Southern Miss Launches Secondary Education Degree for Gulf Coast
Thu, 08/28/2025 - 02:05pm | By: Karelia Pitts
Starting this fall, The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will offer a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University’s Gulf Park campus in Long Beach, Miss. Qualified students will receive full scholarships and the opportunity to study then teach close to home.
“Southern Miss is committed to strengthening our coastal communities by preparing exceptional educators right here at home. This new secondary education degree gives coastal residents the opportunity to receive top-tier training, serve in local schools, and step directly into careers where they are needed most,” said Dr. Trent Gould, dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences. “By equipping teachers in the communities they already know and love, we are making a tangible impact on Mississippi’s teacher shortage and shaping a stronger future for our state.”
The secondary education B.S. is a flexible, hybrid program that balances university
coursework with immersive, field placement opportunities. Students will be trained
in evidence-based approaches to teaching and select one of six teaching subject areas
for specialization: English, biology, chemistry, math, physics or social studies.
“Preparing teachers has been central to The University of Southern Mississippi’s mission
since its founding. Through this new degree, our faculty are honored to work with
Gulf Coast school districts to prepare educators who will serve area middle and high
schools,” said Dr. Jay Howell, program coordinator and interim associate director
of the School of Education. “With a carefully sequenced curriculum that includes early
classroom practice and culminates in a yearlong residency, we are confident our graduates
will be ready to make an immediate impact in today’s classrooms.”
Building on the success of USM’s existing undergraduate and graduate teacher residency programs, students in the new secondary education degree will benefit from a yearlong teacher residency placement in coastal partner districts during their senior year. This unique experience will prepare them to sustain in the profession.
“We have taken great strides to provide well-supported pathways into the teaching profession with long-term placements like residency and apprenticeship that provide future elementary educators the best possible preparation for their classrooms,” said Andrea Krell, instructor and executive director of the Mississippi Center for Apprenticeships and Residency in Education (MCARE). “We are excited to expand our support to help prepare secondary educators, as well, in partnership with school districts across Mississippi’s coast.”
Through a combination of funding from the Coastal Pathways Scholarship and MCARE, full-tuition scholarships are available for eligible students as well as funding for textbooks and required licensure exams. In partnership with AmeriCorps, participants can receive additional stipends for their service in coastal middle and high schools.
Qualified applicants must have completed an associate degree (or at least 60 transferable credit hours) prior to enrolling in the two-year secondary education bachelor’s degree at USM. Click here to learn more or apply.