*Middle Tennessee State University opened on September 11, 1911. MTSU is an HBCU public research university in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
One of the earliest calls for a normal school in America was in 1855 when a politician from Wilson County, Tennessee, sought to build a normal school in Lebanon, Tennessee. Education efforts collapsed shortly after the breakout of the American Civil War. Later, state superintendents and teachers traveled around the state, giving speeches about the need for teacher preparation. In 1909, the Tennessee General Assembly moved to establish three teacher-training institutions, one in each of the state's grand divisions.
Middle Tennessee State Normal School (MTSNS or MTNS) opened with a two-year program for training teachers. By 1925, it evolved into a four-year teachers' college with the power to grant the Bachelor of Science degree, and the institution's name became Middle Tennessee State Teachers College. The university consists of eight undergraduate colleges and a college of graduate studies, offering more than 300 degree programs through more than 35 departments. It is an "R2: University." In 1936, the Bachelor of Arts program was added.
In 1943, the General Assembly designated the institution a state college, changing its name for the second time to Middle Tennessee State College. This new status marked a sharp departure from the founding purpose and expanded curricular offerings and programs. In 1965, the institution was advanced to university status, changing its name to Middle Tennessee State University. Their Graduate School was established in 1951. The schools' concept was introduced in 1962, the Doctor of Arts program was added in 1970, and the Specialist in Education in 1974. These degree programs became attractive centerpieces for other efforts to improve and enhance institutional roles. Library resources increased, and computer services were developed to aid instruction and administration. A highly trained faculty enabled the university to continue growth in program offerings.
In 1986, James McGill Buchanan ('40) became the first M.T. alumnus to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. The MTSU Honors College has named a full-tuition fellowship after James Buchanan; this honor is given to 20 students each year who take specialized courses through the Honors College. In 1991, the university's six schools—five undergraduate and the graduate school—became colleges. In 1998, MTSU's Honors program became the Honors College, the first in the state. In 2002, three D.A. programs were added to the Doctor of Philosophy program.
Ph.D. offerings now include computational sciences, mathematics, science education, molecular biosciences, economics, English, human performance, public history, and literacy studies. Before 2017, MTSU was governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents and part of the State University and Community College System of Tennessee. In 2017, governance was transferred to an institutional board of trustees. MTSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. MTSU athletics programs compete intercollegiate in the NCAA Division I as a member of Conference USA.
