Oct 08, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Academic Information



Undergraduate Degrees

 

Baccalaureate Degrees

General Requirements

Academic Foundations and Core Curriculum

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science Degrees

Requirements for Other Degrees

Second Bachelor’s Degree

A person who holds a baccalaureate degree from Midwestern State University or another regionally accredited four-year college or university may be awarded a second baccalaureate degree in a different field by:

  1. Completing a minimum of 30 semester hours after conferral of the first degree, 18 of which must be advanced, in residence at Midwestern State University.
  2. Completing all catalog requirements for the new major field and for the degree sought.
  3. A person holding a baccalaureate degree from any college or university other than Midwestern State University will have to meet the Writing Proficiency Requirement.

Application for Degree Candidacy

Prior to the last semester or summer term (see Academic Calendar ) before graduation, the student must file an Application for Graduation and pay the graduation fee. Students may apply for graduation and pay the graduation fee at the Office of the Registrar or online at https://msutexas.edu/registrar/apply-graduation.

Early application is encouraged to increase the possibility of time for a complete records check prior to the student’s enrolling for the last semester.

In order to be admitted to candidacy for graduation without reservation, a student must have at least five grade points above the number of semester hours attempted on the official record at the time of application. Any student who enters the last semester or summer term in residence without a surplus of five grade points will be admitted with reservation and thereby forewarned that all degree requirements, both qualitative and quantitative, must be met.

Commencement

Midwestern State University conducts commencement exercises in December and May. Candidates who complete their degrees during the summer terms may participate in the December ceremony. Candidates who complete their degrees in the fall semester are required to attend the December commencement unless approved by the Provost or designee for graduation in absentia. Candidates who complete their degrees at the end of the spring semester must attend the May commencement unless approved by the Provost or designee for graduation in absentia. Conferred degrees will be posted to students’ permanent records as of the last day of finals for second summer term or as of the date of the graduation ceremony for December and May.

Requirements for Pre-Professional Curricula

In selecting any pre-professional program, the student should be mindful that the requirements vary with different schools. Therefore, the student should always obtain a catalog from the professional school under consideration so that the course of study can be arranged to meet specific requirements.

If possible, the student should complete work for the bachelor’s degree since many professional schools require the degree as a prerequisite for admission.

The pre-professional student should confer with the advisor in planning a course of study. Several pre-professional curricula have been prepared which indicate the minimum requirements of the professional schools. A copy may be obtained from the student’s advisor.

Pre-dentistry, pre-engineering, pre-law, pre-medicine, pre-nursing, pre-osteopathy, pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy, and pre-veterinary medicine are some of the pre-professional programs which may be taken at Midwestern State University. MSU also participates in the Dental Early Acceptance Program (DEAP) with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. See Dental Early Acceptance Program (DEAP) .

A student interested in completing a pre-professional program other than those listed above should consult the college dean of a closely related field so that the program can be planned in keeping with catalog requirements of the institution where the student plans to complete the professional training. See the most recent Schedule of Classes for an updated listing of pre-professional advisors.

Graduate School

The following master’s degrees are offered at Midwestern State University:

  • Doctor of Education
    • Major offered in educational leadership
  • Master of Arts
    • Majors offered in biology, clinical mental health, English, history, human resource development, and psychology
  • Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
    • Major offered in Criminal Justice
  • Master of Business Administration
    • Major offered in business administration
  • Master of Education
    • Majors offered in curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, special education, and sport administration
  • Master of Health Administration
    • Major offered in health services administration
  • Master of Science
    • Majors offered in biology, computer science, and geosciences
  • Master of Science in Exercise Physiology
    • Major offered in exercise physiology
  • Master of Science in Nursing
    • Majors offered in family nurse practitioner and family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner
  • Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences
    • Majors offered in radiologic administration, radiologic education, and radiologist assistant

Graduate minors are available in bilingual education, biology, early childhood education, educational foundations, English, history, instructional design and technology, intervention assistance, language and literacy studies, master mathematics teacher, mathematics, special education, sport administration, Superintendency, teacher leadership, and training and development.

The Robert D. & Carol Gunn College of Health Sciences and Human Services offers a health services administration graduate certificate, a post-master’s family psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certificate, and a post-master’s family nurse practitioner certificate. The West College of Education offers programs leading to certificates for superintendent, principal, school counselor, diagnostician, master mathematics teacher, master reading teacher, as well as a graduate initial teacher certification.  The Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences offers graduate certificates in English-professional and technical communication and English-literary studies and History.  The McCoy College of Science, Mathematics and Engineering offers a petroleum engineering certificate.

For more information about the graduate programs please refer to the Graduate Catalog.

Applicability of Catalog Regulations

A student may receive a degree from Midwestern State University in accordance with the program requirements stated in the catalog in effect at the time that person enters the University or those of any subsequent year provided the requirements are completed within six years of the date of the catalog selected and the student earns a minimum of twelve semester hours during the year it is in effect. The program requirements must be from one catalog. However, the general requirements for the baccalaureate degrees are those which are shown in the current catalog.

THIS CATALOG EXPIRES AND CANNOT BE USED FOR GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AFTER AUGUST 31, 2026.

Midwestern State University reserves the right to make changes in course offerings, academic policies, academic calendar, tuition, fees, other charges, rules, and regulations as required by the Academic Council, the Board of Regents, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, state and  national testing agencies, and the Texas Legislature. The provisions of this catalog are not to be regarded as a contract between the University and its students or applicants. The catalog will contain policy updates as they are approved and effective.

A separate publication, The Student Handbook, is issued once each year. The rules and regulations stated in the handbook are applicable to all students.