Mar 19, 2024  
2018-2019 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2018-2019 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Introduction



The University of Southern Mississippi and its board of trustees were established by an act of the Mississippi Legislature approved on March 30, 1910, by Gov. Edmund F. Noel. Its first name was the Mississippi Normal College, and its original purpose was to train teachers for the rural schools of Mississippi. On February 2, 1932, the Legislature established the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and placed under its jurisdiction the five colleges and one university owned and operated by the state. On November 3, 1942, the people of the state voted to make the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning a constitutional board for all colleges and universities of the state. The University of Southern Mississippi is now operated under the jurisdiction of that constitutional board.

The act of March 30, 1910, did not provide any state money for the building of Mississippi Normal College but did provide that localities in the state might bid for its location by offering land for a site and money for constructing buildings. On September 16, 1910, the Board of Trustees accepted the bid of Hattiesburg and Forrest County to supply $250,000 and a free site. That site was west of the city in cutover timberland with great pine stumps everywhere. Contracts were let to clear the land and construct buildings.

The five permanent buildings (College Hall, Forrest County Hall, Hattiesburg Hall, the Industrial Cottage [now the Ogletree House], and the President’s Home [now the Alumni House], a temporary wooden Dining Hall, and other necessary improvements were barely finished when the Mississippi Normal College opened on the rainy morning of September 18, 1912, with a president, a faculty of 18, and a student body of 200.

On October 17, 1911, Joseph Anderson Cook, superintendent of schools in Columbus, Mississippi, was elected president. The University of Southern Mississippi has had only 10 presidents since its founding. The Board of Trustees elected Claude Bennett president, effective October 10, 1928. On April 23, 1933, the Board of Trustees elected Dr. Jennings Burton George as the third president, effective July 1, 1933. On June 13, 1945, the Board of Trustees elected Dr. Robert Cecil Cook as the fourth president, and he officially assumed office on July 1, 1945. Dr. Richard Aubrey McLemore became acting president on January 1, 1955. The Board of Trustees, on May 19, 1955, elected Dr. William David McCain as the fifth president. He officially assumed office on August 1, 1955. Dr. Aubrey Keith Lucas became the sixth president of the university on July 1, 1975, and served the longest tenure of any president. Dr. Horace Weldon Fleming, Jr., served as the seventh president beginning January 1, 1997. Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas returned to the presidency on an interim basis on September 1, 2001. On April 13, 2002, the Board of Trustees elected Dr. Shelby Freland Thames as the eighth president, effective May 1, 2002. Dr. Martha Dunagin Saunders became the ninth president of Southern Miss effective May 21, 2007, and served as its first-ever female president. On July 1, 2012, Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas returned to the presidency a second time as interim president. On February 7, 2013, the Board of Trustees named Dr. Rodney D. Bennett as the 10th President of The University of Southern Mississippi effective April 1, 2013. Dr. Bennett serves as the first African-American president.

As has been stated, The University of Southern Mississippi was founded on March 30, 1910, as the Mississippi Normal College. On March 7, 1924, the Legislature changed the name to State Teachers College. On February 8, 1940, the Legislature changed the name to Mississippi Southern College, and on February 27, 1962, the Legislature changed the name to The University of Southern Mississippi.

The Mississippi Normal College did not grant degrees in its early years but awarded certificates for the completion of certain specified courses of study. On April 8, 1922, the Legislature authorized the awarding of the bachelor of science degree. The bachelor of music degree was authorized by the Board of Trustees on June 19, 1934. The first bachelor of arts degree was awarded on August 20, 1940. On May 26, 1947, the Board of Trustees authorized the initiation of graduate work and the awarding of the master of arts degree. In the years since 1947, the university’s graduate programs have developed logically to meet the needs for professional competence beyond the academic measure of the baccalaureate degree. Doctoral programs were first authorized by the Board of Trustees on May 20, 1959.

The administrative and academic organization of The University of Southern Mississippi is divided into the following areas: Office of the President; Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs; Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration; Office of the Vice President for the Gulf Park Campus; Office of the Vice President for Research; Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs; Office of the Vice President for External Affairs; and Office of the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. Academically, the university is organized into the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Economic Development, College of Education and Human Sciences, College of Nursing and Health Professions, with a robust Graduate School and Honors College.

The number of graduates is a measure of the growth of a university. The University of Southern Mississippi has awarded approximately 120,000 degrees since the first one was conferred in 1922.

The University of Southern Mississippi

Mission

The University of Southern Mississippi is a community of engaged citizens, operating as a public, student-centered, doctoral-granting research university serving Mississippi, the nation, and the world. The University is dedicated to scholarship and learning, integrating students at all levels in the creation and application of knowledge through excellence in teaching, research, creative activities, outreach, and service.  The University nurtures student success by providing distinctive and competitive educational programs embedded in a welcoming environment, preparing a diverse student population to embark on meaningful life endeavors.

Vision

The University of Southern Mississippi aspires to be a model student-centered public research university that prepares students to thrive in a global society by providing high-quality programs and transformative experiences in a community distinguished by inclusiveness.

Values

The mission of the institution is supported by the following values: 

  1. Research and instructional excellence focused on student success at all teaching sites and  through campus-based and distance education
  2. Student engagement that fosters personal growth, professional development, and a lifelong commitment to wellness
  3. An inclusive community that embraces the diversity of people and ideas
  4. Institutional governance that respects academic freedom and faculty inclusion
  5. A campus culture characterized by warmth and mutually-supportive connections among students, faculty, staff, and alumni
  6. An approach to academics, research, and personal conduct based on integrity and civility
  7. An evolving curriculum that fosters lifelong curiosity and critical thinking
  8. Community participation that promotes social responsibility and citizenship

Institutional Strategic Goals

  1. Support student success to foster retention, progression and graduation 
  2. Promote teaching, research, and creative excellence  
  3. Strategically expand undergraduate and graduate enrollment  
  4. Strengthen economic and community partnerships 
  5. Invest in faculty and staff to maximize their potential 
  6. Promote a culture of inclusiveness of people and ideas 
  7. Enhance physical, technological, and financial infrastructure to support our mission, vision, and values
  8. Improve efficiency and effectiveness of institutional processes and systems

General Information

iTech Help Desk
Cook Library 103
helpdesk@usm.edu
601.266.4357

Network and Wireless Internet Access

The University of Southern Mississippi offers students, faculty, staff, and guests access to wireless services. For more information about wireless services offered, go to the iTech website at www.usm.edu/itech.

E-mail Accounts

The University provides email services to all current Southern Miss students, faculty, and staff. All students are required to activate their Southern Miss e-mail. To activate your e-mail account, log in to SOAR with your student ID or employee ID and password. Students can follow the directions located on the iTech Web site at www.usm.edu/itech/how-do-i.

CampusID and Password Reset

After you have established your username and password, you can reset a lost or forgotten password by going to campusid.usm.edu. CampusID will allow you to conveniently reset your password 24 hours a day.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended deals with one subject only: educational records. The purpose of the law is to define, more precisely than ever has been done, who may or may not see them. On the one hand, the law grants students guaranteed access; on the other hand, it takes from the universities the privilege of indiscriminate disclosure.

The FERPA sets forth these main requirements:

  1. It allows a student access to each educational record that a university or college keeps on him or her;
  2. It requires the institution to establish a policy on how students can go about seeing specific records;
  3. It requires the institution to inform all students as to what rights they have under the amendment, how they can act on these rights according to school policy, and how they can see a copy of the policy; and
  4. It requires the institution to seek student permission, in writing, before disclosing any personally identifiable record to individuals other than professional personnel employed in the university or college (and others who meet certain specified requirements).

The university has developed and put into writing a policy for handling requests from students and for disclosing personally identifiable information about students. Students are notified of their rights under the law by publishing the university policy in the Student Success Guide.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

Policy Statement

The University of Southern Mississippi does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, gender identity, genetic information, religion, race, color, national origin, veteran status, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local law, in its admission, treatment, or access to its educational programs and activities or in its employment practices.  The University of Southern Mississippi prohibits sexual and gender-based harassment, including sexual assault and misconduct, and other forms of interpersonal violence.

Reason for Policy/Purpose

The University of Southern Mississippi complies with federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination based on the protected categories listed above, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination based on sex (including sexual misconduct) in the University’s educational programs and activities. Consistent with our commitment to providing a learning, living, and working environment free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, it is the policy of the University not to tolerate unlawful discrimination or harassment in any form and to provide those who feel that they are victims of discrimination with mechanisms for seeking redress.

Who Needs to Know This Policy

All members of The University of Southern Mississippi community.

Website Address for this Policy

www.usm.edu/institutional-policies/policy-pres-aa-005

Policy/Procedures

The University of Southern Mississippi is an equal opportunity employer committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment in compliance with Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990/Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Violence Against Women Act, and other federal or state laws.

The University of Southern Mississippi does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, gender identity, genetic information, religion, race, color, national origin, veteran status, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local law, in its admission, treatment, or access to its educational programs and activities or in its employment practices.  The University of Southern Mississippi prohibits sexual and gender-based harassment, including sexual assault and misconduct, and other forms of interpersonal violence.

The University of Southern Mississippi will investigate formal complaints of discrimination or harassment in accordance with the University’s policies and procedures. The University will take steps to prevent discrimination and harassment, to prevent the recurrence of discrimination and harassment, to prevent retaliation for bringing a claim or assisting in an investigation, and will take appropriate action to remedy the effects of discrimination and harassment.

The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for the University’s Title IX compliance efforts and for coordinating the University’s response to all complaints involving possible discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, student pregnancy, and gender identity, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, interpersonal violence, and other sexual misconduct.  For more information or for inquiries concerning any such complaints or the application of Title IX, contact the University’s designated Title IX Coordinator listed below:

Dr. Rebecca Malley
Title IX Coordinator
Cook Library 129, (Hattiesburg Campus)
118 College Drive # 5079
Hattiesburg, MS  39406
Telephone:  601.266.6804
Rebecca.malley@usm.edu

The Director of the Office of Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination Act, and related statutes and regulations.  For more information or for inquiries concerning discrimination, such as age, disability, religion, race, color, national origin, genetic information, pregnancy, and veteran status, contact the University’s designated Director of the Office of Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity listed below:

Director of Affirmative Action & Equal Employment Opportunity
McLemore Hall 310, Hattiesburg Campus
118 College Dr. #5168
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Telephone:  601.266.6618

You may also file a complaint with:

Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
1999 Bryan Street, Suite 1620
Dallas, TX 75201-6810
Telephone: 214.661.9600
Fax: 214.661.9587;
TDD: 800.877.8339
Email: OCR.Dallas@ed.gov

OR

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Dr. A.H. McCoy Federal Building
100 West Capitol Street, Suite 338
Jackson, MS 39269
Telephone: 800.669.4000
Fax: 601.948.8401
TTY: 800.669.6820

Oak Ridge Associated Universities

Since 1992, students and faculty of The University of Southern Mississippi have benefited from its membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). ORAU is a consortium of 96 colleges and universities, and a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. ORAU works with its member institutions to help their students and faculty gain access to federal research facilities throughout the country; to keep its members informed about opportunities for fellowship, scholarship, and research appointments; and to organize research alliances among its members.

Through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), the DOE facility that ORAU operates, undergraduates, graduates, postgraduates, as well as faculty enjoy access to a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Students can participate in programs covering a wide variety of disciplines including business, earth sciences, epidemiology, engineering, physics, geological sciences, pharmacology, ocean sciences, biomedical sciences, nuclear chemistry, and mathematics. Appointment and program length range from one month to four years. Many of these programs are especially designed to increase the numbers of underrepresented minority students pursuing degrees in science- and engineering-related disciplines. A comprehensive listing of these programs and other opportunities, their disciplines, and details on locations and benefits can be found in the ORISE Catalog of Education and Training Programs, which is available at http://www.orau.gov/orise/03catalog.pdf, or by calling either of the contacts below.

ORAU’s Office of Partnership Development seeks opportunities for partnerships and alliances among ORAU’s members, private industry, and major federal facilities. Activities include faculty development programs, such as the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards, the Visiting Industrial Scholars Program, consortium research funding initiatives, faculty research and support programs, as well as services to chief research officers.

For more information about ORAU and its programs, contact

Dr. Gordon Cannon                                                Monnie E. Champion
Vice President for Research                                   ORAU Corporate Secretary
ORAU Councilor for Southern Miss                         (865) 576-3306

Visit the ORAU home page at http://www.orau.org.

Policies on Student Rights and Responsibilities

As students at The University of Southern Mississippi, graduate students are subject to the Policies on Student Rights and Responsibilities articulated in the Student Handbook.  This information can be found by clicking on the following link: http://www.usm.edu/student-handbook

Retention of Students and Program Completion Information

The University of Southern Mississippi Fact Book includes information on retention and graduation and is located in the reserve material at the circulation desk in Joseph Anderson Cook Library and is available upon request.

Sexual Harassment

To foster an environment of respect for the dignity and worth of all members of the university community, Southern Miss is committed to maintaining working and learning environments free of sexual harassment. It is the policy of the university that no member of its community shall sexually harass another. Any employee or student who violates this policy is subject to disciplinary action which may include termination. Sexual harassment is illegal under federal law. Contact Dean of Graduate School with concerns at (601) 266-4369.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act

The University of Southern Mississippi complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. No otherwise qualified individual with disabilities, shall solely by reason of his/her disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in the administration of any educational program or activity, including admission or access thereto or in treatment or employment therein by The University of Southern Mississippi. All reasonable accommodations for students must be approved through the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA); accommodations for faculty and staff must be approved through the Human Resources director. Students who need assistance in reasonably accommodating a disability in the classroom or on campus should contact the ODA director at (601) 266-5024 or (228) 214-3232; faculty/staff should contact the director of Human Resources at 266-4050. Individuals with hearing impairments can use Mississippi Relay Service at 1-800-582-2233 (TTY) to contact campus offices.

Publications

The University of Southern Mississippi has three publications each year: the Undergraduate Bulletin, the Graduate Bulletin, and the Regional Campus Publication. To obtain information about the complete programs of the university, please check each publication.

The University Press of Mississippi

The University Press of Mississippi was founded in 1970 to encourage the dissemination of the fruits of research and study through the publication of scholarly works. Functioning as the scholarly publishing arm of the state-supported universities in Mississippi, The University Press is governed by a Board of Directors made up of one representative from each of the eight state universities, one representative from the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and the director of the press.

The University Press publishes more than 50 books each year. Primary areas of interest are Mississippi history and literature, but manuscripts in all areas of study are welcomed.

Administrative offices of The University Press are located in the Education and Research Center of Mississippi, 3825 Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, MS, 39211.

The University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association

The Alumni Association was established in 1917 as an organization mainly involved in functions relating to placement service. Since its rebirth in 1946, when the Executive Committee recognized the need for a working Alumni Association with organized alumni groups in the various counties of the state, the Association has operated in its present form, serving as a link between the university and its former students.

Southern Miss graduates and former students are encouraged to become active in the Alumni Association through its many geographic chapters and constituent societies. Of more than 130,000 graduates since the university’s founding, approximately 14,000 are currently listed as paid members of the Association.

The Association provides a number of benefits to its members, including a subscription to the quarterly magazine The Talon, which helps graduates stay informed of campus developments and provides updates on former classmates. Other benefits include resident tuition rates for children and grandchildren of members who meet certain requirements, complimentary admission to numerous pre-game events and exclisive early access to other special events, select library privileges, car decals, eligibility to join the Southern Miss Credit Union and Payne Center. The Association also maintains a website, SouthernMissAlumni.com, and distributes a monthly electronic newsletter, Alumni Mail.

The Association is very active in developing other programs to support all areas of the university. Some of these include the Pierce Legacy Scholars Program, which awards one-time scholarships to select children and grandchildren of alumni, sponsoring arts and athletic events and organizing meetings throughout the country.

The Alumni Association also sponsored the drive to raise funds necessary for the construction of the first R.C. Cook University Union building, helped set up the USM Foundation (the repository for all gifts to the university) and organized the Student Alumni Association, one of the largest dues-paying student organizations on campus. Known as the Keepers of Tradition, the SAA serves as the campus leader in promoting spirit and enthusiam by protecting the traditions and history at Southern Miss.

University Libraries

University Libraries provides a dynamic physical and virtual learning environment that supports the intellectual development and creativity of the University community. Joseph Anderson Cook Library, William David McCain Library and Archives, the Gulf Coast Library and the Gunter Library at the Gulf Coast Research Lab offer services that meet information needs and support the research, teaching, learning, and service of the University’s faculty, staff, and students. An extensive website provides access to the libraries’ holdings, including full text and article databases, electronic journals and books, and digitized collections and services such as reference and research assistance, tutorials, and document delivery.

The Joseph Anderson Cook Library

The Joseph Anderson Cook Library contains the principle holdings of books, journals, microforms, music, media, and other materials, which support the research and instructional programs of the University. Cook Library has five floors of book stacks, study areas, and computers, and access is provided to over five million books and microforms and over 150,000 journals. Library services, such as circulation, reference and interlibrary loan, can be found on the first and second floors with the collections being housed on all five floors.

Special Collections

The William David McCain Library and Archives houses University Libraries’ special collections and archives of the University. Notable holdings include the Mississippiana Collection; the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collections; the Civil Rights Collection; the papers of William M. Colmer, Theodore G. Bilbo, and Paul B. Johnson, Jr.; the Walen Collection of Confederate and Civil War History; and the Cleanth Brooks Collection of belles lettres. Research services are directed from the Cleanth Brooks Reading Room, and are available for use by the public and University community. The collections housed in McCain Library and Archives are accessible through the online catalog and additional descriptive finding aids.

The Gulf Coast Library

The Gulf Coast Library, located on the Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach, houses print and non-print materials that support the research and curriculum needs of the students, faculty, and staff. All of the University Libraries’ electronic holdings are accessible to the students on the Gulf Coast and materials are available for campus-to-campus loan. The Gulf Coast Library includes 37,000 volumes of curriculum resource materials and provides study space and access to computers throughout all three floors of the facility.

The Gunter Library

The Gunter Library, located in the Richard L. Caylor Building, at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) in Ocean Springs provides technical information for the research staff, resident faculty, and students. A collection of 1,663 print journals and over 30,000 books, reprints, reports, and gray literature, environmental impact statements; fishery management plans; and other materials supporting the research and teaching done by the Department of Coast Sciences and GCRL scientific staff are available to support research, education, and services in the coastal sciences.

The Aquila Digital Community

The Aquila Digital Community is an open access digital repository containing all of the scholarly works created by The University of Southern Mississippi faculty, staff, and students. Aquila also hosts digital journals and newsletters published by the University, as well as information and resources from events hosted by the University. All submissions to Aquila have open access availability and are indexed, making them highly discoverable through internet search engines, such as Google, thereby extending the University’s scholarly output to a wider audience.

Mississippi Digital Library

Hosted and managed by University Libraries, The Mississippi Digital Library (MDL) is the collaborative digital library program for the state that provides online access to primary source materials held by repositories in the state of Mississippi. MDL includes materials covering a wide range of subject areas, with contributions from museums, public libraries, historical societies and other cultural institutions throughout the entire state. MDL’s collections represent more than 150 years of history and culture from Mississippi’s Delta to the Gulf Coast. From photographs to oral histories, the treasures contributed to the Mississippi Digital Library exhibit the incredible diversity of resources that can be found in the state.

The University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art

Originally established in 1977 as the C. W. Woods Gallery through a generous donation from the Woods family, the gallery was later expanded and renamed The University of Southern Mississippi Museum of Art in 1997 by the Board of Trustees. Previously located in the Fine Arts Building, the museum now has a new gallery space, the Gallery of Art & Design located on campus in the historic George Hurst Building, 104 Southern Miss Drive.  

Recent exhibitions hosted by the Museum of Art have included: Aquaflora, a contemporary painting exhibition and collaboration with the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art and Oddfellows Gallery;  Graphic Advocacy: International Posters for the Digital Age 2001-2012, on loan from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design; and Beyond the Window, an exhibition of contemporary painting by Zeuxis, an association of still life painters founded in NYC in 1994.

In addition to exhibiting both historical and contemporary works of art, the museum also exhibits the work of Southern Miss Department of Art and Design faculty with a biennial faculty exhibition, as well as the works by Art and Design students and graduating seniors each year.

The museum also displays works of art from the permanent collection. The collection includes works by Joan Miro, Georges Rouault, Max Papart, Thomas Downing, Ed McGowin, Thornton Willis and many well-known Mississippi artists such as Walter Anderson, Dusti Bongé, Marie Hull, and Richmond Barthé. Select pieces from the permanent collection can currently be seen on long-term display in the Cook Library Art Gallery.

Center for International Education

Dr. Daniel Norton, Associate Vice President
118 College Drive #5069
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
U.S.A.
www.usm.edu/international-education
Phone: (601) 266.4344
Fax: (601) 266.5699

The Center for International Education (CIE) at the University of Southern Mississippi coordinates programs and services that extend the university to our local and global communities. The Center’s purpose is to promote internationalization of the university and to prepare our students, faculty and staff for leadership and success in today’s interconnected world. Through its three administrative areas described below, the center provides intensive English language instruction; administers the university’s extensive study-abroad and international exchange programs; and coordinates international admissions and services for international students, scholars, and faculty.

English Language Institute

Ann Morris, Manager
118 College Dr. #5065
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
U.S.A.
Phone: (601) 266.4338
Fax: (601) 266.5723
eli@usm.edu
http://www.usm.edu/english-language-institute

The English Language Institute (ELI) delivers intensive academic English instruction for international students as well as for local residents for whom English is a second language. Full-time study is 25 hours a week. Part-time enrollment is also possible. Terms are eight weeks in duration. The program, which accommodates students from beginning to advanced language proficiency, is attended by students from around the world.

The ELI fosters cross-cultural awareness within the university and the community by offering ELI students opportunities for interaction with native English speakers, both on and off campus. Founded in 1947, the ELI is among the oldest language institutes in the United States. The program is a member of the University and College Intensive English Programs consortium (UCIEP).

International Programs

Amy Linden, Director
118 College Drive #5069
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
U.S.A.
Phone: 601.266.4344
Fax: 601.266.5699
www.usm.edu/study-abroad

International Programs administers a variety of programs providing students with semester and short-term opportunities to study abroad for academic credit. Short-term programs include the following:

Organized by Southern Miss, the British Studies Program is a five-week, six-credit program based in London for students from USM and our partner universities.

Austria: Music and German in Vienna, Austria
Belize: Tropical Ecology in Belize
Canada: Project Serve
Canada: Forensic Science Field Studies
China: Language and Culture in China
Costa Rica: Spanish in Costa Rica
Cuba: Cuban Studies
France: French in France
Germany: International Performing Arts Institute (IPAI)
Italy: Christianity and Law in Rome
Italy: Opera Festival di Roma
Japan: Japan Business and Culture
Spain: Spanish in Spain
Spain: Summer Teacher Institute in Spain

Semester abroad programs offering regular Southern Miss academic credit include the following: 

Belgium: ISTI Institute for Translators and Interpreters, Belgium
England: Keele University, England
England: University of Exeter, England
France: ESCE International Business School, France
France: University of Orléans, France
Germany: University of Bonn, Germany
Netherlands: The Hague University, Netherlands
Peru: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
Spain: University of Alcalá, Spain
Spain: University of Cadiz, Spain
Spain: University of Jaén, Spain
Wales: Swansea University, Wales

International Recruitment and Admissions

Petra Marlin, Director
118 College Drive #5135
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
U.S.A.
(601) 266.5672
fax (601) 266.4898
http://www.usm.edu/international-admissions
intladmissions@usm.edu

International Recruitment and Admissions informs and advises prospective international students and families regarding USM’s admissions standards and academic opportunities. The office conducts recruitment travel and disseminates Southern Miss information to foreign schools, U.S. embassies and consulates, and nonprofit international organizations such as the Institute for International Education. International Recruitment and Admissions processes all international applications, evaluates foreign academic credentials, and issues the appropriate immigration documents for Undergraduate, Graduate and Non-Degree visiting nonimmigrant foreign students.

International Student and Scholar Services

Suzanne Omran, Director
118 College Drive #5151
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
U.S.A.
(601) 266.4841
fax (601) 266.4898
http://www.usm.edu/international-services
isss@usm.edu

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) coordinates all facets of international student and scholar services. ISSS provides counseling on immigration regulations, personal matters, and cultural adjustment, as well as some academic counseling in conjunction with various departments. The Office of International Student and Scholar Services also serves as a coordinator for intercultural programming for the campus and community.

ISSS also provides information to, and immigration documents for, research scholars invited by various Southern Miss departments to participate in limited research opportunities.

Accrediting Agencies

The University of Southern Mississippi is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the baccalaureate, masters, specialists and doctoral levels. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404.679.4500 for questions about the accreditation of The University of Southern Mississippi.

SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS COMMISSION ON COLLEGES

1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, GA 30033-4097
404.679.4500 sacscoc.org

Specific programs are accredited by the following agencies:

ASSOCIATION TO ADVANCE COLLEGIATE SCHOOLS OF BUSINESS

777 South Harbor Island Blvd., Suite 750
Tampa, FL 33602-5730 USA
813.769.6500

ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION IN NUTRITION AND DIETETICS

120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
312.899.5400

ACCREDITING COUNCIL ON EDUCATION IN JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION

Stauffer-Flint Hall
1435 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045-7575
785.864.3973

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION STANDING COMMITTEE ON PARALEGALS

Approving Agency
321 N. Clark St., MS 19.1
Chicago, IL 60654-7598
312.988.5483

AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY

111155 16th St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
202.872.4600

AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION

1717 North Loop 1604 East, Suite 320
San Antonio, TX 78232-1570
210.495.6161

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

50 E. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611

AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (APA)

750 First Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002-4242
202.336.5500

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

11200 Rockville Pike, Suite 302
Rockville, MD  20852-3110

COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF ALLIED HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS

1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
727.210.2350

COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF ATHLETIC TRAINING EDUCATION (CAATE)

2201 Double Creek Drive
Suite 5006
Round Rock, TX 78664
512.733.9700

COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

50 E. Huron St.
Chicago, Illinois 60611-2795
312-280-2432

COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION FOR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY EDUCATION

112 South Alfred Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3061
703.838.9808

COMMISSION ON COLLEGIATE NURSING EDUCATION

One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, D.C. 20036
202.887.6791

COMPUTING ACCREDITATION COMMISSION OF THE ACCREDITATION BOARD FOR ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

415 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
410.347.7700

COUNCIL FOR ACCREDITATION OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES

400 N. Columbia Street, Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.706.4600

COUNCIL FOR INTERIOR DESIGN ACCREDITATION

60 Monroe Center NW, Suite 300
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2920
616.458.0400

COUNCIL FOR THE ACCREDITATION OF EDUCATOR PREPARATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ACCREDITATION OF TEACHER EDUCATION)

1140 19th Street, Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036
202.223.0077

COUNCIL ON ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION IN AUDIOLOGY AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
2200 Research Boulevard #310
Rockville, MD 20850
301.296.5700

COUNCIL ON ACCREDITATION OF NURSE ANESTHESIA EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

222 S. Prospect Avenue
Park ridge, IL  60068-4001
847.655.1160

COUNCIL ON EDUCATION OF THE DEAF

P.O. Box 10076
Lamar University
Beaumont, TX 77710
409.880.8175

COUNCIL ON EDUCATION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH (CEPH)

1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 220
Silver Spring, MD 20910-5660
202.789.1050

COUNCIL ON SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION

1725 Duke Street, Suite 500
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.683.8080

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY ACCREDITATION COMMISSION OF THE ACCREDITATION BOARD FOR ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

415 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
410.347.7700

NATIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY FOR CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES

5600 N. River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-511119
773.714.8880

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS

4340 East West Highway, Suite 402
Bethesda, MD 20814
301.657.0270

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF ART AND DESIGN

11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190
703.437.0700

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF DANCE

11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190
703.437.0700

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF MUSIC

11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190
703.437.0700

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS OF THEATRE

11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21
Reston, VA 20190
703.437.0700

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ACCREDITATION OF COACHING EDUCATION

1900 Association Drive
Reston, VA 20191
703.476.3410

The Graduate School also maintains affiliation with the Council of Graduate Schools, One DuPont Circle, N.W., Suite 430, Washington, DC 20036-1173, (202)223-3791.