Instructional Programs

Academic Load

A normal class load is 15 semester hours. A full-time student is required to enroll in at least 15 semester hours of credit. A student maintaining fewer than 15 semester hours is considered part-time. A student may not take more than 19 hours without permission from the Campus Vice President, unless the student’s curriculum indicates otherwise.

When a full-time student drops below 15 semester hours, the student automatically becomes a part-time student. If this occurs, a part-time student tuition fee is charged in lieu of full-time tuition.

A residence hall student who drops to part-time status must move out of college housing and continue his/her studies as a commuter student unless the Dean of Student Services and Campus Vice President approve the student to remain in college housing.

Grades

At mid-term and again at the end of the semester, the instructor reports the academic standing of each student in each course. Mid-term grades and final grades are available to students online at www.mgccc.edu in Web Services. Mid-term grades allow students to evaluate their progress; however,  unlike final semester grades, they are not official and do not appear on the transcript.

Grades are based upon proficiency attained by the student demonstrated primarily by the quality of work done in the classroom. Letter grades used and their meaning are as follows:

A Represents superior or outstanding achievement in prescribed work

B Above-average achievement in prescribed work

C Average level of achievement

D Below-average achievement this is the lowest passing grade.

F Failure to pass prescribed work

I Incomplete

The prescribed work was not finished by the end of the semester. If the work is completed within the following semester (summer term does not count), the “I” may be changed to A, B, C, or D. If the work is not completed within that semester, the “I” will be changed to “F.”

IP In Progress

At the end of the grading period, the student is progressing but has not completed the course during that grading period. This grade is utilized for a limited number of Developmental Studies competency-based courses. If the student does not re enroll in the “IP” course, the “IP” will change to an “F” at the end of the next semester (summer term does not count).

AU Audit

Awarded at the end of a course when the student has properly registered as an auditing student (see Auditing a Course ).

W Withdrawal

Student officially withdrew before the end of the official withdrawal period or withdrew due to extenuating circumstances with the approval of the dean of instruction.

WP Withdrawal Passing

Student dropped by the instructor for noncompliance with the college’s attendance policy. Work completed at a passing grade level.

WF Withdrawal Failing

Student dropped by the instructor for noncompliance with the college’s attendance policy. Work completed at a failing grade level.

P Pass

Awarded to students enrolled in a pass/fail class.

Grade Changes Due to Error

Corrections of semester grades due to error should be requested within six weeks after the end of the semester in which the error was made.

Quality Points and Grade Point Average (GPA)

A student must average a minimum of two quality points for each semester hour of work attempted to qualify for graduation. Points are computed on grades as follows:

A 4 quality points per semester hour

B 3 quality points per semester hour

C 2 quality points per semester hour

D 1 quality point per semester hour

F 0 quality point per semester hour

Grades of I, IP, AU, W, WP, WF, and P do not incur quality points. If a student does not earn sufficient quality points in a course or fails the course, the student can repeat the course to improve the grade and quality points. The best grade earned in the same course is used to compute GPA. A transfer student’s quality points will be computed on the grades of earned semester hours.

Grade point averages are determined by totaling the quality points earned in all courses and dividing the sum by the total semester hours attempted.

Example: A student earns a grade of “A” in English Composition I (3 semester hours) and a grade of B in General Biology I (4 semester hours).

3 semester hours X 4 quality points = 12 quality points for English Composition I.

4 semester hours X 3 quality points = 12 quality points for General Biology I.

24 total quality points / 7 semester hours attempted = 3.43 GPA

President’s and Vice President’s Lists

Scholarship is the chief goal of serious college students. The Board of Trustees, administration and faculty attempt to stimulate and recognize exemplary scholastic achievement each semester.

President’s List: Students will be recognized on the President’s List by earning twelve or more semester hours with a 4.0 (all A’s) grade point average.

Vice President’s List: Students will be recognized on the Vice President’s List by earning twelve or more semester hours with a 3.30 to 3.99 grade point average with no grade less than a “C.”

Scholastic Forgiveness of Grades

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is committed to assisting students in the achievement of their educational goals through its open-door admissions policy. Some students are not academically prepared for college-level work or encounter problems that result in failure to achieve satisfactory grades. These students often make the decision to drop out or “stop out” until they are ready to continue their education. To alleviate the difficulties associated with low grade point averages, many institutions allow students to eliminate the computation of grades on previous work for purposes of graduation. This practice, commonly referred to as scholastic forgiveness, is not endorsed by all institutions.

Any student readmitted to MGCCC may petition for scholastic forgiveness of grades as outlined in the following procedure.

Scholastic forgiveness of grades does not change the policies and regulations that govern financial aid and veteran’s benefits eligibility.

Procedure for Scholastic Forgiveness

1. The student must complete the Petition for Scholastic Forgiveness of Grades, which may be obtained from the Director of Admissions.
2. The Petition for Scholastic Forgiveness must be made prior to the end of the second semester of readmittance following 24 consecutive months of non-enrollment at any post-secondary institution.
3. The student will be counseled as to the conditions outlined in this statement and on the Petition. The student should be advised that all college credits earned previous to a semester designated by the student will be eliminated from the computation of the student’s grade point average and eliminated from all academic regulations such as probation, suspension, and honors. These eliminated credits may never be used toward graduation at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
4. The student’s transcript will reflect the complete scholastic record but will contain the notation at the appropriate point that all previous grades have been forgiven.
5. Scholastic Forgiveness of grades can be declared only once and cannot be revoked once granted.
6. The completed Petition for Scholastic Forgiveness of Grades with appropriate signatures must be submitted to the Director of Admissions and filed in the student’s permanent record.

Absentee Policy

Students are allowed one hour of absence per semester hour for lecture courses. Two hours of absences are allowed per semester hour for laboratory courses. Three hours of absences are allowed per semester hour for clinical/internship courses. If course objectives require a combination of lecture, lab or clinical/internship time, then the absences will be apportioned according to the limitations stated.

Excessive tardies will not be tolerated and will count as absences. An instructor may drop a student after the student misses more than the number of absences per semester hour that the course carries. Excused absences are permitted at the discretion of the instructor and are not counted as absences. Official absences are excused by the college and are not counted as absences.

Instructors will be notified of such official absences by the college. In extenuating circumstances, students who are dropped after exceeding allowable absences may petition for reinstatement to the Dean of Instruction who advises the student of the proper procedure.

For absentee policies pertaining to Cosmetology and Career and Technical Healthcare programs, see the Cosmetology and Health Occupations Handbook.

Withdrawal Procedures

The withdrawal period for full-term classes concludes on the Friday of the 10th week of the semester. For specific withdrawal dates and refunding periods for all classes, please refer to the Academic Calendar  . Additional information on the withdrawal process is also described in the student handbook, which is located at: catalog.mgccc.edu/index.php.

Scholastic Probation

Scholastic probation is conditional permission to continue in college when standards of scholastic progress are not met. If a student fails to achieve minimum requirements during any term, he/she will be placed on scholastic probation.

Minimum Scholastic Standards of Progress*

Cumulative Grade

Semester Hours Attempted - Point Average (GPA)

*All programs of study require a minimum 2.0 GPA for graduation even if the program is less than 42 credit hours.

Transfer Students

Transfer students, once admitted, will be under the same scholastic probation, suspension, and re-admission policy as other students. Credit from regionally accredited post secondary institutions will be added to the MGCCC transcript and articulated courses will be included in the overall GPA.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress differs from the Scholastic Standards of Progress. Students must meet the minimum scholastic standards of progress to receive financial aid. For example, the grade of “W” will count in hours attempted for financial aid purposes, but not in the cumulative grade point average. Students receiving financial aid should request a copy of these standards from the campus Director of Financial Aid or review “Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress” in the “Financial Information” section of this publication.

Healthcare Programs

Certain healthcare programs require students to meet “program standards of progression” in order to continue in the program. Students not meeting these standards may continue to enroll at MGCCC in other programs as long as they maintain minimum MGCCC standards of progress.

Returning to Good Standing

In order for a student to return to Good Standing after being placed on Scholastic Probation, the student must achieve a 2.0 term GPA the following term to be removed from probation (i.e. if the probation results from fall grades, the student must achieve a 2.0 GPA in the spring semester).

Scholastic Suspension

Students who fail to meet the 2.0 GPA at the end of their probationary semester will be suspended from the College. The student is prohibited from enrolling in classes for one semester following suspension and any pre-registered classes will be removed from the system. Upon returning, the student will be placed on probation for two semesters and must achieve a 2.0 term GPA the first semester and a cumulative 2.0 GPA the second semester to continue enrollment.

Readmission

Any student suspended for scholastic reasons for the first time qualifies for re-admission on conditional status by remaining out of the College for at least one (1) full term (summer term included).

A student may petition, in writing, the Admissions Committee for immediate re-admission on conditional status in the case of mitigating circumstances. Petitions will be decided on an individual basis. See the Dean of Student Services or Director of Admissions for more information.

After second and subsequent suspensions, the student will be eligible to apply for conditional readmission only after remaining out of the College for at least two (2) full terms. No immediate re-admission will be considered except in extraordinary circumstances. Some nursing and healthcare programs have specific readmission procedures.

Auditing a Course

Students registering for audit purposes will be charged regular tuition fees. When official grades are not desired, audit privileges are available to students for the purpose of review and/or special interest. Please refer to the Student Handbook at the campus where you are registered or plan to register for more detailed information on the audit process or it can be found on the MGCCC college website at catalog.mgccc.edu/index.php.

Academic Awards

Awards for high academic achievement may be given each year at the discretion of the faculty. These are usually awarded to a full-time sophomore who has the highest academic achievement in the area the student has designated as his or her major.

Credit by Non-Traditional Means

The total of credit by non-traditional means may not exceed 38 semester hours. MGCCC will award no credit by non-traditional means for courses or programs not offered within the current curriculum of the college.

I. Credit for College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) enables colleges to evaluate achievement and award credit. A wide range of college-level examinations is offered by CLEP to anyone who wishes to participate. The CLEP exam can only be taken once every six months. Scores on the tests are reported to the student and the appropriate college, employer, or individual:

1. Credit for the CLEP Examinations will be awarded if the scores meet or exceed the minimum ACE recommended scores standard. Students taking CLEP tests before July 1st 2001 should refer to the college catalog for the year the test was taken for scoring requirements.
2. All courses listed in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Catalog are eligible for credit if CLEP has an established examination in that subject. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is an approved limited CLEP testing site. See the campus Assessment Center proctor to schedule a CLEP examination.
3. To receive credit through CLEP a person must enroll in MGCCC to take additional semester hour credit courses.
4. The appropriate course numbers and semester hour credit awarded through the use of CLEP will be placed on the student’s transcript under the heading “credit awarded by CLEP.” Grade of CR is recorded.
5. Students must consult university of their choice for specific transferability of CLEP credit.
6. Credit for the CLEP Subject Examinations will be awarded in the following courses: (Students in healthcare programs should consult department chairperson about acceptable credit.)

*CLEP General Examinations

II. Articulated Credit

Any student from the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Tech Prep Consortium of participating secondary schools wishing to receive advanced articulated credit must be in good standing at the former institution. The applicant shall be responsible for procuring the proper documentation. Granting of credit for previous training will be done after completion of the first semester of enrollment at MGCCC.

The following stipulations will be upheld:

1. The applicant must meet all admission requirements as stated in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Catalog.
2. To be eligible for Local Articulated credit, a student must complete the articulated Secondary Vocational Program and receive at least a grade of 85 in the secondary program of study. Students must contact the MGCCC counseling center to begin this process.
3. To be eligible for Statewide Articulation credit, a student must complete the articulated Secondary Vocational Program and score in the 80th  percentile or higher on the Mississippi Career Planning and Assessment System (MS CPAS) or score in the 80th percentile or higher on the MGCCC Board approved Technical Attainment Assessment in their secondary program of study.
4. To be awarded Local and Statewide Articulated credit a student must be a first-time enrollee at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
5. Verification of secondary grades will be by official transcript.
6. All Articulated credit will be exempt from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College fees.
7. Credit awarded for Articulated courses will be identified on the transcript as “Articulated Credit.” A letter grade will not be assigned and the semester hours will not be factored in the students’ grade point average. Articulated credit may be used to meet Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College graduation requirements. Students must consult the University of their Choice for specific transferability of ” Articulated Credit.”

III. Advanced Placement

Students entering Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will be allowed credit on the Advanced Placement Examination administered by the College Entrance Examination Board and sponsored by participating high schools.

For an Advanced Placement score of 4 or 5, 6 or 8 semester hours will be awarded if offered by the college in the subject area. For scores of 3, 3 or 4 semester hours will be awarded if offered in the subject areas.

IV. Credit by Departmental Examination

1. Credit may be obtained in courses on the basis of departmental examination only for courses other than those for which the CLEP credit is available. Exceptions must be approved by the Department, Dean of Instruction and the Vice President.
2. Permission to take a departmental challenge examination must have the approval of all members of the department who teach the course and the appropriate Dean of Instruction. Students covered under the college adopted career and technical articulation agreement with high schools will not be charged a tuition fee. Cost for these examinations will be at the rate of $25 per semester hour. No other tuition will be charged for the course. For courses with labs, a performance test may also be required at the discretion of the department concerned.

V. Credit for Life Experience Program

The credit for life experience process begins with the student meeting with the department chair in the area that the credit will be requested at the campus he/she is attending.

A. Prior Learning Portfolio

A prior learning portfolio is a written record presented by the student requesting college credit for learning outside the classroom. Credit is given only for college-level learning. Portfolios will require the following elements:

1. Identification and definition of specific prior learning for which college credit is being requested.
2. An essay or narrative explaining how this prior learning relates to the student’s desired degree program, from what experiences it was gained and how it fits into his overall education and career plans.
3. Documentation that the student has actually acquired the learning he is claiming. This documentation must address each of the course objectives/learning outcomes as defined on the course syllabus for the course that the student is requesting credit for life experience.
4. A credit request listing exactly how much credit the student expects in each subject area.

B. Portfolio Review

1. The portfolio review will be done by the department chairs college-wide. In addition, the designated campus instructor that is teaching the course where credit is being determined will also be a member of the portfolio review committee.
2. The deadline dates for the student to apply for a portfolio review will be August 1 (review to be done prior to the beginning of fall semester), November 1 (review to be done prior to the spring semester), and April 1 (review to be done prior to the summer semester).
3. To be eligible for portfolio review, a student must be admitted and registered or a continuing MGCCC student.

C. Additional Requirements

1. If a CLEP exam is available in the subject area for which the student is requesting credit, the student must take the CLEP exam in order to earn any college credit. The portfolio method is not an option.
2. The maximum number of credits that a student can earn through the portfolio method is credit for three specific MGCCC courses with a maximum of 15 credit hours.
3. On the MGCCC transcript, the credit awarded will be designated as Credit for Life Experience/Portfolio.
4. The student receiving college credit for life experience must sign a statement indicating knowledge that this credit is applicable at MGCCC but may not be recognized by other institutions of higher learning.
5. The student will be charged a non-refundable fee of $25 per credit hour for a portfolio review.

VI. Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES)

Courses on the college level taken through DANTES are acceptable for credit as awarded provided the minimum recommended acceptable score is attained. Courses that are not specifically applicable to a particular program may be counted as elective credit.

The DANTES Subject Standardized Testing Program is an extensive series of examinations in college subjects that are comparable to the final or end-of-course examination in undergraduate courses. ACE recommends three college credits for each examination with four college credits awarded for some science courses. The DSSTs recommends three college credits for each examination. The DSSTs are:

Business

Business, Introduction to

Computing, Introduction to

Financial Accounting, Principles of

Organizational Behavior

Personal Finance

Human Resource Management

Supervision, Principles of

Humanities

Art of the Western World

Ethics in America

Introduction to World Religions

Public Speaking, Principles of

Technical Writing

Mathematics

Business Mathematics

College Algebra, Fundamentals

Statistics, Principles of

Science

Astronomy

Physical Geology

Physical Science I, Principles of

Social Sciences

Anthropology, General

Contemporary Western Europe

Human/Cultural Geography

Lifespan Developmental Psychology

Technical

Criminal Justice

Law Enforcement, Introduction to

VII. Credit for Military Service Experience and Training

Upon presentation of an official transcript of military experience (Community College of the Air Force – CCAF, Joint Services Transcript - JST, Coast Guard Institute- CGI), a student may have credit awarded as recommended for the lower division category or the career/technical category. In instances where a transcript is not available, students may submit copies of form DD214.

Credit for Service Schools will be awarded in accord with the recommendations of the American Council on Education in the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces. This credit will be awarded as recommended for the lower-division category or the career/technical category as determined by the evaluating officer.

VIII. Credit in certain law enforcement courses

Credit may be allowed for completion of specific courses, programs, academies and workshops following departmental recommendation and approval by the Dean of Instruction and the Vice President. Specific credit recommendations are:

Basic Law Enforcement Course for Sheriffs or Basic Law Enforcement Course for Police:

IX. Credit for Approved Apprenticeship Programs

MGCCC, in partnership with sponsoring companies, coordinates specific apprenticeship programs designed to meet the training needs of apprentices as outlined by the Bureau of Apprenticeship Training of the U.S. Department of Labor. Participants in these programs are employed by a sponsoring company and must meet all apprenticeship entry requirements specified by the Bureau of Apprentice Standards. Apprenticeship programs vary in length from 4,000 to 8,000 clock hours, including work experience training and classroom instruction. Classroom instruction includes related studies needed to perform on-the-job skills. Apprenticeship instructors monitor work experience training and insure rotations are maintained. Upon satisfactory completion of the apprenticeship, the participant is classified as a journeyman with the sponsoring company.

A person who has satisfactorily completed an approved apprenticeship program may receive 30 semester hours of credit toward the Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Education (AASOE) degree. Other requirements for the ASSOE degree are outlined under “Graduation information.”

Cooperative Education Program

Cooperative Education is an educational process designed to integrate classroom study with planned and supervised on-the-job experience outside of the formal classroom environment. The student alternates periods of college with work periods, working in business, industry, social services and private agencies. These work periods are an integral part of the students’ education and are arranged with the employers by Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College exercises supervision and control over the students’ activities at the establishment to insure a comprehensive training experience.

Two approaches are available for Cooperative Education: the alternating plan and the parallel plan. The alternating plan provides for a semester of full-time (12 hours or more) study followed by a semester of full-time employment (40 hours per week) until completion of school. The parallel plan enables the student to attend classes for a part of the day and work for a part of the day. Under the parallel plan, students must work a minimum of 15 hours a week.

Students must complete a minimum of one semester, maintaining a grade point average of 2.0 or better to qualify for this program. The course credit earned for the Cooperative Education work experience can be used toward graduation from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

The program is coordinated through the respective campus Dean of Career-Technical Education.

Community Campus Continuing Education

At MGCCC, continuing education is a delivery system for individual participation in lifelong learning offerings for self-enrichment, occupational or professional development, and/or keeping abreast of the changing world. Continuing education courses, whether taken for supplementary or preparatory reasons, are offered to the community as needs is realized. Continuing education courses are offered throughout the district through a consistent procedure to include: short term, non-credit classes, industry specific training courses, travel to learn, workshops and seminars, and non-credit basic skills classes. To enhance and market regular programs, the delivery of non-credit programs may be provided at all department levels in the college and online.

Mobile Training Units

Providing a skilled workforce for business and industry is key to regional economic development. In addition to traditional and non-traditional classroom and laboratory training environments, the Community Campus provides training in welding, crane operator, and computer applications with self-contained, state-of-the-art mobile units. These mobile training units can be utilized anywhere at any time to meet the needs of the community regardless of location.

Developmental Studies

Before admission to any curriculum, entering freshmen must submit ACT scores or take basic skills tests in reading, writing and mathematics. If there is evidence of academic deficiency in any of these areas, students will be required to take developmental studies courses. Developmental studies classes utilize classroom and computerized instruction designed to prepare students for other college courses. The courses offered in Developmental Studies are not designed for transfer credit (these courses include MAT 0111  , MAT 0121  , MAT 0131  , MAT 0123  , MAT 1233  , ENG 0111  , ENG 0121  , ENG 0131  , ENG 0114  , and ENG 0124 ). Developmental courses are not considered in calculating GPA and semester hours to meet graduation requirements.

eLearning

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College offers credit and non-credit courses through the Mississippi Virtual Community College (MSVCC) Consortium. Delivered by qualified and well-trained faculty members, eLearning courses address the same student learning outcomes and are considered the same credit as the “on-site” equivalent courses. eLearning courses may be used as credit to fulfill graduation requirements of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. For more information, visit the eLearning website at: http://www.mgccc.edu/elearning/.

Honors College

In order to provide services to meet the educational needs of the community as a whole, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College established the Honors Program in 1987. The Honors College offers special courses and activities, along with full-tuition scholarships, to academically talented students. Students who wish to participate in the program must complete an application, attend an interview with the Honors College Director, and meet any two of the appropriate criteria. The Honors College only considers college-level coursework; therefore, developmental courses are excluded from all requirements.

Criteria for entering freshmen:

1. A minimum ACT Composite score of at least 25 (required for full-tuition scholarship),
2. The top 10 percent of their high school class in a college preparatory program, or
3. Recommendations from two instructors/faculty members

Criteria for students entering with previous college work:

1. A minimum ACT Composite score of 25,
2. A cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 with no grade lower than C on a minimum of 15 hours (required for full-tuition scholarship), or
3. Recommendations from two instructors/faculty members

In order to remain in the program, honors scholars must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 with no grade lower than a C and must take seven hours of honors credit each semester to include the honors forum. Students who drop below the required cumulative GPA of 3.2 but not below a cumulative GPA of 3.0 will be placed on probation for one semester to allow the student to regain the 3.2 cumulative GPA. The student will remain in the program and retain the scholarship while on probation. Only one probationary semester is allowed during the four-semester program.

All courses designated Honors must include the general course objectives and additional research that results in written assignments (8 to 10 pages) and an oral presentation or equivalent activity appropriate to the study of the course. Projects are subject to the approval of the Dean of Instruction, Department Chair, and Honors College Director. Participation in honors courses are by Honors College Director permission only. Honors courses are designated with an H on the transcript.

The following courses within the general education core are designated as Honors courses:

English

ENG 1113H - Honors Eng Comp I 
ENG 1123H - Honors English Composition II  

Social Science

ECO 2113H - Honors Principles of Economics I 
ECO 2123H Honors Microeconomics
PSC 1113H - Honors American Government 
PSY 1513H - Honors General Psycology 
SOC 2113H - Honors Intro to Sociology  

Mathematics

MAT 1313H Honors College Algebra
MAT 1613H - Honors Calculus I-A 
MAT 1623H - Honors Calculus II-A 
MAT 2613H Honors Calculus III
MAT 2623H Honors Calculus IV

Science

BIO 1134H - Honors General Biology I 
BIO 1144H - Honors General Biology II 
BIO 2514H Honors Anatomy and Physiology I
BIO 2524H Honors Anatomy and Physiology II
BIO 2924H Honors Microbiology
CHE 1214H Honors General Chemistry I
CHE 1224H - Honors General Chemistry II 
CHE 2425H Honors Organic Chemistry I
CHE 2435H Honors Organic Chemistry II
PHY 2514H Honors General Physics I-A
PHY 2524H Honors General Physics II-A

Humanities

ENG 2213H Honors American Literature I
ENG 2223H Honors American Literature II
ENG 2323H Honors British Literature I
ENG 2333H - Honors British Literature II 
ENG 2423H - Honors World Literature I 
ENG 2433H - Honors World Literature II 
HIS 1163H - Honors World Civilizations I 
HIS 1173H - Honors World Civilizations II 
HIS 2213H Honors American History I
HIS 2223H Honors American History II
PHI 2113H - Honors Introduction to Philosophy  

Public Speaking

SPT 1113H - Honors Oral Communication  

In addition, if an Honors student is enrolled in one of the pre-approved honors designated courses, he or she must consider contracting the honors project in that course before another course will be considered for approval. For students who are not enrolled in one of the pre-approved honors designated courses, other courses may be considered for honors credit subject to the approval of the Dean of Instruction, Department Chair, and Honors Director. Courses not on the pre-approved list that may be approved for Honors credit can be selected from the general education core and/or university parallel courses for academic degree programs if they are included in a student’s major of study. An Honors designated course, with the exception of the required Honors Forum, must be no fewer than three credit hours.

Learning Resources Centers

The Learning Resources Center encompasses the Library, Media Services, and Learning Lab at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Our goal is to provide learning resources which support and enhance all educational programs at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Library: The purpose of the libraries at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is to provide instructional support services that reinforce the curriculum of the college. We accomplish this by providing a well-trained staff, excellent resources, and accessible facilities. We both encourage and assist students to use the resources of our library to meet their personal needs and educational goals.

Media Services: The purpose of the Media Services Department at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is to foster the educational endeavors of the faculty, staff, and students. We accomplish this by providing high-quality audiovisual equipment and a wide variety of current media materials for curriculum support of classroom instruction.

Learning Labs: The purpose of the Learning Labs at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is to support and advance teaching and learning by helping students develop the skills necessary to be successful learners through the creation of a supportive learning environment that fosters intellectual growth.

Graduation Information

Selection of Catalog for Graduation

Students must meet graduation requirements for each associate type degree or diploma as outlined in the current catalog or a catalog not more than six years old at the time of the anticipated graduation. Selection of the catalog must be approved by the Dean of Student Services. The catalog selected must contain the program of study for the year during which the student earned credit.

Graduate College-Level Competencies

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College identifies five college-level competencies within the general education core curriculum for all Associate of Arts, Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Education degree graduates. Graduates of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will be considered proficient in the following competencies:

• effective written communication
• mathematical problem solving
• effective oral communication
• critical thinking
• application of technology

General Graduation Requirements

General graduation requirements apply to all plans of graduation. These requirements include earning a minimum of 60 hours with a quality point average of at least 2.0 for all course work attempted (excluding developmental courses), including two semester hours of physical education. (Under certain conditions, other work may be substituted for physical education, provided a substitution-of-course form is completed and approved by appropriate college officials.) When a course is repeated, the higher grade is used in computing quality point average at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Transfer students must earn a minimum of 25 percent of the required semester credit hours at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to be eligible to receive a degree from the college.

All associate type degree programs include a core of general education courses (15-16 semester hours) that is outlined in the three degree programs. The core includes at least one course from each of the following areas: English, Humanities/Fine Arts, Natural Sciences/Mathematics, Public Speaking, and Social/Behavioral Sciences.

Students planning to receive an associate type degree or diploma must complete a formal application available online. Candidates for fall, spring or summer graduation should consult Student Services for application deadlines. Students are strongly encouraged to work closely with faculty advisors and Student Services counselors so that appropriate courses are taken to meet graduation requirements. Ultimate responsibility, however, does rest with the individual student.

Honors and Special Honors Distinction

Graduation candidates who meet graduation requirements earning a grade point average between 3.30 and 3.69 will graduate with Honors. Candidates who meet graduation requirements and earn a GPA of 3.70 or higher will graduate with Special Honors. GPA will not be rounded to determine honors and special honors.

Specific Graduation Requirements

I. Associate of Arts (AA)

The Associate of Arts degree is awarded for the successful completion of courses designed as the first two years of a four-year college/university curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree. This degree encompasses programs listed under “University Parallel Programs” in this catalog.

1. This degree requires the completion of 60 semester hours with an overall grade point average of 2.0 or above.
2. The 60 hours must include the following:
   
   English, 6 semester hours (English Composition I and II)
   Social Science, 6 semester hours (government, geography, economics, psychology, sociology, marriage and family, anthropology, human growth and development)
   Math, 3 semester hours (MAT 1313  or higher math – MAT 1723  does not count)
   Science, 8 semester hours (any science with a laboratory)
   Physical Education, 2 semester hours
   Humanities, 6 semester hours (any literature, history, foreign language, philosophy)
   Fine Arts, 3 semester hours (any appreciation course)
   Public Speaking, 3 semester hours
   Approved computer course (BAD 2533, CSC 1123), 3 semester hours

Total, 40 semester hours.

3. Additional 20 hours cannot include career or developmental classes.

II. Associate of Science (AS)

The Associate of Science degree is a specialized transfer degree designed for students who will ultimately pursue a baccalaureate degree in a science, technology, engineering, or math field. Some examples include, but are not limited to biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, physics, etc.

1. This degree requires the completion of 60 semester hours with an overall grade point average of 2.0 or above.
2. The 60 hours must include the following:

English, 6 semester hours (English Composition I and II)
Social Science, 3 semester hours (government, geography, economics, psychology, sociology, marriage and family, anthropology, human growth and development)
Math, 9-15 semester hours (MAT 1313 or higher math – MAT 1723 does not count)
Science, 8-16 semester hours (any science with a laboratory)
Humanities, 3 semester hours (any literature, history, foreign language, philosophy)
Fine Arts, 3 semester hours (any appreciation course)

Total, 40 semester hours.

3. Additional 20 hours cannot include career or developmental classes

60 total hours
40 required hours
20 elective hours

When choosing electives, students should confer with the institution in which they plan to transfer.

III. Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

The Associate of Applied Science degree is designed to meet the educational needs of students who are seeking preparation for employment in occupational fields not requiring a baccalaureate degree. This degree encompasses programs listed under “Technical Programs ” in this catalog.

Students must earn an overall 2.0 grade point average in their program requirements to earn an A.A.S. and have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.0 to graduate.

1. Each program must have a minimum of 60 hours including the general core requirements as follows:
   
   English, 3 semester hours (English Composition I)
   Social Science, 3 semester hours (government, geography, economics, psychology, sociology, marriage and family, anthropology, human growth and development)
   Math/Natural Science, 3 semester hours Math (MAT 1313  or higher) or 4 hours of Natural Science with laboratory
   Public Speaking, 3 semester hours
   Humanities/Fine Arts, 3 semester hours (any literature, history, foreign language, philosophy, or appreciation course)

3. Students must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours of required content-specific program coursework at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to be eligible for the AAS degree.
4. Developmental classes are not used toward graduation.

IV. Associate of Applied Science Degree in Occupational Education (AASOE)

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Occupational Education is designed for students who earn a program certificate in a career program listed under “Career Programs” in this catalog and elect to pursue a two-year associate degree.

1. This degree requires the completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours with an overall grade point average of 2.0 or above.
2. The AASOE must include:
   
   Completion of a career certificate; a technical diploma; and the general education requirements to include the following:
   
   English, 3 semester hours (English Composition I)
   Social Science, 3 semester hours (government, geography, economics, psychology, sociology, marriage and family, anthropology human growth and development)
   Math/Natural Science, 3 semester hours Math (MAT 1313  or higher) or 4 hours of Natural Science with laboratory
   Humanities/Fine Arts, 3 semester hours (any literature, history, foreign language, philosophy, or appreciation course)
   Public Speaking, 3 semester hours

3. Developmental classes are not used toward graduation.

V. Diploma

Diplomas for specific career/technical programs are awarded to students who successfully complete the specified number of hours as outlined in the program (typically 45 hours) and maintain a quality point average of 2.0 or above.

VI. Certificate

Certificates for specific career/technical programs are awarded to students who successfully complete the specified number of hours as outlined in the program (30 hours) and maintain a quality point average of 2.0 or above.

Technical Attainment Testing

All students completing a career and technical program must complete either the MS-CPAS (Mississippi Career Planning and Assessment System) or a MGCCC Board approved Technical Attainment Assessment where applicable. See your advisor for further details.

Articulation Agreements

Articulation agreements are in place with all Mississippi public universities through the Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL), as well as with Tulane University, University of Phoenix, University of South Alabama, and William Carey University. For more information on a specific articulation agreement, please contact a counselor or advisor at any MGCCC campus or center.

Two-Plus-Two

The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast, in cooperation with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, has designed bachelor’s degrees in which the lower-division work is taken through Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and upper-division work is completed at USM Gulf Coast. This concept has been formalized in the Two-Plus-Two agreement between the participating institutions. One of the many advantages of the Two-Plus-Two concept is that it assures a smooth transition for students who transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to USM-Gulf Coast. Other state universities list on their websites the specific community college credits that will apply to various majors.