Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU or MT) is a public research university in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Founded in 1911 as a normal school, the university consists of eight undergraduate colleges as well as a college of graduate studies, together offering more than 300 degree programs through more than 35 departments.[6][7] The university has partnered in research endeavors with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory,[8] the United States Army, and the United States Marine Corps.[9] It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".[10]
Former name
Middle Tennessee State Normal School (1911–1925)
Middle Tennessee State Teachers College (1925–1943)
Middle Tennessee State College (1943–1965)
Agriculture and Commerce
September 11, 1911
$108.9 million (2020)[1]
1,223
20,086 (Fall 2022)[2]
17,438 (Fall 2022)[2]
2,648 (Fall 2022)[2]
Midsize city, 500 acres (200 ha)
Royal blue & white[3]
Lightning[5]
Prior to 2017, MTSU was governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents and part of the State University and Community College System of Tennessee. In 2017, governance was transferred to an institutional board of trustees.[11] MTSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.[12] MTSU athletics programs compete intercollegiately in the NCAA Division I as a member of Conference USA.[13]
Academic rankings
304 (2022)[17]
MTSU is organized into seven colleges:
Academics[edit]
Department of Recording Industry[edit]
The Department of Recording Industry is within the College of Media and Entertainment. Due to the large number of students in the program, only a limited number of slots are opened for students to gain candidacy to take upper-division classes.
The Rolling Stone College Guide recognized MTSU as having "one of the preeminent music business programs in the country."[20]
Department of Aerospace[edit]
The Department of Aerospace offers an Aerospace Bachelor of Science degree with six concentrations: Aviation Management, Aerospace Technology, Flight Dispatch, Maintenance Management, Professional Pilot, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). An Aeronautical Science master's degree is also available.[21] Each concentration has been accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International, and the aerospace program as a whole has been accredited since 1992.[21] The Department of Aerospace has a working agreement with the single-runway Murfreesboro Municipal Airport to provide many of its classes on-site. (The program will be moving to the airport in neighboring Shelbyville by 2025.[22]) A decommissioned Boeing 727 airliner (donated by FedEx) is housed at the airport as a teaching tool.[23] Although no longer considered air-worthy, its engines remain functional, and can be restarted for training purposes. American Airlines has also donated a 727 cockpit procedure trainer to MTSU, which allows students to receive their flight engineer rating.[24]
The aerospace program's training fleet is made up of Diamond DA40 single-engine aircraft featuring glass cockpits, with an assortment of other single- and multi-engine aircraft available.[25] In 2010, the Department of Aerospace purchased ten radar simulators as well as a one-of-a-kind 360 degree control tower simulator to enhance training for its air traffic control students. These simulators allow students to experience lifelike air traffic control scenarios that will aid in preparing them for training at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City.[26]