MTSU College of Liberal Arts launches Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies and Initiatives
Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Liberal Arts has established the Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies and Initiatives, a new institute designed to expand interdisciplinary teaching, research, student learning and community engagement.
Approved by the university on July 1, the institute will house more than 25 interdisciplinary minors currently offered through the College of Liberal Arts. Located in Room 202 of Peck Hall, it will serve as a centralized resource for faculty collaboration, academic programs and partnerships across the university and 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 have access to new academic opportunities through the institute, including micro-credentials, team-taught courses, undergraduate research, internships, study abroad programs and project-based learning.
Faculty members will receive additional support for interdisciplinary grant development, innovative teaching and collaborative research. The institute will also encourage the creation of new academic initiatives that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.
The new institute supports several priorities included in MTSU’s 2035 Strategic Plan, including student success, workforce readiness, community engagement and sustainable partnerships. College leaders expect the initiative to strengthen interdisciplinary research, increase experiential learning opportunities and help attract additional external funding.
“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.”
Lyons said the institute also reflects the college’s commitment to preparing graduates for careers and leadership roles where complex challenges often require knowledge and skills from multiple fields.
The College of Liberal Arts currently offers interdisciplinary programs spanning the humanities, social sciences and arts. Bringing those programs together under one institute is expected to strengthen faculty support, expand community partnerships and create additional opportunities for students to connect their classroom education with real-world experiences.
