Rutherford County is home to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), the largest university in Middle Tennessee with over 22,000 students enrolled and over 140 academic programs. MTSU believes collaborations between companies and universities are critical drivers of our innovation economy. MTSU is also nationally recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for fostering these relationships beyond the campus.
Here are some examples of the many programs available at MTSU:
MTSU Jones College of Business
Jones College is well known—within and outside Tennessee—as a business college on the move, perfectly positioned to build its reputation and its impact on the region, the state and beyond. Dedicated faculty and staff ensure the college is an engine of innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development with tremendous intellectual and physical resources. The Jennings A. Jones College receives accreditation from AACSB International.
The college provides enrichment and development opportunities outside the classroom that make students attractive to potential employers. Jones College is the only business school that requires Dale Carnegie training so that graduates leave with the soft skills needed in the workforce.
Some examples of undergraduate and graduate programs of study include:
Accounting
Business Administration (including an MBA in Music Business)
Economics
Information Systems (options include information security, business intelligence & analytics)
Marketing
Management (Options include Organizational Leadership,
non-profit)Data Science
Finance
College of Media and Entertainment
At a time of unprecedented demand worldwide for news, information and entertainment content, the College of Media and Entertainment at Middle Tennessee State University is uniquely positioned to educate students about the full range of media and communications.
Degrees available include:
Bachelor of Science degrees in Media and Entertainment, Animation, Video and Film Production, Interactive Media, Journalism, Recording Industry and Audio Production
Master of Fine Arts in Recording Arts Technologies and Master of Science in Media and Communication
In addition to vibrant classroom settings, students interact extensively with media professionals. This includes internships and participation in national media and entertainment events such as the Grammys, Bonnaroo Music Festival, Americana Music Festival and many more national prominent events.
The college is also the home to two TV studios, two radio stations, the Center for Innovation in Media, the Center for Popular Music, and the Seigenthaler Chair of Excellence in First Amendment Studies.
Here are some highlights and videos about the programs:
MTSU School of Journalism and Strategic Media
The new Media Studies concentration in Journalism is designed for students who enjoy discussing, analyzing, and writing about film, TV, advertising and other media. The degree is ideal for those interested in a liberal arts approach to mass communication, especially if planning to pursue graduate studies. Majors examine media messages in historical and contemporary media, plus critique visual images and their impact on society. They also explore how and why media influence audience perception and behavior.
Multiple Emmy Award-winning alumni and faculty
Grads of these programs hold senior positions at NBC News, Associated Press, The Tennessean, and DVL Seigenthaler
MTSU Media Arts Program
Media Management majors study how to lead, supervise and motivate employees in the media industry. The curriculum covers marketing, sales, distribution, programming and management for the media industry. Students learn about the inner workings of media companies such as radio, television and digital media. Outside the classroom, students gain hands-on experience in student media organizations and internships.
MTSU has a $1.7M mobile production lab for students to work live events
MTSU Media Arts alumni hold senior positions at DreamWorks Animation, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), ESPN, National Public Television and Disney
MTSU Recording Industry
MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry is an environment of creativity, innovation and collaboration. Students receive instruction from internationally recognized faculty to prepare them for careers in all musical genres. Founded in 1973, it is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious music business programs, as evidenced by its consistent ranking on Billboard’s and Hollywood Reporter’s list of top programs globally. With state-of-the-art facilities, including a new Virtual Reality lab, renowned internship programs, study-abroad opportunities and an average enrollment of approximately 1,150 students, the program’s quality is unmatched in recording industry schools worldwide.
The department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Recording Industry, with concentrations in Music Business and Commercial Songwriting, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Audio Production. The department also offers a Master of Fine Arts degree in the Recording Arts and Technologies, which is one of only a few of its kind in the world, and an M.B.A. with a Music Business concentration.
17 Grammy-winning projects by MTSU faculty and alumni
Spotlighted by NBC News as a standout in educating the next generation of music industry pros (Feb 10, 2019)
Companies Proud to Partner with MTSU
Two-Year Institutions
Tennessee College of Applied Technology
The Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Murfreesboro is a modern training facility designed to simulate the occupational environment found in potential places of employment.
Motlow State Community College
Motlow State Community College is a public, multi-campus college in southern middle Tennessee offering certificates, associate degrees, and flexible learning pathways.
Scholarship & Financial Aid Programs
Tennessee has embraced a critical new mission: the Drive to 55 – the drive to get 55 percent of Tennesseans equipped with a college degree or certificate by the year 2025. It’s not just a mission for higher education, but also a mission for Tennessee’s future workforce and economic development.
TN Promise: Tennessee Promise is a scholarship program to help more Tennessee high school graduates attend college. With it, Tennessee became the first state in the nation to offer high school graduates two years of community or technical college tuition-free.
TN Reconnect: The Tennessee Reconnect program helps more adults attend a community college or technical college and complete a post-secondary degree or credential, tuition-free.
Hope Scholarship: The HOPE Scholarship is established and funded from the net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to entering freshmen who are enrolled at an eligible post secondary institution within sixteen (16) months after graduating from a TN eligible high school.
