| | |
Freeing the Power of the Individual
Student with microscope

About the College of Science & Technology - Gulf Coast

Our Science and Technology degrees give students the ideal background for today’s careers and skills with direct application to industry, government, or military positions.

Contact our office via:

Southern Miss P.O. Box 5128
Mailing Address 730 East Beach Blvd.
Long Beach MS 39560
Telephone 228.865.4507
Fax 228.214.3241
E-mail Bethany.Biruk@usm.edu

The Science and Technology undergraduate degrees currently available on the Gulf Coast are:

Teacher licensure at the secondary level is offered in Biological Sciences (Biological Sciences Licensure Emphasis) and Mathematics (Mathematics Licensure Emphasis).

Undergraduate minors in Science and Technology currently available on the Gulf Coast are:
• Administration of Justice: a minimum of 18 hours in AJ, including AJ 200. Only 3 hours of AJ 492 and/or 3 hours of AJ 480 may be used for credit toward the minor. Hours earned in the AJ practicum may not count toward the minor. Click here for a PDF syllabus for AJ 475.
• Biological Sciences: requires a minimum of 18 hours in BSC, including at least 7 hours numbered above 300 to be taken at The University of Southern Mississippi
• Chemistry: requires 21 hours of Chemistry with a grade of "C" or higher in each course. CHE 100, CHE 104, CHE 104L, CHE 251, CHE 251L, will not count toward the 21 hours required for the minor.
• Computer Science (Applied): requires CSC 101, CSC 101L, CSC 102, CSC 307, and nine (9) hours from among the following set of courses: CSC 203, 204, 300, 305, 306, 309, 317, 320, 408, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 414L, 415, 420, 421, 422, CS 424, 425, 426, 435, 485, 486, CSS240, 331, 342, 343, 360, 405, 415, 416, 417, 418, 431, 442, 444.
• Environmental Sciences: 18 hours of approved courses to include ESC 301. Courses used to meet requirements in the core, the major, or in another minor may not count toward the minor. Please consult the current Southern Miss Bulletin for an updated list of acceptable courses.
• Forensic Sciences: FSC 310/L and 14 further hours of FSC
• Geography: a minimum of eighteen (18) hours including GHY 101 or GHY 102. Six (6) hours should be taken from two of the following three groups of courses -- regional (400 - 409), techniques (410 - 417), or topical (remaining courses numbered 300 and above). The remaining nine (9) hours can be chosen from courses numbered 500 and above.
• Industrial Engineering Technology: Please note that minor requirements may not be satisfied by transfer of courses from institutions that are not accredited by TAC of ABET.
• Marine Science: The Bachelor of Science in Marine Science offered on the Mississippi Gulf Coast will educate students in the multidisciplinary field of marine science and provide a basic understanding of the underlying principles and processes of the ocean. The program will also prepare students for the post-graduate studies in biological, chemical, geological, and physical oceanography at The University of Southern Mississippi or other institutions of higher learning. The program is based on required and elective courses that are broadly applicable across the discipline of marine science. The program is designed to meet the marine science and oceanography coastal observing community and the growing educational needs of the United States Navy.
• Mathematics: a minimum of 18 hours of MAT courses to include at least 6 hours taken at The University of Southern Mississippi drawn from the list of acceptable courses in the major (See SMART degree plan) Students seeking the minor in Mathematics are encouraged to consult with Math faculty when selecting courses.


College of Science and Technology Master's Degrees
• Administration of Justice
• Coastal Sciences
• Computer Science (Applied)
• (Economic Development Executive Format)
• Engineering Technology
• Geography
• Hydrographic Science
• Marine Science
• Workforce Training & Development (Executive Format)

Master of Science in Administration of Justice: The Master of Science in Administration of Justice consists pf a minimum of 39 hours of administration of justice course work. Two courses in research are required of all students. A minimum of 18 semester hours must be in courses numbered 600 or above. Master's students are required to take the following Administration of Justice courses: 520, 526, 530, 533, 540, 550, 560, 625, and PS 571.

Master of Science in Coastal Sciences: The Department of Coastal Sciences offers a Master of Science in Coastal Sciences with specialization in a wide range of subdisciplines including aquaculture, coastal ecology, biodiversity and systematics, coastal geology, environmental chemistry, estuarine and marine botany, fisheries ecology, geochemistry, parasites and diseases, and toxicology. A minimum of 30 graduate hours is required for this degree.

Master of Science in Computer Science: For the M.S. in Computer Science, a minimum of 36 hours of graduate work is required. Of these hours, at least 18 must be in computer science courses numbered 600 or above. As part of the 36 hours, a student may choose either a thesis (6 hours) or a project (3 hours) option for his or her degree program. The master's program emphasizes applied computer science but it designed to provide a fundamental understanding of theoretical and applied computer science that will allow the student to begin exploring special topics and state-of-the-art subjects.

Master of Science in Engineering Technology: The degree can be obtained through research thesis, significant project, or coursework options. Electronics and computer systems courses focus upon the introduction and implementation of state-of-the-art technology. Students are encouraged to develop degree plans that include technical electives in management, computer science, mathematics, environmental science, and related academic disciplines to prepare themselves for leadership roles in high technology industries.

Master of Science in Geography: The Master's program consists of 36 credit hours. A minimum of 18 hours must be taken at the 600-level or above. Students work closely with a graduate advisor in developing and completing an individual, original research project. Fieldwork, historical research skills, foreign language skills, laboratory research skills, and computer techniques provide students with essential tools for the research process. All of these serve research and teaching needs for both scientific and humanistic approaches to geographical work. Graduate classes in geography are held at Stennis Space Center and the Hattiesburg campus at this time.

Master of Science in Hydrographic Science: The M.S. in Hydrographic Science is a nonthesis degree program. A total of 36 semester hours of graduate level courses (18 hours of 600 level or higher) with a minimum GPA of 3.0 must be completed to fulfill the Master of Science in Hydrographic Science degree requirements. Students must also take a comprehensive examination.

Master of Science in Marine Science: Graduate level education and research programs are offered in four emphasis areas of marine science (biological, chemical, geological and physical). These areas include numerical ocean modeling, remote sensing, bathymetry and mapping, positioning, acoustics, and hydrographic surveying.

Master of Science in Workforce Training and Development: The College of Science and Technology offers a program leading to the Master of Science in Workforce Training and Development. The program emphasizes both the research and theory framework as well as the practical application of workforce learning and performance. The goal of the Workforce Training and Development master's program is to prepare students to improve human performance, balance individual and organizational needs, build knowledge capital within the organization, and determine the return on investment of training programs.

College of Science and Technology Doctoral Degrees

Doctor of Philosophy in Coastal Sciences: The Department of Coastal Sciences offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Coastal Sciences with specialization in a wide range of subdisciplines including aquaculture, coastal ecology, biodiversity, and systematics, coastal geology, environmental chemistry, estuarine and marine botany, fisheries ecology, geochemistry, poarasites and diseases and toxicology. The Ph.D. program emphasizes excellence in research. Knowledge deficiencies will be corrected through enrollment in elective courses as determined by the student's five-member graduate committee.

Doctor of Philosophy in Human Capital Development (Executive Format): This Southern Miss program is designed to expand instructional opportunities beyond the traditional boundaries of on-campus class delivery. Students experience an executive format program to maximize interaction and learning not only during in-person, weekend-class sessions, but also between sessions via online communication among students and professors. This program includes intensive courses, online courses, project-based courses and courses that combine electronic and weekend campus-based delivery on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Science: The Department of Marine Science offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Marine Science with specialization in a wide range of marine science fields, including biological, geological, and physical oceanography, and marine chemistry. Other areas of specialization include numerical ocean modeling, and hydrographic science. The Ph.D. program emphasizes excellence in research. The Ph.D. in marine science requires 84 graduate hours beyond the bachelor's degree or 54 graduate hours beyond the master's degree.