304  General Education Requirements and Degree Requirements

Approved by President
Effective Date: June 5, 2017
Responsible Division:  Academic Affairs
Responsible Office:  University Provost
Responsible Officer:  Vice Provost for Academic Programs

I. Purpose

This policy specifies the general education requirements and degree requirements at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU or University).

II. General Education Requirements

A.  MTSU General Education requirements consist of forty-one (41) semester hours in the following subject categories and are required for completion of all baccalaureate degrees.

1.  Communication: Nine (9) semester hours. Six (6) semester hours of English composition and three (3) semester hours in English oral presentational communication are required.

2.  Humanities and/or Fine Arts: Nine (9) semester hours. One (1) course must be in literature. The three (3) courses must have different rubric (course) prefixes.

3.  Social/Behavioral Sciences: Six (6) semester hours. The two (2) courses must have different rubric (course) prefixes.

4.  History: Six (6) semester hours. Students who lack the required one (1) unit (one [1] year) of United States history from high school as an admissions requirement must complete six (6) semester hours of United States History or three (3) semester hours of United States History and three (3) semester hours of Tennessee History to fulfill the history requirement in general education. Otherwise, students may choose from among the history courses approved to fulfill the six (6)-semester hour requirement in history.

5.  Natural Sciences: Eight (8) semester hours. The two (2) courses must have different rubric (course) prefixes.

6.  Mathematics: Three (3) semester hours

B.  Courses specified as meeting general education requirements are published in the MTSU Undergraduate Catalog.

III. Undergraduate Degree Requirements and Provisions

A.  All baccalaureate degrees shall require a maximum of one hundred twenty (120) semester hours except in certain degree programs in which approval to exceed the maximum has been granted. The programs approved as exceptions to the maximum are identified in the MTSU undergraduate catalog.

B.  Students earning a baccalaureate degree must complete a minimum of one hundred twenty (120) semester hours with a 2.0 grade point average and fulfill other degree requirements as defined in the MTSU undergraduate catalog.

C.  Students earning a baccalaureate degree must complete the general education requirements outlined in this policy.

D.  Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree shall be required to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language equivalent to completion of two (2) years of college-level work.

IV. Transfer Provisions of General Education and Tennessee Transfer Pathway Courses

A.  Students who complete the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science or Associate of Sci