College of Health

Michael Forster, Dean
Trent Gould, Associate Dean
Kathy Yadrick, Associate Dean
118 College Drive, Box 5040
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5253
www.usm.edu/health

Mission

The mission of the College of Health is to create, apply and transmit expert knowledge, within and across the domains of its constituent disciplines, for the well-being and betterment of individuals, community, state, nation and world.

Vision

The vision of the College of Health is advancing health and well-being through excellence and innovation in teaching, research and service.

Organization and Administration

Dean’s Office

The dean is the chief administrative officer of the College of Health and is responsible for its operation and relations with all stakeholders. The associate deans and assistants to the dean coordinate curriculum, research, external relations and a variety of administrative matters.

Academic and Research Units

The academic units comprising the College of Health include public health, kinesiology, medical laboratory science, nutrition and food systems, social work, and speech and hearing sciences. In addition, centers housed in the College of Health include the Delta/Obesity Prevention Research Initiative Unit and the Center on Aging. Major service programs in the College of Health include the Dubard School for Language Disorders, the Children’s Center for Communication and Development and the Family Network Partnership.

Academic units offer undergraduate and graduate academic programs consistent with the College’s mission statement. Each academic unit is responsible for maintaining its associated student files for academic advisement of its majors. Since curricular requirements vary for each major, students desiring degrees from the College of Health should follow the courses outlined by each unit. Detailed information on individual curricula of the six units follows. Note that a number of programs within the College must meet criteria of accrediting agencies and thus may have additional application procedures or admission requirements beyond those of the university. Most programs within the College require students to have valid professional liability insurance purchased through fees assessed each semester by the university. Please consult the administrators of the individual units to obtain specific information.

Clinical and field experiences may require a criminal background check. A felony conviction may disqualify a candidate from participating in the experience, thereby making the candidate unable to obtain a teaching license. For additional information, contact the academic unit that houses the program. Any fees incurred are the responsibility of the candidate.

Teacher Education Programs and Requirements

The College of Health offers teacher preparation (licensure) programs in two disciplines. Students can pursue teacher certification in K-12 physical education through the School of Kinesiology, or K-12 certification in education of the deaf through the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences. For specific information on these fully accredited programs, please refer to Human Performance  or Education of the Deaf  and Teacher Education Programs and Requirements  .

Degree Plans and Semester-by-Semester Guides