Building Resilient Communities and Individuals
More than 3.4 billion people, some 44% of the world’s population, live within one hundred miles of a coast. In the United States alone, 65 million people reside in coastal counties where virtually every facet of life, be it economic, political, social, cultural, or beyond, is impacted in some fashion by coastal climates, weather events, environments, ecologies. Coastal resilience matters to us all.
The School of Coastal Resilience is home to over thirty research and teaching faculty in the sciences and mathematics, social sciences, and humanities. Our research and teaching interests encompass coastal processes, ecology, and geography; environmental history, literature, film, policy, and ethics; environmental protection and social justice; sustainability studies and education; in short, all matters that impact human well-being and ecosystem vitality in coastal regions.
Meet our facultyPlan your visit
Programs
Coastal Resilience faculty support several Arts and Sciences degree programs that are available at both the Gulf Park and Hattiesburg campuses--Biological Sciences, Geography, Mathematics, English, History, Philosophy, Spanish, Political Science, and Criminal Justice. Two new undergraduate degree programs that are only obtainable at Gulf Park are available in Fall 2022: Sustainability Studies Bachelor of Arts, and Sustainability Sciences (Coastal System Dynamics) Bachelor of Science.
The B.A. degree in Sustainability Studies will provide students with the cultural, social, and scientific understanding of human-nature interaction necessary to achieve meaningful environmental change. By bridging approaches from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, the interdisciplinary B.A. in Sustainability Studies will attract students with a wide range of interests and prepare them to take leadership roles in careers in environmental communication, policy, and research. Students will gain scientific literacy and learn how cultural understandings of the environment impact civic discourse, knowledge production, and decision making, and how to develop sustainable solutions for pressing social and environmental problems.
The Sustainability Sciences (Coastal System Dynamics) B.S (CSD) program is a multi-disciplinary science degree aimed at addressing resilience and sustainability of coastal zones as a combination of human and ecological systems. The CSD degree is built from ecology, GIS, statistics, calculus 1, field methods, resources elective, human wellbeing elective, and an environment and society elective. CSD majors will also earn a certificate or minor in a field of their choice. Students in CSD will complete capstone practicum that shows applied research in coastal system dynamics, as, for example, on the barrier islands, port interactions, beach erosion, urban planning, infrastructure, fishing, aquaculture, hurricane preparedness, and the like. Through research, applications, community interactions, and teaching, the Sustainability Sciences B.S. program focuses upon coastal system dynamics to address critical to the human habitation of coastal zones well into the next century. Leveraging USM’s coastal location, expertise, and community partnerships, students will learn about the physical aspects of sustainability with a holistic inclusion of the human element as a well-rounded multi-disciplinary scientist.
The B.A. in Media and Entertainment Arts (Film) program at the Gulf Park campus is designed to immerse students in the study and practice of film as an expressive and professional art form. The Film program’s core sequence teaches students to master the fundaments of filmmaking, such as screenwriting, directing, lighting, cinematography, mise en scène and creative editing. Our film history and theory courses further introduce students to how cinema makes meaning, how it has been regarded across audiences and cultures, and how filmmakers and artists create forms both new and familiar.
New Interdisciplinary Projects Planned for Community-Engaged Research Initiative (June 2022)
International Development (IDV) is a hybrid doctoral program which encompasses the content and academic rigor of a traditional on-campus program, yet in a flexible delivery format. The curriculum includes majors and minors in Economic Development, Political Development, Security Studies, and Social/Cultural Development. IDV faculty represent various academic disciplines, while the diverse IDV student body includes students from colleges and university faculties, the military, private and public sectors, and non-profits.
News & Events
USM Faculty Complete Gulf Scholars Program Curriculum Workshops. (February 8, 2023)
USM Coastal Resilience Faculty Receive Environmental Justice Grant. (December 12, 2022)
Southern Miss Joins Second Cohort of Gulf Scholars Program. (October 6, 20222)
USM to Participate in the Gulf Scholars Program of the National Academies. (October 6, 2022)
New Courses Offered in Sustainability, beginning Fall 2022
New Interdisciplinary Projects Planned for Community-Engaged Research Initiative. (June 29, 2022)
Faculty
Over 30 faculty 13 different disciplines
Research
In 2020-2021, faculty published 5 books, 6 peer-reviewed book chapters, 11 peer-reviewed articles or creative productions, and 56 other scholarly works.
Students
International development has more than 60 doctoral students in training.
School of Coastal Resilience Events
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North American Saxophone Alliance Conference at Marsh Auditorium
The School of Music hosts the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference.
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Inspired Leaders Series, Featuring Jan Larsen '83 at Scianna Hall
The Southern Miss Business Inspired Leaders Series provides industry leaders the opportunity to share their insight with the Southern Miss community. This semester, we invite Jan Larsen with Boston Scientific to share what inspires her as a professional and leader. Larsen works in the Interventional Cardiology space and has been with the Boston Scientific since 1995, when it acquired the company she was working for at the time, SciMed. In Jan’s career with Boston Scientific, she has been a top sales representative for the cardiology division, consistently ranked in the top 10% of the sales force. In 2022, Jan was honored by Boston Scientific as the Global Volunteer recipient for her volunteer work with a nonprofit organization called HeartGift. HeartGift is an organization that raises funds to help pay for surgery for children with congenital heart disease, where care is non-existent.
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Art + Design Annual Student Show at George Hurst Building - Gallery of Art and Design
The Annual Student Show is a juried exhibition of works produced by Art + Design students in the School of Performing and Visual Arts. This greatly anticipated annual event is presented each spring and gives art students the opportunity to exhibit their creative achievements in visual arts produced over the past year and compete for awards in various categories. The student show features work from studio courses in art foundations, drawing, painting, printmaking, digital photography, ceramics, sculpture and graphic design.
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Spring Repertory Dance Concert I at Theatre and Dance Building - Studio 115
The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Repertory Dance Company presents Spring Repertory Dance Concert I. This concert will feature new works choreographed by USM Dance Program junior choreography students as well as faculty. This will be an inspiring evening of dance in an intimate setting where you can witness dance up close and personal.
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"Cosi fan Tutte," Presented by the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company at Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium
The Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company presents Mozart's zany romantic comedy, "Così fan tutte." Join us as two young soldiers decide to put the love of their fiancees to the test! Will the young ladies prove faithful, or will they give in to temptation? You'll laugh, cry and rage at this rollercoaster operatic masterpiece. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.