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Karen S. Coats, Ph.D., Dean
Professor, 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 the university. It includes elected faculty members from the various degree-granting colleges. Permanent ex officio members are the President of the university, 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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Recommending policies of admission and academic standards of graduate study at USM.
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Considering and approving graduate programs (majors, minors, emphasis areas, and certificates) submitted to the Council through curriculum committees of each college.
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Electing members of the graduate faculty upon recommendation by the chairs and academic deans.
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Approving new courses, modifying existing courses, and deleting courses for graduate credit, including online courses.
- Acting upon any other issues affecting graduate programs
The graduate programs approved by the council are carried out through the graduate faculty in each degree-granting college of the university’s academic organization.
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 Southern Miss 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.
International Student Applications
Elizabeth Shoemake, Admissions Coordinator, International Student and Scholar Services
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5151
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5151
USA (601) 266-4841; fax (601) 266-48 98
email: isss@usm.edu
International Student and Scholarship Services (ISSS) coordinates all facets of international admissions and student services. ISSS provides counseling on immigration regulations, personal matters, cultural shock, and adjustment, as well as some academic counseling in conjunction with the various departments. ISSS processes all international applications, evaluates foreign academic credentials, and issues the appropriate immigration documents for non-immigrant foreign students. Cultural programming for international students and the community is also coordinated by this office.
All international students applying to graduate programs offered on all Southern Miss campuses should submit an online application at www.usm.edu/graduate-school.
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/recording all forms 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
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 graduate reader 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 www.usm.edu/graduate-school/reviewer-dissertations-nursing-capstone-projects-theses for specific information on deadlines and the guidelines for preparing theses, dissertations, and nursing capstone projects. The reviewer supplies information about commencement to all doctoral candidates.
Graduate Student Senate
Gradaute Student Senate
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5024
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5024
(601) 266-4369
The Graduate Student Senate welcomes all graduate students; however, each department has one voting member. The GSS sponsors a variety of activities including lectures, informal gatherings, and the annual Susan A. Siltanen Graduate Student Research Symposium. The Graduate Student Senate works with and advises the Dean of the Graduate School on issues affecting graduate students.
See www.usm.edu/graduate-school/graduate-student-senate
Degree Programs Offered*
The University of Southern Mississippi offers graduate programs in many academic disciplines. Those departments that do not offer masters or doctoral degrees may offer a graduate minor. In addition, 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 there, please see the Gulf Coast section of the Bulletin. The university 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 enable the recipients to contribute to their discipline and professions.
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 2014-2015 academic year and are subject to change.
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