The
Student Oceanographic
Society (SOS) provides marine science students
with a forum for their views as well as the
companionship of individuals with common interests
and mutual goals.
The Department of Marine Science's (DMS) location
at the Stennis Space Center (SSC) provides more
than just an intellectual advantage. SSC's 139,000
acres is centered around the scenic Pearl River
in a rural forested area rife with wildlife.
The natural beauty of the area provides opportunities
for nature hikes, boating, and fishing. SSC
also houses a fitness club that everyone can
join at a low cost. The SSC Recreational
Association sponsors many recreational events
such as springtime softball teams, a Mardi Gras
krewe, a gun and archery club, a riding club
complete with bridle paths, and a wildlife conservation
club.
Although SSC is located over 75 miles from The
University of Southern Mississippi's main campus
in Hattiesburg, DMS is an integral part on the
University. In this respect, students at DMS
enjoy all the rights and privileges accorded
to their counterparts on the main campus. This
includes the use of libraries and computer centers,
low-price admission to sporting and theater
events, and other such common student services.
Cost of Study
Most
marine science graduate students are supported
on teaching or research assistantships and must
be enrolled for 9 to 13 hours to be considered
full-time students; assistantships include a
full tuition waiver. Students not on an
assistantship pay a tuition of $2,156* per semester
(for 2005-2006). Non-resident full-time
students pay an additional out-of-state tuition
fee of $2,715* per semester; the non-resident
fee is also waived for students on an assistantship.
*The University must reserve the right to
increase or modify expenses without prior notice,
but with approval of the Board of Trustees of
State Institutions of Higher Learning.
Cost of Living
The
cost of living on the Gulf Coast is average
for the southeast and considerably lower than
the national average. A student sharing an apartment
or small house should find that $5,500 to $6,500
a year will be adequate for basic needs. For
example, in the Long Beach, Mississippi area,
a modern, two-bedroom, air-conditioned, unfurnished
apartment with a fully-equipped kitchen can
be found for approximately $550 to $650 a month.
No housing is available at SSC and it is highly
recommended that each student have a car as
the nearest towns to SSC are twenty miles away.
The Department of Marine Science's (DMS) location
at the Stennis Space Center (SSC) provides more
than just an intellectual advantage. SSC's 139,000
acres is centered around the scenic Pearl River
in a rural forested area rife with wildlife.
The natural beauty of the area provides opportunities
for nature hikes, boating, and fishing. SSC
also houses a fitness club that everyone can
join at a low cost. The SSC Recreational
Association sponsors many recreational events
such as springtime softball teams, a Mardi Gras
krewe, a gun and archery club, a riding club
complete with bridle paths, and a wildlife conservation
club.