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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 classification Doctoral Universities: Higher 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:
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Election of graduate faculty.
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Approval of course and curriculum changes.
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Approval of new graduate programs submitted through college curriculum committees.
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Policy relevant to graduate studies.
Graduate School Admissions (U.S. citizens)
Michelle Templeton, Manager
Emily Lymon, Sr. Admissions Specialist
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 must apply online at the Graduate School website (http://www.usm.edu/graduate-school) and submit transcripts from all universities attended, test scores, immunization records, and other program required 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, unless enrolled in an approved dual degree program.
Graduate School Admissions (Non-U.S. citizens/International)
Office of International Admissions
Elizabeth Shoemake, Associate Director
Suzanne Omran, Director of International Student and Scholar Services
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 submit 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, unless enrolled in an approved dual degree program. 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
Sue Fayard, Graduate Tracking Specialist and Degree Auditor
Sharon Pool, Degree Auditor
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 graduate degree auditors are responsible for processing all forms submitted by students or their committee chairs required for completion of each degree.
Final Approval of Dissertations, Theses, and Nursing Capstone Projects
Jeanne Stewart, Reviewer of Dissertations, Nursing Capstone Projects and Theses
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5024
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5024
(601) 266-4372; fax (601) 266-5138
Email: graduatereader@usm.edu
The Reviewer manages the processing of theses, dissertations, and nursing capstone projects from initial committee appointment to the final review and submission of the documents, as per the current USM Guidelines (formatting rules, instructions for the templates). The Reviewer checks all defended theses, dissertations, and nursing capstone projects for formatting, citations/references, and adherence to the USM Guidelines. Go to the Reviewer section of the Graduate School website for specific information on deadlines, the Guidelines, and the templates (http://www.usm.edu/graduate-school).
Graduate Assistantships
Shelby Flores, Accountant
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5024
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5024
(601) 266-4369; fax (601) 266-5138
Email: Shelby.Flores@usm.edu
The accountant manages graduate assistant stipend and tuition waiver budgets. The accountant serves as a liasion with departments regarding hiring and termination of graduate assistants, graduate assistant assignment forms, offer letters, and otehr issues.
Graduate Student Professional Development
Vanessa Molden, Coordinator of Special Projects
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5024
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5024
(601) 266-4369; fax (601) 266-5138
Email: Vanessa .Molden@usm.edu
Professional development is an important component of graduate education and a special emphasis of the Graduate School. The Coordinator of Special Projects provides leadership in the dean’s professional development initiativers, and coordinates activities.
Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program
Carolyn Cawthon, Director
Kimbaya Brown, Co-Director
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5024
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5024
(601) 266-4369; fax (601) 266-5138
Email: Kimbaya.Brown@usm.edu
The McNair Scholars Program of USM fosters the success of the First Generation/Low Income and students underrepresented in graduate school. The purpose of the program is to provide instruction, professional development, and research opportunities that allow students in these demographic groups to transition seamlessly from the undergraduate to graduate programs.
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.
- Participating in community service activities.
- 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 competitive 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 specialized, advanced knowledge of a discipline; an ability to integrate a specialized field of study into the larger areas of knowledge; and 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. 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 2016-2017 academic year and are subject to change.
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