Missouri State University - West Plains

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Catalog 

Degrees and Requirements

Student Responsibility

It is the student’s responsibility to become familiar with and meet all requirements for a specific degree. Advisors may be consulted for recommendations, but the student must monitor his/her own progress toward a degree.

Associate Degree Programs

Missouri State University-West Plains currently offers associate degree programs leading to:

  • the Associate of Arts in General Studies
  • the Associate of Arts in Teaching
  • the Associate of Science in Nursing
  • the Associate of Applied Science in:
    • Business with emphases in:
      • Accounting, Computer Information, Management, and Technology Management
    • Child and Family Development
    • Computer Graphics and Programming
    • Computer Technology with emphases in:
      • Computer Applications and ComputerTechnical Support
    • Enology
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Fire Science Technology
    • General Agriculture
    • General Technology
    • Law Enforcement
    • Respiratory Therapy
    • Viticulture

Students may earn more than one associate degree. For example, an AA in General Studies may be earned while earning an AS in Nursing. For more information, contact the Office of Registration and Records.

The associate degree programs offered at Missouri State University-West Plains reflect the importance of a general education component. The general education core gives students an opportunity to sample a wide variety of subject areas and develop critical thinking abilities in each area. Additionally, studies indicate graduates with associate degrees earn more money than non-graduates.

Certificate Programs

Certificate programs are designed to meet specific, short-term training and educational needs of students. Certificate options are: Enology, Entrepreneurship, Technology Management, and Viticulture.

Graduation Procedures

In order to graduate, a student must:

  • complete an application for graduation form online or in the office of Registration and Records; apply for graduation at the time o registration for the semester in which they intend to graduate,
  • take a CAAP test in the Capstone course,
  • pay a graduation fee of $55.00 to the Business Office. (A portion of the graduation fee covers expenses of the CAAP test and an additional fee will be charged for each subsequent repeat of the CAAP test), and
  • if desired, make arrangements for caps, gowns, tassels, announcements, rings, etc., through the Drago College Store. Before a student may graduate, an audit of the student’s record will be made to verify graduation eligibility. All graduates from the summer session, fall semester, and spring semester may walk in one ceremony at the end of the spring semester. If a student will graduate at the end of the summer session for that academic year, an appeal may be made to the Dean of the College for the student to participate in the spring graduation ceremony (See Commencement).

General Degree Requirements and Procedures

  1. Catalog of Graduation. Students shall satisfy the general education requirements in effect upon first enrollment at Missouri State University-West Plains. Other special degree requirements in effect at the time the student files a degree program shall be satisfied. If a student re-enrolls after an absence of one calendar year or more from Missouri State University-West Plains, requirements in effect in the catalog at the time of readmission must be satisfied. Missouri State University-West Plains dual enrollment/dual credit students will follow the catalog which is in effect upon first enrollment after high school graduation. Non-degree seeking students shall satisfy the catalog requirements of the catalog in effect when they become degree seeking students. When students change degree programs (e.g., from the A.A. in General Studies to the A.S. in Nursing), they shall satisfy the catalog in effect when the change becomes effective.
  2. Credits and Grade Point Average. A candidate for an associate degree is required to make at least a 2.00 grade point average on the degree requirements (excluding electives), and a 2.00 grade point average on all work attempted at Missouri State University-West Plains, as well as a 2.00 grade point average on all college work (Missouri State University- West Plains and transfer combined).
  3. Residence. To receive an associate degree from Missouri State University- West Plains, the student must complete the last 15 credits in residence on the West Plains Campus or its extended campuses. Appeals for exemption to this policy should be addressed to the Dean of Academic Affairs.
  4. Time Limit. Students must complete their academic program at Missouri State University-West Plains within six years. Any student requiring more than six years to complete the degree must adopt the guidelines of the new catalog.
  5. Constitution Study. No student may graduate without complying with the state law known as Senate Bill No. 4, 1947 (Mo. Rev. St. Sec. 170.011) which states students must be “given regular courses of instruction in the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Missouri, in American history including the study of American institutions.” Students may meet this requirement by completing the American Studies requirements under General Education. Transfer students who have had a course in American government (PLS 101) which did not include a study of the Missouri Constitution must enroll in a reading course in political science (PLS 103).
  6. Capstone Course and the Student Learning Portfolio. All students, beginning in the fall 2005 semester, must complete the appropriate capstone course for their degree program and submit a portfolio of work for campus assessment as a condition for graduation.

    Although you will not earn points or completing the CAAP, CCLA (If the CCLA is administered in your capstone course, you are required to participate. It is not administered in every IDS 297 course.), and the portfolio, your participation in them is required. Failure to complete any of them will result in an automatic grade of “F” in this course. If extenuating circumstances exist, you may apply for an incomplete. See your student catalog for more information about applying for an incomplete.

Portfolio Requirements:

  • All first-time degree seeking students who enter Missouri state University-West Plains during the fall 2005 semester or later are required to compile a portfolio and take a capstone course to complete their degree programs,
  • The portfolio will be introduced to students in IDS 110 or another course,
  • Students should work with their faculty advisors within their degree programs to ensure they prepare the appropriate materials,
  • The portfolio is a continuous project to be worked on throughout a student’s educational experiences at Missouri State University-West Plains,
  • The portfolio will be submitted in the capstone course.

Portfolio guidelines for the various degree programs can be found in the IDS 110 text or obtained from the student’s academic advisor.

The Capstone course allows students to complete their education with a course that brings their Missouri State University-West Plains educational experiences together.

Capstone Requirements:

  • In this course students will submit their program portfolio and draw upon a broad cross-section of their coursework to examine global issues.
  • The capstone course also provides a place for students to participate in university assessment activities.
  • The capstone course requirements can be met by taking one of several courses, but the Associate of Arts Degree and some other degree programs require IDS 297 Topics in Globalization.
  • Some AAS degrees and the AS in Nursing degree have a different capstone requirement.
  • Students should work with their faculty advisors and should consult degree descriptions in their academic catalog to determine which course and, in the event of multiple topics offered within a course, which topic is most appropriate for their academic and career goals

Philosophy of General Education

A university exists to serve both society and the student. It must foster and enrich the culture of society, as well as provide specific skills to the student. It must maintain and strengthen our democratic society and broaden the knowledge and experience of each student while enhancing the student’s ability to think critically, make value judgments, and function competently in the wider world.

A university exists for the value of all knowledge — not only to teach knowledge but also to create new knowledge. The human spirit has a thirst for knowledge. A broad spectrum of knowledge frees us and empowers us — gives us the power to act effectively and achieve our purpose.

Perhaps at no time in history has the integration of the individual student into global society been more important than today. Students need both specific skills and a broad understanding of the important economic, scientific, philosophical, historical, and literary trends of the day. Only with such a broad base of knowledge will students be successful.

The purpose of a general education core of courses is to introduce students to a wide variety of knowledge, a higher concept of knowledge, and to show them how to make it their own. Missouri State University-West Plains ndorses the philosophy and purpose of a general education core required for each student completing an associate degree, ensuring that they have a breadth of educational experiences which will enable them to develop communication and critical thinking skills and to acquire knowledge (civic, historical, mathematical, scientific, literary, etc.) and value perspectives.

The actual number of required hours of general education courses varies depending on the type of associate degree — Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Applied Science.

Portfolio and Capstone Requirements:

All first-time degree-seeking students who enter Missouri State University-West Plains during the Fall 2005 semester or later are required to compile a portfolio and take a 2-hour capstone course to complete their degree programs. The portfolio will be introduced to students in IDS 110 or another course. Students should work with their faculty advisors within their degree programs to ensure they prepare the appropriate materials. The portfolio is a continuous project to be worked on throughout a student’s educational experiences at Missouri State University-West Plains and will be submitted in the capstone course. Portfolio guidelines for the various degree programs can be found in the IDS 110 text or obtained from the student’s academic advisor.

The capstone course allows students to complete their general education with a course that brings their Missouri State University-West Plains educational experiences together. In this course students will submit their program portfolio and draw upon a broad cross-section of their coursework to examine global issues. The capstone course also provides a place for students to participate in university assessment activities. The capstone course requirement can be met by taking one of several courses, but most degree programs require IDS 297 Topics in Globalization. Some AAS degrees and the AS in Nursing degree have a different capstone requirement. Students should work with their faculty advisors and should consult degree descriptions in their academic catalog to deter- mine which course and, in the event of multiple topics offered within a course, which topic is most appropriate for their academic and career goals.

Students who fail to complete a capstone course or who do not submit a portfolio will not be eligible for graduation until they have done so.

Second Degree

Students who have met all requirements may be awarded an additional associate degree in another field of study provided the following requirements are met:

  1. Must fulfill the general and specific requirements for the second degree.
  2. Must complete a minimum of 15 (fifteen) credit hours which are directly applicable to the second degree and in addition to those presented for the first degree.
  3. Must graduate under the provisions of the Missouri State University- West Plains catalog in effect when the student files a degree program for a second degree.
  4. Must comply with the state law known as Senate Bill No. 4, 1947 (Mo. Rev. St. Sec. 170.011). Transfer students who have had a course in American government (PLS 101) which did not include a study of the Missouri Constitution must enroll in a reading course in political science (PLS 103).
  5. Must pay $20 second degree graduation fee.

Transferability

To ensure transferability of credits, students should obtain and study catalogs from the four-year colleges or universities to which they are considering transferring, including Missouri State University-Springfield. Students should follow the degree requirements of the senior institution.

Students who have not chosen a major should concentrate on general education requirements. Students should be aware certain majors require specific general education courses. For assistance in choosing a major, students should contact their advisors.

Effective fall 1995, credit hours earned at Missouri State University-West Plains will be considered as community college hours by most four-year senior institutions. Some four-year institutions will only accept 64 credit hours as transfer hours from two-year institutions. Some will accept more than 64 credit hours as transfer hours from two-year institutions. Check with the senior institution for specific questions regarding transferability.