College of Education and Human Sciences
Licensure Programs
Page Content
Southern Miss offers initial teacher licensure programs at the traditional undergraduate level and the alternate-route graduate level for those wishing to teach in Mississippi. We also offer advanced licensure programs and programs for other school professionals at the graduate level. We do not guarantee to meet the licensure requirements of other states. Please review the Professional Licensure Disclosure statement below regarding licensure in other states.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
Teacher education programs at The University of Southern Mississippi are designed to meet the professional competency standards for licensure in Mississippi. The University of Southern Mississippi cannot determine whether any program leads to licensure in any state other than Mississippi. It is recommended that students who intend to seek licensure in another state verify that their program of study meets the desired state's licensure requirements. For assistance with out-of-state licensure questions, please refer to the Professional Licensure Disclosures web page.
Students who intend to apply for licensure in Mississippi should refer to the Mississippi Department of Education Office of Educator Licensure for the most current licensure requirements, application procedures, and deadlines.
Below you can find websites and contact information for all our educator preparation programs.
CAEP Initial Teacher Licensure Preparation Programs--Traditional Route by College
School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences
- Biological Sciences (Biology Education) BS
- Grade Levels: 7-12
- Contact for Hattiesburg: Dr.%20Allison%20Downing (allison.downing@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg and Gulf Park
- SPA National Recognition by: National Science Teachers Association (8/1/2025)
- Mississippi Department of Education Approved Program (3/31/2031)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- English (English Education) BA
- Grade Levels: 7-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Rebecca%20Powell (rebecca.a.powell@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg and Gulf Park
- SPA National Recognition with Conditions by: National Council of Teachers of English (8/1/2025)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- History (Social Studies Education) BA
- Grade Levels: 7-12
- Contact for Hattiesburg: Bradley%20Phillis%20 (bradley.phillis@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg and Gulf Park
- SPA National Recognition with Conditions by: National Council for the Social Studies (8/1/2025)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
- Chemistry (Chemistry Education) BS
- Grade Levels: 7-12
- Contact: Megan%20Fortenberry (megan.fortenberry@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg
- SPA National Recognition by: National Science Teachers Association (8/1/2025)
- Mississippi Department of Education Approved Program (3/31/2031)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- Mathematics (Mathematics Education) BS
- Grade Levels: 7-12
- Contact: Marlene%20Naquin (marlene.naquin@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg and Gulf Park
- SPA National Recognition by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (2/1/2027)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- Physics (Physics Education) BS
- Grade Levels: 9-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Chris%20Sirola (christopher.sirola@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg
- SPA National Recognition by: National Science Teachers Association (8/1/2025)
- Mississippi Department of Education Approved Program (3/31/2031)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- Music Education (Choral Licensure) BMEd
- Grade Levels: K-12
- Contact: Stacey%20Miles (stacey.miles@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg
- Accredited by: National Association of Schools of Music (8/1/2025)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- Music Education (Instrumental Licensure) BMEd
- Grade Levels: K-12
- Contact: Stacey%20Miles (stacey.miles@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg
- Accredited by: National Association of Schools of Music (8/1/2025)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
School of Performing and Visual Arts
- Dance (Dance Education) BFA
- Grade Levels: K-12
- Contact: Julie%20Hammond%20(julie.hammond@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg
- Accredited by: National Association of Schools of Dance (8/1/2021)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
School of Social Science and Global Studies
- World Languages (Language Education) BA
- Grade Levels: K-12
- Contact for French: Dr.%20Joanne%20Burnett (joanne.burnett@usm.edu)
- Contact for Spanish: Leah%20Fonder-Solano (leah.fonder-solano@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg
- SPA National Recognition by: American Council on Teaching of Foreign Languages (2/1/2028)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
College of Education and Human Sciences
- Elementary Education (Licensure) BS
- Grade Levels: K-6
- Contact: Dr.%20Gretchen%20Goode (gretchen.goode@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg and Gulf Park
- SPA National Recognition by: Association for Childhood Education International (2/1/2027)
- Mississippi Department of Education Approved with Conditions (1/31/2025)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- Elementary Education (Licensure) BS Teacher Assistant Pathway (TAP)
- Grade Levels: K-6
- Contact: Dr.%20Gretchen%20Goode (gretchen.goode@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Online
- SPA National Recognition by: Association for Childhood Education International (2/1/2027)
- Mississippi Department of Education Approved with Conditions (1/31/2025)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- Special Education (K-12 Licensure) BS
- Grade Levels: K-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Alisa%20Lowrey (alisa.lowrey@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg and Gulf Park
- SPA National Recognition by: Council for Exceptional Children (8/1/2025)
- Mississippi Department of Education Approved with Conditions (1/31/2025)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
School of Kinesiology and Nutrition
- Kinesiology (K-12 Physical Education Licensure) BS
- Grade Levels: K-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Nancy%20Speed (nancy.speed@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg
- SPA National Recognition with Conditions by: Society for Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) (8/1/2025)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
CAEP Initial Teacher Preparation Program--Alternate Route
- Secondary Teacher Education (Alternate Route) MAT
- Grade Levels: 7-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Jay%20Howell (james.b.howell@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Online
- Mississippi Department of Education Approved Program (3/31/2031)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- Secondary Alternate Route Teacher Education Pathway (for highly qualified undergraduate non-licensure students)
- Grade Levels: 7-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Jay%20Howell (james.b.howell@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Online
- Mississippi Department of Education Approved Program (3/31/2031)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- Inclusive Elementary Education MAT
- Grade Levels: K-12
- Contact: Andrea%20Krell (andrea.krell@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Online
- Mississippi Department of Education Approved Program (3/31/2031)
CAEP Advanced Educator Preparation Programs
- Dyslexia Therapy Education MEd
- Grade Levels: K-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Noal%20Cochran (noal.cochran@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Online
- Mississippi Department of Education Approved with Conditions (1/31/2025)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- Special Education MEd
- Grade Levels: K-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Alisa%20Lowrey (alisa.lowrey@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Online
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- Educational Administration and Supervision MEd (Building)
- Grade Levels: K-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Noal%20Cochran (noal.cochran@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Online
- SPA National Recognition by: Educational Leadership Constituent Council (2/1/2028)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- School Counseling MEd
- Grade Levels: K-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Chelsey%20Holden (chelsey.holden@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hybrid - Hattiesburg/Online
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- Education (Educational Administration P-12) EdS (Building or District)
- Grade Levels: P-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Noal%20Cochran (noal.cochran@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Online
- SPA National Recognition by: Educational Leadership Constituent Council (2/1/2028)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- Education (Educational Administration P-12) EdD (Building or District)
- Grade Levels: P-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Noal%20Cochran (noal.cochran@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Online
- SPA National Recognition by: Educational Leadership Constituent Council (2/1/2028)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- Education (Educational Administration P-12) PhD (Building or District)
- Grade Levels: P-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Noal%20Cochran (noal.cochran@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg
- SPA National Recognition by: Educational Leadership Constituent Council (2/1/2028)
- CAEP Accredited through Fall 2026.
- Library and Information Science MLIS
- Grade Levels: K-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Stacy%20Creel (stacy.creel@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Online
- Mississippi Department of Education Approved with Conditions (1/31/2025)
- Accredited by: American Library Association (2/1/2026)
- Psychology (School) PhD
- Grade Levels: K-12
- Contact: Dr.%20Brad%20Dufrene (brad.dufrene@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg
- Mississippi Department of Education Approved with Conditions (1/31/2025)
- Accredited by: American Psychological Association (2/1/2022)
Educator Preparation Programs for School Professionals (Non-CAEP)
-
Educational Curriculum and Instruction (Elementary Education) MEd
- Grade Levels: K-6
- Contact: Dr.%20Stacy%20Reeves (stacy.reeves@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Online
-
- Grade Levels: K-12
- Contact: Stacey%20Miles (stacey.miles@usm.edu)
- Location of Program Offered: Hattiesburg
- Accredited by: National Association of Schools of Music (8/1/2025)
