The Graduate School

Karen S. Coats, Ph.D., Dean
Professor of Biology
118 College Drive, #5024
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5024
(601) 266-4369, fax (601) 266-5138
Email: graduateschool@usm.edu
www.usm.edu/graduate-school

The University of Southern Mississippi holds the dual classification of High Research Activity and Community Engagement University from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USM fosters an academic environment in which advanced research and free inquiry flourish. Graduate education is foundational to this environment and the generation and dissemination of knowledge. The Graduate School, originally established in 1947, strives to advance graduate education by promoting the highest standards of academic quality and integrity, providing opportunities for professional development for graduate students, and by serving the needs of graduate students, faculty, and programs. 

The Graduate Council

The Graduate Council recommends policies pertaining to graduate education at USM. It includes elected faculty members from the various degree-granting colleges. Permanent ex officio members are the President of USM, the Dean of Libraries, and the Dean of the Graduate School. The council elects a chair from its regular members. The University Registrar serves as recording secretary of the council. The council’s meeting dates, members, bylaws, and the “Index to Graduate Council Decisions” are available at www.usm.edu/graduate-school.

The responsibilities of the Graduate Council include:

• Election of graduate faculty.

• Approval of course and curriculum changes.

• Approval of new graduate programs (majors, minors, emphases, and certificates) submitted through college curriculum committees.

• Policy changes relevant to graduate studies.

Graduate School Admissions (U.S. citizens)

Graduate School Admissions
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5024
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5024
(601) 266-5137; fax (601) 266-5138

All U.S. citizens applying to graduate programs offered on all USM campuses should apply online (www.usm.edu/graduate-school) and send transcripts from all universities attended, test scores, and all other materials online to Graduate School Admissions. Students applying to more than one degree program must submit separate applications to each program and pay separate application fees. Students can enroll in only one program if accepted to both unless dual enrollment has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Graduate School Admissions (Non-U.S. citizens/International)

Office of International Admissions
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5135
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5151
USA (601) 266-4841; fax (601) 266-4898
email: isss@usm.edu

All Non-U.S citizens/International applicants applying to graduate programs offered on all Southern Miss campuses should apply online (www.usm.edu/graduate-school) and send transcripts from all universities attended, test scores, and all other materials to International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). Students applying to more than one degree program must submit separate applications to each program and pay separate application fees. Students can enroll in only one program if accepted to both unless dual enrollment has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. International Admissions processes all international applications, evaluates foreign academic credentials, and issues the appropriate immigration documents for non-immigrant foreign students.

Graduate Degree Requirement Processing, Auditing, and Tracking

The Graduate School - Degree Auditors/Tracking Specialists
Sue Fayard and Sharon Pool
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5024
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5024
(601) 266-4369; fax (601) 266-5138
Email: graduateschool@usm.edu
 

Once a student has been admitted to graduate school the degree auditors/tracking specialists are responsible for processing all forms submitted by students or their committee chairs required for completion of each degree. These include plans of study, grade changes, milestones updates, auditing of degree requirements to confirm that degree requirements have been met, and the posting of degrees.

Final Approval of Dissertations, Theses, and Nursing Capstone Projects

The Graduate School - Reviewer of Dissertations, Capstone Projects, and Theses
Jeanne Stewart
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5024
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5024
(601) 266-4369; fax (601) 266-5138
Email: graduatereader@usm.edu
 

The Reviewer manages the processing of theses, dissertations, and nursing capstone projects from initial committee appointments to the final review and submission of the documents, as per the current Guidelines of the Graduate School.  See http://www.usm.edu/graduate-school/theses-dissertations-and-nursing-capstone-projects for specific information on deadlines and the guidelines for preparing theses, dissertations, and nursing capstone projects.

Graduate Student Senate

Graduate Student Senate
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5024
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5024
(601) 266-4369

The Graduate Student Senate consists of one voting member from each department. The Graduate Student Senate advises the Dean of the Graduate School on issues affecting graduate students. The responsibilities of GSS include:

• Representing graduate students on Graduate Council.
• Organizing the annual research symposium.
• Assisting the Graduate School with special projects benefiting graduate students.
• Community service.
• Graduate School recruiting.  

See www.usm.edu/graduate-school/graduate-student-senate

Degree Programs Offered*

The University of Southern Mississippi offers graduate programs in many academic disciplines. Departments that do not offer master’s or doctoral degrees may offer a graduate minor. Some graduate degrees are offered at the Gulf Coast campuses independently and/or in conjunction with the Hattiesburg departments. For specific information about the graduate programs at coastal campuses, please see the Gulf Coast section of the Bulletin.  USM also offers Graduate Certificate programs in some fields.

Master’s degree programs foster broad-based advanced knowledge, training, and an understanding of research, and/or creative or problem-solving activities in a discipline that will prepare graduates for the competitve workforce.

Specialist degree programs support more advanced knowledge, problem-solving skills, and training needed to contribute to a discipline with greater emphasis on skill development and integration of applied research.

Doctoral degree programs advance (a) specialized, advanced knowledge of a discipline, (b) an ability to integrate a specialized field of study into the larger areas of knowledge, and (c) the critical, analytical, and/or problem-solving tools needed to provide original, independent scholarly research or creative work in a discipline, thus contributing to the discipline’s body of knowledge.

The degrees offered, their majors, and emphasis areas are listed below. For specific Plans of Study, go to http://www.usm.edu/graduate-school/degree-and-graduation-information.  Check this website for current offerings.

*Please note that degree offerings may change due to current program reviews. Those listed in this Bulletin are those granted as of the 2015-2016 academic year and are subject to change.