Online Master in
Interdisciplinary Studies

What We Offer

  • Same tuition for in-state and out-of-state students
  • One of the most affordable degrees in the country
  • Tuition 33% lower than the national average
  • Finish in as few as 12 Months

Give us a call: 435-865-8665

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Online Programs are Starting Soon!

Spring Start: 1/8/25
Apply By: 1/1/25
Summer Start: 5/12/25
Apply By: 5/5/25

Program Overview

The online Master of Interdisciplinary Studies (MIS) allows you to create a master's degree that matches your unique needs. Designed for flexibility, this program allows you to select three distinct areas of study that match your personal passions and career objectives.

Built for those with busy schedules, the MIS offers multiple start dates and 7-week* courses to help you earn your degree in as few as 12 months.

*7-week courses not available in all learning blocks.

With the ability to choose from 19 learning blocks, you can create a degree that will help you stand out. Our introductory and capstone courses will prepare you to market yourself and the unique skills your MIS degree can bring to professional opportunities. If you've earned previous graduate credit at another accredited institution, you may be able to transfer credits into the MIS degree through the General Studies learning block with the approval of the MIS Program Director. Explore our program concentrations below.

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Job Outlook

Concentration Blocks

How it Works:

Concentration Block #1 + Concentration Block #2 + Concentration Block #3 = Graduation Cap Icon

Arts Administration

Develop the skills needed to advocate for art with civic, business, state, and federal agencies and learn what it means to be a leader in an arts organization.

Students must first meet with the Arts Administration Program Director for permission to take this learning block. Students can study up to 12 credits (the fourth course will count toward the General Studies Learning Block). AA courses are offered online and face-to-face and are full semester in length.

Business Administration

Advance your leadership skills, plus learn how to approach and solve business problems in our AACSB accredited business courses.

Students must first complete BA 6000 before they take any other business administration course. In some cases, and by permission from the School of Business, BA 6000 may be waived if a student studied business as an undergraduate from an AACSB-accredited institution and substituted with one of the other Business Administration Learning Block courses. Business courses are online and face-to-face and are 7 weeks in length.

Select Two of the Following

Contemporary Animal Services Leadership (CASL)

Learn how to fundraise, manage, and lead in an animal services organization.

Students may select 9 credits (one learning block) or 18 credits (two learning blocks) from the following courses. Students must take INDS 6414 - Foundations of Contemporary Animal Services Leadership (CASL) before they take any CASL electives. Students must first take BA 6000 before FIN 6100 or MGMT 6100. For Best Friends Animal Society Executive Leadership Certification (ELC) program graduates, select 9 credits from the following courses. CASL courses are online and face-to-face and are 7 weeks in length.

CASL Electives

Select 6 or 15 credits from the following:

Creative Writing

ENGL courses are offered online and are full semester in length.

Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

Gain an understanding of the foundation of Cybersecurity & Information Assurance.

Students may take three CSIA courses from the courses offered to MIS students. They must first take CSIA 6000 - Foundations of Cyber Security & Information Assurance before they take any other CSIA course unless they have permission from the CSIA program director. CSIA courses are available online and are full semester in length.

Select Two of the Following

Education

Gain a deep understanding of what it means to be creative in education, how to meet the needs of culturally diverse school populations, and how to apply technology in education.

Students may select 9 credits (one learning block) or 18 credits (two learning blocks) from the following courses. Five of the eight EDUC courses are only offered summer semester. EDUC courses are offered online and are full semester in length.

General Studies

This learning block is specifically designed for those transferring in an academic discipline that SUU’s MIS degree does not include. There is no curriculum attached to this course. It is solely for the purpose of course substitutions for transfer courses. Alternatively, students may create their own 6- or 9-credit learning block. These courses are offered online and are 7-weeks or full semester in length.

Education

Gain a deep understanding of what it means to be creative in education, how to meet the needs of culturally diverse school populations, and how to apply technology in education.

Students may select 9 credits (one learning block) or 18 credits (two learning blocks) from the following courses. Five of the eight EDUC courses are only offered summer semester. EDUC courses are offered online and are full semester in length.

Leadership Studies

Discover what it means to be a leader and develop your personal leadership style.

Select 9 credits from this learning block. These courses are online and are 7 weeks in length.

Music Technology

Develop a deep understanding of the technology and hardware behind audio recording, notation, and music promotion.

Students must first take MUSC 6103 before any other MUSC course. Courses are online and are 7 weeks in length.

Select Two of the Following

National Parks and Public Lands

The purpose of the this Learning Block is to provide students who have an interest in parks and public lands a foundation in history, stewardship (through archaeological stewardship), and current interdisciplinary practices, policies, and issues. This block serves as a foundation for an MIS degree focusing on public land leadership in which students will gain an understanding of National Park history, the importance of archeological stewardship, and an introduction to the interdisciplinary management of parks and public lands. This is a hybrid learning block (i.e., one week of the semester will be dedicated to master naturalist, site steward, and interpretive training. For this portion of the course, students would be housed at the SUU Mountain Center. All remaining coursework will be online and are full semester in length.).

Non-Profit Management

Learn how to manage, fundraise, and grant write for a non-profit.

Courses are online and are 7 weeks in length.

Online Teaching and Course Design

Learn the guiding principles behind online course development, design, and assessment.

For this Learning Block, students must take the INDS courses in numeric order. Courses are online and are 7 weeks in length.

Public Administration

Learn the fundamentals of administrative law, public sector economics, and public human resources management.

Students must first take PADM 6000 before they take any other PADM course. Courses are online and face-to-face and are full semester in length.

Select Two of the Following

School Library

Develop key skills needed for library media teachers.

Students may select either 9 or 18 credits from the following courses. Students who complete all 18 credits will not need to complete another learning block and will also be eligible to receive a Utah School Library endorsement. Students must take LM 6100 either concurrently with or before other LM courses. Courses are online and full semester and are 7 weeks in length.

Social Media and Public Relations

Learn how to strategically use major social media platforms and how to communicate in a crisis.

COMM 6210 and 6230 are online and face-to-face and are 7 weeks in length. INDS 6211 is online and is 7 weeks in length.

Special Education

Students may select 9 credits (one learning block) or 18 credits (two learning blocks) from the following courses. Students must first complete SPED 6100 before any other SPED course. Courses are online and face-to-face and are full semester in length.

Note: Students do not receive a SPED endorsement from this Learning Block.

Select Two of the Following (6 Credits)

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Students must first complete TESL 6010 and 6030 before taking TESL 6890. Courses are online and face-to-face and are 7 weeks and full semester in length.

Note: Students do not receive a TESOL endorsement from this Learning Block.

Writing and Rhetoric

ENGL courses are offered online and are full semester in length.

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Let's GO Master's Degree Scholarship

The cost of a master's degree at Southern Utah University is already 33% less than the national average.

It's about to get even more affordable.

SUU has created the Let's GO Scholarship to help students begin their master's education. This one-time scholarship provides assistance for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025. It covers up to $1000 per semester for a maximum of 2 semesters when you start Fall 2024. SUU Online anticipates high demand for this scholarship. Funds are limited, apply as soon as possible. Submitting the scholarship application does not guarantee an award.

Learn More and Apply for Let's GO