MTSU Board of Trustees approves 2 new master’s degree programs

Middle Tennessee State University’s Board of Trustees approved the development of two new master’s degree programs in legal studies and occupational innovation and effectiveness.

Stephen B. Smith, chairman of the Middle Tennessee State University Board of Trustees, makes a point during the board’s quarterly meeting held Tuesday, Dec. 13, in the Miller Education Center. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Meeting Tuesday, Dec. 13, the panel agreed that the legal studies degree would be designed for midlevel professionals working in detail-oriented fields — such as banking and financial services, entrepreneurship, consulting, entertainment — who are seeking formal knowledge related to contract formation, litigation, and employment law, as well as other upper-level specialized materials.

Once developed, it would be offered through a partnership with the Nashville School of Law, the College of Media and Entertainment and the Jennings A. Jones College of Business.

The occupational innovation and effectiveness degree would be offered online through University College during six-week terms each semester, allowing flexibility for professionals who may want to take one class at a time while earning multiple credits during the time of a traditional 16-week semester.

Middle Tennessee State University President Sidney A. McPhee makes a point during the MTSU Board of Trustees quarterly meeting held Tuesday, Dec. 13, in the Miller Education Center. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Once developed, students would select three, nine-hour focus areas from a variety of options such as Leadership, Analytics, Diversity in the Workplace and other similar workplace topics.

The degrees, once formulated, will require approval from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

In other business, trustees:

• Approved an amendment to its facilities master plan allowing for a potential on-campus hotel that would provide real-world training opportunities for students in the Tourism and Hospitality Management Program.

MTSU’s aspirations for an on-campus hotel were first revealed last year as part of the “Build Blue” athletic facilities improvement campaign.

• Approved the appointment and expedited tenure of Dr. Ahad Nasab as chairholder of the Robert E. and Georgianna West Russell Chair of Manufacturing Excellence in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences. Nasab served for 25 years in MTSU’s Department of Engineering Technology before he was hired in 2018 by the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.