This school appears in our ranking: 15 Best Universities for Master's Degree in Equine Studies 2018.
Located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Middle Tennessee State University is a public university that serves the needs of students living in the central portion of the state. Founded as the Middle Tennessee State Normal School in 1911, the school offered a training program for educators that took two years to finish. In 1925, and after the school earned the right to offer a bachelor's program, it became a state teachers college. This led to the college bringing in new programs and added new departments, which eventually led to the school becoming Middle Tennessee State University.
Often called MTSU today, the university ranks as one of the best colleges in America. Though Washington Monthly ranked the university at number 126, both U.S. News & World Report and Forbes included MTSU lower on their own lists of the best American colleges. The university offers traditional schools and departments as well as unique departments, including the Department of Recording Industry and the Department of Aerospace. As MTSU has an enrollment of more than 22,000 students, it ranks as one of the largest colleges in Tennessee too.
Middle Tennessee State University Accreditation Details
MTSU has the regional accreditation that allows students to bring credits to the university and apply for financial aid. Federal financial aid is important because it provides the university with the money needed to cover tuition costs and its overall operating costs. Its regional accreditation comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. MTSU also has accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education for its teaching programs and from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Other programs offered by this public university also have accreditation.
Middle Tennessee State University Application Requirements
Students applying to any of the programs offered by the university's College of Graduate Studies must submit an application by one of its three deadlines. The priority deadline is June 1 for fall applications, March 1 for summer applications and October 1 for spring applications. These are the priority deadlines used by the university. If programs have any spots left after this deadline, they may continue accepting students. The university also requires that students have a 3.0 GPA in any graduate courses taken and a cumulative undergrad GPA of at least 2.75.
In addition to the application and the payment of a $35 application fee, those applying to MTSU will submit an official GRE test score. Most business programs ask for an official GMAT score instead. Students will submit transcripts from any college attended and three letters of recommendation. They can request recommendation letters from work supervisors or college professors. Many programs also ask for a writing sample to see if the student has strong writing skills, and some programs require a resume to see if the student has any work experience in a specific field.
Tuition and Financial Aid
MTSU charges a tuition rate of $459 per credit hour and fees of $74 for Tennessee residents. This brings the total cost up to $533 per credit hour for those who live in the state. Students applying to a graduate program must submit proof that they are residents of the state to qualify for this rate. Nonresidents pay a higher rate that, with fees included, brings their total up to $1,344 per credit hour. Though full-time students will take nine credit hours of classes or more, students can take a smaller number. The university charges the same rates for online students and traditional students.
Online students must take at least six credits of classes each semester to qualify for any government aid. They will use the FAFSA and include their tax information, which the government and the university will use when designing financial aid packages. The unsubsidized loans from the federal government provide students with $20,500 per year. Though the university offers limited aid for graduate students, it will accept any funds students receive from outside scholarships or private loans.
Online Degrees
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration program at MTSU has concentrations available in business administration, health care management and concrete industry management. The university offers one of the only concrete industry management programs in the nation. Designed for those currently working in this industry, this is a cohort program that takes 15 months to finish. Students start in January each year. Students will take 27 credits of MBA courses and nine credits of concentration classes, including Concrete Construction Troubleshooting and International Supply Chain Management.
Master of Criminal Justice
The Master of Criminal Justice program at MTSU is suitable for those with an undergrad in criminal justice and those who studied social sciences in college. Students take 18 credits of classes that make up the criminal justice core, which includes Criminal Justice Administration, Seminar in Law Enforcement, Contemporary Corrections and Research in the Criminal Justice Process. They will then take 15 to 18 credits of electives.
MTSU offers its MCJ as a thesis or a non-thesis track. Those in the thesis track will earn credit for the research they do on their papers. The non-thesis track requires that students do an internship and take a comprehensive exam at the end of the semester. Students in the non-thesis track will take more electives than those who write a thesis to make up for the research credits they do not receive.
Master of Library Science
The Master of Library Science program ranks as one of the best online options for library science and is fully accredited. It prepares students for working in school and public libraries. Students must take a class called Supervised Field Experience in Library Science twice. Each time they take the class, they earn three credits. The program also features courses such as Materials for Literacy of Children, School Library Management, Reference Materials and Process and Collection Development and User Services. Students can take other courses to earn a license to work in school libraries and other settings too. Middle Tennessee State University recommends that students talk with a counselor and/or the department head to learn more about meeting licensing requirements.