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 Science in Teaching degree at a public university or community college in Tennessee and transfer to MTSU will have satisfied all lower-division general education requirements.

B.  Students transferring from a public university or community college in Tennessee who do not complete the Associate of Arts or Associate of Science or Associate of Science in Teaching or Associate of Fine Arts degree but who complete blocks of general education subject categories will have satisfied the general education requirements for the categories of note.

1.  For example, if the eight (8) semester hours of natural sciences are completed, then this block of the general education requirement is fulfilled.

2.  When a subject category is incomplete, a course-by-course evaluation will be conducted, and the student will be subject to specific requirements of MTSU.

3.  If a student is following a Tennessee Transfer Pathway, all courses contained within the curriculum of that pathway completed by the student prior to transfer shall be accepted by MTSU and be applied either to the general education requirement or pathway requirement as listed in that Tennessee Transfer Pathway.

C.  Departmental requirements of the grade of "C" (2.0) will be honored. If credit is granted for a course with the grade of "D" (1.0), any specific departmental requirements for the grade of "C" will be enforced, except as provided in Section B. of Calculation of Grade Point Averages (GPAs) for Courses Transferred and Related Applications.

V. Calculation of Grade Point Averages (GPAs) for all Courses Transferred and Related Applications

A.  Upon receiving courses for transfer, MTSU will exclude grades in the calculation of Grade Point Averages (GPAs).

1.  Credit will be given for all courses in which passing grades are achieved, including the grade of "D" (1.0).

2.  All grades, including "F", "W'", etc., must be included on the transfer record.

3.  The entire record of transfer students will be considered for eligibility of admission into programs that require attainment of specific grade point averages or where external entities stipulate consideration of the entire student record

B.  Specific application regarding the grade of "D" (1.0) pertains as follows:

1.  For students who complete approved Tennessee Transfer Pathways (TTPs) or parts thereof, the grade of "D" (1.0) will be honored and affected courses will not be subject to repetition, except in certain cases where requirements stipulate specific courses must be achieved with a grade of "C" (2.0) or higher.

2.  In routes of transfer outside the TTPs, departmental practices regarding the applicability of the grade of "D" (1.0) will be honored.

C.  MTSU will follow prescribed state practices in evaluating continuing eligibility for the Tennessee Lottery Scholarship Program, which requires inclusion of calculating the cumulative GPA on all courses taken after graduation from high school.

VI. Graduate Degree Requirements and Provisions

A.  Graduate degree requirements vary by discipline and level. Master and specialist degree programs require a 3.0 GPA or higher for graduation, while doctoral programs require a 3.25 GPA or higher for graduation. These GPA requirements are both for overall and “in degree” (as defined by the degree plan).

B.  Transfer Provision for Graduate Courses

1.  Transfer credit provisions are set by the programs and the College of Graduate Studies in keeping with best practice guidelines. As such, transfer of graduate credit is limited in a number of areas and is defined in the MTSU graduate catalog.

2.  Courses are only eligible for transfer if the grade earned is a "B" (3.0) or better.

Forms: none.

Revisions: none.

Last Reviewed: November 2020.

References: none.