The School of Ocean and Earth Sciences (SOES) comprises the Departments of Coastal Sciences (Ocean Springs), Geography and Geology (Hattiesburg), and Marine Science (Stennis Space Center). In addition, the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (Ocean Springs) is included in the SOES.  The SOES was established in order to improve education, enhance research growth, and increase national and international recognition in ocean and earth sciences at The University of Southern Mississippi.  The units comprising the SOES are currently engaged in complementary missions and providing an organizational umbrella for these activities will better serve their existing needs and will open up new opportunities for accomplishment.  Educational opportunities will be improved by connecting curricular paths between the undergraduate and M.S. degree programs in Geography and Geology with the Ph. D. programs in Coastal Sciences, Geology, and Marine Science.  Similarly, faculty research productivity will be enhanced through collaborative research on projects that require diverse and interdisciplinary expertise.  On national and international levels, the School will earn enhanced recognition for its joint accomplishments, including extramural funding generated, students graduated, and scholarly accomplishments.