How does it work? It's simple!

Looking for a condensed, accelerated pathway to earn a bachelor’s degree? Our Bachelor of Applied Science can help, whether you’re a community college student considering your next step or a working professional looking to move to the next rung on the career ladder. Once you complete your Applied Associate degree through an accredited community college, you may transfer up to 60 hours of community college coursework to MSU (15 hours of general education core and 45 hours of technical credit).

Program highlights:

  • You can transfer up to 45 hours of technical credit from an A.A.S. degree.
  • We partner with the U.S. Air Force’s Air University Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative program.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition per credit hour $419.00
Instructional Support Fee per credit hour $25.00

Tuition and fees listed are subject to change and do not include all possible charges. Additional fees may apply. Please refer to the master class schedule for individual course charges.

 

What are some potential careers?

 

Take 30 hours of upper-level emphasis classes through MSU online from up to three of the following fields:

Academic Affairs:

College of Architecture, Art, and Design

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences:

College of Arts and Sciences:

College of Business:

College of Education:

College of Continuing and Professional Studies:

Bagley College of Engineering:

School of Health Professions:

Who should pursue this degree?

The B.A.S. degree was created as a pathway for students who have completed an associate degree in Applied Science. It will allow you to utilize the most previously earned technical credit toward a bachelor’s degree.

"Attending Mississippi State University has been an amazing experience. I had previously attended a community college and graduated several years back. I chose a career in healthcare and after several years I decided to make a change. I wanted to receive my BAS and become a teacher. My advisor, Kali Dunlap, was able to help me decide the best course of action. She was very attentive to my concerns and was able to answer any questions that I had. I enjoyed getting quick responses anytime I emailed or called. Now that I am graduating with my BAS, I have been accepted to Mississippi State's graduate school and will be getting my Master of Arts in Teaching - Special Education and I could not be happier."

-Kristin Brown, Aberdeen, MS

Download Brochure

Degree Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree:

  • Students must complete a minimum of 120 hours.
    • Up to 60 hours transferred from an accredited community college may count toward the degree (up to 45 hours may be technical credit). Technical credit must be approved to count towards the degree.
    • 60 hours must be from an accredited four-year university.
    • 30 hours must be upper-level (3000 and above) emphasis area course work.
    • At least 30 hours of course work must come from MSU.
  • Students must have:
    • a 2.00 MSU GPA in order to graduate
    • a 2.00 overall GPA in order to graduate

Transfer Credit

  • Students may transfer up to 60 hours from an accredited community college (up to 45 hours may be technical credit).
  • Students may transfer up to 86 hours from an accredited four-year university.
  • For students who have a combination of the two: Students can transfer up to 86 hours from accredited institutions, but MSU will only accept 60 community college hours.
  • Half of the program (60 hours) must come from an accredited four-year university.
  • Upon admission to the university, the Registrar’s Office will evaluate transfer credit to determine how it transfers to MSU.

Program Structure

To graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree, Students must complete a minimum of 120 hours.

39 Hours from Core Curriculum
+30 Hours of Online Emphasis Areas
+6 Hours from University Core Electives
+45 Hours of General Electives (may include approved technical credit)
120 Hours to Graduation

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 a general overview of what you need to take in order to satisfy the core curriculum requirement. Please consult the BAS Advisor for more specific information.

 
Communication: 9 hours
  • English Composition I and II
  • Speech
Humanities and Fine Arts: 9 hours
  • Foreign Language
  • History
  • Literature
  • Philosophy
  • Religion
  • History or Appreciation of the Arts
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 hours
  • Anthropology
  • Economics
  • Geography
  • Psychology
  • Political Science
  • Sociology
Natural Science with Labs: 6 - 8 hours
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Geography
  • Geology
  • Microbiology*
  • Physical Science
  • Physics*
  • Plant and Soil Sciences*
Mathematics: 3 hours
  • Calculus
  • College Algebra
  • Statistics
  • Trigonometry
Computer Literacy: 3 hours
  • Most introductory computer courses, computer language course, or business computer language course will meet this requirement.
Junior/Senior Writing Requirement: 3 hours
  • Options available are dependent on the student's emphasis areas
University Core Electives: 6 hours
  • Most introductory computer courses, computer language course, or business computer language course will meet this requirement.

General Electives: 45 hours

  • Any course offered by MSU but also may include technical credits.

*Courses in these subject areas are not currently available online.

Emphasis Areas

Click on the corresponding emphasis area for a list and course description of the types of courses that are currently available. The listings are for information purposes only. Do not take any courses without talking to your advisor.

Academic Affairs:

College of Architecture, Art, and Design

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences:

College of Arts and Sciences:

College of Business:

College of Education:

College of Continuing and Professional Studies:

Bagley College of Engineering:

School of Health Professions:

Emphasis Area Guidelines

  1. You must complete a total of at least 30 hours of upper-level emphasis area course work.
  2. You must complete either one 30-hour emphasis area, two of the 15-hour emphasis area options and take 15 upper-level hours in each area.
  3. Other restrictions may apply. Please ask the BAS Advisor for more information.

15-hour Emphasis Areas (Choose TWO)

  • College of Agriculture and Life Sciences:
    • Health Promotion
  • College of Arts and Sciences:
    • Communication
    • Criminology
    • Geosciences
      • General Geosciences
    • History
    • Psychology
    • Social Work
    • Sociology
  • College of Business:
    • General Business
  • College of Education:
    • Counselor Education
    • Educational Psychology
    • General Technology
    • Kinesiology
    • Manufacturing Fundamentals
    • Veterans' Certificate
  • Bagley College of Engineering:
    • Operations Management Engineering
  • College of Professional and Continuing Studies
    • Organizational Leadership
  • School of Health Professions:
    • Healthcare Administration

30-hour Emphasis Areas (Choose ONE)

  • Academic Affairs:
    • Public Management
  • College of Architecture, Art and Design:
    • Trades Supervision
  • College of Arts and Sciences:
    • Psychology
  • College of Education:
    • Educational Psychology
    • General Technology
    • Manufacturing Fundamentals
  • School of Health Professions:
    • Healthcare Administration

Admissions Process

Admissions

If you have never attended Mississippi State University, please complete the online Undergraduate Admissions Application.

  • You will choose Applied Science (BAS) as your major and Online Education as your campus.
  • Request that official ACT or SAT scores be sent to MSU.
  • Request that your high school send your official transcript. Faxed transcripts will not be accepted.
  • Submit a separate official final transcript from each college or university attended; faxed transcripts will not be accepted. An applicant may not ignore previous college attendance and must list all colleges attended on the application for admission. You must be in good standing at the last college or university attended.
  • If you are able to submit official transcripts and other documentation electronically, you may send them to admit@msstate.edu.
  • If you are unable to submit official transcripts and other documentation electronically, you may send them via U.S. Postal Service to:
    Office of Admissions & Scholarships
    P.O. Box 6334
    Mississippi State, MS
    39762
  • All new admits will pay non-refundable application fee online.

Academic Advising

After gaining admission to the university, you must contact your advisor to determine the courses that are most appropriate for you to take. Two months prior to the upcoming semester, your advisor will send an email to your MSU account, making course recommendations based on your program of study.

Mississippi State University uses email as its official means of communication with all MSU students. Please check your MSU email account (NetID@msstate.edu) daily. Information on setting up your MSU email can be found at the link for student services.

Photo of Lily Hudson

Lily Hudson

Online Education

  • Coordinator
662-325-1559

Program Reminders

  • If you want to deviate from the program of study recommended for you, check with your advisor
  • If you take courses not on your recommended program of study, there is a risk that the classes will not count toward your BAS degree
  • A student may not receive a BAS degree if the student already has a bachelor's degree.

All programs of study are subject to review by the Registrar's Office for graduation, even from a signed program of study. Courses that do not equal MSU courses exactly may or may not apply to your program as core courses. You can see these course translations through the CAPP report found at my.msstate.edu. To access the report, log into your myState account and click on the "hamburger" icon in the top left corner in order to access the Banner tab; click or hover over the myBanner for Students tab in order to view the Academic Records column where you can click on the CAPP Compliances link.


Contact Information

Headshot of Catrinia Anthony

Catrinia Anthony

Enrollment & Onboarding Coach

  • General Program Questions
  • Assistance with Admissions Process & Requirements
662-325-1742
Photo of Lily Hudson

Lily Hudson

Retention & Engagement Coach

  • Current Student Inquires
  • Academic & Support Services Assistance
662-325-1559