A student with senior status from Missouri State or another institution may be permitted to take course work for graduate credit during the last two semesters of a baccalaureate program. Courses completed for graduate credit under Senior Permission cannot be applied toward an undergraduate degree.

A senior student may enroll in a maximum of 9 semester hours for graduate credit during a semester, with a maximum enrollment of 15 hours, including both undergraduate and graduate course work. Students may not complete more than a total of 12 semester hours for graduate credit under Senior Permission. Credit earned under Senior Permission can be applied toward a graduate degree at Missouri State with this application of credits contingent upon approval of the department head in which the student plans to take courses and the Dean of the Graduate College.

"Senior Permission" forms are available from the Graduate College, 306 Carrington Hall and must be completed and submitted to a registration center at the time a student registers.

Eligibility and Requirements

To be eligible for the Senior Permission Program a student must be classified as a senior and be no more than two semesters from graduating with a bachelor's degree. In addition, students must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 cumulative or last 60 hours of course work.

Process for Participating

To participate in the Senior Permission Program a student must take the following steps:

1. Notify the Graduate College of your interest in person or by phone.
2. Submit transcripts to the Graduate College proving eligibility. The Graduate College has access to Missouri State students' transcripts.
3. Once a student is declared eligible for the program he/she must obtain a "Senior Permission" form which is available in the Graduate College.
4. The student must then seek permission from the department head in which the student plans to take courses. The department head must sign the "Senior Permission" form.
5. The form must then be returned to the Graduate College for the Dean's signature.
6. Once the form has been completed and all signatures obtained, the form will be submitted by the student to the registration center at the time of registration.

For more information, please contact:

Missouri State Graduate College
Carrington Hall, Room 306
Springfield, MO 65897
Phone: 417-836-5335 or toll free 1-866-767-4723