Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

Interdisciplinary Majors

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS)

Dr. Marek Steedman, Director
118 College Drive, Box 9660
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4317

Anderson, Coleman, Eickelmann, Greene, Steedman

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) is a uniquely collaborative degree that fosters in students the ability to think critically, creatively, and flexibly about the issues and challenges of the 21^st-century world. Guided by careful advisement and mentoring, students accepted into this program develop individualized degree plans that combine coursework from multiple areas and culminate in a capstone research project integrating their diverse interests. Students leave our program prepared for lives and careers in a rapidly changing global society that requires complex problem solving, an awareness of and respect for diversity, and a commitment to the public good.

The Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) Program at Southern Miss is an institutional member of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies, an international professional organization founded in 1979. The IDS program also helps to coordinate and serve the needs of such interdisciplinary minors as Black Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, and American Indian Studies.

Major Requirements for the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

Students in the BIS program must complete a minimum of 36 hours of concentration coursework selected from two or more departments; a 13-hour Interdisciplinary Studies core (IDS 201 , IDS 301 , IDS 401 , IDS 402 , and IDS 350 ); and either ENG 332 or ENG 333 . For a list of available concentrations, please see the department website.

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (Southern Studies concentration)

The Southern Studies Concentration BIS degree earned through an interdisciplinary series of courses on issues and research concerning the study of the Southern United States. By integrating a variety of disciplines across the Humanities abd Social Sciences, including anthropology, English, geography, literature, music, politics, religion and sociology, the BIS Southern Studies Concentration investigates the past, present, and future of the American South and its impact on the United States and the world. Its aim is to increase students’ awareness, knowledge, and critical analysis of the South as a distinct region, and to teach students a variety of skills and techniques for studying the South’s unique complexities and contributions.

Students in the BIS (Southern Studies concentration) program must complete a minimum of 2 18-hour concentrations from among the existing minors at the University. IDS core classes include: IDS 201 , IDS 301 , IDS 350 , IDS 401 , and IDS 402 ; and either ENG 332 or ENG 333 .

Requirements for a Concentration in Southern Studies include:
Introductory requirements - Students must complete two of the following four courses. Students must select one course from each discipline. (ENG 370 , ENG 371 , HIS 201 , HIS 202 )

Core Concentration requirements - Students must complete 9 courses in at least 4 different disciplines. An * indicates recommended courses. Courses not taken for concentration might fill electives. (*ANT 334 , ANT 426 , ANT 433 , ENG 372 , ENG 473 , *ENG 485 , GHY 400 , *HIS 370 , HIS 373 , HIS 374 , *HIS 463 , HIS 467 , *HIS 468 , *HIS 469 , HIS 470 , HIS 475 , MUS 360 , MUS 364, PS 306 , *PS 407 , *PS 409 , PS 489 , SOC 311 , SOC 350 AND SOC 355 .)

The following courses may count toward the concentration in Southern Studies IF their content in the given semester is based on Southern Studies: ANT 416 , ANT 429 , ENG 410 , ENG 489 , ENG 470 , HIS 478 , HIS 479 , PS 453 , PS 459 , PS 473 , REL 490 , SOC 421 and SOC 425 .

IDS 491 - serves as a course in the practical application of an IDS concentration in Southern Studies.

Interdisciplinary Centers and Minors

American Indian Studies

Dr. Tammy Greer, Director
Department of Psychology
118 College Drive, Box 5025
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4177

Center for Black Studies

Dr. Sherita Johnson, Director
Department of English
118 College Dr., Box 5047
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4333

Dr. Cheryl Jenkins, Associate Director
Department of Mass Communication and Journalism
118 College Dr., Box 5121
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4258

The Center for Black Studies offers a minor based on multidisciplinary inquiry into a wide range of topics related to contemporary and historical experiences of peoples in Africa and the Black Diaspora. The mission of the Center is two-fold: to promote research and provide educational opportunities related to the history and culture of African-Americans and the Black Diaspora and to facilitate connections between the university and the various social, political and economic entities that address black experiences. The minor offered through the Center reflects this dual focus. Students are expected to take courses related to black studies and also to complete a three-hour project that involves application of course material through an internship or service-learning project. The aim of the minor is to engage students in the center and increase their knowledge, involvement and critical awareness of race in the human experience.

Center for Human Rights and Civil Liberties

For more information about the Center, contact:

Dr. David M. Cochran, Jr.
Chair, Board of Directors, Center for Human Rights and Civil Liberties
Department of Geography and Geology
University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Dr., Box 5051
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.6014
david.cochran@usm.edu

For more information about the Human Rights minor, contact:

Dr. Michael Lavender and Dr. John Meyer
Program Coordinators, Human Rights Minor
Department of Political Science, International Development and International Affairs
University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Dr., Box 5108
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4310
kate.greene@usm.edu

http://www.usm.edu/human-rights

The Center for Human Rights and Civil Liberties at The University of Southern Mississippi is founded to advance the principle of “liberty and justice for all,” both here and abroad. The Center is committed to excellence in education and in preparing its students to translate classroom knowledge into action in a variety of careers in the public and private sectors. The Center’s faculty is devoted to providing an academic home for an interdisciplinary minor in human rights and civil liberties.

Additionally, the Center promotes, encourages, and facilitates student and faculty research on domestic and international questions related to human rights and civil liberties. The Center serves the university and the broader communities by fostering collaboration with community partners on projects that address problems of social justice and public policy.

The Center also provides a forum in which to bring together disparate constituencies to engage in a dialog to advance social justice and democratic values. By building a reputation for effective teaching, productive scholarship, and wide-ranging service to a variety of constituents, the Center aspires to gain recognition as one of the most innovative programs, combining academic and community learning, in the southeastern United States.

Non-Profit Studies

Dr. Ann Marie Kinnell, Director
Department of Anthropology and Sociology
118 College Drive, Box 5074
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5339

http://www.usm.edu/anthropology-sociology/nonprofit-studies-program

The nonprofit studies minor is an interdisciplinary minor which provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary for work in the nonprofit sector. This minor is appropriate for students in all colleges and majors who wish to pursue a variety of career choices, from research and advocacy to the arts to health and social services provision.

A graduate certificate in nonprofit studies is also offered. For more information, please contact Dr. Kinnell.

Women’s and Gender Studies Program

Julie Reid, Interim Director
118 College Drive, Box 9660
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4317

The Women’s and Gender Studies program offers a minor earned through an interdisciplinary series of courses on issues and research concerning women. Its aim is to increase students’ awareness, knowledge and critical analysis of gender issues and differences.

Undergraduate Studies

601.266.5003
Fax: 601.266.6150
usm.edu/undergraduate-studies

The over-arching purpose of these programs is to help students make successful transitions. These courses encourage the development of active learning skills, promote responsible decision-making, facilitate exploration of academic majors and career planning, and help students establish rewarding human relationships in college with peers, professors and the university staff.

General Studies GS 100 - Orientation
GS 100 is a 1-hour pass/fail course for all new students seeking a degree at USM. This course is a web-based supplement to the student’s orientation experience. Curriculum is designed to provide academic and campus resources to the Southern Miss community.

University Studies (UNV) courses
The University Studies program consists of several courses that support student academic success and that provide structured opportunities for out-of-class learning.

Undergraduate Studies administers two academic courses designed specifically for new students, UNV 101 for new freshmen and UNV 301 for new transfers. These courses are intended to facilitate students’ transition to university life and seek to provide a common experience for first-year students at Southern Miss, regardless of major. Both courses are a two-hour, letter-graded course that may be used to fulfill degree requirements at Southern Miss. Southern Miss strongly encourages all new students to enroll in the appropriate seminar (UNV 101 or UNV 301 ) during their first semester of enrollment.

UNV 101 for new freshmen
UNV 120 student leadership seminar
UNV 301 for new transfer students
UNV 310 job-seeking skills course
UNV 312 mentor training course
UNV 315 course for resident assistants
UNV 325 course for peer educators
UNV 450 and UNV 451 research seminars for McNair Scholars
UNV 392

Learning Skills (LS) courses

LS 101 - Academic Support I for students placing into intermediate algebra math (MAT 99 ), intermediate reading (CIE 99 ) and intermediate writing (ENG 99 ) courses, according to the IHL policy (Section 600-608 - D)
LS 250 - Strategic Learning for underachieving students needing to improve their overall performance, including those on academic probation, probation continued or suspension

Given that these programs reach students at critical points in college, Undergraduate Studies is essential to the university community in terms of promoting retention and persistence, graduation rates, academic success and student satisfaction.

Developmental Education Program

118 College Dr., Box 5112
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5003
Fax: 601.266.6150

The Developmental Education Program provides an academic foundation for underprepared students to make the transition to college-level courses. The DEP offers students who do not meet regular admission criteria an opportunity to enroll in a four-year public institution of higher learning in the state of Mississippi. The entire program consists of three semesters (summer, fall and spring) of prescribed study, determined by current IHL Board policy.

The summer component, an intensive nine-week remediation program, frequently referred to as the Summer Developmental Program, includes the following courses: English (ENG 90 ), reading (CIE 90 ), mathematics (MAT 90 ) and support lab (LS 90L ). Each course is three credit hours for a total of 12 credit hours. Students who successfully complete the summer term by passing all four courses will be considered to have made satisfactory academic progress in the first phase of the program and will be eligible to continue in the fall. This includes mandatory participation in the Developmental Education program in the fall and spring immediately following the student’s enrollment.

The fall component includes enrollment in LS 101 - Academic Support I . The spring component includes enrollment in LS 102 - Academic Support II . Students must pass the fall and spring components of the Developmental Education Program immediately following the completion of the student’s summer enrollment to maintain their enrollment status.

Students who fail to satisfactorily complete all three semesters of the Developmental Education Program are considered to have made unsatisfactory academic progress and are not eligible for continued enrollment. These students will be counseled to explore other postsecondary opportunities.

Undergraduate Studies

118 College Dr., Box 5112
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5003
Fax: 601.266.6150
www.usm.edu/us

The program for undeclared majors provides an organized plan of study for students who are exploring options for their academic major. It is the appropriate place for Southern Miss students who wish to sample university life and various fields of study before committing to a definite major. While an undeclared major, students pursue the university’s General Education Curriculum and work with specially trained academic advisers. Advisers encourage students to explore, select and eventually commit to an appropriate major, thus facilitating the timely completion of an undergraduate degree. The program works closely with Southern Miss Career Services to help the exploring student.

Programs

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

Bachelor of Liberal Studies

Non-degree

Certificate

The Leadership Experience Certificate