Electrical Engineering Online FAQs

At this time, the degree is not available completely online. The program structure can be found at www.online.msstate.edu/bsee#required-courses and requires a minimum of 128 total credit hours for completion. Of these courses, there are 13 credit hours that are not available online through Mississippi State University. A transferrable equivalent course will need to be taken through another institution at some point.

Those courses are:

• Chemistry I (CH 1213 at MSU – for STEM majors)
• Investigations in Chemistry I lab (CH 1211 at MSU)
• Physics I (PH 2213 at MSU – Calculus-based)
• Physics II (PH 2223 at MSU – Calculus-based)
• Engineering Mechanics I (EM 2413 at MSU) or Thermodynamics I (ME 3513 at MSU) Note: These are sometimes available online at Mississippi State.

Yes, the electrical engineering undergraduate program at MSU is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org. The online coursework is accredited through our main campus as an alternative course delivery method.

Yes, Bagley College of Engineering has additional requirements beyond the university requirements for admission. We use your ACT/SAT scores and high school core GPA or prior college GPA and pre-requisite coursework equivalent to Calculus I (MA 1713), English Composition I (EN 1103), and Fundamentals of Chemistry I (CH 1213) for admission into BCoE programs regardless of campus of enrollment. International students must also submit TOEFL scores. These minimums are set to gauge preparedness and potential success in the programs.

Our online classes follow the same academic calendar as our face-to-face classes. Our Fall and Spring terms run 16 weeks. Summer has multiple terms ongoing, a May term that is 2 weeks; a 10 week June/July term; and 2 5-week terms in June and July. We have a winter session that runs 3 weeks between Fall and Spring term and mini term classes in both Fall and Spring that run for 8 weeks. Not all classes are offered in mini terms, winter term, and summer terms. Applicable courses are rare in Fall and Spring mini terms and winter term.

Mississippi State University Academic Calendars can be accessed: https://www.registrar.msstate.edu/calendars/academic-calendar

ECE offers courses asynchronously but other departments may offer courses with a synchronous online format.

MSU uses Canvas as our online learning management system. This is where your instructor can post assignments, announcements, grades, weblinks, lecture content, etc. Engineering course videos may be located on your instructor’s course Canvas page or on the BCOE video repository. Instructors will let students know where videos are available at the beginning of the semester.

For ECE classes through MSU Online, labs will also be handled online. You can access the lab materials list so that you have the supplies needed to complete lab experiments from your home and submit lab reports through your online Canvas class.

Lab materials list: https://www.online.msstate.edu/ece/part-list

For successful completion of the MSU Online Education program, you will need Internet access via  DSL or equivalent broadband connectivity. Traditional dial-up Internet services do not provide adequate support to the many technologies used within the program.

The following software and procedures are necessary for the courses to run smoothly. Please complete the following:

1. Download and install Google Chrome Browser.
2. Download the latest version of Acrobat Reader.
3. Download VLC Media Player.
4. Some instructors may require the purchase of additional specific technologies. Be sure to check the course syllabus.

Bagley College of Engineering posts updated computer specifications annually for the incoming class that will ensure you have the equipment needed to be successful – https://www.bagley.msstate.edu/computer.

We do not recommend mixing your campuses for classes. In addition to needing overrides to enroll in classes not on your campus, online students will be required to submit immunization records to MSU’s Health Center. Online and Main campus courses have different additional fees—an instructional support fee vs. activities fees.

A maximum of 50% or 64 of 128 hours can be applied from junior or community colleges.

A maximum of 25% or 32 of 128 hours can be applied from testing (CLEP, AP, etc). See AOP 12.11.

It’s important to note that credits may transfer but may not be applicable to the degree program. Our program does not have free electives; specific content is required in most coursework to complete the breadth of content required by our accrediting body.

We are not able to apply prior work experience without accredited college credits to the Electrical Engineering program.

25% or 32 of 128 hours must be taken at MSU in 3000/4000 level classes. See AOP 12.11.

Our registrar’s office articulates classes with assistance from various departments across campus. Once you have applied to the program this process can take some time depending on where and how many credits you are transferring.

These tools may help pending your institution.

Current EE flowchart: https://www.ece.msstate.edu/wp-content/uploads/Flowchart-beginning-Fall-2025.pdf

Mississippi Community College guide: https://www.bagley.msstate.edu/wp-content/uploads/Transfer-Matrix.pdf

MSU Registrar Database: https://www.registrar.msstate.edu/students/transfer-course-information

• XXXX typically indicates that courses have not yet been reviewed.
• YYYY indicates that the course has been reviewed and found to not be equivalent to a course at MSU.
• ZZZZ indicates that the course has been reviewed and found to be a substitute for a course at MSU, generally used when credit hours do not match up.
• A course number indicates that the course has been reviewed and found to be equivalent to a course at MSU.

Any courses not articulated through the Registrar’s process may be re-evaluated for application to the degree program, but will need a syllabus for course review.

In order to receive transfer credit, submit official copies of your final transcript from all previously attended colleges and universities.  In order for a transcript to be considered official it must be sent directly from the university by mail or electronically. You may also hand deliver a transcript in a sealed envelope directly from the transfer institution.

Address for mailing transcripts:
Office of Admissions and Scholarships
P.O. Box 6334
Mississippi State, MS  39762-6334

If the transcript service you use is requesting an email address to deliver your document to Mississippi State University, please have it sent to: admit@msstate.edu

This depends greatly from student to student. Do you have transfer credits that will apply already completed? Are you a part time student or full-time student? Will you take summer classes or just fall and spring? Research states that online students can expect to spend 3 hours per credit every week on online coursework, so you want to evaluate what time you have available when considering your load each term. Our last digit of the course number indicates credit hours of the course.

1. You need to send all transcripts to Mississippi State University as soon as possible. See information above. Transcript review and articulation takes time. We recommend at least a month prior to your start of term.

2. Complete your online orientation. Without this completed, you cannot register for classes. https://www.online.msstate.edu/orientation.

3. Check your Transcript in Banner to see if everything has loaded.

Remember…

• XXXX typically indicates that courses have not yet been reviewed.
• YYYY indicates that the course has been reviewed and found to not be equivalent to a course at MSU.
• ZZZZ indicates that the course has been reviewed and found to be a substitute for a course at MSU, generally used when credit hours do not match up.
• A course number indicates that the course has been reviewed and found to be equivalent to a course at MSU.

4. Get Advised and Released for Registration.
Your advisor may request that you submit course descriptions or syllabi for coursework that may be applicable to the program. This is an effort to make sure anything possible that you have previously taken can be applied.
Communicate the courseload you feel comfortable taking, so that your advisor can recommend the best course of action to work through the curriculum.

5. Once you’ve registered for classes, evaluate your textbook needs. MSU partners with Barnes and Noble to offer the Bulldog Bundle. Students on our main campus and distance are automatically opted in each semester, so when you get your semester email with course text requirements evaluate if you want to stay in the bundle or opt out.

Not at this time, the Career Center does not have online co-op procedures in place.