Department of Coastal Sciences

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Jeffrey M. Lotz, Chair
703 East Beach Dr.
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
228.872.4201

More than 20 upper-level, undergraduate courses in coastal sciences (COA) are offered at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, mainly during the summer. The Department of Coastal Sciences offers specialized courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels focused on research in the areas of marine biology, oceanography, marine mammals, elasmobranch biology, remote sensing/GIS, coastal zones applications, aquaculture, coastal and marine fisheries, coastal geology, invertebrate zoology and biology, coastal ecology, parasitology, estuarine chemistry, toxicology, botany, applied molecular techniques, science education, and biodiversity and systematics. The Department of Coastal Sciences cooperates with the Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Geology, Marine Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, and Science and Mathematics Education to provide students with state-of-the-art research and educational opportunities.

Undergraduates interested in preparing for graduate study in coastal sciences should pursue a bachelor’s degree program in their department of choice, developing a strong background in biology, chemistry, geology, physics and mathematics through calculus. Students interested in the marine biology degree in the Department of Biological Sciences  should review that section of this Bulletin.

Summer Field Program at GCRL

Chris Snyder, Sam Clardy, Coordinators
Department of Coastal Sciences
703 East Beach Dr.
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
228.818.8890

The Department of Coastal Sciences offers a selection of accelerated, field-oriented undergraduate and graduate courses during the summer at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) campus. For summer courses, see this Bulletin. Where appropriate, courses are also cross-listed by biological sciences, chemistry and biochemistry, geology, marine sciences and science education. Summer courses are available for undergraduate or graduate credit. Graduate students may also conduct thesis, dissertation and directed research at GCRL.

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL), located in Ocean Springs, has offered summer courses in the marine sciences since 1947. GCRL is a campus of 50 acres that is home to the Department of Coastal Sciences, the Center for Fisheries Research and Development, the Gulf Coast Geospatial Center and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. Nearly 200 faculty, technical and support personnel, and students work on this campus.

Admission to the Summer Field Program

Due to space limitations for the field-oriented courses, students need to apply early and directly to the GCRL for admission to the accelerated summer courses. Contact the Summer Field Program coordinator, Department of Coastal Sciences, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 703 East Beach Dr., Ocean Springs, Miss. 39564, for application materials. The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory is affiliated with 65 colleges and universities whose students participate in the summer academic program. An application and information about the Summer Field Program is available on the Web at www.usm.edu/gcrl/.

Course Loads

The Summer Field Program courses are offered during two, four-week terms. Because courses are taught at an accelerated pace (i.e., an entire semester of lecture and laboratory is taught in four weeks), a student is allowed to enroll in only one course each term. Students are able to earn up to 12 semester hours credit during the summer. Classes meet each weekday with particular times scheduled for field trips, classroom instruction and laboratory work.

Housing

Limited summer housing is available on the GCRL campus in an air-conditioned dormitory that was fully remodeled in 2000. During the summer sessions, the dining hall serves meals daily to dormitory residents.

Fees

Lab Fee: $60 per course
Field fees: $100.00-$400.00 (see course description for Field Fee)
Books, supplies, etc.: $75.00-$200.00 (approximate depending on course)

Fees are subject to change without prior notice.

Students pay fees directly to the GCRL. Students with loans arranged through Southern Miss should notify the GCRL Office of Student Services at the time of application for admission to the GCRL program. Laboratory courses will incur a per-credit-hour fee.

Calendar

Undergraduate Research

The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory provides opportunities for Southern Miss undergraduate students to conduct research at the laboratory through the Summer Field Program. This individualized study consists of special topics and special problems courses that allow students to study in subject areas for which there are no formal course offerings. These courses are tailored to provide advanced students the opportunity to participate in field, laboratory or library research with qualified faculty and staff members. Departmental approval must be obtained before a student can enter this program. For further information, contact the Summer Field Program office, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, 703 East Beach Dr., Ocean Springs, Miss. 39564; 228.818.8890.

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