Degree Requirements

Starting Fall 2005, the completion of university and program requirements apply to all students in pursuit of a baccalaureate degree in Geosciences.

UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS
• English Composition	6 semester hours
• Mathematics	6 semester hours
• Foreign Language	6 semester hours
• Natural Science	9 semester hours
• Public Speaking	3 semester hours
• Literature	3 semester hours
• History	3 semester hours
• Social Science	3 semester hours
• Fine Arts	3 semester hours
• Computer Literacy	3 semester hours
• Jr/Sr Writing Course	3 semester hours
• Electives	Approximately 24 semester hours
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
• BMP/OMP Curriculum	52 semester hours
	______________
	Total Hours 124

Degree Worksheet

College of Arts and Sciences Checksheet (PDF)

Important Undergraduate Degree Reminders

1. In order to complete a baccalaureate degree, a student must satisfactorily complete all curriculum requirements with an overall “C” average. This applies to both transfer and MSU courses.
2. The B.S. degree in Geosciences can be awarded on the completion of no fewer than 124 semester hours.
3. The university will accept no more than 62 semester hours from a two-year institution (Community College) toward degree requirements. The remaining 62 hours needed for the degree must come from a four-year college.
4. All students must meet the 32-hour MSU residency requirement. This 32 hour upper division residency requirement will be met upon completion of the BMP/OMP curriculum.
5. Basic English, Math, and Intermediate Algebra courses do not satisfy any graduation requirement. They do not fulfill any of the English or Math graduation requirements, nor can they be counted as electives.
6. We do accept some national CLEP and Advanced Placement courses to fulfill degree requirements. Official test scores must be evaluated by MSU’s registrar office before credit can be awarded.
7. No more than 25% (31 semester hours) of a student’s degree can be earned through Advanced Placement, CLEP, or Correspondence courses (Independent Study). In addition, no more than 20% (25 semester hours) can be earned through correspondence courses (Independent Study) and no more than 15 semester hours can be earned through Advanced Placement examinations.
8. We will accept a maximum of 2 one-hour Physical Education (PE) courses toward degree requirements.
9. We do not accept graduate course work toward undergraduate degree requirements.
10. We do not accept life experience in lieu of degree requirements.

For questions concerning degree requirements please contact Cindy Wasson at 662-325-3476 or by email at cwasson@geosci.msstate.edu.

Courses Approved for General Education Requirements
by Category

English Composition………6 semester hours
A student can fulfill the six-hour English Composition requirement by completing two freshman level writing courses (Ex. English Composition I & II).

* Transfer courses must equate to MSU course descriptions to fulfill degree requirements.

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Mathematics……...6 semester hours
A student can satisfy the 6-semester hour mathematics requirement in two ways.

1. Students can take/pass 6-semester hours of mathematics by completing College Algebra and one higher math (Trigonometry, Statistics, or higher).
2. Students can take/pass 3-semester hours of mathematics to fulfill the 6 hour requirement by completing Finite Mathematics or a higher math (Calculus I & II).

* Transfer courses must equate to MSU course descriptions to fulfill degree requirements.

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Foreign Language………6 semester hours
A student can satisfy the 6-semster hour foreign language requirement by completing two consecutive semesters of an approved language.

* Transfer courses must equate to MSU course descriptions to fulfill degree requirements.

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Natural Sciences………9 semester hours
A student can fulfill the 9-semester hour Natural Science requirement by completing two lab-based sciences and one non-lab based science course. Please know these courses must be general sciences (ex. Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Astronomy)

*Transfer courses must equate to MSU course descriptions to fulfill degree requirements.

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Public Speaking………3 semester hours
A student can fulfill the 3-hour Public Speaking requirement by completing one communications course that focuses on the preparation, organization, and delivery of different types of speeches.

*Transfer courses must equate to MSU course descriptions to fulfill degree requirements.

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Literature………3 semester hours
A student can fulfill the 3-hour Literature requirement by completing one general literature course.

*Transfer courses must equate to MSU course descriptions to fulfill degree requirements.

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History………3 semester hours
A student can fulfill the 3-hour History requirement by completing one general history course.

*Transfer courses must equate to MSU course descriptions to fulfill degree requirements.

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Social Science………3 semester hours
A student can fulfill the 3-hour Social Science requirement by completing a general course in one of the following areas: Anthropology, Communications, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.

*Transfer courses must equate to MSU course descriptions to fulfill degree requirements.

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Fine Arts………3 semester hours
A student can fulfill this 3-hour requirement by taking a general “appreciation” or “history of” course, but not a “how to” or studio course.

*Transfer courses must equate to MSU course descriptions to fulfill degree requirements.

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Computer Literacy………3 semester hours
A student can fulfill the 3-hour Computer Literacy requirement by completing one course in which the use of the computer is the major component.

This is the only course in which a student is allowed to petition the department for credit based on life experience. For those interested in petitioning for credit please contact dcartwright@aoce.msstate.edu.

*Water Resources has been approved through the College of Arts & Sciences to fulfill the computer literacy requirement. If you take this course through the BMP/OMP program you will have met the 3-hour computer literacy requirement.

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Jr/Sr Writing………3 semester hours
A student may fulfill this requirement by completing one upper level junior/senior course in which writing is the main component. This course should also include some type of research component.

*Transfer courses must equate to MSU course descriptions to fulfill degree requirements.

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General Electives………24 semester hours

A student can fulfill the 24-semester hour general elective requirement by completing courses in any area of study as long as course are taken at the college level. We do not accept Basic English, Basic Math, or Intermediate Algebra to fulfill elective requirements. A student may only use two 1-hour Physical Education courses as general electives.

*Military course work can be used to fulfill general elective requirements.

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Program Requirements………52 semester hours

The course schedule for both the Broadcast Meteorology and Operational Meteorology Program is the same. This is a three-year program. Courses are offered only during the semester they are listed. New students must begin in the fall semester with the first year courses and follow the course schedule throughout his/her program of study.

BMP/OMP FIRST YEAR

BMP/OMP SECOND YEAR

BMP/OMP THIRD YEAR

Courses offered every summer semester.

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