College of Business

Degree Plans and Semester-by-Semester Guides

Faye W. Gilbert, Dean
Joseph Peyrefitte, Senior Associate Dean
Gwen Pate, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs
Mike Wittmann, Associate Dean for External Relations
Patrick Browning, Technology and Database Coordinator
Candice Carter, Business Manager
Jewel Tucker, Executive Assistant to the Dean
Amy Yeend, Assistant Director, Career Services
Michelle Templeton, Assistant to the Dean, Undergraduate Academic Services
Gennifer Hicks, Records Specialist/Academic Adviser
Marie Baker, Recruitment/Retention Coordinator and Academic Adviser
118 College Drive, Box 5021
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5021
601.266.4663

Mission

Our purpose is to provide a range of educational products, services and resources that advance the careers of our students, faculty and staff, and increase career opportunities in the regional business community. We accomplish our mission by building skills, fostering intellectual contributions, and promoting business growth and entrepreneurial activity.

Vision

To become the leading agent for career development in Mississippi and along the Gulf Coast

Accreditation

Recognizing that the College of Business has fulfilled accreditation requirements, the AACSB International – Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business – has accredited all BSBA business programs offered by the College. The School of Accountancy has also achieved separate accreditation by AACSB.

Organization and Administration

Dean’s Office

The dean is the chief administrative officer of the College of Business (COB) and is responsible for all operations of the College. In the COB Undergraduate Academic Services office, the associate dean of Undergraduate Programs oversees admissions to the COB, recruitment, the advisement process and degree applications. Students needing assistance should direct inquiries to the COB Undergraduate Academic Services office.

Academic Administrative Units

The academic administrative units that report to the dean’s office are the School of Accountancy, the College of Business-Gulf Park, and the Departments of Finance, Real Estate and Business Law; Management and International Business; Marketing and Fashion Merchandising; and Casino, Hospitality and Tourism Management. A list of undergraduate academic offerings appears at the beginning of this section, while detailed information on curricula follows.

Student Procedures

Admission

High school graduates who have been admitted by the university and who wish to major in an area of business are concurrently admitted into the College of Business. Transfer students are likewise admitted directly into the College upon admission to the university. After admission to the College, students will be advised in the Undergraduate Academic Services office. All junior/senior COB majors are charged $19 per term for online access to the Wall Street Journal. This fee is assessed to the student’s Business Office account and is nonrefundable.

Restrictions

The College of Business imposes the following limitations on transfer credits:

Courses offered at the junior or senior level at The University of Southern Mississippi are not accepted in transfer from two-year institutions. See Bulletin section titled “Admission to the University ” regarding transfer credits.
Not more than one-half of the College of Business core curriculum plus requirements for the major is accepted in transfer; 50 percent must be completed at Southern Miss.
Transfer courses designated as technical training courses, as well as developmental courses such as intermediate algebra, are not accepted as meeting degree requirements. See university Bulletin section titled “Admission to the University ” regarding vocational and developmental courses.
Credit for life experiences or military credits are generally not accepted as meeting degree requirements.
See additional restrictions on transfer credit under “Graduation Requirements” section.

In addition, there are the following restrictions for enrolling in courses offered by the College of Business:

At least junior standing (60 hours completed) is required of all students enrolling in College of Business courses numbered 300 or above, except for MIS 300 and certain Tourism Management (TM) classes.
Students majoring in degree programs outside of the College of Business may not take more than 30 credit hours of business courses (including transfer credit) without being admitted to the College. Exceptions apply to this policy if course is required for major.
Students are not normally allowed to be dually enrolled at Southern Miss and another institution. Students must obtain approval from COB Undergraduate Academic Services prior to dual enrollment. The dual-enrollment policy includes independent study courses as well.
COB courses offered through independent study are primarily for non-degree-seeking students. Therefore, COB majors are not normally allowed to take independent study courses to satisfy degree requirements.
For restrictions on using the pass/fail option, refer to the section of this Bulletin on “General Academic Regulations .”
Students desiring to transfer additional courses for degree requirements after attending Southern Miss are encouraged to obtain prior approval of transfer work from COB Undergraduate Academic Services.

Changes of Major

College of Business students who wish to change to another business major can do so by completing a “Change of Major” form in the COB Undergraduate Academic Services office.

Students who desire to transfer to a degree program outside the College of Business must first be accepted by the College offering the program. Applications for admission to the new program are processed in the dean’s office of the College that grants the degree. The academic areas involved are notified so that advisement records can be transferred.

Advisement

Students are advised in Undergraduate Academic Services where their advisement records are maintained. Prior to registration, if necessary, an adviser can help arrange a schedule of classes for the upcoming semester. An early advisement and registration period is scheduled near the middle of each semester. Students with a probationary status must see an adviser in order to be cleared for registration purposes. All COB majors must either see an adviser or complete a “self-advisement” form in order to be cleared to register for classes.

Probation and Suspension

University regulations regarding probation and suspension are listed in this Bulletin under “General Academic Regulations .” College of Business students who do not meet university grade point requirements are placed on probation or suspended. Students with a probationary status must see an adviser for academic counseling.

Students who are suspended may not enroll until after the next semester. Anyone who earns college credit elsewhere while on academic suspension from the College of Business may not apply these credits toward graduation requirements in the COB. All questions regarding suspension appeals in the College of Business should be directed to COB Undergraduate Academic Services. After one semester, suspended students may submit an application for reinstatement to the College of Business. The COB Suspension Committee reviews these applications and academic records to determine whether students are to be readmitted. A student readmitted following academic suspension must earn a GPA of at least 2.25 each semester or attain the required cumulative GPA. A student readmitted after academic suspension who fails to attain the required GPA will be suspended for two semesters.

Regardless of hours attempted or probation status, a student who does not attain a minimum GPA of above a 0.00 in any semester will be suspended from the university.

College Deadlines

Students must demonstrate extenuating circumstances in order to waive the deadlines as stated on the university calendar. University withdrawals from the College of Business will not be allowed after the official deadline established by the Registrar’s office.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must meet all prescribed course requirements shown on their advisement sheets. Information about the procedures for filing an “Application for Degree” are available in the COB Undergraduate Academic Services office. Students should be aware of the following degree requirements:

At least 50 percent of the hours applied to a degree must be taken in a senior college.
Special restrictions apply to correspondence and extension credits, to credit by examination, to challenge examinations and to special problem courses. Students interested in these possibilities must obtain prior approval from the COB Undergraduate Academic Services office to assure that credits are applicable toward a College of Business degree.
To receive a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration or a Bachelor of Science/Arts degree from the College of Business, students must complete their last 25 percent of course work at Southern Miss. Independent study courses may not be taken during the last 25 percent of coursework.
Of all required business course work taken, at least 50 percent must be completed at Southern Miss.
In addition to meeting all course work requirements, students must have a 2.0 grade point average overall in the College of Business core and in the major. Transfer students also must meet the foregoing grade point average requirements for all courses taken at Southern Miss and must also have a 2.0 average for all attempted college course work.

Double majors within the College of Business must be carefully planned. Major/emphasis courses may not overlap. Therefore, a student who wishes to pursue a double major must have such a course of study approved by the assistant to the dean in COB Undergraduate Academic Services.

COB majors may elect to pursue a minor in an area outside the College. Prior to completing 70 credit hours, students who wish to pursue such minors must request the approval from the area offering the minor. COB minors normally are offered only to students pursuing a degree outside the College of Business. Double minors within the COB also must be carefully planned since courses in each minor may not overlap.

Students who wish to complete a second baccalaureate degree in the COB must request a “Change of Major” and have a program of study approved by COB Undergraduate Academic Services. Students must meet admission requirements as stated under COB admissions. Students must complete a minimum of 30 hours in order to receive a second baccalaureate degree.

Placement

The university maintains a central Career Services office that assists College of Business students in locating employment following graduation. COB students are encouraged to establish a file with Career Services at least two semesters prior to graduation in order to qualify for interviews with prospective employers. See Amy Yeend in JGH 208 for more information.

Student Organizations

There are several professional and honorary societies for business students interested in sharing common interests or who have achieved high academic standing. These societies include the following organizations: Beta Alpha Psi, national scholastic and professional accounting fraternity; Beta Gamma Sigma, national scholastic honorary society for business students; Collegiate Chapter of the American Marketing Association; Delta Sigma Pi; Epsilon Chi Omicron; Eta Sigma Delta, honorary society for Tourism Management majors; Fashion Merchandising Organization; Financial Management Association National Honor Society; Phi Chi Theta, national professional business fraternities; Professional Convention and Meeting Planners Association; Sigma Iota Epsilon, both an honorary and a professional fraternity; and the Society for the Advancement of Management (SAM), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). A representative from each of these organizations and other appointed students constitute the Business Student Advisory Council, which works with and advises the dean on many student-related matters.

Financial Assistance

There are several scholarships designated for College of Business students as well as other awards for which business students are eligible. Information concerning business scholarships can be obtained from the COB Website at www.usm.edu/business/scholarships. Inquiries regarding other forms of financial aid should be directed to the director of Financial Aid, 118 College Drive #5101, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001.

Graduate Studies

Undergraduate students who are considering applying for admission to graduate business degree programs should consult with Graduate Academic Services. Admission to graduate business programs at Southern Miss is based on several factors, including the undergraduate grade point average and the score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

Study Abroad in Business

The College of Business offers its students the opportunity to earn six hours of approved credit toward their degrees while studying abroad. Business study-abroad courses may be substituted for the following requirements (maximum of six hours) subject to prior approval: (1) ECO 336 (excluding international business majors), (2) ANT 101 or ANT 221 or ANT 311 or FL 401 or GHY 331 or GHY 341 or HIS 424 or PS 350 or foreign language requirement, (3) up to three hours in the student’s major and (4) directed elective. These studyabroad programs are available during the summer semester at relatively low cost to the student. Other exchange programs and study-abroad courses may be available during the fall and spring semesters. Students must have a course of study approved through COB Undergraduate Academic Services prior to enrolling in these credits to ensure graduation requirements are satisfied.