Degree Programs

About Our Programs

Interdisciplinary Studies at Tennessee State University provides the B.S in Arts and Sciences. There are three tracks to this degree, the Arts & Sciences track, the Multidisciplinary track, and the Elementary Education track. The Interdisciplinary Studies track is a flexible degree that enables students to build their own program, while the Elementary Education track prepares students for teacher certification in grades K-6.

Arts & Sciences Track

The B.S in Arts and Sciences (Arts & Sciences track) degree program is a creative, flexible, and interdisciplinary program which allows students to concentrate their upper-level studies in one of three concentrations: the humanities, the social sciences, or the natural sciences. The program exposes the student to the knowledge and methodologies of two specific disciplines within a given concentration.

The degree, which is the Bachelor of Science in Arts and Sciences, permits students to develop a personalized program of study in consultation with their advisor which would not be met through participation in a traditional discipline. This degree program is designed to provide students with flexibility while maintaining the quality and excellence expected of all degree programs.

Degree Requirements:

  • accumulation of 120-credit hours and a minimum 2.00 GPA
  • the general education core
  • 15 upper-division hours in the first discipline (disciplines discussed below)
  • 8-9 upper-division hours in the second discipline
  • 9 upper-division hours from any of the disciplines listed below (plus Music and Social Work)
  • 9-10 upper-division hours from any discipline
  • completion of the Senior Exit Exam

Disciplines:

Students will choose two disciplines within one of the three concentration areas. The available disciplines are:

  1. Humanities: Art, English, French, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Spanish, Theater, Fashion, Design
  2. Social Sciences: Africana Studies, Communications, Criminal Justice, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology
  3. Natural Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Sciences, Mathematics, Physics

Multidisciplinary Track

The B.S in Arts and Sciences (Multidisciplinary Concentration) allows an even higher degree of flexibility and creativity for students to design their upper-division studies. In the Multidisciplinary track, students can select any two disciplines to foucs on that the university offers. Note: Not all disciplines offer enough classes for the Multidisciplinary track. Students must meet all prerequisites to take upper-division classes in their chosen disciplines. 

Like the Arts & Sciences track permits, the Multidisciplinary track allows students to develop a personalized program of study in consultation with their advisor which would not be met through participation in a traditional discipline.  This degree program is designed to provide students with a high level of flexibility while maintaining the quality and excellence expected of all degree programs. It is also a good fit for students returning to college after a prolonged absence.

Degree Requirements:

  • accumulation of 120-credit hours and a minimum 2.00 GPA
  • the general education core
  • 12 upper-division hours in the first discipline 
  • 12 upper-division hours in the second discipline
  • 15 upper-division hours from any discipline
  • a three-hour upper-division Senior Project, usually INDS 4000
  • completion of the Senior Exit Exam