Interdisciplinary Studies

First Year Experience Program

Courses

University Experience

• UE 0100 - The University Experience

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  Fall, Spring & Summer 1 Credit Hour
  UE 100 is required for all degree-seeking students having completed fewer than 30 credit hours. UE 100 is a fundamentals course designed to assist first-year students in successfully defining themselves both as active participants in the MSSU community and as citizens of a twenty-first century global community. The course offers information on university personnel, services, facilities, policies, study skills, and MSSU’s international programs and international study opportunities. Student participation in co-curricular activities is required.
• UE 0105 - Career and Life Planning

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  Fall, Spring & Summer 2 Credit Hours
  This course is designed to assist students in the career planning process. A primary objective of this course is to learn and practice systematic approaches to career planning and decision-making. To assist in this process, strategies for decision-making and goal setting will be discussed. Students will go on a personal journey to take a closer look at their personality and how their personality, wants, values and decision-making strategies affect how they choose a major or career. Recommended for all undecided majors and open to any students.
• UE 0400 - Leadership Training I

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  Spring 1 Credit Hour
  Leadership Training I is a semester-long, one-credit hour course designed to prepare students to serve as course assistants for the UE 0100   course. In Leadership Training I, students develop familiarity with issues, materials, resources, and methods relevant to assist them in mentoring first-year students enrolled in UE 100. UE 400 may be repeated for credit. UE 400 may be repeated for credit.
• UE 0401 - Leadership Training II

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  Fall, Spring & Summer 2 Credit Hours
  Leadership Training II is a semester-long, two-credit hour course for students who serve as peer mentors for the UE 0100  course. Students will receive credit for Leadership Training II for successfully assisting an instructor in teaching a UE 0100  class. UE 401 may be repeated for credit. Successful completion of the course entitles a mentor to a cash stipend. Prerequisite: UE 0400 . UE 401 may be repeated for credit.
• UE 0491 - Internship

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  3-9 Credit Hours
  Students will serve in an internship capacity at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.  Students will live in Disney housing and participate in a full-time work experience in various roles identified by Walt Disney World.  Prerequisites:  Junior standing at time of internship participation, a 2.5 cumulative gpa, have unrestricted work authorization in the United States, be at least 18 years of age, and approval of Disney Internship Director.

Honors

Programs

Certificate

• •  *NEW Honors Interdisciplinary Studies Certificate, HN90

Courses

Honors Program

• HNRS 0101 - Honors Forum

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  Fall & Spring 2 Credit Hours
  An open and interdisciplinary forum to introduce first-year Honors students to the principles and practices of scholarly inquiry and active learning. Students will read a variety of texts concerning personal and academic challenges inherent in a college environment. In doing so, they will define themselves both as students and as individuals while becoming active participants in the MSSU community and as citizens of a twenty-first century global community.
• HNRS 0201 - Service Learning

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  Fall & Spring 1-4 Credit Hours
  By engaging the Honors Scholar as a volunteer in an unfamiliar, public service-oriented institution, this course experience is designed to expose the student to the concepts of self and cognitive awareness and to lead the student through a critical analysis of the dominant paradigms of thought encountered during the service.
• HNRS 0298 - Special Topics

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  Demand 1-3 Credit Hours
  An interdisciplinary Honors course. Topics to be announced each time the course is offered and approved by the Honors Director. Emphasis on discussion, group activities and projects. Prerequisite: HNRS 0101 .
• HNRS 0400 - Research Seminar

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  Fall & Spring 3 Credit Hours
  Introduces Honors students to a wide range of research practices and methodologies in order to prepare them for their senior thesis projects. Students will be exposed to the language of research; ethical principles and challenges; the elements of the research process; research design; and a combination of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. Prerequisites: sophomore standing, good standing in the MSSU Honors Program.
• HNRS 0490 - Honors Thesis

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  Fall & Spring 1 Credit Hour
  Students will meet regularly with Honor Program faculty to assess their progress toward completing their Honors thesis projects and meeting the terms of the Honors contract they signed with their faculty mentor. Prerequisites: junior or senior standing, good standing in the MSSU Honors Program.
• HNRS 0495 - Honors Seminar

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  Demand 3 Credit Hours
  Intensive seminar course for upper-division Honors students, culminating in a substantial research paper. Topics to be announced each time the course is offered and approved by Honors Director. Prerequisite: HNRS 0101  and HNRS 0201 . Honors 495 may be repeated once for credit when topic varies.
• HNRS 0498 - Advanced Special Topics

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  Demand 1-3 Credit Hours
  An Honors course for upper-division Honors students. Topics to be announced each time the course is offered. Prerequisite: HNRS 0101  and HNRS 0201  .
• HNRS 0499 - Independent Study

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  Fall, Spring & Summer 1-3 Credit Hours
  Course structured by the instructor with approval of the Director of the Honors Program. Prerequisite: member in good standing of the Honors Program. Registration must be approved by the student’s advisor, department head and school dean.

Military Science

Programs

Minors

• •  Military Science Minor, MS80

Courses

Military Science

• GOLD 0100 - Introduction to Unit Leadership

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  3 Credit Hours
  Introduces students to foundations of the U.S. Army and the Show-Me GOLD Program. Students learn how critical thinking, time management, goal setting, and communication are critical to effective leadership. This course also provides a basic understanding of map reading, land navigation, Troop Leading Procedures, and Operations Orders. Learning Objectives are reinforced during drill weekends in a hands-on performance-oriented environment. Prerequisite: none.
• GOLD 0101 - Introduction to Tactical Leadership

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  Spring 3 Credit Hours
  Introduces students to foundations of the U.S. Army and the Show-Me GOLD Program. Students learn how critical thinking, time management, goal setting, and communication are critical to effective leadership. This course also provides a basic understanding of tactics, Troop Leading Procedures, and Operations Orders. Learning Objectives are reinforced during drill weekends in a hands-on performance-oriented environment. Prerequisite: none.
• GOLD 0201 - Intermediate Unit Leadership

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  Fall 3 Credit Hours
  This course provides an in depth examination of map reading and land navigation.  It also explains how to convey a plan via an Operations Order.  It also explores communication techniques including military correspondence, verbal and nonverbal communication, and team development.  Students will examine what it means to be a professional in the U.S. Army in regards to leadership and ethics.  Learning Objectives are reinforced during drill weekends in a hands-on performance-oriented environment.   Two hours of lecture weekly with required drills and field experiences. Prerequisite: GOLD 0101  or Experiential Learning credit (Current National Guard or previous active duty may qualify for experiential learning).
• GOLD 0202 - Intermediate Tactical Leadership

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  Spring 3 Credit Hours
  This course provides an in-depth examination of thorough planning utilizing the Troop Leading Procedures and backwards planning.  It also explores how to convey a plan via an Operations Order.  It also explains the fundamentals of offensive operations.  Learning Objectives are reinforced during drill weekends in a hands-on performance-oriented environment. Two hours of lecture weekly with required drills and field experiences. Pre-requisite GOLD 0201  or Experiential Learning credit (Current National Guard or previous active duty may qualify for experiential learning).
• GOLD 0230 - Military History

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  3 Credit Hours
  Explores the military history of the United States of America. Students will analyze the value of military history the principles of war on modern and future battlefields. Students will also explore the strategy, tactics, and technologies from the Revolutionary War to Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Prerequisites: None
• GOLD 0298 - Topics in Military Science

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  3 Credit Hours
  Designed to give instruction in some area of Military Science not covered in other courses. Course provides a study of Military Leadership through a focused analysis of a particular military leader, using the Army Leadership Requirements Model, assigned readings, forum discussions and a final paper. The topic or area of interest varies from year to year. Prerequisites: GOLD 0101  and/or consent of the instructor.
• GOLD 0301 - Advanced Unit Leadership

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  Fall 3 Credit Hours
  Explores advanced leadership at the unit level.  Topics include Risk Management, Military Problem Solving, Troop Leading Procedures, Backwards Planning, Operations Orders, Communication Techniques, Team Development, and Ethics.  Learning Objectives are reinforced during drill weekends in a hands-on performance-oriented environment. Two hours of lecture weekly with required drills and field experiences. Pre-requisite GOLD 0202  or Experiential Learning credit (Current National Guard or previous active duty may qualify for experiential learning).
• GOLD 0302 - Advanced Tactical Leadership

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  Spring 3 Credit Hours
  Explores advanced level tactical operations and how leaders can apply their traits and attributes to achieve their mission.  Tactical operations topics include the offense, the defense, stability operations, and defense support to civil authorities.  This course also heavily emphasizes military history and military justice processes.  Learning Objectives are reinforced during drill weekends in a hands-on performance-oriented environment.   Two hours of lecture weekly with required drills and field experiences. Pre-requisite GOLD 0301  or Experiential Learning Credit.
• GOLD 0401 - Platoon Leadership

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  Fall 3 Credit Hours
  Highlights the multiple dimensions of Platoon Leader responsibilities to include proper roles and responsibilities, practical risk management, Army evaluations, personal career management, and the Army communications and coordination processes.  It explores the Army Inspection programs and explains how to properly manage and conduct inventories as a Platoon Leader.  It also analyzes conducting investigations. Learning Objectives are reinforced during drill weekends in a hands-on performance-oriented environment. Two hours of lecture weekly with required drills and field experiences. Pre-requisite  GOLD 0302  
• GOLD 0402 - Company and Staff Leadership

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  Spring 3 Credit Hours
  Highlights the multiple dimensions of Company and Staff level leader responsibilities.  It will introduce students to Army systems, their capabilities, and how to apply their use to the Army Training Management Process.  It will also provide a deep exploration of the Military Decision Making Process.  Learning Objectives are reinforced during drill weekends in a hands-on performance-oriented environment. Two hours of lecture weekly with required drills and field experiences. Pre-requisite   GOLD 0401 .
• GOLD 0491 - Internship in Military Science

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  1-3 Credit Hours
  In conference with an internship committee one half of a semester in advance, the student shall select to work and observe in any area of applied leadership in which on-the-job experience would be beneficial to the student’s training. Prerequisites: GOLD 101, junior or senior, and/or consent of the instructor. Course can be repeated up to six credit hours. Student will complete 120 work hours with assigned position for 3 academic credit hours.
• GOLD 0498 - Advanced Topics in Military Science

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  3 Credit Hours
  Designed to give advanced instruction in some area of Military Science not covered in other courses. Course provides a study of Military Leadership through a focused analysis of a particular military leader, using the Army Leadership Requirements Model, assigned readings, forum discussions and a final paper. The topic or area of interest varies from year to year. Prerequisites: GOLD 101, GOLD 201, GOLD 202 and GOLD 298 and/or consent of the instructor.
• GOLD 0499 - Independent Study in Military Science

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  1-3 Credit Hours
  Study and research by the student under the direction and supervision of instructor/advisor with prior approval by department chair and school dean. Prerequisites:GOLD 0101  , junior or senior status and/or consent of instructor. Repeatable up to six credit hours.