The Master of Interdisciplinary Studies (MIS) degree program is designed for students who prefer to pursue an interdisciplinary program of study rather than the professional or traditional graduate program. Students combine up to three areas of specialization selected from the College of Education, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Engineering and Technology, and College of Natural and Health Sciences. Candidates for the MIS degree must complete a 36 semester-hour program of study. Before entering the MIS program, students must identify no more than three areas of specialization to pursue graduate study.

Upon acceptance into the program, each student will be assigned an advisor who will help the student develop the course of study that achieves the student’s goals to the extent possible and fulfils the requirements for the MIS degree. Students will complete 15 credit hours of core coursework. The number of graduate courses to be completed within each chosen area of study is determined by the department, the student’s advisor, and the student. After completing thirty-three (33) credit hours of course work, the student must complete three (3) credit hours of a master’s project or thesis or an action research proposal.

MIS Core Courses (15 credit hours)

Specialization Areas

Students will complete 21 credit hours in the selected primary and secondary specialization areas. Courses can be selected from the College of Education, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Engineering and Technology, and College of Natural and Health Sciences.

Primary Specialization Area (9-12 credit hours)

Courses to be selected from the student’s primary area of specialization. Students choose courses in the College of Education, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Engineering and Technology, and College of Natural and Health Sciences with the help of their primary area advisor. Students will graduate with at least 18 hours in their primary specialization area.

Secondary Specialization Area (9-12 credit hours)

Students choose from courses in the College of Education, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Engineering and Technology, and College of Natural and Health Sciences with the assistance of an advisor from the specialization area.

Additional Concentration Options:

Public Service Leadership

This concentration, specifically designed for public service agencies, will meet the following research-based objectives.

Provide an area of focus that will:
• Enhance the understanding of the complex social, political, cultural, and organizational environments and cultural shifts that affect public service and community relations
• Enhance leadership and management knowledge, skill, and praxis for public service field officers, customer service agents, supervisors, and administrators for agencies and agents to develop "quality leadership models" within organizations and communities
• Provide a critical and analytic awareness of power and power dynamics in relation to public service, politics, policing, and community relations
• Enhance the Cultural Actualization of Public Service employees and agencies.

MIS Core Courses (15 credit hours)

Required Courses (12 credit hours)

Restricted Electives (9 credit hours)

Social Justice and Human Rights Practice

The Master of Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Social Justice and Human Rights Practice is designed to prepare and enhance public service leaders’ abilities to utilize theories of social justice and critical research methodologies to analyze and implement policies relating to social justice and human rights issues that arise in public service, governmental, community-based, non-profit, public policy, public health, legal/justice, corporate JEDI, and social work agencies.

MIS Core Courses (15 credit hours)

Required Courses (12 credit hours)

Restricted Electives (4 credit hours)

Students will select one class from the following specialization area:

Open Elective (3 credit hours)

Students will choose 3 credit of electives from the College of Education, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Engineering and Technology, and College of Natural and Health Sciences.