Core Curriculum
All students who enter MSU must meet the common core curriculum requirements as set by the Board of Trustees, Institutions of Higher Learning of the State of Mississippi to qualify for any bachelor's degree.
This is an overview of what you must take to satisfy the core curriculum requirement. Please consult the BAS Advisor for more specific information.
30 hours of General Education
English: 6 credit hours
- English Composition I
- English Composition II
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 credit hours
- PS 1013 American Government
- Any course fulfilling requirements for Social and Behavioral Sciences, including:
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Psychology
- Political Science
- Sociology
Quantitative Reasoning: 3 credit hours
- Calculus
- College Algebra
- Statistics
- Trigonometry
- Math in Your World/Quantitative Reasoning
- Applied Business Math
Humanities: 6 credit hours
- Foreign Language
- History
- Literature
- Religion
Natural Science with Labs: 6 – 8 credit hours
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Geography
- Geology
- Microbiology*
- Physical Science
- Physics*
- Plant and Soil Sciences*
Creative Discovery: 3 credit hours
- History or Appreciation of the Arts
*Courses in these subject areas are not currently available online.
36 hours of Major Core
PCS 2111 Introduction to the Bachelor of Applied Science: 1 credit hour
Introduction to the Bachelor of Applied Science emphasizes the significance of merging applied and technical coursework from students' prior Associate of Applied Science degrees with upper-level coursework from the university.
Delivered Online
PCS 3003 Professional Collaboration and Technology in the Workplace: 3 credit hours
(Prerequisite: EN 1113 English Composition II) Explores the fundamental technical documentation, interpersonal skills, and collaborative strategies necessary for effective workplace interactions at the supervisory, middle management, and executive levels.
Delivered Online or Starkville
PCS 3103 Professional Leadership Strategies: 3 credit hours
Tailored to empower adult learners currently active in the workforce, and students with proficiency in technical fields by equipping them with practical expertise to elevate their leadership capabilities.
Delivered Online
PCS 4003 Personnel Management for Public Sector: 3 credit hours
A survey of the components, functions, and processes of Information Systems as they relate to managing modern organizations for increased efficiency and competitiveness.
Delivered Online, Starkville, or Meridian
CO 3803 Principles of Public Relations: 3 credit hours
(Prerequisite: CO 1403 Intro to Mass Media or Instructor Approval) The role and origin of public relations in society, the identification and influence of the public, and applications of public relations principles to campaigns and organizations.
Delivered Online or Starkville
MGT 3113 Principles of Management: 3 credit hours
Management principles for all organizations including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
Delivered Online, Starkville, or Meridian
MGT 3823 Socially Responsible Leadership: 3 credit hours
Study of leadership in organizations, with emphasis on the ethical challenges facing leaders and the impact of leaders' behavior on followers, organizations, and organizational stakeholders.
Delivered Online or Starkville
PS 3193 Intergovernmental Relations: 3 credit hours
Historical, prescriptive, and empirical studies of federalism with emphasis upon recent development in federal-state-local relationships.
Delivered Online or Starkville
PS 4703 Principles of Public Administration: 3 credit hours
Bureaucratic politics and power; administrative responsibility in a pluralist democracy; public administrative organization; public personnel administration; and public budgeting.
Delivered Online or Starkville
TECH 3133 Administrative Management and Procedures: 3 credit hours
Principles and practices of effective administrative management and procedures. Planning/directing workplace activities, systems, and technology; selecting/training employees; developing professional leadership and communication skills.
Delivered Online or Starkville
TECH 4263 Diversity in Work and Educational Environments: 3 credit hours
(Prerequisite: TECH 1273 Computer Applications or Equivalent) Exploring the changing dynamics of the workforce and educational environments in examination of cultural and technological facts and assumptions.
Delivered Online or Starkville
PCS 4112 Professional Success Strategies in Applied Fields: 2 credit hours
Designed for students in their final semester of the Bachelor of Applied Science. The course focuses on equipping students with essential skills and knowledge for successful professional transition and advancement in applied fields.
Delivered Online
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9 hours of University Electives
Jr/Sr Writing Course: 3 credit hours*
PCS 3303 Workplace Communication for Professionals *This requirement is fulfilled within the Major Core, with credit hours counted only once.
Speech: 3 credit hours
CO 1013 Introduction to Communications or CO 1003 Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Computer Literacy: 3 credit hours
TECH 1273 Computer Applications (or higher)
General Elective: 3 credit hours
Any course that fulfills the general education requirements.
45 hours of General Core Electives (Technical Credit)
Technical content transfers from the Associate of Applied Science in a related area.