Mission
The mission of the College of Health is to create, apply and transmit expert knowledge, within and across the domains of its constituent disciplines, for the well-being and betterment of individuals, community, state, nation and world.
Vision
Advancing health and well-being through excellence and innovation in teaching, research and service.
Administrative Units
The administrative units of the College of Health on the Gulf Coast campus include the School of Social Work, the School of Nursing, the Department of Community Health Sciences and the School of Human Performance and Recreation.
School of Social Work
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is a 124-hour program. The degree prepares students for generalist social work practice at the entry level within the social work profession. The BSW is offered at both the Hattiesburg and the Gulf Park campuses.
BSW students, while acquiring the knowledge, values and skills needed to practice social work in any social service agency, are prepared to practice within the context of Mississippi, a state characterized by limited social welfare safety nets and scarce public resources. BSW students are prepared to improve the interactions between individuals (especially those who are members of vulnerable populations) and their social environments as well as to advocate for social changes that would remove institutional barriers that prevent individuals from full social participation.
The Southern Miss School of Social Work’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The program has been accredited continuously since February 1996, retroactive to 1992.
Offerings for Nonmajors
A number of courses offered within the School of Social Work do not have prerequisites and are excellent choices for non-social work majors. For social work majors, these same courses are prerequisites to the BSW program.
(includes a service-learning component)
Overview of Major
The social work curriculum builds upon a liberal arts foundation through which students develop core competencies. Students are required to have a solid background in the social and behavioral sciences, including theories of individual development, group processes and organizational behavior. The BSW program teaches students the knowledge, values and skills necessary for effectively working with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
Students begin the BSW program by taking nine hours of prerequisite course work (SWK 301 , SWK 300 , SWK 315 ). During the pre-social work semesters, students apply to the BSW program. Subsequent to an admission process, a cohort of students is selected from the applicant pool. A new cohort of social work students begins the BSW program each fall and spring semester in Hattiesburg. A new cohort begins the BSW program at the Gulf Park campus every fall semester. Once students are accepted into the BSW program, they must complete three semesters of course work followed by a senior field practicum capstone course requiring a minimum of 450 hours of supervised practice within an approved human service agency. Each student intern is supervised by a licensed master’s-level social worker.
Career Opportunities
Once graduates of the BSW program pass the state-mandated licensure exam, they are recruited by human service organizations within the region and across the state. Although the following is not an exhaustive list, alumni are employed in hospitals and mental health centers, schools, children and family services, addictions programs, youth courts and correctional facilities. Many BSW alumni also pursue the Master of Social Work degree at Southern Miss or other graduate programs. BSW graduates may be eligible for admission to Southern Miss’ Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program.
Field Experiences and Practicums
Bachelor of Science in Social Work students are required to complete one 40-hour volunteer service-learning experience as part of the SWK 301 course (Introduction to Social Work). The volunteer service experience must be approved by the instructor of the course and must have a licensed social worker as a supervisor.
The final integrative senior practicum requires students to work 450 hours (only in the fall or spring semesters) in a human service agency approved by the field coordinator of the school. Students work under the supervision of a licensed master’s-level social worker, applying the generalist problem-solving method to their work with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Students also attend a weekly three-hour seminar that requires them to demonstrate, through written and oral presentations, the mastery of content related to their social work practice.
Special Program Requirements
A limited number of students are accepted into the program each semester. The following admission standards must be met by all applicants to the BSW program.
- Complete all but 6-9 hours of the School of Social Work’s core and the university’s core General Education Curriculum requirements
- Earn grades of C or above in all university core-required courses (including transfer courses) used to meet the social work degree requirements
- Maintain an overall GPA and Southern Miss GPA of 2.5 or above
- Complete successfully the 40 hours of volunteer experience (a requirement of SWK 301 )
- Participate in an interview with the BSW program’s Admission Committee
The following progression policies apply for all students accepted into the BSW program.
- Maintain an overall GPA and Southern Miss GPA of at least 2.5 (The minimum GPA is required for acceptance into the senior practicum.)
- Earn grades of at least C or higher in the BSW program
- Adhere to the standards of conduct specified in the Social Work Code of Ethics.
- Complete the senior practicum (450 clock hours) in an agency setting designated by the school’s field coordinator.
School of Human Performance and Recreation
The School of Human Performance and Recreation (HPR) prepares professionals concerned with the improvement of the quality of life of individuals by addressing issues related to wellness, exercise, sport and leisure. The Gulf Coast campus offers Sport Coaching Education. In addition, coursework available at the Gulf Coast campus may transfer to additional HPR degree programs and emphases available at the Hattiesburg campus: Athletic Training, Exercise Science, K-12 Physical Education (Licensure), Kinesiotherapy, Recreation Administration and Therapeutic Recreation. Further program descriptions and requirements may be found beginning in School of Human Performance and Recreation of this bulletin.
Sport Coaching Education
The Bachelor of Science degree program in Sport Coaching Education offers professional preparation to those who aspire to coach in public and private schools (K-12), colleges and universities, and professional sports organizations. All students are required to complete six hours of HPR 419 - Practicum in Coaching Education that provides hands-on professional field experience.
Special Program Requirements
Students who wish to coach and teach in a Mississippi public school must possess a Mississippi teaching license. Therefore, all SCE students must choose ONE of the following options:
- Declare and complete a second major in a teacher education program. Students interested in completing a standard licensure program should consult the College of Education and Psychology for programs and licensure requirements.
- In preparation for alternate route certification, complete a minor in a PRAXIS II specialty subject area. Students interested in alternate route certification should contact the Mississippi Department of Education for current licensure requirements.
- Pursue a dual degree in K-12 Physical Education Licensure and Sport Coaching Education. Students interested in pursuing the dual degree program should consult the K-12 Physical Education Licensure program requirements in this narrative.
- A minimum grade of C in all major core requirements.
- A minimum grade of C in BSC 250 and BSC 250L .
- Student must take ENG 333 prior to ENG 474 and make a minimum grade of C in each course.
Requirements for a Minor in Sport Coaching Education
All students pursuing a minor in sport coaching education must complete a minimum of 19 hours in SCE-related HPR courses. The following courses are required: HPR 109 , HPR 204 , HPR 370 , HPR 409 , HPR 419 (two hrs.), HPR 470 and one coaching methodology (adviser directed).
Department of Community Health Sciences
Overview of Majors
Students majoring in community health sciences with an emphasis in health promotion will complete courses pertaining to personal wellness, contemporary health issues, community program planning and evaluation, health policy and administration, and social and behavioral psychology.
Students majoring in allied health with an emphasis in management must have graduated from an accredited two-year allied health program with an associate degree and be eligible to sit for a national certification examination in the specific discipline area for the associate degree level allied health professional.
Career Opportunities
Students with a degree in community health sciences work in a variety of health-related settings, including hospitals, health clinics, health departments, nursing homes, assisted living communities, and non-profit and community outreach organizations. The allied health degree enhances the skills and employment options for graduates of community college allied health programs such as respiratory care, radiology technology, dental hygiene, etc., preparing students for management positions in a wide variety of health care settings.
Field Experience/Practicum
Community health sciences students are required to complete a 200-hour practicum at an approved health-related facility. In the practicum, students will observe and participate in daily activities under the direction of a facility preceptor. Students in the allied health program must complete a special problems course under the supervision of an administrator in a health care facility.
Special Program Requirements
The following are requirements for a degree in community health sciences or allied health:
Cumulative GPA of 2.5 to be admitted into the program
Cumulative GPA of 2.5 before taking any CHS course above 300 (except CHS 430 and CHS 436 )
Grade of C or better in all program curriculum courses
Though a student may be admitted to the program based on a cumulative GPA earned at a previous institution (i.e., junior college), once admitted the student must obtain and maintain a Southern Miss cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better to remain in good standing within the program. Students with a Southern Miss cumulative GPA of less than 2.5 will be placed on program probation and will not be allowed to enroll in CHS courses 300 level and above until the cumulative Southern Miss GPA is once again 2.5 or above
Requirements for a Minor in Community Health Sciences
Community Health Sciences offers two minors:
Community Health Sciences - Students must complete a minimum of 18 hours including CHS 101 , CHS 210 and CHS 321 .
Health Policy and Administration - Students must complete CHS 321 , CHS 412 , CHS 420 , CHS 425 , CHS 427 and CHS 460 .
Offerings for Nonmajors
A number of courses offered within the Department of Community Health Sciences do not have prerequisites and are excellent choices for electives.
Contact
Danielle Robinson-Fastring, M.S., M.P.H., Ph.D.
Undergraduate Coordinator and Visiting Assistant Professor
College of Health
The University of Southern Mississippi
730 East Beach Blvd.
Long Beach, MS 39560
Tel: 228.214.3313 Fax: 228.214.3272
Danielle.Robinson@usm.edu
www.usm.edu/gc/health
Degree Plans and Semester-by-Semester Guides
Department of Community Health Sciences
School of Human Performance and Recreation
School of Social Work
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