2024-25 Academic Catalog

General Education Requirements

General Education Requirements - Numbers and Course Titles

NOTE: Students must check course descriptions of General Education classes for prerequisites and/or grade requirements.
NOTE: Honors sections may be available in selected courses.

English Composition - Freshman level (6 hours)

EN 1103English Composition I3
or EN 1104 Expanded English Composition I
EN 1113English Composition II3
or EN 1173 Accelerated Composition II

Students with ACT English sub-scores of 28 or higher may enroll in EN 1173 Accelerated Composition II. Those students earning a C or higher in EN 1173 will also receive an “S” (credit) in EN 1103 English Composition I. Those students who earn less than a C in EN 1173 must complete the EN 1103/EN 1113 sequence.

Similarly, those students who have been admitted to the Shackouls Honors College and have an ACT-E sub-score of 32 or higher may enroll in Honors EN 1113H, Honors Composition II. After earning a C or higher in Honors EN 1113H , these students will receive an “S” (credit) in EN 1103 English Composition I. Those students who earn less than a C in Honors EN 1113H must complete the EN 1103/EN 1113 sequence.

Quantitative Reasoning (3 hours)

MA 1213Math in Your World3
MA 1323Trigonometry (fulfills second mathematics only with credit for college algebra)3
MA 1413Structure of the Real Number System (Designed primarily for special and elementary education majors.)3
MA 1453Precalculus3
MA 1613Calculus for Business and Life Sciences I3
MA 1713Calculus I3
MA 1723Calculus II3
MA 2733Calculus III3
MA 2743Calculus IV3
MA 2113Introduction to Statistics3
MA 3123Introduction to Statistical Inference3
ST 2113Introduction to Statistics3
ST 3123Introduction to Statistical Inference3
BQA 2113Business Statistical Methods I3

Natural Sciences (6-9 hours)

Students must complete two lab-based science courses. Check course descriptions to determine whether or not a course has a lab component.

AN 1344Biological Anthropology: The Making of Us 14
ARC 2713Environmental Building Systems I (no lab)3
BIO 1004Anatomy and Physiology 14
BIO 1023Plants and Humans 13
BIO 1123Animal Biology 13
BIO 1134Biology I 14
BIO 1144Biology II 14
BIO 2113Plant Biology 13
BIO 3103Genetics I 13
BIO 3304General Microbiology 14
CH 1043Survey of Chemistry I3
CH 1053Survey of Chemistry II3
CH 1051Experimental Chemistry (Stand-alone Lab)1
CH 1213Chemistry I3
CH 1211Investigations in Chemistry I (Stand-alone Lab)1
CH 1223Chemistry II3
CH 1221Investigations in Chemistry II (Stand-alone Lab)1
ENS 2101Introduction to Environmental Science Laboratory 11
ENS 2103Introduction to Environmental Science 13
EPP 2213Introduction to Insects3
FNH 2293Individual and Family Nutrition (no lab)3
GG 1111Earth Sciences I Laboratory1
GG 1113Survey of Earth Sciences I3
GG 1121Earth Sciences II Laboratory1
GG 1123Survey of Earth Sciences II3
GNS 3103Genetics I 13
GR 11144
GR 1604
HON 3163Honors Seminar in Natural Sciences (no lab)3
HS 2293Individual and Family Nutrition (no lab)3
PH 1013Physical Science Survey I3
PH 1011Physical Science Laboratory I1
PH 1023Physical Science Survey 23
PH 1021Physical Science Laboratory 21
PH 1063Descriptive Astronomy (no lab)3
PH 1113General Physics I3
PH 1123General Physics II3
PH 1133General Physics III3
PH 2213Physics I (no lab)3
PH 2223Physics II3
PH 2233Physics III3
PO 3103Genetics I 13
PSS 1313Plant Science 13
PSS 3301Soils Laboratory1
PSS 3303Soils3
1

all courses are considered Natural Sciences; the footnote indicates those that are classified as Life Sciences; all other courses are classified as Physical Sciences

Humanities (at least 6 hours)

AAS 1063Introduction to African American Studies3
AAS 2363Introduction to African American Literature3
AAS 3013African American History to 18653
AAS 3023African American History since 18653
ARC 2313History of Architecture I3
ARC 3313History of Architecture II3
ARC 3323History of Architecture III3
BCS 2013Construction and Culture3
EN 2203Introduction to Literature3
EN 2213English Literature Before 18003
EN 2223English Literature After 18003
EN 2243American Literature Before 18653
EN 2253American Literature After 18653
EN 2273World Literature Before 16003
EN 2283World Literature After 16003
EN 2463Literature and Popular Culture: Selected Topics3
FL 1113 Language I 13
FL 1123Language II 13
FL 2133Language III 13
FL 2143Language IV 13
HI 1003History of Science in Six Ideas3
HI 1013History of Technology in Six Objects3
HI 1063Early U.S. History3
HI 1073Modern U.S. History3
HI 1163World History Before 15003
HI 1173World History Since 15003
HI 1213Early Western World3
HI 1223Modern Western World3
HI 1313East Asian Civilizations to 13003
HI 1323East Asian Civilizations since 13003
HI 4683Europe: The First World War to Hitler3
HON 1163The Quest Begins3
HON 3183Honors Seminar in the Humanities3
PHI 1103Introduction to Philosophy3
PHI 1113Introduction to Logic3
PHI 1123Introduction to Ethics3
PHI 3023History of Western Philosophy I3
PHI 3033History of Western Philosophy II3
PHI 3153Aesthetics3
REL 1103Introduction to Religion3
REL 3213World Religions I3
REL 3223World Religions II3
1

Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, and Spanish

Fine Arts (3 hours)

AAS 1103African American Music3
ARC 1013Architectural Appreciation3
ART 1013Art History I3
ART 1023Art History II3
ART 1113Art Appreciation3
ART 2063Global Contemporary Art3
ART 2413History and Appreciation of the Artcrafts3
CO 1503Introduction to the Theatre3
HON 3173Honors Seminar in Fine Arts3
ID 3643History of Interiors I3
LA 1803Landscape Architecture Appreciation3
MU 1103African American Music3
MU 1113History and Appreciation of Music3
MU 1123History and Appreciation of American Music3
MU 1133The History of Rock and Roll3
MU 1143The History of Jazz3
MU 1163Introduction to Music in Film3
MU 1173Music of the Beatles3
MU 2173Women in Music3
MU 3013Survey of Western Music History I3
PE 1323History and Appreciation of Dance3
PSS 2343Floral Design3

Social/Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)

ADS 1013Animal Agriculture & Society: Food for Thought3
AEC 2713Introduction to Food and Resource Economics3
AN 1103Introduction to Anthropology3
AN 1143Introduction to Cultural Anthropology3
AN 1543Discovering Archaeology: Past Meets Present3
AN 2403Introduction to the Study of Language3
CO 1223Introduction to Communication Theory3
CO 1403Introduction to the Mass Media3
DSCI 2013Data Science Literacy3
EC 1033Economics of Social Issues3
EC 2113Principles of Macroeconomics3
EC 2123Principles of Microeconomics3
EN 2403Introduction to the Study of Language3
EPY 2513Human Growth and Development3
EPY 3503Principles of Educational Psychology3
EPY 3543Psychology of Adolescence3
FO 4113Forest Resource Economics3
GR 1123Introduction to World Geography3
GR 2013Human Geography3
HON 1173The West and the Wider World3
HON 3143Honors Seminar in Social Science3
HDFS 1813Individual and Family Development through the Lifespan3
PO 1013Animal Agriculture & Society: Food for Thought3
PS 1113American Government3
PS 1313Introduction to International Relations3
PS 1513Comparative Government3
PSY 1013General Psychology3
PSY 3073Psychology of Interpersonal Relations3
SO 1003Introduction to Sociology3
SO 1103Contemporary Social Problems3
SO 1203Sociology of Families3

3. General Education Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the General Education core, students will be able to:

  • develop and express their ideas in writing for given audiences in a particular rhetorical situation.
  • interpret artistic expression and engage with a creative process.
  • examine the human condition in different cultures throughout history.
  • reason and solve quantitative problems from a wide array of authentic contexts and everyday life situations.
  • apply the scientific method and theories to empirical evidence to support scientific models of the universe.
  • engage in scientific inquiry of human behavior in the context of value systems, institutions, economic structures, social groups, and/or environments.
  • evaluate issues, ideas, artifacts, and events through cross-disciplinary exploration before formulating an opinion or conclusion.
  • prepare and deliver purposeful presentations for given audiences in a particular rhetorical situation.
  • work cooperatively with others toward a common purpose through shared responsibility and mutual accountability.

 4. General Education Curriculum Assessment.

All general education courses are assessed using signature assignments and task rubrics to determine students ability to meet the learning outcomes and domain competencies.

5. Catalog Terms

Students must meet the graduation requirements stated in the MSU catalog under which they first enrolled or the graduation requirements in a subsequent catalog with approval, providing they graduate within seven years. If a student interrupts his/her enrollment at Mississippi State University for two consecutive years or longer, the graduation requirements stated in the catalog under which the student resumes enrollment apply. Students changing majors or programs must meet the requirements listed in the catalog that is current at the time they make such changes. Students may request fulfilling the requirements outlined in a subsequent catalog after their first enrollment. If this option is selected, then all college and major requirements in the later catalog must be met. The student must complete an approval form to switch to a more current catalog, obtain signatory approval of his/her advisor, and submit it to the office of the appropriate dean for notification of the change. In cases where course work is outdated or requirements have changed, reasonable substitutions may be required.

6. Other Degree Requirements.

College and school announcements specify additional requirements, including professional communication skills (oral, written, and computer), for the bachelor’s degree in the various departments and programs.

7. Second Baccalaureate Degree Requirements.

Students should be advised that when completing a second degree, it will be simpler and easier to complete it concurrently with the first degree. A second degree completed after the awarding of the first degree will require additional hours, probably many more than completing the two degrees concurrently.

If you seek a second degree after the completing of the first degree, requirements for the second degree must be certified by the appropriate dean as having met and must include General Education requirements and 30 hours in courses numbered 3000 or above, in residence beyond requirements for the first. Students and advisors should check with the Registrar’s Office before making a decision about a second degree.

8. Advisement and Registration.

Every student in the University is provided with an academic advisor. A student who has selected a specific major will find the name of the major advisor for that major listed under the name of the department or the major subject in the appropriate college or school section of this catalog. A student who is uncertain of his or her choice of major may register as Undeclared.

Before registering for any semester, each student is responsible for consulting his or her advisor to work out and secure approval for a specific schedule of courses. With the signed schedule, the student then enters his/her schedule in the computer by using the myState System, resolves conflicts, and the student is officially enrolled in each class on the perfected schedule.

A period for schedule planning and registration for the following semester is provided near the end of each regular term; registration for the summer school terms may also be accomplished in the spring registration period. Prospective new students may be advised and registered during Summer Orientation. Late registration is conducted immediately prior to the beginning of classes.

A student who for any reason has been unable to register during these scheduled registration periods may still do so up to the last day for registration and adding courses as listed in the Academic Calendar on the Web but may find the choices of courses and sections limited.

(AOP 12.38: https://www.policies.msstate.edu/policy/1238)

9. Readmission.

Undergraduate students who have previously attended Mississippi State University and who wish to re-enter must apply for readmission online or in the Registrar’s Office and contact his/her advisor to be advised and released for registration . Former students who have attended another college for at least one quarter or semester must be eligible to re-enter that institution, if they desire to return to Mississippi State University. Students who have attended another institution are required to provide the Registrar’s Office official transcripts from all other institutions attended prior to receiving a registration permit.

All readmission students must meet the academic standing guidelines outlined in the Academic Standing section of the Bulletin. If their GPA is less than the required average, they may be readmitted only on the recommendation of their dean and with the approval of the Provost.

Students readmitted with an MSU or cumulative average less than 2.0 will be readmitted on academic probation.

(AOP 12.15: https://www.policies.msstate.edu/policy/1215)

10. Student Course Load.

The normal load for an undergraduate student in a regular semester is 15-19 credit hours. Course load limits at Mississippi State University are noted below. (AOP 12.22)

1. A student on academic probation (AOP 12.15-Academic Probation for Undergraduate Students) should be limited by his or her academic advisor to an enrollment of 16 credit hours (including ensemble and academic support/developmental classes.)

2. Students in good academic standing can take a total of up to 19 credit hours per semester without special permission. Requests to take 20 or 21 credit hours total must be approved at the level of Advisor, Department, and Dean. Requests to take 22 or more credit hours total must be approved at the levels of Advisor, Department, Dean, and Provost.

3. A student in a five week summer session may take one course in addition to the normal maximum load (two courses) if his or her cumulative MSU Grade Point Average is between 3.0 and 4.0 and if he or she secures approval at the levels of Advisor, Department, and Dean.

4. An entering freshman student with low ACT scores or sub-scores is required to take appropriate developmental and/or learning skills courses and should schedule them within the first two semesters of enrollment, and should be limited by his or her academic advisor to an enrollment of 16 credit hours (including ensemble and academic support/developmental classes.)

5. Any exceptions to points 1, 2, 3, and 4 above or special circumstances not covered by points 1, 2, 3, and 4 above would require approval at the levels of Advisor, Department, Dean, and Provost.

Independent study or extension courses will be included in determining the maximum number of hours a student may take on campus, if registration therein overlaps any period of regular enrollment at the University. Such credits earned by either independent study or extension, in excess of the loads specified above must be approved by the student’s dean; these hours will count in certifying a student’s full time or part time enrollment status for financial aid or other purposes.

For purposes of reporting a student as full-time to the Board of Trustees, Veterans Administration, Social Security or other similar agencies, an undergraduate student must be enrolled in at least twelve (12) semester hours and a graduate student must be enrolled in at least nine (9) or more semester hours at the time the report or certification is submitted. This applies to fall and spring semesters only.

  1. A student’s enrollment status is classified according to the following chart:
    Regular Fall-Spring Semester
    Status Undergraduate Graduate
    Full-time 12 + sem. hrs. 9 + sem. hrs.
    Half-time 6 to 11 sem. hrs. 5 to 8 sem. hrs.
    Less than Half-time less than 6 sem. hrs. less than 5 sem.hrs.
    “Regular” Load 15-19 sem. hrs. 12-15 sem. hrs.
  2. Summer School term
    Status Undergraduate Graduate
    Full-time 6 + sem. hrs. 6 + sem. hrs.
    Half-time 3 to 5 sem. hrs. 3 to 5 sem. hrs.
    Less than Half-time less than 3 sem.hrs. less than 3 sem.hrs.
    “Regular” Load 6 sem. hrs. 6 sem. hrs.
  3. Concurrent enrollment in independent study, off-campus centers and other institutions will be considered as part of a student’s load, and must be approved by his or her dean before it may apply toward meeting degree requirements. All MSU course hours will count in certifying a student’s full time or part time enrollment status for financial aid or other purposes.
     

11. College/School/Campus Changes.

A student changing from one college, school or campus to another must complete all arrangements for the transfer prior to beginning the new course of study. Before making the change, the student must initiate a change form in the college or school in which the student is currently, or was last, enrolled. Transfer to a new college, school or campus is subject to approval by the new dean.

12. Schedule Changes - Fall and Spring Semesters.

A student has through the fifth class day into the semester to drop a course and through the sixth class day to add a course without being assessed a fee or academic penalty. From the fifth class day through the 30th class day, a student who elects to drop a course must receive the approval of his/her advisor, will be assigned a “W” on his/her academic record, and be assessed a fee. After the 30th class day, a student cannot drop courses except in documented cases of serious illness, extreme hardship, or failure of the instructor to provide significant assessment of his/her performance. A request to drop a course after the 30th class period must be approved by the student’s advisor and academic dean. A student receiving permission to drop will receive a “W” on his/her academic record and be assessed a fee after the last day to drop a course.

(See AOP 12.01)

Summer Terms.

A student has through the first class day into a 5-week summer term and through the second class day into a 10-week summer term to drop a course without being assessed a fee or an academic penalty. A student may not add a course after the second class day into a 5-week summer session or after the third class day into a 10-week summer session. After the first class day through the 14th class day in a 5-week summer term and the second class day through the 28th class day in a 10-week summer term, a student who elects to drop a course must receive the approval of his/her advisor, will be assigned a “W” on his/her academic record, and be assessed a fee. After the 14th class day into a 5-week summer term and after the 28th class day into a 10-week summer term, a student cannot drop a course except in documented cases of serious illness, extreme hardship, or failure of the instructor to provide significant assessment of his/her performance. A request to drop a course during this period must be approved by the student’s advisor and academic dean. A student receiving permission to drop will receive a “W” on his/her academic record and be assessed a fee.

Shortened Format Classes (Intercessions).

A student has through the first class day to drop a course and through the second class day to add a course without being assessed a fee or an academic penalty. Note: A student may NOT drop his/her last or only remaining class in a semester or part of term. A student who wishes to drop the last class and add a different class or section must complete an add/drop slip. The Registrar’s Office must process this change. To drop a course after the first day through the fifth class day of a term with 10-15 class days, a student must receive approval from his advisor, will be assigned a “W” on the academic record, and will be assessed a fee. For a term with 16-24 class days, students may drop through the ninth day but must receive approval from his advisor and will be assigned a “W” on the academic record and be assessed a fee. After this period, a student cannot drop a course except in documented cases of serious illness, extreme hardship, or failure of the instructor to provide significant assessment of his/her performance. A request to drop a course after this period must be approved by the student’s advisor and academic dean. A student receiving permission to drop will receive a “W” on his/her academic record and be assessed a fee after the last day to drop a course.

Undergraduate/Graduate Policy.

Regardless of these and/or other University policies, a student’s dean may remove a course (or courses) from a student’s schedule at any time during a period of enrollment in case of special circumstances such as accident, illness or scheduling errors. Requests for such changes should be directed to the student’s dean. A student will not be permitted to drop a course after the 30th day of classes because of a heavy course load, a change of major, or the likelihood of poor grades. All requests must be documented in writing.

13. Auditing.

Upon recommendation from the relevant course instructor and subject to approval by the appropriate dean and Registrar, a student may enroll to audit a course. The approval to audit must occur prior to the official enrollment count day (10th class day for spring and fall semesters; third class day for summer school sessions). A student may not change from credit to audit or audit to credit status after the official enrollment count day. An audited course counts as part of a student’s regular load. Students auditing a class are not required to take tests and/or examinations or to prepare other written assignments. Otherwise, conformity to regular classroom rules including attendance requirements is the same as for students taking the course for credit. At the time the request for audit is approved, the professor will inform the student auditing the class of attendance expectations. Failure to meet any or all of these requirements may result in an auditor being administratively dropped from the class roll. No audited course may be counted as part of the required hours of any degree or program requirement. (See AOP 11.11)

14. Pass-Fail Option.

An undergraduate student who has successfully passed fifteen (15) semester hours may elect, with the approval of his or her academic dean, to schedule courses under the pass-fail option. This program is open to undergraduate students only and is limited to a maximum of four (4) courses, no more than two (2) of which may have the same course symbol.

A student may register under the pass-fail option for only one course per semester and must meet the prerequisites for the course or have permission of the instructor teaching it. A change from pass-fail enrollment to enrollment for a regular grade, or vice-versa, must be made by the deadline date for adding courses published in the University calendar.

Courses taken to satisfy General Education requirements may not be scheduled under the pass-fail option, nor may courses that are specified by course title in the curriculum in which a student is currently enrolled. In the event that a student changes majors, credit for any courses passed and required in the new major may be allowed with the approval of the student’s dean. The instructor shall be informed which students are enrolled in his or her course under the pass-fail option, and he or she shall report a regular grade at the time progress grades are submitted and either S for satisfactory or U for unsatisfactory at the end of a term or semester. A grade of A, B, or C will be considered as satisfactory and a grade of I (incomplete) will be allowed. Other than a grade of I, only a grade of S, U, or W will be recorded on a student’s permanent record.

The number of hours passed will be applied toward the hours required for graduation; however, neither a passing nor a failing grade will be considered in the computation of the grade point average.

15. Assessment.

Students may be required to undergo testing for the purpose of assessing institutional effectiveness.

16. ROTC Course Credit Toward Academic Degrees.

All ROTC courses are bona fide University courses. The total number of ROTC hours allowed as elective credit toward a specific degree varies. Most schools and colleges at the University accept six (6) or more hours of ROTC courses offered toward degrees conferred. A student should contact the appropriate college, school, or department to determine allowable ROTC course credit toward a particular degree.

17. Military Credit.

Mississippi State University offers credit for training and experience in the Armed Services for currently enrolled undergraduate students.

Joint Services Transcript for Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard

All veterans and service-members of the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard who are Active Duty, National Guard or Reserve can order an official transcript through the Joint Services Transcript online system at the following link: https://jst.doded.mil/smart/welcome.do. Official Transcripts should be mailed to: University Registrar’s Office, P.O. Box 5268, Mississippi State, MS 39762. The student’s dean will determine applicable credit toward a degree.

Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) for Air Force

All veterans and service-members of the Air Force who are Active Duty, National Guard or Reserve can order an official transcript through the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) online system at the following link: http://www.airuniversity.af.mil/Barnes/CCAF/Transcripts.aspx. CCAF transcripts are mailed directly to the Office of Admissions, P.O. Box 6305, Mississippi State, MS 39762.