College of Professional and Continuing Studies < Mississippi State University

Susan D. Seal, Dean
susan.seal@msstate.edu

Sean M. Owen, Associate Dean
sean.owen@msstate.edu

Office: 301 Memorial Hall
Telephone: (662) 325-3473
Mailing Address: Box 5247, Mississippi State, MS 39762
Website: https://cpcs.msstate.edu

General Information

The college of Professional and Continuing Studies (PCS) was established in 2023 to serve as the academic home for programs that are applied or practice-based in nature. Degree programs, non-credit programs, and non-credit/for-credit certificates that focus on the application of learning to the workforce are also a part of the College’s offerings through its Center for Distance Education and Center for Continuing Education that are a part of the College.

MISSION

Our mission is to ignite learning and professional growth by providing accessible, innovative, and transformational educational experiences. As a catalyst for change within our university, we are dedicated to being an advocate for the adult learner, an educational partner with industry, and a reliable collaborator with faculty and staff. We are committed to creating an educational culture in which we empower individuals to achieve their career aspirations through lifelong learning and to providing an agile support structure to allow faculty, staff, and industry partners to thrive.

VISION

Our vision is to be a beacon of excellence and innovation in the field of professional and continuing education. We aspire to lead our university into the future with robust growth in enrollment and graduation rates. We see the College of Professional and Continuing Studies as the key driver in shaping our region's workforce, preparing professionals equipped with relevant skills and competencies to meet industry needs, and thus, fostering regional economic growth.

FACULTY AND LEADERSHIP

The College of Professional and Continuing Studies utilizes a combination of its own departmental faculty, faculty from other Mississippi State University colleges, and qualified practice professionals who serve as adjunct instructors to teach, advise, and mentor students. Faculty and instructors are invited to participate in the college's programs based on their professionalism and commitment to the mission, values, and goals of the organization. Leadership for the College of Professional and Continuing Studies is entrusted to the Dean, Associate Dean, college faculty, and senior staff.

GENERAL UNIVERSITY POLICIES

Students enrolled through the College of Professional and Continuing Studies are subject to Mississippi State University’s general policies, scholastic regulations, and standards as outlined in the University’s Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. Questions concerning MSU policies or procedures should be directed to the college.

Center for Distance Education

Office: 301 Memorial Hall, (662) 325-3473
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5247, Mississippi State, MS 39762
www.online.msstate.edu

The Center for Distance Education (CDE) is a service unit of the University and extends educational opportunities to individuals through a variety of learning options in non-traditional program formats. CDE provides leadership, coordination, and assistance in implementing distance education programs offered by Mississippi State University. The mission of CDE is to engage people in achieving their lifelong educational goals through dynamic partnerships, targeted programming, innovative technology, and quality customer service.

CDE is committed to working with faculty and staff to promote distance education. CDE assists with the facilitation and delivery of distance education programs and certificates at the graduate and undergraduate levels. All distance courses and programs offered through Mississippi State University are fully accredited and possess the same rigor and standards of the traditional campus. Delivery methods offered include completely online and hybrid. Distance classes include an instructional support fee, distance fees which may vary by course, and tuition & required fees. The instructional support fee and distance fees will be collected as part of registration. CDE also specializes in customer service for all distance education students.

PCS 4103 Content Creation in Virtual Reality: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: EDS 4533/6533: Teaching Science with Virtual Reality). Three hours lecture. Students gain insight into Virtual Reality Content Creation platforms and develop the skills to produce VR animations and simulations within their own area of interest and or career

PCS 4113 Development and Delivery of Virtual Reality Experience: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: PCS 4103/6103 Content Creation in Virtual Reality). Three hours lecture. Students identify a target audience of their own interest and or career, develop and deliver a Virtual Reality experience to the target audience and assess the impact the experience had on participants

PCS 6103 Content Creation in Virtual Reality: 3 hours.