2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived]

Multidisciplinary Studies Major


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(42-73 credits)

Degree Map Gender Studies Concentration

Degree Map Liberal Arts: Business Minor Track Concentration

Degree Map Social Justice and Sociology Concentration

Degree Map Visual Arts Administration Concentration

Degree Map International Studies Concentration

Learning Outcomes  

The Multidisciplinary Studies major allows students to design a major across programs in liberal, sciences, health, technology, education, and business.

Program Requirements:


Majors complete an Individualized Program of Study or a designated concentration that includes a minimum of 42 credits including MST 401, and is drawn from a minimum of three disciplines. A maximum of 21 credit hours may be taken from any one discipline. The student must earn at least 21 credit hours in the major in semesters subsequent to full admission to the major. The student must earn a minimum of a 2.5 GPA in the major.  The student must earn a minimum of 21 hours at the 300/400 level in the major.

All students, whether they are completing a Designated Concentration listed below or an Individualized Program of Study must complete the following as part of the 42 credit minimum:

Designated Concentration in Gender Studies (39 credits):


The Gender Studies Program at Indiana State University is an interdisciplinary 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 explore the intersections of gender, sexuality, social class, nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, age, and ability. The Program seeks to understand and address how the contributions and experiences of women and other marginalized groups are devalued. Therefore, the Gender Studies Program is active in facilitating and supporting a variety of activities and events concerned with social justice. This will be a coordinated program of study within the Multidisciplinary Studies major. In addition to the requirements below, the additional Multidisciplinary Studies major requirements would also be met (student must earn a minimum of a 2.5 GPA in the major). Of the required major credits, half of the hours must be at the 300/400 level. In addition, students choosing the Gender Studies Concentration option will be required to have a minor. Students with an MST major concentration in Gender Studies cannot earn a Gender Studies minor.

Additional Requirements (9 credits):


Electives (12 credits):


Choose 12 credits from the list of courses below. Courses taken under the Arts/Humanties, Sciences/Social Sciences, and Research Methods/Statistics requirements cannot be applied to this requirement.

Degree Map Gender Studies


This program has the following minimum GPA requirements: 2.00 overall GPA; 2.20 in all Major course work.

Fall 1st Year


Spring 1st Year


Fall 2nd Year


    15 Credits

Spring 2nd Year


  • Foundational Studies:  Literary Studies | Credits/Units 3
  • Major Elective | Credits/Units 3 (Research Methods/Statistics)
  • Major Elective | Credits/Units 3 (Art/Humanities)
  • Major Elective | Credits/Units 3
  • Elective | Credits/Units 3

    15 Credits

Fall 3rd Year


Spring 3rd Year


  • 3 Credits
  • Major Elective | Credits/Units 3
  • Elective | Credits/Units 3
  • Elective | Credits/Units 3
  • Elective | Credits/Units 3
  • 15 Credits

Fall 4th Year


Spring 4th Year


Designated Concentration in Liberal Arts: Business Minor Track (54-70 credits):


This program is designed for students who want to pursue a discipline in the College of Arts and Sciences as well as prepare for a potential career in business. The degree thus combines not only a minor in Arts and Sciences with a Business Minor, but also adds in an array of courses aimed at cultivating students communication skills, critical thinking, approaches to diversity. The program also asks students to integrate both sides of major by completion of capstone courses in both Multidisciplinary Studies and Business.

Minor in any College of Arts and Sciences field


Student’s choice; number of credit hours for CAS minors vary from 15-30 credits

Professional Skills


Business Tools (choose one course from the list below; 3 credits):


Communication (choose one course from the list below; 3 credits):


Business Capstone (3 credits):


Junior Composition (also counts toward Foundational Studies Junior Comp requirement; 3 credits):


Minor in Business Administration (18 credits)


Degree Map Liberal Arts: Business Minor


Liberal Arts: Business Minor Degree Map

Fall 1st Year


Spring 1st Year


Fall 2nd Year


Spring 2nd Year


Fall 3rd Year


Spring 3rd Year


Fall 4th Year


Spring 4th Year


Designated Concentration in Social Justice and Sociology (51-52 credits):


Through the Designated Concentration in Social Justice and Sociology; students will have the chance to turn their passion for change, human rights, and a more just world into a career. This interdisciplinary program has been designed to prepare students for the demands of a world where our awareness of inequality and capacity to address social issues have become globally interconnected. Through a variety of courses, chosen from among disciplines in the College of Arts and Science and the College of Health and Human Services, students will receive the theoretical, analytical, and experiential knowledge that will prepare them for advocacy and human rights work with local community organizations, as well as national and international non-governmental organizations. The Social Justice Concentration option is designed to combine a strong theoretical understanding of ideas of social justice with experiential learning through practical application. Due to the unique nature of Social Justice and the diversity of the fields it connects, the program is structured to give students a solid foundation in Sociology along with the option of customizing their major in order to focus on the issues or areas that most appeal to them. Although the program offers a designated curriculum, selected advisors will work closely with each student, so that his/her interests shape an individual experience as a path to a meaningful future. The flexible nature of the program provides students with the ability to select and complete a variety of minors to complement their Multidisciplinary Studies BA/BS. This will be a coordinated program of study within the Multidisciplinary Studies major. In addition to the requirements below, the additional Multidisciplinary Studies major requirements would also be met (student must earn a minimum of a 2.5 GPA in the major). Half of the required major credits must be at the 300/400 level.

Additional Requirements (30 credits):


Degree Map Social Justice and Sociology


This program has the following minimum GPA requirements: 2.00 overall GPA; 2.20 in all Major course work.

Fall 1st Year


Spring 1st Year


Fall 2nd Year


Spring 2nd Year


Fall 3rd Year


Spring 3rd Year


Fall 4th Year


  • Major Elective | Credits/Units 3
  • Major Elective | Credits/Units 3
  • Foundational Studies:  HIP | Credits/Units 3
  • Elective | Credits/Units 3
  • Elective | Credits/Units 3

    15 Credits

Spring 4th Year


Designated Concentration in Visual Arts Administration (54-57 credits):


The Visual Arts Administration Concentration integrates the strengths of a diverse faculty and develops competencies across several disciplines, including art, business, and nonprofit leadership, so that students are prepared through coursework, internships and other professional experiences to enter leadership roles in arts organizations such as museums, galleries, arts philanthropies, and community-building arts programs. This concentration also prepares students for graduate work in arts administration, museum studies and related disciplines. Students may pursue additional work to earn the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Certification. This will be a coordinated program of study within the Multidisciplinary Studies major. In addition to the requirements below, the additional Multidisciplinary Studies major requirements would also be met (student must earn a minimum of a 2.5 GPA in the major). Of the required major credits, half of the hours must be at the 300/400 level.

Additional Requirements (6 credits):


Degree Map Visual Arts Administration


This program has the following minimum GPA requirements: 2.00 overall GPA; 2.20 in all Major course work.

Fall 1st Year


Spring 1st Year


Fall 2nd Year


Spring 2nd Year


Fall 4th Year


Spring 4th Year


Designated Concentration in International Studies (40-49 credits):


International Studies is an interdisciplinary field devoted to the study of global affairs. As an International Studies major, you will learn to analyze important global problems across disciplines while developing expertise in a particular world region or theme. This program will prepare you to operate in a globalized world. Our majors develop a deep knowledge of the global structures that shape our world, learn how to communicate across cultures, and demonstrate an ability to solve problems as an ethical, global citizen.

World History (3 credits)


Global Studies (9 credits)


Complete 9 credits from the following list:

Upper Division Thematic Focus (9 credits)


9 credits of upper division coursework organized around a regional or thematic focus, of international concern, with approval of the International Studies advisor.

Upper Division Electives (6 credits)


6 additional credits of upper division coursework on international issues, not including the thematic focus courses above. These elective courses require approval by the International Studies advisor.

Language Proficiency (3-12 credits)


There are three paths to complete the language proficiency requirement:

  1. Complete 202 with a C or higher in any language, or
  2. Complete 102 with a C or higher in two languages, or
  3. Complete 102 with a C or higher, plus 3 credits in same language while on Study Abroad

Global Engagement


Study Abroad (minimum 6 credits and four weeks in residence at a foreign university)

E-Portfolio


An e-portfolio system will be employed to deliver assessment materials to faculty and maintain a record of activities for students. A reflective e-portfolio presentation is required in the culminating experience course.

Degree Map International Studies


International Studies Concentration Degree Map

Fall 1st Year


Fall 2nd Year


Spring 2nd Year


Fall 3rd Year


Spring 3rd Year


    15 Credits

Fall 4th Year


Spring 4th Year


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