberal arts and sciences mission of the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana State University, the Economics program participates in the Foundational Studies Program, the Honors Program, the International Studies Program, and the Gender Studies Program.

Degrees Offered

The Economics program offers a bachelor of science degree in Economics or Quantitative Economics. Candidates must successfully complete the University requirement of a minimum of 120 credits, including Foundational Studies course work, as well as requirements for the major. A minor or second major is encouraged, but is not required. In addition to the Economics and Quantitative Economics majors, a certificate and a minor in Economic Policy and minor in Economics are offered.

Economics majors and minors can, with the assistance of their advisors and mentors, design interdisciplinary programs of study in any area of economics through the careful selection of electives from other departments of the University. Such planning might be particularly attractive to students interested in pursuing graduate study in law, business, journalism, or the social sciences. Internship or co-op work experiences can be arranged through the University’s Career Center for students interested in careers in business management, government administration, labor relations, economic analysis, banking, and urban planning. The department also offers concentrations in economics that lead to teaching licensure and a bachelor’s degree in social studies education.

The program includes the Center for Economic Education, which provides opportunities for elementary and secondary education majors to develop and present grade appropriate lesson plans for economic education. The mission of the center is to provide basic economic instruction, appropriate grade level curriculum materials, and training in the methods of economic instruction to kindergarten-12 teachers, both pre-service and in-service.

Multidisciplinary Studies

The Multidisciplinary Studies Program is designed for students who wish to pursue expansive study in the liberal arts and sciences with a custom-designed concentration. With appropriate consultation with an advisor, students may combine available courses to create a concentration in an area of study not offered elsewhere in the university.

Multidisciplinary Studies students can earn either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. Candidates for either degree must complete the university requirement of a minimum of 120 credits, including Foundational Studies coursework and the requirements for their Multidisciplinary Studies concentration. As a result of their course of study, students are expected to be able to communicate effectively, demonstrate integrative habits of thinking, especially across the disciplines constituting their major, and transfer skills from one setting to another. Highly motivated students and students with specialized career or professional goals will find this combination of flexibility and focus very attractive.

Students may also complete a minor in Multidisciplinary Studies. The Multidisciplinary Studies minor allows students to pursue a coherent, multidisciplinary course of study not duplicated by any existing ISU minor. It encourages students to engage in focused exploration of related disciplines in their areas of interest or in fields that complement their declared major.

Philosophy

What makes an action right or wrong? Who am I, and will I remain the same person as I change over time? Could computers ever have mental states like we do? Does God exist? What is race, and what would be required for racial justice? Do we have free will or are our actions determined? What are our obligations to non-human animals and the environment? What are the ethical issues raised by AI? What is the meaning of life?

Philosophers study the most fundamental questions that we face as human beings. Offering both a major and a minor, the Philosophy program at Indiana State University will expose you to the core areas of philosophy: ethics, the study of morality and value; epistemology, the study of knowledge and ignorance; logic, the study of correct reasoning and valid arguments; and metaphysics, the study of the categories and principles of existence (time, space, God, consciousness, free will, etc.). Our faculty also teach courses in evolving and interdisciplinary areas of philosophical research, such as philosophy of race, philosophy of technology, feminist theory, and philosophy of cognitive science, among others.

The Philosophy program at Indiana State University invites you to work across these areas while practicing the essential – and extremely transferable – skills of philosophy: interrogating assumptions, evaluating claims, interpreting complex readings, communicating about difficult topics, and developing original arguments in writing. It’s no wonder that philosophers tend to score among the highest on the admissions tests for law school and medical school, with a salary growth rate that outpaces nearly every other discipline (including STEM). A major or minor in Philosophy at Indiana State is a bridge to continuing education and professional opportunities in law, medicine, politics, journalism, advertising, business, scientific research, management, public service, and more. In this way, the study of philosophy provides the tools necessary to meet the challenges facing our local and global communities.

In support of the liberal arts and sciences mission of Indiana State, the Philosophy program participates in the Foundational Studies curriculum, the University Honors program, and the Gender Studies program, among others. Our majors and minors often combine their study of philosophy with courses and degrees in other fields. Come see what philosophy has to offer!

Gender Studies

The Gender Studies program at Indiana State University is a multidisciplinary field of study. The program promotes a critical, feminist, and cross-cultural understanding of structural inequalities in a local and global context from historical and contemporary perspectives. Students who pursue the Gender Studies concentration in the Multidisciplinary Studies major explore the intersections of gender, sexuality, social class, nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, age, and ability.

Coursework in Gender Studies explores constructions of identities and asks how political and corporate institutions, the law, the economy, art, history, literature, and education (among other agencies) shape understandings of gender and human relations. Theories that address possibilities for social change are specifically explored, and the Gender Studies Program is active in facilitating and supporting a variety of activities and events concerned with social justice. Gender Studies students are subsequently well-prepared for occupations in law and government, education, criminology, health, human resources, business, and social and human services.

The Gender Studies program also offers an academic minor that is available to all students. A minor in Gender Studies benefits students in any major because it promotes the development of cross-cultural communication skills and the ability to work well with diverse groups of people. It is highly recommended to students who plan to work in social service areas (law and law enforcement, social work, public administration, teaching, or nursing) or students who plan a career in business. Students interested in majoring in Gender Studies are encouraged to declare the major in Multidisciplinary Studies and work with the Gender studies academic advisor to identify a major course plan in Gender Studies.

The Gender Studies Program offers core courses in the field as well as a variety of electives in over eleven programs in the arts and humanities, the social and behavioral sciences, and the physical sciences. Students can contact the Department of Multidisciplinary Studies for a list of current elective offerings, and many Gender Studies core courses and electives also fulfill Foundational Studies requirements. Independent study and fieldwork opportunities may be arranged through academic advising.

Gender Studies teaching and learning is not confined to a traditional classroom. The curricular program is matched with a robust co-curricular program that has included a yearly Take Back the Night event, the Women’s History Month Colloquium, conferences featuring undergraduate and graduate faculty research, performances, exhibits, and field trips.

International Studies

The International Studies program was created to prepare students to be more effective in their chosen careers through the development of their international and intercultural competence. The program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to international connections in political, economic, environmental, philosophical, and cultural systems. Students who pursue the International Studies concentration in the Multidisciplinary Studies major have the opportunity to study with faculty experts, to interact with visiting scholars and students from around the world, and to gain personal experience through study or internships abroad.

Students who select a minor in International Studies as a component of their degrees refine the competencies and skills necessary for positions in federal agencies (such as the Departments of State, Defense, Commerce, Agriculture, and Immigration and Naturalization), in state or local governmental offices involving international trade, tourism, and economic development, and in business enterprises, media, healthcare, education, and not-for-profit organizations.

International Studies offers an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to educate students to live and work in an interdependent world, and the core courses encourage a global perspective. The International Studies concentration allows students to focus their study on a particular world region or global theme, while the minor complements any major by combining course work from several key disciplines, including anthropology, history, geography, economics, foreign languages and political science. Work in the minor also includes a study abroad experience and a culminating capstone course for a Senior Project. Foreign language study available at ISU includes Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish.

Successful completion of the major or minor requires careful planning. Students must design their programs of study in consultation with the International Studies Academic advisor. Early consultation will facilitate smooth completion of the international studies concentration or of the International Studies minor, in coordination with the student’s major field of study.

The University is committed to providing access to an array of affordable of study abroad programs across the world. Opportunities for full-year, single-semester, and summer programs to study in English or to study a foreign language make it possible for students to easily incorporate an international experience into their academic program. The University supports students taking advantage of these opportunities through competitive scholarships and financial aid assistance.

Program and scholarship information for Academic Programs Abroad opportunities can be obtained from the Director of Study Abroad in 240 Gillum Hall, or by visiting the website at ndianastate.edu/administration/academic-affairs/education-abroad/traditional-study-abroad-programs.

Sociology

Sociology is the systematic study of the social world. Specifically, sociologists study the relationships among individuals and groups that make such a social world or ‘society’ possible. Sociologists examine every aspect of our interconnected lives, from how class, gender, race, and sexuality shape opportunities and inequalities, to the role of religion and kinship, work, popular culture, social movements, and the forces of globalization in everyday experiences. Thus, sociology provides students with tools and highly valued skills that will be beneficial in any career they pursue after their time at Indiana State University!

The Multidisciplinary Studies Major with a Designated Concentration in Sociology is 33 credit hours. Students in the Sociology Concentration take a core of 6 courses (18 credits) that provide them with a strong foundation in the discipline. Students then select from an array of courses within and beyond sociology for their four major electives (12 credits). The available major electives span multiple fields that relate to Sociology, such as Anthropology, History, Public Health, Philosophy, and more. Students complete their major with a culminating experience in MST401, the Multidisciplinary Studies capstone course. Thus, the Multidisciplinary Studies Major’s Sociology Concentration offers students a flexible major that allows them to develop an awareness of the social forces affecting people’s lives. Additionally, studying sociology equips students for a critical, constructive, and ultimately more meaningful engagement with social issues, as well as with the ideas and experiences of others.

A minor in sociology provides foundational knowledge of social structures and behavior for students of criminology and criminal justice, psychology, social work, and family and human development studies. Sociological training is also valuable for students entering teaching, nursing, business, and technology. An optional internship/field placement is available for minors who wish to jump-start their plans for employment following graduation. Department faculty are happy to discuss the value of these programs in support of students’ career aspirations.

All students, regardless of major or minor, are invited to join the Student Coalition for Social Justice, a registered student organization dedicated to making a positive impact on the world. Students in this organization work together to increase awareness of systems that disadvantage members of various racial, ethnic, religious, and other groups and strive to bring about social change.