DEGREES GRANTED

Alcorn State University offers courses of study leading to the awarding of the Associate of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Master of Science, Master of Science in Education, Master of Business Administration, and the Education Specialist degrees. Detailed information about each degree offered is available on individual school or department web pages.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR'S DEGREE
  1. Generally, candidates for the bachelor's degree must earn credits as indicated in the various curricula, unless otherwise recommended by the department head and school dean, and approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. One hundred twenty-four semester hours are required as a minimum for graduation in any field. Some degrees require more.

  2. Credits may be acquired by extension, correspondence, and examination, but not to exceed one-fourth of the requirements for graduation. Such credits are further governed by the following regulations:

    1. Credits by correspondence are limited to 15 semester hours, acquired at the rate of three credits per semester while engaged in full-time employment, and six credits per semester otherwise. Correspondence credits may not be acquired by a student while in residence.
    2. Credits by examination are limited to 15 semester hours of credit.
    3. Credits by extension are limited to three per semester while employed in a full-time job and six per semester otherwise.
    4. No courses to be counted toward meeting the course requirements in the major field may be taken through correspondence.

  3. The last 12 hours of work for the degree must be taken at Alcorn State University. In special cases, a student in good academic standing may be granted permission to take up to six semester hours of his final work at any approved senior college or university.

  4. A satisfactory score on the Sophomore Comprehensive is a requirement for entering the junior level of the university. All students who have completed or who are in the process of completing 54 semester hours are required to take the Sophomore Comprehensive and to earn a satisfactory score.

BASIC EDUCATION CORE

Each candidate for graduation must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the areas of English (Writing), creative arts, mathematics, natural science and social science. The Basic Education Core is designed to meet this purpose. These courses must be distributed as follows:

English (6 hours)

    English 111 (3 hours)/EN 191 (3 hours)
    English 112 (3 hours)/EN 192 (3 hours)
Creative Arts (9 hours)-Chosen from the following courses:
    English 213 (3 hours)/HO 291
    English 214 (3 hours/HO 292
    Art 214 (3 hours)
    Humanities 201 (3 hours)
    Music 213 (3 hours)
    Communications 201 (3 hours)

Oral Communication (3 hours)

Social Science (12 hours)-Chosen from the following courses:

    History 111 (3 hours)/(HI 192)
    Social Science 111 (3 hours)
    History 225 (3 hours) may be substituted for Social Science 111 by social science majors.
    The remaining (6 hours) of required social science may be elected from: History 112 (HI 192), History 226, Social Science 112, Economics 201, or General Psychology 132.
Natural Science (9 hours)-Chosen from the following courses:
    Biology 111 (BI 191)
    Biology 112 (BI 192)
    Physical Science 111

    or

    Biology 111
    Physical Science 111
    Physical Science 112
    The biology requirement may be met by substituting: Biology 121-122, Biology 109
    The physical science requirement may be met by substituting: Chemistry 121-122.

Mathematics (3 hours)-Chosen from the following courses:
    Algebra 121 (MA 191)
    Pre-Calculus 135
    Calculus 225
Physical Education (Physical Activities) or Military Science (4 hours)

Student Adjustment (1 hour)

    ED 101 - Adjustment to University Life

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM

  1. Advanced Placement Program

    Students from cooperating high schools can earn up to 15 hours (with no more than six hours or two courses in one subject matter area) through the College Board's (CEEB's) Advanced Placement Testing Program. Credit is awarded for scores of 3 or above. The awarding of credit will be administered by the Registrar's Office with the appropriate approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

  2. College Level Examination Program

    Placement and credit are awarded for College Level Examination Program (CLEP) general and subject examinations, as follows:

    CLEP General Examinations
     Credit is granted by Alcorn (beginning Fall 1984) for CLEP General Examinations in English Composition, Natural Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and Humanities. A minimum score of 500 is required in each section. Use of the above in University degree programs is subject to approval of the department chairperson and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

    CLEP Subject Area Examinations
     A student who has not earned college level credit in the subject area in which he/she seeks credit can take the CLEP subject area examination for advanced placement and college credit. CLEP credit may not be used to remove "F" grades. Credit will be awarded for scale scores of 50 or above. The appropriate department at Alcorn will have the final determination in the amount of credit awarded with the approval of the school dean. Under this program students are restricted to 30 semester hours, with not more than six hours or two courses in one subject matter area. (It is understood that the 30 hour limit includes all credit earned by examination.) The Registrar's Office will be responsible for determining a student's eligibility to earn credit through these examinations.

    Additional information, applications and CLEP bulletins may be secured from the Counseling and Testing Office or by writing 1000 ASU Drive #599, Alcorn State University, Lorman, MS 39096-9402.

  3. Other Credit-by-Examination Policies

    A student must earn 12 hours at Alcorn State University before credit by examination may be recorded on the student's transcript. The total number of hours one may earn in any of the Credit-by-Examination Programs is 30. For students enrolled in Associate degree programs, the maximum number of hours earned through credit-by-examination is 15. Credit earned through the use of examination will be included in the amount of credits used for the purpose of transfer entrance.

  4. With the approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, departments may grant credit by examination in lieu of class enrollment for courses where no CLEP subject area examination is offered. The following guidelines should be adhered to:

    1. The examination must be given by the department in which the course is offered.
    2. The department chairperson must be assured that the student has had some formal or informal learning experience which has prepared him/her for the examination.
    3. The student must make application to the chairman of the department in which the course is offered. Upon approval, the student will pay a $15.00 examination fee in the Business Office. The Business Office issues the student a receipt which he/she presents to the department chairman, who will administer the examination.
    4. If the student passes the examination, the Registrar is notified. This notification includes the name of department, course number, course title, grade, semester hours, date examination was taken and evidence that the examination fee was paid.

  5. Credit toward a bachelor's degree may be awarded to those veterans who otherwise meet regular entrance requirements and present either form D.D. 295 or D.D. 214 indicating that they have experienced a continuous active duty for at least 90 days. This credit is limited to subject matter that can be substituted for university ROTC credits and/or for training in formal service schools. Credit will further be determined on the basis of recommendations published in A Guide to The Evaluation of Educational Experiences In The Armed Forces. Such credit will be limited to 30 hours.