Office of Interdisciplinary Studies

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Interdisciplinary Centers and Programs

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

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

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, profuctive 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.

Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS)

Dr. Jeanne Gillespie, Associate Dean and Director
118 College Drive, Box 5004
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5087

Anderson, Blackwell, Gillespie, Harper

The program in interdisciplinary studies houses the university’s undeclared majors program for exploratory students, the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, and various interdisciplinary minors.

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) undergraduate program allows students to create interdisciplinary specialties in preparation for careers in a world where complex issues demand multi-faceted knowledge and skills. With the help of an interdisciplinary studies faculty adviser, students will select courses from two or more disciplines and focus their program on the basis of a unifying issue, theme or topic as an area of concentration. Students work with faculty from each selected discipline to design a program meeting their diverse educational and career goals.

Acceptance into the BIS program is determined by the following criteria:

• the student’s selection of a concentration area that does not reflect any existing major, linking clusters of courses and faculty where no structure or formal program exists; or,
• the student’s selection of a concentration area that integrates knowledge and skills from at least two fields and disciplines resulting in an individualized program that is historical, regional, thematic or problem-based; or,
• the student’s selection of a concentration that is supported and approved by an BIS faculty adviser and associated program faculty. BIS students are required to cultivate relationships with assigned or designated faculty, taking initial responsibility in developing their individualized programs.

Interdisciplinary studies students will develop individualized, coherent, intellectually challenging, cross-disciplinary academic plans, utilizing courses selected from departments at The University of Southern Mississippi. Students pursuing an undergraduate BIS degree are required to complete a minimum total of 120 hours, including the University General Education Curriculum; a 45-hour major, including the interdisciplinary studies core (IDS 301 , IDS 401  and IDS 402 ) and two (or three) disciplines (of 12 to 18 hours each); and general electives. In addition to combining courses from two or more departments, students may choose to pursue two or more interdisciplinary minors. If this track is chosen, the student is not allowed to use courses toward more than one discipline.

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

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

Dr. Ray Harris
Department of English
118 College Drive, Box 5004
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.6891

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.

Programs

• Interdisciplinary Studies, B.I.S.

• Women’s and Gender Studies Minor

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