About

The Economic Outlook Forum is an annual event where experts in areas of banking, finance, and academia discuss economic trends and forecasts for the upcoming year. Sponsored by The First, A National Banking Association. Find out more and register here!

Each year, the College of Business and Economic Development recognizes an outstanding Boardman Alumni of the Year and Young Alumni of the Year for their professional achievements. This event is supported by the endowment of the late Joe Boardman Jr. Learn more about the Alumni of the Year event. 

The Golden Idea Pitch Competition is a "shark tank" style event that provides a platform for budding entrepreneurs to pitch their innovative products and services to established, professional entrepreneurs from the community. Find out more here! 

View and download the 2019-20 Research Impact Report. 

View and download the 2018-19 Research Impact Report. 

With several undergraduate and graduate certificate programs to choose from, Southern Miss students can develop specialized business knowledge. 

Undergraduate Certificates: 

• Professional Selling
• Casino Management
• Retail Merchandising
• Apparel Construction and Design
• Business Essentials (for non-business majors)

Graduate Certificates: 

• Economic Development
• Business Foundations
• Sport Security Management

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Instagram - @southernmissbiz

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YouTube - Southern Miss Business

Business Programs Rankings

#36 Best Online Bachelor's in Business Degree Programs, Learn.org
#1 Best Online Business School in Mississippi, SuccessfulStudent.org, 2019
#16 Most Affordable Online Colleges for Business for the Business program, OnlineU.org, 2019
#36 Best Online Business School in the nation, SuccessfulStudent.org, 2019
#36 Best Online Undergraduate Business School in the nation by College Consensus, 2019
#26 International Business Programs in the country, study.com, 2019
2017 - 2020 Listed in the Top Universities for Professional Sales Education in the U.S. in the Sales Education Foundation (SEF) Magazine

MBA Program Rankings

#94 Best Online MBA Programs, U.S. News & World Report, 2021
#127 Best Full-Time MBA Programs, U.S. News & World Report, 2021
#213 Part-Time MBA Programs, U.S. News & World Report, 2021
#74 Best Online MBA Programs, U.S. News & World Report, 2020
#1 Best Online MBA Program in Miss., College Consensus, 2019
#20 Best MBA Degree Programs Online, Learn.org 
#17 Best Online MBA Programs, Affordable Colleges Online, 2018-2019
#41 Best MBA Degree Programs Online, Best College Reviews, 2018

Sport Management Programs Rankings

#7 Master of Science in Sport Management, Intelligent.com, 2020
#11 Overall Sport Management Program, Intelligent.com, 2020
#8 Best Master’s in Sport Management online by BestCollegeReviews.org, 2019 
#18 Most Affordable Online Master’s in Sport Management, OnlineU.org, 2019 
#16 Best Sport Management Programs in the country by TheBestSchools.org, 2018
#23 Best Sport Management Programs in the country by BestColleges.com, 2018

Mission

Our purpose is to develop leaders who leverage an entrepreneurial mindset to create value and innovative business solutions. We ensure that all students have applied experiences that build the knowledge and develop the skills needed to succeed and lead in the global marketplace. We support economic development by advancing knowledge through influential scholarship and collaboration with our communities.

Vision

We will be a recognized leader in providing business educational experiences that inspire and empower business scholars and students to fearlessly lead on the national and international stage.

Organizational Values

• Authenticity: We stay true to who we are and always act with integrity.
• Unity: We respect others’ perspectives and work together to strengthen our community.
• Resiliency: We persevere by being relevant, tenacious, and adaptable.
• Passion: We nurture passion and inspire boldness.
• Resourcefulness: We foster curiosity, creative problem-solving, and forward thinking to meet challenges head-on.

Strategic Priorities

In the next five years, the College of Business & Economic Development will focus on:

• Becoming the business school of choice for experiential learning, real-world preparation, and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Expanding opportunities for community, industry, and global engagement.
• Fostering a culture and community of scholars characterized by excellent teaching, impactful teaching and research, collegiality, and considerate service to all stakeholders.
• Enhancing external relations and fundraising activities. 

Our graduate and undergraduate business and accounting programs are all accredited by AACSB International. Southern Miss offers the only on-campus AACSB-accredited business programs in South Mississippi.  

AACSB-accredited schools have the highest quality faculty, relevant and challenging curriculum, and provide educational and career opportunities that are not found at other business schools.

AACSB Accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide. Less than 5% of the world's 13,000 business programs have earned AACSB Accreditation. AACSB-accredited schools produce graduates that are highly skilled and more desirable to employers than other non-accredited schools.

AACSB-accredited schools... 

• are recognized worldwide by top employers and other universities. 
• have employers that only hire their graduates. 
• have more access to recruiters. 
• have graduates that receive higher, more competitive salaries. 
• say being accredited improves the quality of their business programs. 
• say being accredited helps them hire and retain the best professors and researchers. 
• have students that are more international and are likely to earn higher levels of education. 
• have students with high-graduating GPAs 
• are challenging and teach the best skills that give a distinct advantage in the real world.

• Understanding Accreditation
• Business Accreditation
• Accounting Accreditation
• Accreditation Standards
• Accredited Institutions

Dean's Executive Council

Dean's Advisory Council

College Personnel Committee

Chad Miller
Paul Beck
Joseph Peyrefitte
Melinda McLelland

Undergraduate Programs and Assessment Committee (UPAC)

Amber Cole
Wei Wang
Srinidhi Kanuri
Greg Bradley
Amy Yeend {ex officio}
Joel Bolton {ex officio}

Graduate Programs and Assessment Committee (GPAC)

Fujun Lai
Kimberly Goodwin
Marco Wolf
Chad Miller
Brandon Allen
Amber Hatten

Scholarships and Awards Committee

Thank you for your interest in Southern Miss Business. Discover more in previous Annual Reports.

Dr. Joseph A. Greene was the first Dean of the business program at The University of Southern Mississippi. Find out more about the legacy that he left here at the College of Business and Economic Development.