Office of the Graduate School

This is an archived copy of the 2013-14 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.msstate.edu.

Lori Bruce, Dean and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

Karen Coats, Associate Dean

Office: 116 Allen Hall
Telephone: (662) 325-7400
P.O. Box G, Mississippi State, MS 39762-5507

Administration

The Office of the Graduate School (OGS) is dedicated to providing necessary services to graduate students, both prospective and current, and graduate faculty. The mission of the Graduate School is to provide graduate students advanced academic study beyond the baccalaureate; provide graduate students opportunities in which to develop methods of independent and systematic investigation; and provide graduate students and faculty with an environment conducive to learning and scholarly activities. In fulfilling this mission, the Graduate School promotes, enhances, develops, and monitors graduate education at Mississippi State University and provides students with effective, efficient, and courteous assistance in admission, enrollment, academic progress, graduation, and post-graduation services. The OGS is guided by the academic policies recommended by the Graduate Council, the chief oversight body for all graduate programs, and approved by the Provost. For additional information about graduate education at Mississippi State University or the OGS, please visit http://www.grad.msstate.edu/ .

Degrees

Master of Arts
1. The College of Arts and Sciences offers the Master of Arts degree in applied anthropology; English; foreign languages; history; and political science. The College of Business offers the Master of Arts degree in economics.
2. Two plans for the Master of Arts degree are offered. They are designated as Plan One and Plan Two. Plan One requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credits with at least 24 hours earned as course work and at least six hours earned as thesis. Plan Two is offered at the option of the department and requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate-level course work.
3. A reading knowledge of one foreign language is required of students majoring in English and history (thesis option only).
Master of Science
1. The Master of Science degree is offered by the
  College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in
  *agricultural and extension education (concentrations in leadership; teaching)
  *agricultural life sciences (concentrations in animal physiology; biochemistry; entomology; genetics; plant pathology)
  *agriculture (concentrations in agricultural economics; agronomy; animal nutrition; animal science; engineering technology; horticulture; poultry science; weed science)
  *food science, nutrition and health promotion (concentrations in food science and technology; health promotion; nutrition)
  *horticulture
  * human development and family studies
  College of Arts and Sciences in
  *biological sciences
  *chemistry
  *general biology
  *geoscience (concentrations in broadcast meteorology; environmental geosciences; geography; geology; geospatial sciences; professional meteorology/climatology. For distance students only: concentrations in applied meteorology; teachers in geosciences)
  *mathematics
  *physics
  *psychology
  *sociology
  *statistics
  College of Education in
  *counselor education (concentrations in college counseling; clinical mental health; rehabilitation; student affairs; school counseling)
  *educational psychology (concentrations in general education psychology; psychometry)
  *elementary education (concentrations in early childhood education; general education; middle level education)
  *kinesiology (concentrations in exercise physiology, sports administration; sports pedagogy)
  *school administration
  *secondary education
  *special education
  *technology
  *workforce educational leadership
  Bagley College of Engineering in
  *aerospace engineering
  *biological engineering
  *biomedical engineering
  *chemical engineering
  *civil engineering
  *computational engineering
  *computer science
  *electrical and computer engineering
  *industrial engineering
  *mechanical engineering
  College of Forest Resources in
  *forest products
  *forestry
  *wildlife and fisheries science
  College of Veterinary Medicine in
  *veterinary medical science
2. Two plans for the Master of Science degree are offered. They are designated as Plan One and Plan Two. Plan One requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credits with at least 24 hours earned as course work and at least six hours earned as thesis. Plan Two is offered at the option of the department and requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate-level course work.
Master of Agribusiness Management (M.A.B.M.)
1. The Master of Agribusiness Management is offered in Agribusiness Management.
2. The Master of Agribusiness Management is an interdisciplinary program between the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Business and Industry.
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
1. The program is offered in the Leadership and Foundations department.
2. The major is Community College Education and requires 33-36 credit hours.
Master of Arts in Teaching-Middle Grades (M.A.T.M.)
1. The Master of Arts IN Teaching-Middle is an alternate route license program offered for the middle-level teacher by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
2. The program consists of 36 semester hours of graduate-level coursework.
Master of Arts in Teaching - Secondary (M.A.T.S.)
1. The Master of Arts in Teaching-Secondary is an alternate route licensure program offered for the secondary-level teacher by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
2. The program consists of 36 semester hours of graduate-level coursework.
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
The Master of Business Administration, a graduate professional degree requires 30 semester hours of graduate course work; a thesis is not required.
The Master of Business Administration in Project Management is an interdisciplinary program between the College of Business and Industry and the College of Engineering. This program consists of 32 semester hours; no thesis is required.
The Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting is available on the Meridian campus.
Master of Engineering (M. Eng.)
1. The Master of Engineering is a 33-hour interdisciplinary program designed for the professional engineer.
2. All courses in this degree program are delivered via distance learning.
Master of Landscape Architecture (M.L.A.)
1. The Master of Landscape Architecture is offered in landscape architecture with three areas of concentration: watershed planning and management; landscape planning and management; and community based initiatives.
2. A minimum of 30 semester required, including a six hour thesis.
Master of Professional Accountancy (M.P.A.)
A minimum of 30 semester hours of course work in graduate credit business courses is required. Those hours must include a minimum of
1. Twenty-one semester hours of accounting, and
2. Nine semester hours of other related business courses.
3. An accounting major with a concentration in systems is also available.
Master of Public Policy and Administration (M.P.P.A.)
1. The Master of Public Policy and Administration is a graduate professional degree with admission open to students who have earned at least a B average in a relevant undergraduate major.
2. Forty-two semester hours, including a three-credit internship, are required. The internship may be waived for students with significant and relevant work experience as determined by the Department of Political Science.
Master of Science in Information Systems (M.S.I.S.)
1. This degree is offered in the Management and Information Systems Department.
2. A minimum of 30 credit hours course work is required.
Master of Science in Instructional Technology (M.S.I.T.)
1. The program is offered in the Instructional Systems and Workforce Development Department.
2. The non-thesis option requires 33 credit hours of graduate course work.
Master of Taxation (M.TX.)
1. The Master of Taxation is a graduate professional degree requiring 30 semester hours of graduate course work.
2. A thesis is not required.
Educational Specialist (Ed.S.)
The College of Education offers the Educational Specialist degree with a major in education and concentrations in counselor education, elementary education, school administration, school psychology, secondary education, special education, or technology. These programs may be completed only after the student has received the master’s degree from Mississippi State University or another recognized institution.

A three-hour special problem or six-hour thesis is required, upon completion of which the student will be expected to pass an oral or written comprehensive examination, or both.

The Educational Specialist degree is a planned program of a minimum of thirty semester hours above the master’s degree, pursued under the direction of a major advisor. It is designed to broaden leadership training by providing courses in fields and disciplines that are supplementary to the basic study in the major field. At least twenty-one of the hours must be earned on the main campus or the Meridian Center.

A student completing the degree must apply for the comprehensive examination in the office of the major advisor with notification to the Dean of the Graduate School.
Doctor of Philosophy
The Doctor of Philosophy degree is offered by the:
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in
*agricultural sciences (concentrations in agricultural and extension education; agronomy; animal and dairy science; animal nutrition; engineering technology; horticulture; poultry science; weed science)
*food science, nutrition and health promotion (concentrations in food science and technology; nutrition)
*human development and family studies
*life sciences (concentrations in animal physiology; biochemistry; entomology; genetics; plant pathology)
*molecular biology
College of Arts and Sciences in
*biological sciences
*chemistry
*cognitive science
*earth and atmospheric sciences
*history
*mathematical sciences
*public policy and administration
*sociology
College of Business
*business administration (concentrations in accounting; business information systems; finance; management; marketing)
*graduate applied economics
College of Education in
*college/post-secondary student counseling and personnel services
*community college leadership
*counselor education/student counseling and guidance services
*curriculum and instruction (concentrations in early childhood education; elementary education; reading education; secondary education; special education)
*educational psychology (concentrations in general educational psychology; school psychology)
*elementary, middle and secondary education administration
*instructional systems and workforce development
Bagley College of Engineering in
*biomedical engineering
*computational engineering
*computer science
*electrical engineering
*engineering (concentrations in aerospace; applied physics; biological; chemical; civil; mechanical)
*industrial engineering
College of Forest Resources in
*forest resources (concentrations in forest products; forestry; wildlife and fisheries)
College of Veterinary Medicine in
*environmental toxicology
*veterinary medical sciences

Graduate Courses

Courses numbered 8000 or higher are for graduate students only. Courses numbered 6000 and 7000 may be taken for graduate credit if approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Bulletin of the Graduate School

Published annually, the Bulletin contains detailed descriptions of the requirements for advanced degrees at Mississippi State University as well as academic policy and procedures administered by the Office of the Graduate School. The Bulletin is available online by visiting http://www.grad.msstate.edu/pdf/bulletin.pdf .