By realigning academic departments, Truman is poised to build new programs that draw from the knowledge and skills of faculty members.
Starting this fall, Truman will operate under its biggest academic reorganization in nearly 20 years, with three distinct schools comprised of 18 departments. Since the 1980s, the University has operated with some version of schools or divisions overseeing subsets of majors. This new iteration is a reorganization based on current enrollment and staffing needs, while also creating new disciplinary bridges across existing majors and programs.
“Academic reorganization is a critical and organic part of sustaining a university’s academic drive,” said Eric Freedman, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “At Truman, we have pursued this work from a position of strength that honors our commitment to the liberal arts and sciences, as well as a broad range of professional fields. And we have pursued this work by drawing on the skills and expertise of our faculty while aligning with the needs and interests of our students and the world beyond our walls.”
While a forward-looking curriculum is an intended byproduct of the reorganization, it is important to note all existing programs will remain intact, no majors will be eliminated, no requirements will be changed and no personnel will be dismissed. Some programs may be shifted into different departments and possibly physically relocated on campus. Depending on the circumstances related to particular departments, the position of chair may change. Nothing related to the reorganization affects current students’ ability to graduate on their established timelines and with their desired degrees.
“Our students need to be able to construct a vision of the world and their place in it, and we believe creating stronger disciplinary bridges within newly aligned academic units will allow us to realize this honorable goal,” Freedman said. “The exciting aspect of this reorganization is creating new affinities within and across clusters of academic fields that better reflect the type of knowledge sharing and interdisciplinary collaboration that are so critical to answering big questions.”
All of Truman’s 72 degree offerings – including undergraduate majors and graduate programs – can be found under the School of Arts and Humanities, the School of Science and Mathematics, or the School of Business and Professional Studies. Each school has its own dean and associate dean.
More information about the academic reorganization, including an FAQ section, can be found at reorganization.truman.edu. Details on specific degrees can be found at catalog.truman.edu.
Truman schools and academic departments starting July 1, 2024
School of Arts and Humanities
• Art and Design
• Communication and Theatre Arts
• English
• Languages and Linguistics
• Music
• Social Sciences and Human Inquiry
School of Science and Mathematics
• Agricultural and Biological Sciences
• Computer and Data Sciences
• Health Science
• Mathematics
• Physical Sciences
School of Business and Professional Studies
• Business and Economics
• Communication Disorders
• Education
• Exercise Science
• Military Science
• Nursing
• Psychology and Counseling