Maryville College adds several new majors and minors to its academic catalog for the fall semester
July 15, 2025
With more than 70 programs of study already part of the Maryville College curriculum, administrators and faculty members have announced additions to the course catalog that give Scots even more program of study options.
At the same time, the new academic concentrations — Biomedical Sciences; a new Interdisciplinary major designed to allow students to craft their own unique areas of academic concentration, in addition to a new track, or specialized focus, for an existing degree (a mental health track for American Sign Language and Deaf Studies); a licensure path for ASL and Deaf Studies that provides graduates with a license to teach in the State of Tennessee; and new minors in Finance and Event Management and Design — will continue to be anchored by the College’s liberal arts framework, said Dr. Liz Perry-Sizemore, vice president and dean of the College.
“Our new majors and minors emphasize interdisciplinarity while responding to student interest and employer needs,” she said. “They will prepare our graduates to be nimble and necessary leaders in a wide variety of fields. I’m incredibly impressed by the ways Maryville College faculty collaborated to create these new opportunities for students.
“Our faculty are extremely creative and deeply interested in student outcomes. The ways they partnered across divisions and programs to create these new initiatives speak to their commitment to educating students broadly. When we envision a faculty member, we think about someone who teaches, mentors, advises and engages in scholarship or creative activity in their discipline.
“There’s work that is less visible but extremely important to the student experience, too, and that includes the work of developing new majors and minors,” she added.
The creation of new majors and minors comes from individuals or groups among the faculty who recognize needs by interested students that have yet to be addressed, Perry-Sizemore said. Often, undergraduates find themselves drawn to various academic disciplines that, while stimulating, aren’t quite the right fit. When enough interest manifests, faculty members begin by identifying existing courses that can serve as the academic framework of a new major that better fits that interest.
“They identify what existing courses can serve that major and propose new courses where needed,” she said. “That proposal is forwarded to the dean of the College and the Academic Life Council for review. Those individuals read the proposal and typically meet with one or more of its authors or a division chair to discuss the proposal and consider refinements if needed.
“If the Academic Life Council supports the proposal, they take it to a faculty meeting for a vote. If approved by the majority of faculty members, the new majors are then sent for approval by the (Maryville College) Board of Directors.”
All of the new programs of study will be open to enrollment by prospective students beginning in August, with the start of the 2025-26 academic year.
ASL and Deaf Studies with Licensure major
The Tennessee Department of Education approved the licensure track for the ASL and Deaf Studies major earlier this month, and faculty members in the Division of Education and the Division of Behavioral Sciences are in the process of recruiting students into the program for the coming academic year, according to Dr. Cynthia Gardner, professor of education and chair of the MC Division of Education.
The approval means that Maryville College will be the first private institution to offer ASL licensure in the South, said Stephanie Proctor, assistant professor of ASL at Maryville College.
“The development of this track began with a clear and growing need: school districts across the country, including right here in Tennessee, are struggling to find qualified ASL teachers for middle and high schools to meet the high demands,” Proctor said. “As ASL continues to be recognized as a legitimate world language that satisfies graduation requirements, the demand for credentialed teachers has increased significantly. ASL is the third most frequently used language in the U.S. and Canada.
“Earlier this year, Dr. Gardner and I assessed this need in collaboration with local school systems, state licensure officials, and our education department. We also reviewed world language state standards, looked at models from other institutions, and consulted with MC alumni who expressed interest in teaching ASL. Ultimately, we found that the curriculum adjustments necessary to support licensure were very doable — and that we were already well-positioned with strong coursework in ASL, deaf studies, and education.
“It’s a natural expansion that honors both student interest and regional workforce needs,” she added.
The licensure track, which permits graduates to teach ASL in grades 6-12, combines coursework from the existing ASL and Deaf Studies and Education majors, Proctor added, and those pursuing it will still be required to complete the core requirements in ASL, Deaf culture, linguistics, and Deaf culture and history. At the same time, they’ll also take a series of education courses that align with Tennessee’s state certification requirements for teaching world languages, including classes in pedagogy, assessment and classroom management, as well as a semester of student teaching.
“Our goal is to integrate this in a way that allows most students to finish in four years with careful planning,” Proctor said. “Students currently in the ASL and Deaf Studies major may be able to transition into the licensure track if they’re early enough in their academic journey.”
At the same time, Gardner added, a post-baccalaureate pathway is available for Scots who have completed an undergraduate degree in ASL and Deaf Studies. This pathway is designed for working adults looking to complete the coursework needed for initial licensure, she said.
Because ASL is so much more than simply a language — it’s a part of a “rich cultural and societal identity,” Proctor added — careful preparation has to go into building a degree track that does more than meet licensure requirements. Scots who complete it, she said, will have a full contextual understanding that ensures they’ve learned, and can teach, ASL in ways that are “respectful, accurate and inclusive of Deaf ways of being.”
Already, MC’s reputation as a college with a robust ASL program has made it the go-to institution in the Southeast for those seeking a career in fields that assist, support and promote the Deaf community. The ASL-English Interpreting program celebrated its 50th anniversary during the 2024-25 academic year, and “with the addition of the licensure track, we’re combining that deep cultural and linguistic knowledge with teacher preparation — something that very few programs in the region offer,” Proctor said.
“We’re excited about the possibilities this opens up — not just for our students, but for the Deaf community and school systems who are eager to see more qualified, culturally competent ASL teachers in classrooms,” she added.
ASL and Deaf Studies (Mental Health track) major
As with the licensure track, the new mental health area of focus will take the ASL and Deaf Studies program and combine it with elements of psychology to produce future providers and advocates of mental health care for the Deaf community.
The need, Proctor said, is great: For almost two decades, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) and other advocacy organizations have called for greater access to “mental health services that are both culturally affirming and linguistically accessible for Deaf individuals.” As far back as 2008, she pointed out, the NAD was sounding the alarm over the “acute shortage of qualified mental health clinicians fluent in ASL” and emphasized that a major barrier to training bilingual clinicians is the lack of programs specifically geared toward serving the Deaf population.
“We began assessing this gap through conversations with Deaf community members, alumni, interpreting agencies and mental health providers,” Proctor said. “The feedback was clear: More Deaf leaders and signing professionals are needed in behavioral health roles. From there, we evaluated what curriculum adjustments would be needed. We found that a focused track — rather than a full new major — could prepare students for this pathway without requiring an extensive program overhaul. It was a strategic yet manageable expansion, aligning naturally with our program’s interdisciplinary and social justice mission.
“This was a collaborative effort initiated by our ASL and Deaf Studies program team and supported by Psychology, informed by both student interest and input from Deaf professionals in counseling, psychology, and interpreting. The community here in this region has voiced the need and was especially influential in shaping the track, ensuring it reflects both community needs and real workforce opportunities. We have a strong partnership with Knoxville Center for the Deaf (KCD) and Disability Rights Tennessee. Both are what inspired us in this field.”
According to the description of the new program of study, ASL and Deaf Studies majors with a mental health focus directly address the gap in providers of such care, although it’s not only for future clinicians, Proctor said. Through class work and hands-on training, graduates of the ASL and Deaf Studies (Mental Health Track) program will be trained how to “remove barriers and promote equity in health services, creating professionals who are well-prepared for entry-level roles in social services and behavioral health or for graduate programs in counseling, social work, and psychology,” according to the course description.
“This track is Deaf-centered. We are designing it with Deaf professionals at the table, and we are mindful of intersectionality, including Deaf people of color, Deaf LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with multiple marginalized identities,” Proctor said. “But it’s not just for future clinicians. Students interested in advocacy, education, public health, or policy can also benefit. This track helps shape culturally competent leaders who can advocate for systemic change.”
“Within the Department of Psychology, MC offers a number of diverse majors and specialized paths, including Psychology, Neuroscience, Psychology-Counseling and Developmental Psychology,” added Dr. Crystal Colter, professor of psychology and chair of the Division of Behavioral Sciences, “and the addition of a mental health track to ASL and Deaf Studies makes for both a good fit and another feather in the division’s cap, allowing students with an interest in mental health to pursue that area interest within the larger framework of the American Sign Language and Deaf Studies degree.
“We are delighted that the new ASL and Deaf Studies with Mental Health track will now offer a uniquely integrated major for those interested in ASL and Deaf Studies but also wanting foundational knowledge in psychology and mental health that prepares graduates for careers and graduate education supporting mental health across diverse communities.”
The job possibilities for those who earn such a degree, both faculty members pointed out, are plentiful, from work as Deaf mental health advocates or Deaf school counselors to mental health private practitioners who cater to Deaf clients and more. In addition, opportunities abound to use the degree as a springboard into post-graduate studies.
“Whether your goal is to enter the workforce directly or pursue graduate education in counseling, social work, or related fields, this track is designed to equip you with the skills and cultural understanding to serve the mental health needs of the Deaf community,” Proctor added.
Biomedical Sciences
Offered as both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS), the new degree program in Biomedical Sciences evolved out of a need for a more specialized degree path for students whose career desires weren’t adequately met by existing course offerings, according to Dr. Jennifer Brigati, professor of biology and chair of the Division of Natural Sciences.
“The Biomedical Sciences BA was designed with pre-physician assistant students in mind, although students with other career goals in health or laboratory science may also find it beneficial,” Brigati said. “This major incorporates typical prerequisites of PA school, such as Introductory Cell Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, General and Organic Chemistry, and Medical Terminology. We’ve had many students go to PA school after completing degrees in Biology, Biochemistry, or Exercise Science, but this new major will allow more of the required prerequisites to count toward their major, potentially freeing up some room for a minor, electives, or study abroad.
“We also think that the Biomedical Sciences BA, coupled with a minor in Marketing, would be ideal for the student pursuing a career in medical sales. The BS in Biomedical Sciences is ideal for students intending to go on to graduate programs in Biomedical Sciences, optometry school, or careers in clinical laboratory science or research.”
As with other degree programs that offer both BS and BA options, a bachelor of arts in Biomedical Sciences will require fewer science courses than a BS. While both only require one semester of Organic Chemistry, Brigati said, the BS option requires Biochemistry and two additional physical science or math courses. In contrast, the BA allows students to choose between Biochemistry and Animal Physiology and does not require any additional physical science or math courses. Ultimately, according to the course description, by combining existing course offerings in Biology, Chemistry and Exercise Science to create the major, it will prepare students for health science fields and clinical work after graduation.
“This major brings together courses from two or three divisions because that is what will best serve our students,” Brigati said. “We’re hopeful that we’ll all be in the same building (in the previously announced Alexander Institute) in a few years, and it will be even easier for us to collaborate.
“The major is available for students to declare beginning this fall, and while students would ideally declare this major in their first year, current sophomores and possibly juniors in related majors (Biology, Biochemistry or Exercise Science, for example) should meet with their advisors to explore a new degree plan if they would like to switch to one of the Biomedical Sciences majors.”
Interdisciplinary major
Also available beginning this fall: The new Interdisciplinary major, not to be confused with the Individualized Studies major, which continues to exist.
“We have always had an Individualized Studies major, which combines two areas of study in a plan developed by the student, advisors in both areas, and approved by the Individualized Instruction Committee,” said Dr. Sharon May, professor of economics and chair of the Division of Social Sciences, as well as of the Individualized Instruction Committee. “We’ve had a handful of students pursue that in recent years — Adrian Pierce ’25, for example (Psychology and Philosophy), and Realynn Lanagan ’24, who majored in Biology and Hospitality and Regional Identity.
“The new Interdisciplinary major adds the option of a third area of specialization and increases the number of credits required with some additional structure for the number of 300-level courses in each area. Our intention was to replace the Individualized Studies major, but for now, they will coexist.”
The Interdisciplinary major will be an effective program of study for potential students who fall in love with MC, despite not finding a path for their specific areas of academic interest. One such student, May said, wants to combine elements of both Biology and Health and Wellness Promotion and is awaiting committee approval this fall; other students who realize halfway through their MC careers that they want to pursue another program of study but still want to graduate on time.
“They find they won’t be able to complete their initial choice of major and don’t have time to completely switch to a new major,” she said. “So, a blend makes sense that allows students to take what they have done in one field and combine it with additional work in another to graduate in a timely manner with a set of courses that make sense for their goals.”
The Interdisciplinary major may also serve as an ideal entry point for transfer students who come to MC with a set of courses already under their belts “and need to combine previous work with our offerings to end up with a meaningful degree in a limited amount of time,” May added.
Students interested in an Interdisciplinary major begin the process by obtaining proposal forms from the Registrar’s office and preparing them before meeting with faculty members in both the major and secondary (and, in some cases, tertiary) areas of specialization to discuss the proposals and receive approval. The proposals will then be submitted to the College’s Individualized Study Committee for consideration.
After review and consulting with the necessary division chairs, the committee may recommend revisions before filing the plan with the Registrar’s Office as that student’s official course of study. As more students take an interest in the new major, May said, the more useful it may become for faculty members across campus.
“I think all the discussion among the faculty about these majors has reminded people that we have this option, and has gotten us thinking about when they might be helpful for our students,” she said. “In the past, (Registrar) Lisa Vitale was the champion of the Individualized major, suggesting it to students who had course collections that did not fit a traditional major and who had gotten bogged down. Hopefully, now all of us can have this ready to use for students to benefit from alternative paths.”
Event Management and Design minor
As the College’s Hospitality and Regional Identity program continues to grow, a new minor in Event Management and Design is the latest offering under the College’s hospitality banner.
“Students will delve into various dimensions of event management, encompassing communication, design, business and cultural studies, utilizing their critical thinking abilities,” the proposal for the new minor states. “Beyond learning essential organizational skills needed, the minor also encourages students to examine events through broader social, historical, and cultural aspects related to the Appalachian region.”
Consisting of a minimum of 18 hours in business and related fields, the new minor will give students a well-rounded education in event planning and promotion that pairs well with pre-existing majors like Art or Health and Wellness Promotion, May said.
“While students won’t be able to combine the Hospitality and Regional Identity major and the Event Management and Design minor — there’s just too much overlap — this is something we have been working on in various ways for years with interest from our colleagues in the Division of Fine Arts, as well as those in Athletics who are very interested in sport event management,” May said.
Finance minor
In crafting a rationale for proposing the new Finance minor, professors in the Division of Social Sciences pointed out it would “provide students an opportunity to acquire essential financial knowledge and skills that are in high demand across various fields, while also being personally practical. Students will explore key areas of finance, including investment strategies, corporate finance, financial markets, and risk management, while sharpening their analytical and critical thinking abilities.”
A grant from the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) in spring 2023 provided seed money to develop the minor, as well as to reintroduce a Personal Finance course into the College’s core curriculum that will be introduced soon, said Dr. Sarah Clinton, associate professor of finance at Maryville College.
“This minor reflects a growing recognition of the importance of financial literacy across all fields,” she said. “It’s designed to be interdisciplinary and accessible. By adding this minor, Maryville College is providing students with meaningful, career-relevant skills in financial analysis, investing, and personal financial management. It also supports the College’s mission to prepare graduates for lives of citizenship and leadership in a complex, rapidly changing world.”
The new minor — again, not available for pairing with the College’s Finance/Accounting major because of too much overlap — will be available starting this fall and will consist of 18 hours in business and related fields.
“The coursework emphasizes both theory and real-world application, equipping students with tools to navigate both professional and personal financial decisions,” Clinton said. “It focuses on finance-related content, making it a strong complement for students pursuing other majors who want to build financial literacy or enter fields where financial understanding is valuable — without the technical or mechanical depth of the upper-level accounting coursework.
“It’s ideal for students in fields like business, economics, political science, or even the sciences and humanities who anticipate financial decision-making as part of their professional lives.”