Additional Majors, Specializations, Second Degrees and Dual Degrees
Most of the 120 (or 123) credits required for a MSU Bachelor’s degree come from the required University, College and department courses. Additional credits, however, may be needed to reach the total 120 (123) credits. These credits, called general elective credits, may be taken in any discipline or any level.
There are many ways to choose electives. One way is to use your electives toward another credential, such as an additional major, specialization or second undergraduate degree.
At MSU, a "minor" is called either a "minor" or an "additional major:"
- Frequently are around 33 - 35 credits, but could be more.
- With advance planning, might not need to take more than the 120 (123) CREDITS needed for the Bachelor's degree.
- No diploma - but a notation is made on the student's transcript.
A specialization is a type of additional major at MSU which focuses on an interdisciplinary topic.
Obtaining a second undergraduate degree means completing all of the degree requirements for two separate degrees.
- University requirements are fairly consistent across all MSU colleges. It is possible that what you take for one degree may be applied to the second degree too, so you may not have to take any additional University requrements. Nonetheless, be sure to check with the department.
- Usually the student is held to College and department requirements for both degrees. The number of credits for College requirements is determined by that College. Department requirements are at least 33 credits.
- A minimum of 150 (153) credits is required for two degrees.
- Requirements for the second degree may be completed alongside those for the primary degree, or one degree may be completed before the second degree.
- Upon graduation, the student will receive two diplomas.
In certain circumstances, it is also possible to complete a "dual degree" in which the BS courses lead directly into the MS program.
In-depth information on these options is below on this page.
"MINOR" = Additional major
At MSU, there are two names for what one thinks of as a "minor." Students who concentrate all of their general elective work entirely in another department may choose to pursue a "minor" or an "additional major" with those credits.
A full list of formal "minors" is available (on that page use the grey menu on the right side - 2nd item down is Undergraduate Minors). If you do not see the subject you are interested in listed here, that department may offer an "additional major" instead. That department will specify which courses are required. Usually these are the courses required for department requirements, but occasionally some College requirements are included too. Additional majors frequently are around 33 - 35 credits, but if College requirements are included, it could be more.
With advance planning, it is possible to complete the minor or additional major alongside the primary major, WITHIN THE REGULAR 120 (123) CREDITS needed for the Bachelor’s degree.
Upon graduation, a notation is made on the student’s transcript:
"______ has completed the departmental requirements for a minor (or an additional major) in ________." No diploma is awarded, and the minor / additional major is not noted on the diploma for the primary degree.
Make an appointment with the advisor in the appropriate department to:
- obtain a list of requirements for that program
- process the appropriate paperwork to add this to your academic record
- verify that the departmental requirements are being met
An additional major usually provides sufficient background to attend graduate school in that subject. Check with each graduate school that you wish to attend to be certain.
NOTE: Additional majors may not be added after your first degree has been conferred. If you have graduated from MSU within the past year, make an appointment with the advisor in the relevant department to discuss adding a second degree. The advisor will begin to process the paperwork. Your requests will then be sent out to be processed by other MSU units, and once that is done - a week or 2 - you could begin to enroll as a student in that major.
If three (3) semesters have passed since you graduated (e.g. summer, fall and spring), you will have to apply to the MSU Registrar for readmission to MSU in your new program.
SPECIALIZATONS
A different type of additional major at MSU is an interdisciplinary program called a “specialization,” which focuses on a particular subject which crosses disciplines at MSU. Like the additional major, it is obtained by meeting the requirements for that program alongside the primary degree requirements. The number of required credits for specializations varies, but it usually is in the range of 23 to 35. Again, like the additional major, the advisor for the program can provide a list of requirements and begin to process the appropriate paperwork to add the specialization to a student’s record.
A full list of formal specializations is available (on that page, use the grey menu on the right side - 3rd item down is Undergraduate Specializations). For Zoology majors, appropriate specializations might be: Agribusiness Management; Bioethics Humanities and Society; Cognitive Science; Conservation and Environmental Law Enforcement; Environmental Studies; Health Promotion; Marine Ecosystem Management; Museum Studies; Public Relations or Spatial Information Processing.
NOTE: The Zoology Department does not offfer any specializations.
A SECOND Undergraduate DEGREE
Undergraduate students also may choose to complete all of the degree requirements for two separate degrees. Requirements for the second undergraduate degree may be completed alongside those for the primary degree, or a student may choose to complete all of the requirements for the primary degree before those of the second degree. A minimum of 150 (153) credits is required for two degrees, and usually the student is held to department and College requirements for both degrees.
Upon graduation, the student will receive two diplomas.
Make an appointment with the advisor in that department to:
- obtain a list of requirements for that program
- process the appropriate paperwork to add this to your academic record
- verify that the departmental requirements are being met
A second degree should give you sufficient background to attend graduate school in that area. To be certain, check with each graduate school that you wish to attend.
NOTE: If you have graduated from MSU within the past year, make an appointment with the advisor in the relevant department to discuss adding a second degree. (Additional majors may not be added after your first degree has been conferred.) The advisor will begin to process the paperwork. Your requests will then be sent out to be processed by other MSU units, and once that is done - a week or 2 - you could begin to enroll as a student in that major.
If three (3) semesters have passed since you graduated (e.g. summer, fall and spring), you will have to apply to the MSU Registrar for readmission to MSU in your new program.
Dual-degree: BS / MS
Yet another option for College of Natural Science students is to pursue a dual-degree (BS / MS) from Departments within the College.
The BS and the MS do not have to be from the same Department although in most cases they are. To apply, students must have completed a minimum of 60 undergraduate credits and have a minimum 3.0 GPA (overall and in CNS courses); they also should have approval for admission from the department to the respective graduate program. Course credits will count toward either the undergraduate or the graduate program: they cannot count both degrees simultaneously.
Contact the College of Natural Science for more information on this process.