MTSU College of Liberal Arts

MTSU College of Liberal Arts The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) is a dynamic college committed to the ideals of a classical libera in English and Public History.

More than 2,000 students major in fields housed in the ten academic departments of the MTSU College of Liberal Arts. Our disciplines encompass the arts, the humanities, and the social sciences. In addition, much of the university's General Education program is located within our college, so virtually every MTSU student will take some classes with us. Our academic offerings range from freshman surv

ey courses to Ph.D.s. The college offers several dozen undergraduate majors, nearly 30 interdisciplinary minors, and ten graduate degrees. The heart of the college is our faculty, and we have more than 300 full-time faculty members. In addition to our academic departments, a variety of other units call Liberal Arts home, including the Center for Historic Preservation, the Albert Gore Research Center, the University Writing Center, the Governor's School for the Arts, and the Forensic Institute for Research and Education (FIRE). Ours is a dynamic college, with new programs and approaches constantly being added. Yet we remain committed to the ideals of a classical liberal arts education, which introduces students to the broader world and, we hope, provides them a framework with which to understand it. Moreover, the liberal arts focus on developing students' ability to read, write, and think critically. In addition to the intrinsic value of acquiring those skills, employers increasingly report that they look for broadly-trained and quick-learning employees who can respond to the demands of our rapidly changing society. Our college is not all about work, however. We offer a variety of extra-curricular activities open to all students. These include:

-national award-winning programs in Mock Trial, Model United Nations, Model Mediation, and Debate
-more than 200 concerts a year offered by our School of Music, a prestigious "all Steinway" school
-many theatre and dance productions, and art exhibitions
-an array of departmental and discipline-specific student clubs and organizations
-nationally-known speakers, such as historian David McCullough, food writer Mark Bittman, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Kathy Reichs, author of the "Bones" series

We pride ourselves on being a "student friendly" college. The dean's office is in Todd 231, while the college advisors and graduation coordinator are in Peck Hall. Please stop by if we can help you.

09/04/2026

Experience MTSU Music IRL!

What does a day as an MTSU School of Music student really look like? Come find out at MTSU MUSIC IRL on Tuesday, November 3!

Prospective music students are invited to spend the day with us and experience the School of Music from the inside. Sit in on classes, rehearse alongside our ensembles, meet faculty and current students, and explore the many opportunities available at MTSU.

šŸ“… Tuesday, November 3, 2026
ā° 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
šŸ“ MTSU School of Music, Murfreesboro, TN

During MUSIC IRL, youā€™ll have the opportunity to:

šŸŽµ Visit music classes and rehearse with ensembles
šŸ‘‹ Meet MTSU faculty and current music students
šŸŽ“ Explore programs and opportunities at our Music Fair
šŸ½ļø Enjoy lunch with us, provided for all participants
šŸ’™ Get a real feel for what itā€™s like to be part of the MTSU music community

Registration opens September 18. Space is limited, and participants should register by October 20. Learn more and register at music.mtsu.edu.

Know a high school musician who should experience MTSU Music IRL? Share this post with them, their family, or their music teacher!



Accessibility: For disability-related accommodations, please contact [email protected].

Alt text: Promotional flyer for MTSU MUSIC IRL, a prospective student experience at the MTSU School of Music on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The flyer features a colorful School of Music stage production and information about visiting classes, rehearsing with ensembles, meeting faculty and students, exploring the Music Fair, and having lunch. Registration opens September 18 and space is limited

09/03/2026
09/03/2026
Fourteen Band of Blue students recently received scholarships, with some getting the chance to meet and thank the donors...
09/02/2026

Fourteen Band of Blue students recently received scholarships, with some getting the chance to meet and thank the donors who helped make those awards possible.

Read more about an evening filled with music, gratitude and plenty of True Blue spirit. šŸŽ¶

MTSU School of Music

Band of Blue scholarship recipients meet the donors behind the music by Michael Davis 2 September 2026 Featured Content MURFREESBORO, Tenn. ā€”For members ofĀ Middle Tennessee State Universityā€™sĀ Band of Blue,Ā the evening of Aug. 21Ā was supposed to mark the end of another band camp. After weeks ...

Feeling stressed or overwhelmed? We may have the answer for you. Join us for Art for Wellness. Everyone welcome, no art ...
09/02/2026

Feeling stressed or overwhelmed? We may have the answer for you. Join us for Art for Wellness. Everyone welcome, no art experience needed. To register, scan the QR code or go to: https://bit.ly/3SOssJJ

09/02/2026

One of our MTSU School of Music students is having quite a moment online!

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbFLYTXgJzu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsi=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Music student Elliot Ragland has gone viral with a beautifully unexpected performance of Radiohead on the musical saw, filmed outside a Waffle House in the rain. The reel has already drawn nearly 800,000 likes, along with thousands of comments from listeners around the world.

It is a wonderful reminder that musicianship can show up anywhere, sometimes far beyond the concert hall. Elliotā€™s creativity, personality, and willingness to make music in an unusual setting have clearly connected with people.

We love seeing our students find their own voices, take creative risks, and share music in ways that reach new audiences.

Follow Elliot for more on Instagram

Welcome Claudia!
08/31/2026

Welcome Claudia!

Congrats to MTSU Department of Political and Global Affairs students Ella and Shay on receiving the Buchanan Transfer Fe...
08/31/2026

Congrats to MTSU Department of Political and Global Affairs students Ella and Shay on receiving the Buchanan Transfer Fellowship from MTSU Honors College!

https://honors.mtsu.edu/transfer/

08/28/2026
From MTSU to the big screen! šŸŽ¬For more than 40 years, talented young artists from across Tennessee have come to MTSU for...
08/28/2026

From MTSU to the big screen! šŸŽ¬

For more than 40 years, talented young artists from across Tennessee have come to MTSU for the Tennessee Governorā€™s School for the Arts. Now, one part of that experience is headed to the Nashville Film Festival.

ā€œLittle Hollywood, Tennesseeā€ follows 24 high school filmmakers through three intense weeks of writing, casting, filming and editing while living and learning on the MTSU campus.

Directed by Governorā€™s School alum and faculty member Christian Whittemore, the documentary captures the creativity, challenges, friendships and growth that happen when young artists get the opportunity to focus on their work alongside peers who share their passion.

The film makes its world premiere Sept. 26 at the 57th Nashville Film Festival. šŸŽ„

Read the story and learn more about the film and its MTSU roots:

ā€˜Little Hollywood, Tennesseeā€™ brings Governorā€™s School for the Arts experience at MTSU to Nashville Film Festival by Michael Davis 27 August 2026 Top Stories MURFREESBORO, Tenn. ā€” A documentary offering an inside look at the Tennessee Governorā€™s School for the Arts at Middle Tennessee Stat...

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Murfreesboro, TN
37132

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Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

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