Academic Programs Catalog

An Entrepreneurship and Innovation Experiences Option (E&I) is a project consisting of original work that builds on the content of a course in which a student is enrolled but extends the experience of that course beyond the typical scope and content. E&I Experiences Options allow undergraduates the opportunity to add entrepreneurial content to courses already in the student’s program, thus providing a flexible alternative for those interested in exploring entrepreneurial ideas beyond the normal course requirements. An E&I Experiences Option can be in any course in any discipline. Students propose the E&I Experiences Option to the instructor of record for the course. E&I Experiences Option requests must be accompanied by the Application for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Experiences Option form. E&I Experiences Options that are approved and completed will be designated on the student’s transcript.  For more information, students should contact the undergraduate advising office of their college.



 

The Army and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs prepare students to commission as officers in the United States Army, Air Force and Space Force. These 4-year programs include academic courses, leadership training, and physical fitness regimens designed to develop students into military officers ready to lead in the Armed Forces. In order to receive a commission, ROTC cadets must complete all requirements for a degree in accordance with university requirements, as well as complete certain courses specified by the Department of Military Science or the Department of Aerospace Studies. Depending on the student's program of study, such courses may supplement or serve as electives with the approval of the appropriate academic unit. 

For details on the Air Force or Army ROTC program, refer to Department of Aerospace Studies or Department of Military Science in the Other Departments and Offices for Research and Services section of this catalog.

Michigan State University is a national leader in education abroad, offering more than 275 programs, on all continents and in over 60 countries.  Programs are offered every session, including winter and spring break, and range from one week to two semesters.

An increasingly common component of excellence in higher education today, education abroad is an integral part of the undergraduate experience at Michigan State University.

Programs are offered in many academic disciplines in all colleges. Education abroad program models include faculty-directed programs, exchanges, direct enrollment, affiliated partner programs, research abroad, global community-engaged learning, and international internships. Participating in education abroad helps students develop the academic/intellectual, personal, professional, and intercultural skills and attitudes required to become effective and competitive in the global environments they will encounter after graduation.

Students are encouraged to explore opportunities abroad early. They may start by visiting the Education Abroad Web site at educationabroad.msu.edu, by calling 1-517-353-8920, or by visiting the Education Abroad Advising Center in the International Center, 427 N. Shaw, Room 108, or email abroad@msu.edu.

For additional information, see the Guest Status at Another Institution section of this catalog.

The Prelaw Handbook, the official law school guide published by the Association of American Law Schools, emphasizes that there is not a prescribed course of study which can be recommended to all students seeking to enter law school.  The two most important law school admission criteria, according to the Prelaw Handbook, are the student's undergraduate grade–point average and their score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The admission policies of various law schools, and the degree to which they utilize other criteria as well as the above, are described in the Prelaw Handbook which may be examined in the University Library or purchased in most bookstores.  The prelaw student is urged to study this handbook carefully and to discuss it with an advisor in the college of their choice.

Although the Prelaw Handbook does not single out specific courses or majors as being especially suitable for prelaw studies, it does call attention to certain skills and insights which the student should seek to develop, and which the LSAT attempts to measure. These are the ability to think carefully and critically, to comprehend the thoughts of others and express one's own with accuracy and clarity, and to understand critically the human values and institutions with which the law deals.

The development of these abilities is not the monopoly of any one subject area, department, or school. While the  Prelaw Handbook does discuss specific areas of study and the potential contribution each can make to prelaw education, it prefaces its discussion by insisting on the importance of a prelegal education of the broadest scope. Thus, a prelaw student may major in virtually any discipline, provided that the major is made part of a rigorous and broad education.

The following colleges at Michigan State University have defined prelaw programs and advisors:  Arts and Letters, Business, James Madison, and Social Science. Additional information may be obtained from the office of the associate dean of these and other colleges.

New undergraduate students—first-year and transfer--can begin classes at MSU during the summer before matriculation at a special tuition rate through the Spartan Early Start Program (SES).  Students may earn up to two classes (or eight credits) from an approved list. Classes take place during the second summer session and are online. See the website (https://undergrad.msu.edu/learning-experiences/ses) for more information.
 

UNDERGRADUATE LEARNING ASSISTANTS

Undergraduate Learning Assistant (ULA) is a term referring to any undergraduate student who assists the faculty-of-record in that instructor's assigned, for-credit course(s) at Michigan State University. A ULA can, under the mentorship and supervision of the faculty-of-record, assist in class preparation; objective grading; and active and collaborative learning exercises within lecture, laboratory, and discussion sections. No undergraduate student may perform activities requiring professional judgment such as determining course content; conducting lectures, recitations, or seminars; performing subjective evaluations of student performance; or assigning grades for any for-credit course at Michigan State University.

Tutors, who are not part of the instructional team of a specific course, are not subject to this policy.

Selection Process

Individuals serving as a ULA must have demonstrated knowledge of subject content by either completing the course or its equivalent in which they assist or through a high-level of performance in more advanced courses that depend upon knowledge of relevant course content.

Training

Each faculty-of-record using ULAs must  1) provide ULAs with appropriate guidelines and information necessary to carry out their assignments and responsibilities; 2) connect students to required MSU trainings. These may take the form of a written guide or handbook or internet resource, which must reference relevant university policies.

Undergraduate Learning Assistant Responsibilities

Expectations and specific tasks necessary for the execution of ULA assignments and responsibilities must be provided in writing or electronic document to the ULA. If ULAs are assigned to grade student work, it is the faculty-of-record’s responsibility to provide a framework for objective evaluation of student work, to train the ULA on the appropriate use of this framework, and to ensure that the ULA is using this framework correctly and reliably. The faculty-of-record also must inform ULAs about the importance of maintaining student confidentiality regarding student work.

Evaluation of Undergraduate Learning Assistant Performance

The faculty-of-record has the responsibility for the performance and evaluation of ULAs serving in that course. ULAs must be systematically evaluated during and at the end of each semester. Feedback must be shared with the ULA with the goal of improving the learning experience, developing better ULA performance in the future, and ultimately in developing skill sets and attitudes needed in the workplace.

Stipends

The position of a ULA is typically a paid position. However, in some instances, following consultation with the course’s faculty-of-record, the ULA may exercise an option to enroll in course credit rather than receive pay. A ULA may not receive both course credit and pay for a single course to which they have been assigned. In no case may a student be enrolled in a course for which they serve as a ULA.

Administration and Oversight

Any questions concerning the administration of this policy should be referred to the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education.

Undergraduate research and creative activities are opportunities for undergraduate students to work with faculty and graduate students on their research, which includes scholarly, creative, and/or artistic activities that lead to new knowledge, improve problem solving capabilities, offer original or historical theory and interpretation, and/or produce art or creative performances.
 
Engaging in a research and creative experiences provide students with in-depth learning experiences that develops analytical skills, improves communication and organization abilities, offers mentoring opportunities with faculty and graduate students, and provides career clarification.  Students in every major can engage in research or creative experiences, which are interactive, and discovery based.  Most research or creative experiences are paid, taken for academic credit, or are volunteer experiences. To learn how to find a research or creative experience, visit https://urca.msu.edu/.