Graduate School
About Us
Welcome from the Dean
It is an exciting time to pursue a graduate degree at Southern Miss! As one of only
seventy-six public, doctoral universities earning the Carnegie Foundation ranking
of “higher research activity,” USM continues to garner substantial, external funding
from federal agencies, industry, and private foundations. Receiving nearly $74 million
in sponsored funding in 2017, our talented faculty engage students in their original
research and creative projects.
Students find their passion from among a broad array of doctoral, specialist, master’s,
and certificate programs in all our academic colleges. A newly-reorganized academic
structure intentionally positions faculty and resources within multidisciplinary schools
to enhance opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborative research and graduate
programs.
Our diverse graduate student population of nearly 2700 students comprises about 18%
of the total student population and includes many international students, working
professionals, non-traditional and traditional students, and face-to-face and fully
online students. Our campuses include the main campus in Hattiesburg and the Gulf
Park Campus on the Gulf Coast in Long Beach, Mississippi, and two research campuses,
Gulf Coast Research Laboratories (GCRL) in Ocean Springs and Stennis Space Center,
near Picayune, which are home to unique programs in Coastal and Marine Sciences. We
continue to add fully online, hybrid, and executive-format programs which meet the
needs of working professionals.
At Southern Miss, we believe graduate education should be much more than knowledge
gained in a specific discipline. We believe graduate education should enrich the student
holistically by also providing opportunities for personal and professional growth.
We support professional development programs aimed at strengthening transferable skills
that cross disciplinary boundaries such as Three Minute Thesis, Professionals in Preparation,
Graduate Competitive Travel Awards, and others. Our goal is to help students develop
the knowledge, skills, and professional presence that will set them apart in today’s
competitive job market.
I am so glad you are considering graduate study at Southern Miss. I hope you find
your passion within our programs and pursue it eagerly. If you do, the Graduate School
staff is ready to help you achieve your goals, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
I am looking forward to shaking your hand as you receive your graduate diploma from
Southern Miss in a just few years.
Karen S. Coats, Ph.D.
Vision and Mission
Operating within the values of a student-focused, doctoral-level, higher research
activity university, the Graduate School at The University of Southern Mississippi
will be a model for excellence and accomplishment in public graduate education.
The mission of The Graduate School of The University of Southern Mississippi is to
foster a culture of excellence and integrity in graduate education, producing a diverse
population of graduates whose competence, conduct, and professional presence set them
apart in a competitive workforce and bring distinction to our institution. Our students
will receive the highest-quality educational experience in their specific disciplines,
along with opportunities for professional and personal development that will enrich
their lives.
Focus on recruitment and success of the best and brightest students by:
- Increasing visibility and perceived value of a graduate degree from Southern Miss by showcasing student and faculty accomplishments
- Developing strategies for proactive recruitment of local, regional, national, and international students
- Providing competitive financial support through assistantships and fellowships that attract high quality prospects
- Promoting student progress and success by fostering effective mentorship
Provide a holistic approach to graduate education through training in the discipline, along with opportunities for the development of transferable skills. These include:
- Adopting policies and practices that promote accountability and an expectation of accomplishment
- Advancing professional development programs that enhance transferable skills
- Funding competitive awards to support student travel to national/international conferences to share research or creative accomplishments
Taking you TO THE TOP!
Elevating you to a higher level of academic and professional achievement
Meet our Staff
601.266.4262
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601.266.5908
601.266.4262
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Areas of Responsibility: Administrative Assistant to the Dean, Graduate Council, and Faculty Credentials
601.266.4733
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Areas of Responsibility: Oversees all graduate assistantship processes and maintenance of Graduate School accounts
601.266.6544
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601.266.4181
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Areas of Responsibility: Progress-to-degree for students in the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business & Economic Development, and Nursing & Health Professions
601.266.5136
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Areas of Responsibility: Progress-to-degree for students in the College of Education & Human Sciences, School of Music, and International Development
601.266.4372
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Areas of Responsibility: Thesis, dissertation, doctoral project formatting and review; prospect communication
liaison; Graduate School website
601.266.5184
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Areas of Responsibility: Admissions and PeopleSoft processes, and Radius setup, maintenance, and training
601.266.6847
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Areas of Responsibility: Admissions processes
601.266.6567 Send%20Email
Areas of Responsibility: Admissions processes, graduate student professional development