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Multidisciplinary Studies

College of Arts and Sciences

 Multidisciplinary studies at Indiana State University provide students with the flexibility to tailor their education across various fields. The program encourages critical thinking and problem-solving by integrating knowledge from different disciplines. Students can explore a wide range of subjects, allowing them to develop a unique skill set that meets their personal and professional goals. Faculty mentorship and collaborative projects enhance the learning experience, fostering innovation and creativity. This approach prepares graduates to tackle complex challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.

Economics offers the opportunity for concentrated study of economic principles and economic theory as well as specific social issues and fields of economics including: crime, health care, the environment, gender and economics, labor relations, economic history, econometrics, public finance, economic development, and international trade & finance. In addition to the Economics major and minor, we offer a minor and certificate in Economic Policy. In support of the mission of liberal arts education in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Economics actively supports ISU programs in Foundational Studies, Honors, International Studies, and Gender Studies.

Gender Studies Minors and MST Majors with a concentration in Gender Studies are eligible for the Mary Elizabeth Owens Dailey (the “Bessie”) Scholarship in Women’s Studies. 

The Gender Studies Program at Indiana State University is a multidisciplinary field of study. The program promotes a critical, feminist, and cross-cultural understanding of structural inequalities in a local and global context from historical and contemporary perspectives. 

Students explore the intersections of gender, sexuality, social class, nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, age, and ability. Courses and programming help students and participants understand and address how the contributions and experiences of women and other marginalized groups are devalued. Our faculty and students organize and support a variety of activities and events concerned with social justice and gender equality. 

Students who pursue the Gender Studies Concentration in the Multidisciplinary Studies (MST) Major enter occupations in social advocacy, social services, health, government, education, legal studies, law enforcement, public safety and the private sector. 

GENDER STUDIES 
Contact information: 

Dr. Linda Maule, co-coordinator: linda.maule@indstate.edu 
Dr. Amanda Lubold, co-coordinator: amanda.lubold@indstate.edu 
Dr. Lain Mathers, faculty advisor mentor: lain.mathers@indstate.edu 

What makes an action right or wrong? Who am I, and how can I be sure that I will remain the same person over time? Could computers ever have mental states like we do? Does God exist? Are race(s) and gender(s) illusions, biological realities, or something else – and what are the implications for social justice? Do we have free will or are our actions determined? What are our obligations to non-human animals and the environment? What are the ethical issues raised by AI? What is the meaning of life? 

Philosophers study the most fundamental questions that we face as human beings. Offering both a major and a minor, the Philosophy program at Indiana State University will expose you to the core areas of philosophy: ethics, the study of morality and value; epistemology, the study of knowledge and ignorance; logic, the study of correct reasoning and valid arguments; and metaphysics, the study of the categories and principles of existence (time, space, God, consciousness, free will, etc.). Our faculty also teach courses in evolving and interdisciplinary areas of philosophical research, such as philosophy of race, philosophy of technology, feminist theory, and philosophy of cognitive science, among others. 

The Philosophy program at Indiana State University invites you to work across these areas while practicing the essential – and extremely transferable – skills of philosophy: interrogating assumptions, evaluating claims, interpreting complex readings, communicating about difficult topics, and developing original arguments in writing. It’s no wonder that philosophers tend to score among the highest on the admissions tests for law school and medical school, with a salary growth rate that outpaces nearly every other discipline (including STEM). A major or minor in Philosophy at Indiana State is a bridge to continuing education and professional opportunities in law, medicine, politics, journalism, advertising, business, scientific research, management, public service, and more. In this way, the study of philosophy provides the tools necessary to meet the challenges facing our local and global communities. 

In support of the liberal arts and sciences mission of Indiana State, the Philosophy program participates in the Foundational Studies curriculum, the University Honors program, and the Gender Studies program, among others. Our majors and minors often combine their study of philosophy with courses and degrees in other fields. Come see what philosophy has to offer! 

The Sociology program is housed in the Department of Multidisciplinary Studies.   

Sociology is the systematic study of the social world. Specifically, sociologists study the relationships among individuals and groups that make such a social world or ‘society’ possible. Sociologists examine every aspect of our interconnected lives, from how class, gender, race, and sexuality shape opportunities and inequalities, to the role of religion and kinship, work, popular culture, social movements, and the forces of globalization in everyday experiences. Thus, sociology provides students with tools and highly valued skills that will be beneficial in any career they pursue after their time at Indiana State University!  

Contact information: 
Dr. Amanda Lubold, Associate Professor of Sociology, Department Chairperson: Amanda.lubold@indstate.edu 
Dr. Lain Mathers, Associate Professor of Sociology: Lain.mathers@indstate.edu 
Dr. Mushahid Hussain, Assistant Professor of Sociology: Mushahid.Hussain@indstate.edu