Art & Design • Multidisciplinary Studies (MDST) Program

Working closely with the MDST Faculty Coordinator, and designated faculty advisors, students have the option of following one of the pre-approved MDST programs or developing an individualized, yet academically challenging, multidisciplinary concentration of study.

Although every proposal requires the approval of the MDST Curriculum Committee, there are two ways to initiate an MDST proposal: through a faculty advisor, or through you, as the student.  No matter which path you take, there is proposal checklist for each: Student Proposal Checklist and Faculty Proposal Checklist.

Steps in Developing a Personalized Major in MSDS:

1. Review the scope, purpose, and academic structures of the University’s Multidisciplinary (MDST) Major (see MDST Overview).

2. Review the MU major and minor curricular sheets and their various combinations to make sure the concentration combinations you have in mind cannot already be found in some form at the University.

3. If the MDST Major seems like a good academic fit for you, schedule a meeting with the MDST Faculty Coordinator, Dr. Nakeiha Primus to discuss your plans. She can be contacted at Nakieha.Primus@millersville.edu or 717-871-4851. At this initial meeting, you and the Coordinator will discuss your academic and professional goals, as well as your ideas for an MDST concentration.  Bring all applicable forms (see “Forms” below), as well as a hard copy of your DARS/transcripts (if applicable) with you. With the Coordinator’s guidance, you will be directed to two faculty members, each of whom have expertise in the two disciplines you have identified interest in; later these will be your assigned "Core 1" and "Core 2" advisors (see "MDST Structure & Requirements" below). 

4. Working with these two faculty members and the MDST Coordinator you will begin to craft your proposal. (see "Developing a Curriculum Proposal" below)

5. Schedule a meeting with your newly assigned "Core 1" and "Core 2" designated Faculty Advisors to discuss your plans.

6. Schedule a second meeting with MDST Faculty Coordinator to discuss both the outcome of the meetings with your two faculty advisors and develop plans for your Curriculum Proposal.

7. Develop your Curriculum Proposal. At this point, your instruction will vary upon whether you are following one of the "Faculty Approved MDST Programs" or you are developing an individualized study of your own.

8. Secure the necessary signatures from either the Student Signature Page or Faculty Signature Page . These signatures include your two academic advisors, as well as the Department Chairs of these two disciplines, and the MDST Faculty Coordinator.

9. Schedule a third meeting with the MDST Faculty Coordinator to review your proposal.  Bring your current DARS or transcript as well as your signature sheet.

10. The MDST Faculty Coordinator will submit your proposal to the MDST Curriculum Committee for consideration on one of the pre-arranged "Curriculum Committee Meeting Dates" (see below) . They will make any suggestions, or revisions as needed, until the proposal is approved. During this process, the MDST Coordinator acts as the student’s advocate before the MDST Committee.  If a proposal is not approved by the Committee, the MDST Coordinator will convey the Committee’s concerns to the student.  It may be possible, with further consultations with departmental faculty, to have a revised proposal considered by the MDST Committee.

11. Once approved, the MDST Committee Chair signs the approved proposal document, and submits it to the MDST Faculty Coordinator and the Associate Provost for final signature.

12. Once a final proposal is approved by the MDST Committee, the student needs to complete an “Academic Major Form” The MDST Faculty Coordinator signs as the “Department Chair" of the new major.  The two faculty members who worked with you on the proposal will become your academic advisors.  The faculty advisor assigned to "Core One" will receive your TAP number.  You will need this number in order to register for future courses. Once this form is processed by the Department of Academic Advisement, you are officially a MDST major. 

Proposals should be developed in consultation with the MDST Faculty Coordinator.  They must be type written, prepared in Microsoft Word, and free of grammatical and spelling errors.  They must be submitted both electronically, and in hard copy.


Academic issues to consider when working on a proposal:

Contents of Proposals:

Faculty Initiated

1. Title Page
2. Faculty presenters
3. Name of proposed concentration within MDST major (i.e. Disability Studies)
4. Rationale and need; target audiences (if applicable)
5. MDST Curriculum & Course Outline including sense of appropriate Capstone Experience(s).  Include a separate page of course numbers and descriptions.
6. Signed Faculty Signature Page

Student Initiated Proposals: 
Example: Urban Design (Art & Design + Geography)

1. Title Page
2. Student presenter
3. Name of faculty advisors
4. Statement of Purpose or Rationale for proposed concentration within MDST major.
5. Statement of Purpose or Rationale.
   Items to identify:
   • Yourself.
   • Your current standing and status at the University. (major, number of credit hours earned, expected graduation date, etc.)
   • Your personal career goals or professional pursuits
   • Explain the elements of the curriculum. Why this MDST curriculum? What content areas are included?
   • Explain how the proposed concentration relates to professional goals—be specific to courses included in the curriculum.
   • If known, discuss the nature of the Capstone Experience (internship, research seminar, etc.)
6. MDST Curriculum & Course Outline including sense of appropriate capstone experience(s). Include a separate page of course numbers and descriptions.
7. Signed Student Signature Page
8. Current DARS or transcript
9. Identify "Core One" and "Core Two" subject areas
10. Indicate courses completed to date

The proposed curriculum comprises a maximum of 39 credits of course work in the major.  It is further divided into three constituent parts, with the remaining credits used to meet the General Education requirements and elective credits. 

• (Thursday) September 26th
• (Thursday) October 24th
• (Thursday) November 21st
• (Thursday) December 5th (if necessary)

Below are the forms that must be completed as part of the Multidisciplinary Studies major.  Please download and print these forms for your appointment with the MDST Faculty Coordinator. These forms will serve as guides during your meeting.  

Proposal Checklist(s):

• Student Proposal Checklist
• Faculty Proposal Checklist

Curriculum Course Outline(s):

• Individualized Curriculum & Course Outline
• Digital Journalism
• Sports Journalism
• Entertainment Technology

Signature Page(s):

• Student Signature Page
• Faculty Signature Page

MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Nakeiha Primus, Ph.D
Associate Professor in
Educational Foundations

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PROGRAM ADVISOR

Role of the Academic Advisor... In addition to working closely with the Coordinator, every student in the major will be assigned an academic advisor(s) with expertise in the proposed concentration of study. With careful guidance and academic advisement, the designated faculty advisor will aid the student in tailoring their studies to blend their academic strengths to their career goals.
 

DIGITAL JOURNALISM

Dr. Caleb Corkery
English Dept.
Chryst Hall
717-871-7387
Caleb.Corkery@millersville.edu

Dr. Robert Spicer
Communication & Theatre Dept.
Hash/Bassler Building
717-871-4728
Robert.Spicer@millersville.edu

SPORTS JOURNALISM

Dr. Daniel Keefer
Wellness and Sport Sciences
Byerly Hall 
717-871-4218
Daniel.Keefer@millersville.edu

Dr. Caleb Corkery
English Dept.
Chryst Hall
717-871-7387
Caleb.Corkery@millersville.edu

ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY

Dr. Barry David
Applied Engineering, Safety & Technology
Osburn Hall
717-871-7221
Barry.David@millersville.edu

Prof. Victor Capecce
Communication & Theatre
Hash/Bassler Building
717-871-7568
Victor.Capecce@millersville.edu

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CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

The Curriculum Committee is comprised of nine faculty members from across the University.

Role of the Curriculum Committee ...  Their role is to examine the final draft of your proposal to ensure that is aligned with the MDST guidelines and vote on whether to approve the proposal.