12/10/2010 - Jackson, Miss.
Students planning on going to college, or even those who are just beginning to think about the possibility, should make plans early in high school, or even before, to ensure they have all of the requisite courses under their belts when it is time for them to walk across stage, receive a diploma and move to the next level. The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning recently approved maintaining the current College Preparatory Curriculum as the minimum requirements and approved an enhanced College Preparatory Curriculum as recommended but not required.
“The courses that students are required to complete are those that will help them to be successful in college and the workforce,” said Dr. Hank M. Bounds, Commissioner of Higher Education. “Students who challenge themselves by taking the enhanced curriculum will benefit by being better prepared for college-level work and being able to submit a more competitive application when applying for academic achievement-based scholarships.”
The minimum required courses for entrance into any of Mississippi’s eight public universities include 15.5 Carnegie units comprised of the following:
The Advanced Electives include foreign language, world geography, fourth year lab-based science, and fourth year mathematics. One of the two required units must be in foreign language or world geography.
The recommended College Prep Curriculum includes 19.5 Carnegie units comprised of the following:
For either curriculum, Carnegie units earned prior to high school, including first year foreign language, Mississippi studies or computer applications, will be accepted for admission provided the course content is the same as the high school course.
The courses required for admission to Mississippi’s public universities are aligned with the Mississippi Department of Education’s high school graduation requirements.
“These changes provide a recommended pathway and well-defined goals for the students of Mississippi,” said Dr. Tom Burnham, State Superintendent of Education. “Each student, with the support of parents and family members, can select the best way to achieve his or her goals and plan high school coursework accordingly.”
With the goal of ensuring that students are prepared to pursue post-secondary educational opportunities if they choose to do so, the required college preparatory curriculum and recommended college preparatory curriculum were developed through continual dialogue with the K-12 education community. Through these discussions, research-based core courses and the most efficient process for preparing students for post-secondary work were identified.
“We are raising the bar in Mississippi for all students,” said Dr. Bettye Neely, president of the Board of Trustees of the State Institutions of Higher Learning. “We are challenging our students today so that Mississippi’s workforce will be more competitive tomorrow. By increasing the opportunities for students to pursue a college education, we will increase the number of students enrolled in post-secondary education, which will benefit both our students and our state in the long run.”
Discussions with the K-12 education community, parents and other stakeholders will continue to ensure that students have the access to the information and coursework necessary to be successful in high school and beyond.
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The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.
John Sewell
Director of Communications
Telephone: 601.432.6333
