Student Responsibility Disclaimer
Each student is responsible for understanding and completing all requirements established for his or her degree by the University, college and department. A student’s advisor or counselor may not assume that responsibility. Any substitution, waiver, or exemption from established degree requirements may be accomplished only with the approval of the student’s dean. Exceptions to University requirements, including the General Education requirements, will be authorized only with the approval of the student’s dean and the Office of Academic Affairs.
Degrees, Degree Requirements, and Scheduling
1. Baccalaureate Degrees.
MSU awards the following baccalaureate degrees: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (B.L.A.), Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.), Bachelor of Architecture (B.ARC.), Bachelor of Accountancy (BACC), and Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Baccalaureate degrees are awarded in the following manner: Multiple programs awarded under the same degree within the same college, at the same time, are awarded as a single degree dual (multiple) major. For example, a student majoring in Sociology and Psychology awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree at the same time will be awarded a single degree (single diploma). The separate majors will be annotated on the official transcript. Degrees awarded by two or more colleges or at different times are considered separate degrees (separate diplomas). (Master’s, Specialist, and Doctor’s degrees are listed under Office of the Graduate School in this catalog, and in the Graduate Bulletin.)
2. University-Wide Requirements.
In order to complete a baccalaureate degree, a student must (1) satisfactorily complete the degree curriculum requirements, (2) make an overall C average on all hours scheduled and rescheduled at all institutions attended, including Mississippi State University, (3) make a C average on all hours scheduled and rescheduled at Mississippi State University, (4) complete from Mississippi State University no less than 25% of his/her degree program in junior and senior subjects (courses numbered 3000 through 5000) approved by the dean of the college or school in which he or she is enrolled, (5) complete at least the last 25 percent of semester credit hours of course work taken to fulfill degree requirements from Mississippi State University. (Any exception to the 25 percent requirement must be approved in writing by the student’s dean prior to taking course work at another institution.) Any course in the student’s degree program that carries academic credit from Mississippi State University will fulfill these requirements. Participants in an approved exchange program must earn at the exchange institution and at Mississippi State University no less than 25 percent of semester credit hours in junior and senior subjects. (6) Not more than 25 percent of any curriculum may be earned by advanced standing examinations, College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), evaluated military service credits, tutorial, and extension courses. Evaluated military service credits are classified as extension work. (7) Not more than 20 percent of any curriculum may be earned through correspondence courses. Correspondence courses must be approved by the dean before being taken by students in residence. USAFI credits are classified as correspondence work. (8) No more than 12 hours of Directed Individual Study (DIS) may be used to complete degree requirements. The creation of DIS courses must be approved in advance by the department head.
a. Board of Trustees Core Curriculum.
In order to be awarded a baccalaureate degree, all students who enter Mississippi State University must complete a core curriculum approved by the Board of Trustees, Institutions of Higher Learning of the State of Mississippi. This core curriculum consists of the following:
(Note: These requirements are included in the General Education Curriculum which follows.)
b. General Education Requirements.
All students graduating after January 1, 1990, in order to receive any bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University, must earn a minimum of 36 semester hours of credit (or equivalency) in courses making up the General Education required curriculum, as follows: (Specific courses to satisfy the General Education Requirements will vary by academic major.)
Students may obtain a list from their advisor or Dean’s office of approved courses SELECTED from the following to meet individual degree requirements.
| 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 15 |
| 3 | 9 |
| 4 | 6 |
| Total Hours | 36 |