Catalog Editions (Which catalog applies to whom?)

These policies concern the application of the University of Missouri's graduation, divisional and departmental degree requirements. The catalog (this publication) is a compilation of information about degrees, requirements, courses, and policies. 

Courses and policies listed in this catalog are subject to change through normal approval channels within the University. New courses, changes in existing coursework and new policies are initiated by the appropriate institutional departments, committees or administrators. Policy revisions are implemented in the next academic year following notification thereof. The University of Missouri (“MU”) publishes a new edition of the catalog each June, and its contents apply to the subsequent Summer, Fall, and Spring terms. Occasionally a policy or requirement must be changed and implemented in the same academic year (e.g., in the case of changes to state regulations). All changes must be approved by the college or school’s associate or assistant dean that oversees academic curriculum and policies.

MU students' academic requirements for graduation are typically met as follows:

Students must complete the graduation requirements in effect for the term that they first enroll at MU.

  • Transfer students from community colleges and other universities are permitted to complete degree requirements in effect at the time of their enrollment as freshmen at a community college or university, so long as their enrollment was continuous from year to year (summer semesters excluded).
  • Students who started at MU but change degree programs, must meet the requirements in effect for the term that they first enroll at MU.
  • If students discontinue their studies for more than a year, the catalog edition is the one applicable during the term they restart their studies at MU, unless the stoppage is due to military obligations, in which case this provision only applies if students re-enroll more than a year after the military assignment ends. 
  • Any undergraduate student who re-enrolls at MU within one year of being released from military assignment shall be allowed to continue under the same catalog year. Any undergraduate student who had been admitted to a degree program prior to mobilization and who re-enrolls within one year of being released from military assignment shall not be subject to any additional degree requirements enacted in the interim.
  • Students entering MU in a summer term follow requirements for the subsequent fall term.
  • In some cases, due to changes in state, federal or accreditation requirements there may necessitate modifications that supersede these policies. All policy changes must be approved by the college or school’s associate dean. Advisors will provide counsel to students in these situations. Students should consult with an advisor in all cases.

After consulting with an advisor, students may appeal to change catalog years or alter degree requirements. Requests for exceptions to the above policy may be made to the academic dean for the academic unit in which the student is enrolled for college and program requirements, or the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies for general education and University graduation requirements.

Mechanism for Requesting Exceptions to Catalog Edition or Year Policy

Student seeking an exception to the Catalog Edition policies:

  • Option 1 – After consulting with their academic adviser students may, for good cause, petition to be subject to the requirements of a different edition of the catalog. The petition must be approved by the Dean of the Academic Unit offering the degree, and by the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies. If your petition is approved, the new applicable edition of the catalog will be recorded in myZou, via a change to the pertinent Requirement Term value. Students may not petition to change the applicable catalog year for only a portion of your degree requirements (e.g., major requirements, but not General Education requirements)
  • Option 2 - After consulting with their academic adviser students may, for good cause, may petition for a substitution, change, or waiver of certain requirements. The petition must be approved by the Dean of the Academic Unit offering the degree (or their designee). If the petition is about a University-wide requirement, the petition must be additionally approved by the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies. 

Academic departments’ request changes to the Catalog Edition policies:

From time to time, requirements change due to changes in state, federal or accreditation requirements, which necessitate modifications that supersede these policies. Typically, those changes are included in the next edition of the catalog and apply to future students. Exceptionally, for good cause shown, changes must be applied retroactively to prior editions of the catalog. The cause may be external (e.g., changes to licensure requirements) or internal (e.g., a required course can no longer be offered due to compelling circumstances). Requests for such changes are initiated by the Dean of the Academic Unit offering the degree and require the approval of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies. Such changes do not apply to students who have already completed the old requirement and the old and new requirement are fully interchangeable in all regards.