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.
AOP: https://www.policies.msstate.edu/policy/1208
MSU awards the following baccalaureate degrees: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.), 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 Music (B.M.), Bachelor of Architecture (B.ARC.), Bachelor of Accountancy (BACC), Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.), and Bachelor of University Studies (B.U.S.). 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.
AOP: https://www.policies.msstate.edu/policy/1211
To complete a baccalaureate degree, a student must (1) satisfactorily complete the degree curriculum requirements, (2) make an overall C average (2.00 GPA) on all hours scheduled and rescheduled at all institutions attended, including Mississippi State University, (3) complete at least 30 semester credit hours of their degree program in upper-division courses (courses numbered 3000 through 5000) at Mississippi State University. Any exception to the 30 semester credit hour requirement must be approved in writing by the student’s dean, and (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. Hours earned at an approved exchange institution will count toward the 25 percent requirement. (6) Not more than 25 percent of any curriculum may be earned by Advanced Placement (AP) course, advanced standing examinations, College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International, evaluated military service credits, tutorial, and extension courses. Evaluated military training courses granted academic credit are classified as MSU (institutional) academic pass/fail credit with a grade of S and annotated as “ACE Guide Military Credit.” Military training courses include all branches of the United States Armed Services, except the United States Air Force. The Air Force provides a Community College of the Air Force transcript and credit is entered as transfer courses. (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 from Mississippi State University must earn a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit (or equivalency) in courses making up the General Education
Curriculum. (Specific courses to satisfy the General Education Curriculum 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 | 3 |
| 3 | 6-9 |
| 4 | 9 |
| 5 | 6 |
| Total Hours | 30-33 |