Master of Science in Public Relations
The University of Southern Mississippi offers graduate curricula in mass communication through the School of Mass Communication and Journalism at both the Hattiesburg and Gulf Park Campuses. Full-time faculty are available to students on both campuses. The Master of Science in Public Relations Degree at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast is created for individuals who want to excel and be successful in communication, advertising, public relations, sales, news, publications, or marketing. The flexible curriculum is designed for working individuals to provide both a theoretical and a practical/applicable in-depth education.
The Curriculum
Master of Science Major: Public Relations
All students pursuing a major in public relations must complete the following
requirements:
Hours
Substantive Core
MC 608, MC 620, MC 621, MC 626.............................................12
Research Methods
MC 720.......................................................................................3
MCJ 526 ....................................................................................3
Thesis, major project, or internship*............................................3-6
Mass Communication Electives**................................................6-9
*Students seeking the master of science degree with a major in public
relations may choose between a thesis and a nonthesis option. Six hours
credit is given for a thesis and three hours for a major project or internship.
**Students who did not have undergraduate public relations courses must
take MCJ 521, 522, and 526.
A minimum of thirty (30) semester hours must be completed, including
thesis, major project, or internship. At least eighteen (18) of these hours
must be numbered 600 or above. All candidates for the master of science
degree with a major in public relations must pass comprehensive written
examinations, and either submit and defend a scholarly thesis, or complete
a major project, or serve an approved internship. A 3.0 GPA is required
for graduation.
Candidates with undergraduate deficiencies must take undergraduate courses
to correct the deficiency without receiving graduate credit for the additional
coursework. Candidates with few undergraduate deficiencies may be permitted
by their academic committees to complete a graduate minor pertinent to their
area of specialized practice, e.g., social work, public administration,
business administration, and criminal justice.
The Faculty
Dana L. Coleman
Assistant Professor of Public Relations
Dana Coleman is the major professor of instruction for the M.S. degree
in Public Relations at the USM Gulf Park campus. Mrs. Coleman is A.B.D.
and will confirm her Ph. D. in public relations in May 2008. She has a bachelor’s
degree in communication from Nicholls State University and master’s
degree in business administration from William Carey University. Mrs. Coleman
has more than 16 years experience in public relations in various industries
including agency, radio, print media, health care, retail, independent consultation
and the utility industry. She has served as president of the Pine Belt Chapter
of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM), president of
the state PRAM, and in a public relations professional capacity for numerous
community and charitable organizations. Mrs. Coleman has taught mass communications
for the previous four years and is dedicated to providing both a theoretical
and practical education to those students who wish to be successful in the
field of public relations.
Biographies of other faculty who may teach on the Coast may be found here.
Course Schedule, 2007-2010
Semester |
Course |
Course |
Course |
Course |
Course |
Fall 07 |
MC620 |
MC720 |
MC629 |
MC691 |
|
Spring 08 |
MC607 |
MC422/522 |
MC629 |
MC526 |
MC791 |
Summer 08 |
MC421/521 |
MC771 |
|||
Fall 08 |
MC621 |
MC608 |
MC626 |
MC629 |
MC691 |
Spring 09 |
MC620 |
MC720 |
MC629 |
MC691 |
|
Summer 09 |
MC607 |
MC elective |
MC629 |
||
Fall 09 |
MC422/522 |
MC629 |
MC526 |
MC elective |
MC791 |
Spring 10 |
MC421/521 |
MC771 |
MC626 |
MC629 |
MC691 |
Summer 10 |
MC621 |
MC608 |
Plan of Study. Students must submit their signed, official Plan of Study Form to the Graduate Studies Office by the end of the first semester they are enrolled. The Plan of Study Forms are available at www.edu/graduatestudies - click on "Current Students" and then the "Plans of Study" link.
Continuous Enrollment Requirement. Students are expected to enroll continuously after they have taken required coursework until they complete their degree following guidelines published under the General Degree Requirements section of this Graduate Bulletin.
For Mass Communication and Journalism course descriptions, click here.