MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Liberal Arts has established the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies and Initiatives, a new institute that will house the college’s more than 25 interdisciplinary minors while expanding opportunities for interdisciplinary teaching, research and community engagement.

Approved by the university on July 1, the institute formalizes years of interdisciplinary work already underway across the College of Liberal Arts. Located in Room 202 of Peck Hall, the institute creates a centralized resource to support faculty collaboration, student learning and partnerships across the university and with schools, nonprofits, businesses and government agencies throughout the region.  

“Many of today’s challenges demand perspectives from multiple disciplines,” said Rehab Ghazal, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and founding director of the institute. “This institute gives faculty and students a place to bring those perspectives together and create new learning experiences that prepare students to think broadly, solve complex problems, and make meaningful contributions in their professions and communities.”

Students will benefit from new academic opportunities — including micro-credentials, team-taught connection courses, undergraduate research, internships, study abroad and project-based learning. Faculty will receive support for interdisciplinary grant development, innovative teaching and collaborative research. The institute will also encourage the development of new academic initiatives that span traditional disciplinary boundaries.

The institute advances key priorities in MTSU’s 2035 Strategic Plan, including student success, workforce readiness, community engagement and sustainable partnerships. College leaders also expect it to strengthen interdisciplinary research, expand experiential learning and increase external funding opportunities.

“The liberal arts have always encouraged students to see connections, ask thoughtful questions and approach problems from multiple perspectives,” said Leah Tolbert Lyons, dean of the College of Liberal Arts. “The Institute builds on those strengths by creating new opportunities for faculty and students to work across disciplines.

“It reflects our commitment to preparing graduates who are ready to take their place as leaders in careers and communities where complex challenges emanate from complex structures that rarely fit neatly within the confines of a single field.”

The College of Liberal Arts currently offers interdisciplinary programs spanning the humanities, social sciences and the arts. By coordinating those programs through a single institute, the college will strengthen faculty support, expand partnerships that connect classroom learning with communities across the region and create new opportunities for students.

— Mike Davis ([email protected])