College of Business and Economic Development

Mission

We create excellence in the use of core business concepts, build knowledge through scholarship, and promote progress in our people and communities.

Our scholarship focuses on intellectual contributions that advance knowledge in our disciplines, applications of theory for organizational problems, and practices that influence teaching excellence.

Vision

We inspire positive change as we cultivate talent and connect with organizations.

Accreditation

Recognizing that the College of Business and Economic Development has fulfilled accreditation requirements, 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

The College of Business and Economic Development Gulf Coast reports to the College of Business and Economic Development dean. Faculty on the Gulf Coast report to a director. Contact the College of Business and Economic Development Gulf Coast office for information.

Student Procedures

Admission

High school and transfer students who have been admitted by the university and who wish to major in an area of business administration are concurrently admitted into the College of Business and Economic Development.

Restrictions

The College of Business and Economic Development 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 Admission to the University .)
Not more than one-half of the College of Business and Economic Development core curriculum plus requirements for the major is accepted in transfer; 50 percent must be completed at The University of Southern Mississippi.
Transfer courses designated as technical training courses, as well as developmental courses such as intermediate algebra, are not accepted as meeting degree requirements. See “Admission to the University ” section regarding vocational and developmental courses.
Credit for life experiences and/or military credits are 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 and Economic Development:

At least junior standing (60 hours completed) is required of all students enrolling in College of Business and Economic Development courses numbered 300 or above, except for MIS 300 and certain tourism management courses.
Students majoring in degree programs outside the College of Business and Economic Development may not take more than 30 credit hours of business courses (including transfer credit) without being admitted to the college.
Students are not normally allowed to be dually enrolled at Southern Miss Gulf Coast and another institution. Students must obtain approval from the College of Business and Economic Development Gulf Coast prior to dual-enrollment. The dual-enrollment policy includes independent study courses as well.
College of Business and Economic Development courses offered through independent study are primarily for non-degree-seeking students.Therefore, College of Business and Economic Development majors are not allowed to take independent study courses to satisfy degree requirements.
For restrictions on using the pass/no pass option, refer to the “General Academic Information ” section of this guide.
Students desiring to transfer additional courses for degree requirements after attending The University of Southern Mississippi are encouraged to obtain prior approval of transfer work from the College of Business and Economic Development.

Changes of Major

Students who wish to transfer to a degree program outside the College of Business and Economic Development 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

All students in the College of Business and Economic Development must be advised. An early advisement and registration period is scheduled near the middle of each semester. Students with a probationary status must see an advisor to be cleared for registration.

Probation and Suspension

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

Students who are suspended may not enroll until after the next regular semester. Anyone who earns college credit elsewhere while on academic suspension from the College of Business and Economic Development may not apply these credits toward graduation requirements in CBE. All questions regarding suspension appeals in the College of Business and Economic Development should be directed to the assistant to the dean for the College of Business and Economic Development Gulf Coast. After one semester, suspended students may submit an application for reinstatement to the CBEGC Academic Standards Committee. The Academic Standards Committee reviews the 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 a 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 regular semesters.

College Deadlines

Students must demonstrate extenuating circumstances in order to waive the deadlines as stated in the university calendar. University withdrawals from the College of Business and Economic Development 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.

Students should be aware of the following degree requirements:

At least 50 percent of hours applied to a degree must be taken at a four-year institution a senior college.
Special restrictions apply to correspondence and extension credits, credit by examination, challenge examinations and special problem courses. Students interested in these possibilities must obtain prior approval from the assistant to the dean, CBE Gulf Coast, to assure that credits are applicable toward a College of Business and Economic Development degree.
To receive a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration or a Bachelor of Science/Arts degree from the College of Business and Economic Development, students must complete the last 25 percent of coursework from The University of Southern Mississippi. Independent study courses may not be taken during the last 25 percent of coursework.
Of all required business coursework taken, at least 50 percent must be completed at The University of Southern Mississippi.
In addition to meeting all coursework requirements, students must have a 2.0 grade point average overall in the College of Business and Economic Development core and in the major. Transfer students must also meet the foregoing grade point average requirements for all courses taken at USM and must also have a 2.0 average for all attempted college coursework.

Double majors within the College of Business and Economic Development 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, CBE Gulf Coast.

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

Students who wish to complete a second baccalaureate degree in the CBE must have a program of study approved by the assistant to the dean, CBE Gulf Coast. Students must meet admission requirements as stated under CBE admissions and complete a minimum of 30 hours in order to receive a second baccalaureate degree.

Placement

The Office of Career Services assists all students in locating employment following graduation. CBE 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.

Student Organizations

There are professional and honorary societies for business students interested in sharing common interests or who have achieved high academic standing. These societies include: Beta Alpha Psi, national scholastic and professional accounting fraternity; Beta Gamma Sigma, national scholastic honorary society for business students; and the American Marketing Association and the Accounting Society.

Financial Assistance

There are several scholarships designated for CBE students. Information concerning scholarships and other forms of financial aid may be obtained from the USM Gulf Coast Office of Financial Aid. The CBE Scholarship Committee has information on business scholarships.

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 The University of Southern Mississippi is based on several factors, including the undergraduate grade point average and the score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Records Examination (GRE).

Study Abroad in Business Administration

The College of Business and Economic Development 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 , (2) ANT 221 /GHY 341 or foreign language requirement, (3) up to three hours in the student’s major and (4) directed elective. These study abroad 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 by the assistant to the dean, CBE Gulf Coast, prior to enrolling in these credits to ensure graduation requirements are satisfied.

Academic Offerings 2018-2019

The following majors may be completed on the Gulf Coast.

Accounting

The School of Accountancy offers an undergraduate program in accounting designed to prepare students for a variety of entry-level positions in public accounting, industry, and government. The program is intended to prepare students for professional careers in which depth and breadth of business and accounting knowledge are required.

A grade of “C” or better in all accounting courses is required for graduation.

Management

Business Administration: General Business

The general business emphasis is a broad degree preparing students for careers in a wide range of business settings. This emphasis is appropriate for students who wish to obtain a business degree but who do not wish to specialize in a specific area of emphasis. The general business emphasis also allows students the most flexibility to custom design their program of study. The degree is also offered online.

Management: Business Administration Management

The programs of study in management have three objectives: 1) to provide students with concepts, knowledge, and skills required in the effective management of profit-making enterprises, government institutions, and nonprofit service organizations; 2) to prepare the student for employment that will lead to positions of managerial responsibility; and 3) to make education in general management available to students pursuing technical, educational, and professional careers.

Careers in management are available in industry, government, service organizations, and teaching. The students’ education and training will, when coupled with additional maturity and experience, serve to further their careers in more responsible management positions such as production or plant manager, labor relations director, or personnel administrator.

Marketing

Marketing is a major concern of all businesses and a growing number of nonprofit organizations. The goals of the marketing program are to (1) prepare students for entry-level positions in marketing; (2) provide the background necessary to advance to higher-level marketing management positions; and (3) develop executive skills that are critical for success in all business occupations. It is necessary, therefore, that the student cultivate the abilities to (1) think creatively; (2) solve problems; (3) communicate orally and in writing and (4) understand interpersonal relations.

Since providing value is a critical success factor in the global economy, marketing majors are positioned to add value to the firms for which they work. Some of the career options presented by these opportunities include advertising, sales, retailing, purchasing, marketing research, public relations, product management, logistics, services marketing and nonprofit marketing. Graduates have particular success in locating jobs in pharmaceutical, medical supplies and equipment, consumer products, and professional services industries. Since more than half of all American workers are employed in marketing-related fields, the marketing major can target numerous career choices in the commercial/industrial institutional and government sectors. In addition, a marketing degree is excellent preparation for entrepreneurship and small business management.

Tourism: Casino and Resort Management

The overall goal of the tourism management program is to prepare students to meet the demands for entry-level management while at the same time laying a solid foundation for executive management in all aspects of the tourism industry. The program has been designed to provide students first with a broad-based educational core that focuses on the development of communication and critical thinking skills. These core skills are followed by the acquisition of a strong business foundation, which is a prerequisite to managing any business. The third focus is on how these business skills are integrated and applied within different segments of the tourism industry.

For additional College of Business and Economic Development school and academic information, please refer to the College of Business and Economic Development section in the University Bulletin.

College of Business and Economic Development majors offered on the Hattiesburg campus may be partially completed on the Gulf Park campus.

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