We enjoyed hosting all citizens for the 2023 American Legion Missouri Boys State (MBS) and the American Legion Auxiliary Missouri Girls State (MGS) session. Lindenwood University offers college credit for the successful completion of the MBS or MGS program and has two options for consideration. Please note that only one option may be selected, and participants must meet the criteria below to qualify.
Lindenwood University will contact qualified citizens with registration information via email and regular mail following the MBS or MGS program. Registration for the options described below will open on August 4, 2023. If you meet the qualification criteria but did not receive notification from Lindenwood University, please contact Nicole Sullivan at boysandgirlsstate@lindenwood.edu.
Eligibility Requirements
Participants must meet the criteria below to qualify:
- Complete the entire week of the MBS or MGS program. Citizens who leave the MBS or MGS program for any reason will not be eligible for college credit.
- Actively participate in the academic portions of the MBS or MGS program (special assemblies, schools of instruction, and governmental activities). Daily newspapers, city and county reports, ballots, and counselor reports will be used to assess each citizen’s participation. It must be evident that the citizen is working to be an active participant by running for governmental/political office, seeking appointments, supporting campaigns for office, reporting for newspapers, contributing to meetings, etc.
- Earn at least a 70% on the final examination.
- Complete an essay and/or chart summarizing and reflecting on what was learned from participating in the MBS or MGS program.
More Information
College Credit Options
Option I (2 credit hours)
Citizens can earn 2 college credits for the work they completed during their week-long MBS or MGS experience on Lindenwood University’s campus. There is no additional work required. Citizens who meet the criteria above and complete the registration process will receive a passing “P” grade, which will not affect the citizen’s future college GPA. For more information about this option, please review the course syllabus.
Option II (3 credit hours)
Citizens can earn 3 college credits upon successful completion of their week-long MBS or MGS experience on Lindenwood University’s campus and an online 8-week course during the Spring 2024 semester. This course builds on the curriculum learned during the MBS or MGS program. To participate in this option, citizens must complete registration by November 1, 2023. Citizens will earn a letter-based grade (e.g., A, B, etc.), which may affect the citizen’s future college GPA. Citizens are required to research and write a 3 to 5-page policy proposal about policy issues facing state or local government in addition to participating in online discussion boards. For more information, see the course syllabus. Citizens will need Internet access, as all coursework will be completed online. Inquiries regarding paper topics, grade, etc., should be sent to Dr. Barbara Hosto-Marti, bhostomarti@lindenwood.edu.
Registration
Lindenwood University will contact qualified citizens with registration information via email and regular mail following the MBS or MGS program. Registration for the options described above will open on August 4, 2023 and will need to be completed by the deadlines listed below. An email confirmation will be sent to the citizen once the registration has been finalized.
Eligibility notifications, registration instructions, and deadline reminders will be communicated via email and text messages using the information provided on your MBS or MGS application. Please set your email’s spam filter to allow emails from lindenwood.edu to avoid missing out on this opportunity.
Click below to view step-by-step instructions for MBS/MGS registration.
Missouri Boys State College Credit Enrollment Steps
Missouri Girls State College Credit Enrollment Steps
Deadlines
- Option I – September 1, 2023
- Option II – November 1, 2023
Important Dates and Deadlines
| Activity | Option I | Option II |
|---|---|---|
|
Attend program |
June 24 – July 1, 2023 |
|
|
Lindenwood sends mailing to eligible students |
Beginning of August |
Beginning of August |
|
Registration opens |
Aug. 4, 2023 |
Aug. 4, 2023 |
|
Registration deadline |
Sep. 1, 2023 |
Nov. 1, 2023 |
|
Payment deadline |
Sep. 1, 2023 |
Nov. 1, 2023 |
|
2-credit hour transcripts available |
Oct. 1, 2023 |
N/A |
|
Winter Break – Campus offices closed |
Dec. 23, 2023 – Jan. 1, 2024 |
|
|
Students receive course webpage access (through Canvas) |
N/A |
Dec. 25, 2023 |
|
3-credit hour course opens |
N/A |
Jan. 8, 2024 |
|
3-credit hour course closes |
N/A |
Mar. 3, 2024 |
|
3-credit hour course grades submitted |
N/A |
Mar. 4, 2024 |
|
3-credit hour course transcripts available |
N/A |
Apr. 1, 2024 |
Pay Bill
How much do these credits cost?
Tuition for this special college credit opportunity is $100 per credit hour. This rate is a significant savings compared to our regular undergraduate tuition rate.
Total tuition cost for Credit Option I is $200 and $300 for Credit Option II. (Credit card processing fees may apply.). Payment is due at the time of registration. Please follow the prompts when submitting your application. Payments can be made by credit card, check, or money order. Registration is not complete until payment is received, and tuition is non-refundable.
Financial aid is not available for this college credit opportunity. Delinquent accounts will be sent to a collection’s agency.
Scholarship
MBS and MGS citizens who earn college credit will qualify for a $1,000 annual scholarship ($500 per Fall/Spring semester, renewable for up to 8 semesters) if admitted to Lindenwood University for their freshman year. For scholarship renewal, students must maintain a minimum, cumulative GPA of 2.0 and reside in on-campus housing. Scholarship renewal eligibility will be reviewed at the end of each academic year. This scholarship can be stacked on top of additional merit awards.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Missouri Boys and ALA Missouri Girls State college credit similar to dual credit?
No, these credits are for college only—not high school. - When does registration open for these credits?
Registration will open on August 4, 2023. All eligible citizens will be notified of their eligibility via email and regular mail. If a citizen meets the qualification criteria but did not receive notification from Lindenwood University, please contact Nicole Sullivan at boysandgirlsstate@lindenwood.edu. - I missed the registration deadline; can I still apply for the credits?
No. Deadlines are final. - I changed my mind; can I switch between options?
No. Switching between options is not allowed. Once a registration has been processed, a citizen is locked into that option. - Can I use the State of Missouri’s Dual Enrollment Scholarship to pay for these credits?
The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development’s Dual Enrollment Scholarship can only be applied to the tuition for the 3-credit option. To qualify for this scholarship, citizens must demonstrate financial need, meet the eligibility requirements, and apply by February 1, 2024. Citizens applying for this scholarship must submit payment for the 3 credits by November 1, 2023, but if awarded the scholarship, the citizen will receive reimbursement. More about Dual Enrollment Scholarship. - Are these credits transferable?
Transfer policies vary by institution, often based on a chosen major/minor. Contact the institution you are planning to attend to verify the transferability of these credits. Only the receiving institution can confirm if and how these credits will be accepted and transferred. You may send the course syllabus to your academic advisor for content evaluation. These credits are recorded as PS 19001 Special Topics: Summer Workshop in State and Local Government (2 credits) and PS 19002 Special Topics: Workshop in State and Local Government (3 credits). - I applied and paid for the college credits, but later found out the institution I'm planning to attend won't accept the credits. Can I get a refund?
No. Tuition is non-refundable. Students are responsible for verifying the transferability of these credits prior to registration, as policies vary by institution and major/minor. - I earned the college credits and need to transfer them to my future or current institution; how do I do that?
To transfer your credits, you need to request and pay for an official transcript from Lindenwood University. Transcripts can be requested after October 1, 2023 for the 2-credit course and after April 1, 2024 for the 3-credit course. More about transcript requests.
