College of Education and Psychology

Degree Plans and Semester-by-Semester Guides

Ann P. Blackwell, Dean
Diane J. Fisher, Associate Dean
Jeff Hinton, Associate Dean
Michael Mong, Associate Dean, Gulf Coast
118 College Drive, Box 5023
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4568

The University of Southern Mississippi, through its College of Education and Psychology, holds membership in the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the Teacher Education Council of State Colleges and Universities and the Southern Regional Consortium of Colleges of Education. The Professional Education Unit at The University of Southern Mississippi is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), 2010 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036; 202.466.7496. This accreditation covers all initial and advanced educator preparation programs at Southern Miss. To request a copy of this report, contact the dean’s office, College of Education and Psychology, Box #5023, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001; 601.266.4568. For details of graduate teacher education programs, consult the Graduate Bulletin. For undergraduate degrees offered by departments within the college, please see below. To prepare for a career in secondary education (grades 7-12), a student must matriculate in the college and department of the teaching major and also successfully complete the education curriculum courses for secondary licensure.

Mission

The College of Education and Psychology prepares and develops educators, researchers, mental health professionals, and information specialists while generating and disseminating knowledge that connects and advances individuals, communities and society.

Students develop knowledge and skills through exposure to exemplary teaching, research and professional service. The College contributes to the mission of the university through all aspects of scholarship that promote academic success; enhance the image of the College; foster community relationships and involvement; and create healthy minds, bodies and campuses.

NCATE Accreditation

Professional education programs are nationally accredited through NCATE and their appropriate specialized professional association accreditation bodies. All professional education programs within the university undergo periodic review to ensure appropriate national and state standards are being met and student outcomes are appropriate. Each professional education program adheres to a conceptual framework developed to ensure all educational leaders graduating from Southern Miss possess the knowledge, skills, dispositions and diversity outcomes developed by the faculty and community. These shared values provide a vision from which all university education programs can impact collaborative efforts with local school partners and the community as a whole.

Conceptual Framework

The Professional Education Unit’s Conceptual Framework is consistent with the university’s historical roots as a normal college, its mission and its future. The university, since our founding in 1910, has been committed to the exemplary preparation of teachers, counselors, administrators and other school personnel. In accordance with this history and the present vision and mission of the University, the Unit is committed to improving the educational attainment of the citizens of Mississippi, and in turn, the economic development of our state. Therefore, the mission of the unit is five-fold: a) prepare high-quality teachers and leaders for our state; b) conduct innovative, relevant research that informs decision-making in education; c) establish strong relationships with local school districts and the Mississippi Department of Education to improve education in our state; d) promote a healthier populace and e) enhance cultural understanding among our citizens.

The Unit contributes to the mission of the University through all aspects of scholarship that promote a climate for academic success; that enhance the image of the University and its professional education programs; and that foster connections with P-12 partners and external agencies.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the College of Education and Psychology does not constitute admission to a teacher education program or to a non-teaching major program. Program planning and proper advisement must be completed to gain admission to both teacher education programs and non-teaching programs. Regular status in the College of Education and Psychology is maintained by meeting the quality point requirements for hours completed as designated by the general university requirement and evaluated by the Office of Admissions.

Teacher Education Programs and Requirements

The College of Education and Psychology offers programs leading to licensure at the K-6, K-12 or secondary level.

To be admitted to teacher education, students must meet the following requirements:

Completion of a core curriculum of pre-major coursework
A minimum grade point average of 2.75 on the 44 semester-hour core curriculum of pre-major coursework
A grade of “C” or better in freshman English Composition I and II
Good academic standing at Southern Miss (a student on probation, probation continued, or suspension status cannot be admitted to teacher education until the transcript reflects good academic standing)
A clear background check via www.certifiedbackground.com, the system currently selected by the Southern Miss Professional Education Council. Students who pass the background check process will be issued a background check badge.
All candidates must subscribe to the Tk20 assessment system. Tk20 provides an electronic portfolio and storage system for students as well as tracks, stores, retrieves and analyzes data for accreditation purposes.
Successful completion of a nationally normed ability/achievement assessment OR a teacher education normed entrance test:
    1. Nationally Normed Ability/Achievement Assessment:
          An ACT composite score of 21 or higher, with no scale score below 18 (all on the same test date).
2. Teacher Education Normed Test
Acceptable scores on the Core Academic Skills for Educators Test (CORE): Reading Test Code
          5712 with a score of at least 156, Writing Test Code 5722 with a score of at least 162,
          and Mathematics Test Code 5732 with a score of at least 150.

After admission to a professional education program, the following requirements must be met to continue in the program: (1) A grade of C or better in all content courses in the academic major as well as all professional education courses with an overall grade point average of 2.5; (2) fulfillment of major requirements in the subject area; (3) completion of professional education courses required by the major; (4) take Praxis II content and PLT tests and have scores reported to Southern Miss (code #1479) prior to graduation.

A minimum of 30 clock hours of clinical experience is required prior to teacher candidacy (15 hours of observation and 15 hours of practicum). Specific programs may require more practicum hours.

Requirements for professional education programs are subject to modification. For current program information, students should contact the University’s Educator Licensure office, 121-A Owings-McQuagge Hall; 601.266.5522.

Mississippi Department of Education licensure requirements supersede the program requirements listed in the Bulletin. Mandated changes in program requirements will be communicated through the candidate’s department.

College of Education and Psychology Overload Hour Policy

For an undergraduate student to request a course overload, he/she must adhere to the following:

The student must have a 3.25 GPA on all hours at Southern Miss (minimum of 24 hours).
The student must provide a compelling reason for the overload.
The overload request must be approved by both the student’s adviser and chair before it will be considered in the dean’s office.

Services and Centers in the College

Center for Child Development

Hattiesburg CCD
Jeff Leffler, Executive Director
Alice McGowan, Program Manager
118 College Drive, Box 5192
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5294

Gulf Park CCD
Jeff Leffler, Executive Director
Melissa Weaver, Program Manager
205 Levoy Avenue
Pass Christian, MS 39571
228.452.5210

The Department of Child and Family Studies operates two full-day laboratory schools on the Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses. The Hattiesburg campus is located at 3404 Morningside Drive (on the northwest edge of USM’s Hattiesburg campus). The Gulf Coast campus is located at 205 Levoy Avenue in Pass Christian (on the campus of Pass Christian Elementary). The primary purpose of the University of Southern Mississippi Centers for Child Development is to provide high quality educational and care services to children 8 weeks to 5 years old and serve as an academic teaching and research facility for students and faculty across the university.

The Centers are dedicated to providing an environment that enhances the quality of life not only for the children enrolled, but also for their families, the USM community participants, and other observers. Enrollment of children regardless of race, ethnicity or special needs addresses the practice of unconditional acceptance embraced by the Center as it provides loving care for the whole child. The CCD operates on the university calendar, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Application can be made by contacting the CCD at 601.266.5294 (Hattiesburg) or 228.452.5210.

Special Program Requirements

All students in Child and Family Studies must pass a Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) background check that includes a criminal history records clerk (fingerprint), child abuse registry check, and a sex offender registry check.

Educational Field Experiences (EFE)

Anne Sylvest, Director
118 College Drive, Box 5028
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4571/ 601.266.4572

ALL STUDENTS MUST REGISTER FOR TEACHER INTERNSHIP THROUGH EFE.

The Educational Field Experiences (EFE) office has been directed by the Professional Education Council of The University of Southern Mississippi to act as the central clearinghouse for the teacher candidacy and teacher internship (formerly known as student teaching) placements. Although specific requirements vary from department to department, education students are required to complete a minimum of 15 clock hours of observation and 15 clock hours of practicum prior to teacher internship.

Teacher internship serves as the capstone semester of the teacher education program. This semester provides all teacher education students the opportunity to apply best professional practices in diverse experiences in state-accredited K-12 schools or designated international and national sites of diverse placement.

All field experiences are completed in accredited, off-campus host schools designated by EFE directors. Guidance and evaluation are provided by cooperating host school mentors and supervisory faculty members from Southern Miss.

THE TEACHER INTERNSHIP SEMESTER: Registration for the final semester of field work is restricted to 12 semester hours of teacher internship. It is a Southern Miss policy that no other course work be taken during the teacher internship and that all course work be completed before the final semester of field work.

Requirements for Teacher Internship

All teacher interns:

Must have been admitted to the teacher education program and completed the teacher education curriculum.
Must have at least a 2.5 degree program GPA at the time that the teacher internship semester begins.
Must have completed all course work: the core subject, education courses, major and minor areas, concentrations of study, labs and field work. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the dean of the College of Education and Psychology.
Must expect to spend a full semester in off-campus schools designated by the director of Educational Field Experiences. NOTE: Transportation and child care issues are the responsibility of the candidate and should be handled as if the individual has accepted a position with the schools.
Must attend a preliminary instructional meeting provided by EFE prior to registering for internship on Tk20. All internship registration forms are submitted to Educational Field Experiences at the beginning of the semester prior to the teacher internship for timely placement in area schools. Registration deadlines on Tk20 are October 15, for spring internship and February 15, for the following fall semester, respectively.

Curriculum Materials Center

118 College Drive, Box 5053
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.4561

The Curriculum Materials Center, located in Cook Library, contains the principal collection of books and other printed materials, audiovisuals and computer software that directly support the teacher education programs. There is a computer lab with IBM-compatible computers. Textbooks on the state adoption list are available as well as a collection of children’s literature trade books. The Center is open to all currently enrolled students as well as to teachers in the surrounding area.

Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Southern Regional Educational Service Agency

Irene Dearman, Director
60l.266.4559

The Education Service Center (ESC) serves as a cooperative planning and development unit through which the university and other schools can be more effective in serving the educational needs of their constituents. Through the Center’s activities, the resources of the university and local school districts are utilized to identify and coordinate efforts to solve educational problems and to promote general improvement in the quality of education in the state. The Center serves as a field services division for the College of Education and Psychology and strives to promote cooperative interaction between the university and the school districts, stimulate the exchange of ideas and successful educational practices, promote cooperative research, disseminate ideas and information, conduct and sponsor workshops and seminars, and arrange for consultative services to the schools. The Center is the umbrella organization for the Southern Education Consortium (SEC), the Regional Service Center (RSC) and the Mississippi Safe School Center (MSSC).

The Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies

Pola Jakacki, Interim Director
118 College Drive, Box 8207
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5236

Numerous instructional, research and service programs are conducted on a continuing basis in the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies in response to its primary purpose of advancing the field of gifted education as part of the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education. The instructional activities include the Saturday Gifted Studies Program and the following residential programs: Summer Gifted Studies Program, the Summer Program for Academically Talented Youth that is offered in collaboration with Duke University and the Leadership Studies Program. The Center also conducts leadership competitions for youths each year. Other instructional and service activities provided by the Center include the Parenting Gifted Children Conference and two staff development conferences for teachers of the gifted.

Clinics

Department of Child and Family Studies
The University Clinic for Family Therapy (Marriage and Family Therapy)

Pam Rollins, Interim Program Director
Stacie Frey, Clinic Director
118 College Drive, Box 5035
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5475

The Department of Child and Family Studies operates a training clinic that is associated with the Marriage and Family Therapy master’s degree program accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). The University Clinic for Family Therapy provides assistance to individuals, couples and families experiencing a wide range of personal or relationship problems. Services are available to faculty, staff and students of the university as well as to the community at large. Graduate students receiving training in marriage and family therapy provide services under the direct supervision of program faculty. The University Clinic for Family Therapy is committed to a treatment approach in which individual growth and development is best understood and promoted within the context of family and community relationships. Fees for services are based on a sliding scale determined by family size and income level. While clinic operating hours vary slightly by semester, evening appointments are available several days each week. Written inquiries may be sent to the Department of Child and Family Studies, 118 College Drive, #5035, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001.

Department of Psychology

The Department of Psychology operates three training clinics that are associated with APA-accredited doctoral training programs. Each offers treatment, diagnostic and consultation services to university faculty, staff and students and to members of the community at large. Inquiries about specific services or fees should be directed to the respective clinic (see below). Clinics operate on the university calendar and normally are open only when classes are in session. Services are provided by graduate students under the direct supervision of program faculty. Fees may vary slightly but are based on a sliding scale determined by income level and family size. Written inquires for any clinic may be directed to Department of Psychology, 118 College Drive #5025, Hattiesburg, MS 39406- 0001.

Psychology Clinic (Clinical Psychology)

Bradley A. Green, Director
601.266.4588

Services include individual and family therapy for adults, children and adolescents, as well as psychological assessments (including assessments of intelligence, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Disability). Therapy services for adults include treatments for a wide variety of psychological issues, including depression, anxiety and stress. Therapy services for children and adolescents include treatments for attention or behavior problems, social and emotional difficulties, as well as other family and school related problems. Clinic hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. most days, and has extended evening hours two days a week. All services are provided by appointment only. For those interested in services, the first step is to call the clinic to do a brief phone screening.

Community Counseling and Assessment Clinic (Counseling Psychology)

Eric R. Dahlen, Director
601.266.4601
http://www.usm.edu/counseling-psychology-clinic

Services include individual counseling (for adults and adolescents) anger management, parenting, psychological assessment (e.g., diagnostic and personality testing, vocational interest testing, substance use evaluations, adult ADHD, etc.), career counseling, couples and family counseling therapy, and psychoeducational workshops/outreach. Clinic hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. most days, and evening appointments are often available. All services are provided by appointment only.

School Psychology Service Center

Brad Dufrene, Director
601.266.5255

The School Psychology Service Center is housed in the Department of Psychology at The University of Southern Mississippi. The Center serves multiple functions including service to children and families in the region, research, clinical training and external funding generation in the forms of grants and external contracts.

The Center offers assessment and intervention services for children, adolescents and young adults who are experiencing developmental delays or disabilities, learning problems and emotional and/or behavioral difficulties at home and/or school. The Center also offers consultation services to area schools and Head Start agencies. The Center is staffed by faculty and graduate students in the School Psychology program.