Information - [ Phase 1 and 2 Certification and Upper Level Credit ]
While in the Shackouls Honors College, you can work toward achieving Phase I or Phase II certification, both of which denote official recognition of Honors course work on your transcript. To earn Phase I certification, you must complete fourteen hours of Honors credit. For Phase II certification, an additional fourteen hours of Honors credit are required, a total of 28 hours in Honors Courses.
Earning Phase I or II does not affect your ability to be graduated "with Honors." Being graduated "with Honors," such as Magna Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude, is based on your overall GPA, and is not related to the Honors College. However, those who achieve Phase I or II certification will be recognized at the Honors Awards Ceremony with a certificate, and each is noted on your official transcript.
It is possible for advanced placement credit earned before college to count as Honors credit. Credit earned by approved testing may be applied to Honors College credentials if the student successfully completes an MSU Honors course in the same subject matter. For example: AP credit for Composition I and Honors Composition II or AP credit for Calculus I and Honors Calculus II would yield six hours for each subject area. Drop by 210C Griffis Hall to complete the necessary form to receive Honors credit for AP hours.
In case you don't have enough Honors credit to get Phase I or Phase II certification and there are no Honors courses offered that would count toward your degree, there is still a process called "honors contracting." With "honors contracting," you can make any course count toward your Honors certification as well as toward your degree. All you have to do is obtain and complete a proposal form early in the semester. These forms, available at the main office in 210C Griffis Hall, guide you to outline some type of extra work to complete such as a special project or research paper related to the subject. You should talk to both your professor and Dr. McCarley, the Honors College Director, to be sure that what you choose to do is acceptable.