MSU-Meridian

Mississippi State University-Meridian is a regional, upper-division, degree-granting campus of Mississippi State University. Located in east-central Mississippi, MSU-Meridian’s campus is non-residential and provides site-based credit and non-credit course work, as well as classes through distance learning using resident faculty, MSU-Starkville campus faculty, and part-time adjunct instructors.

A friendly atmosphere, personal attention, two convenient locations, and a diverse student population flavor the educational experience at MSU-Meridian. Through the flexibility of day and evening classes, both nontraditional adult students and traditional college-age students are able to continue employment, maintain important roles in family life, contribute to their communities, and still obtain a quality Mississippi State University education.

Mississippi State-Meridian serves as a proud symbol of the university’s heritage as “the people’s university” and of its commitment to providing quality higher education through the missions of learning, research, and service.

Location

Mississippi State University-Meridian is comprised of two campuses.  The College Park Campus is located on 26 acres at 1000 Highway 19 North in Meridian, a short drive northwest of Exit 150 off Interstate 20/59. The Riley Campus is located in the heart of Meridian’s downtown, off 22^nd Avenue and 5^th Street, where the Division of Business is housed in the Deen building and the Kinesiology program is housed in the Rosenbaum building. The Riley Campus is also home to the MSU-Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts.

Facilities

Overlooking a beautiful lake, the College Park campus is a 60,000 square-foot, two-story complex is nestled among hardwoods and loblolly pines. A 90-foot tower stands watch over the main entrance and serves as the focal point and official symbol of the campus. The complex contains 24 classrooms and laboratories, academic suites, study lounges, an 800-person multi-purpose auditorium for campus and community use, and ample parking. Although there are no dorm facilities at either campus, apartments are located nearby and in other locations throughout the area.

The Riley Campus, situated in the heart of downtown Meridian, includes the Deen building, a four-story historical landmark. The 20,175 square-foot facility, complete with a massive floor to roof sky light, houses MSU-Meridian’s Division of Business faculty, state-of-the-art classrooms and computer lab, study rooms, conference rooms, and a stock ticker. Next to the Deen building is the Rosenbaum building, the renovated historic five-and-dime is home to the university’s newest degree program in Kinesiology.  The structure’s approximately 26,000 square-foot space houses six classrooms, four laboratories and two computer labs, along with a lecture hall, administrative offices and conference and reception areas.  It is also the home to the second Phil Hardin Foundation Library.  Completing the Riley Campus is the MSU-Riley Center for Education and the Performing Arts. The multifaceted center includes a fully restored 1889 grand opera house theater that seats approximately 950, a 200-seat theater and 30,000 square feet of meeting space.

Students

Approximately one-half of the students who attend MSU-Meridian reside in Lauderdale County. The remainder commute from 32 other Mississippi counties and from Alabama, with a majority making their homes in the surrounding counties of Clarke, Jasper, Jones, Kemper, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott, and Wayne. Advancements in course offerings, programs, and distance learning technology should expand the scope of service even further.

Distance Learning

Interactive video conference classrooms at both the College Park and Riley campuses allows students in Meridian and Starkville, and at downlink sites elsewhere in the world, to receive instruction and interact through two-way video and audio distance technologies. This greatly improves MSU-Meridian’s ability to expand the scope of its service and maintain courses of the highest quality.

The development of Web-based (direct-to-desktop) delivery systems is also being utilized to facilitate the delivery of asynchronous and synchronous real time audio and video through computer based technologies and the Internet.

Library Facilities

The MSU University Libraries, with the Phil Hardin Foundation Library on the College Park Campus, supports the teaching, research, and service needs of the MSU-Meridian Campus community. Meridian Campus faculty, students and staff have full access to all the electronic collections offered by the University Libraries including scholarly journals, government documents, books, newspapers and reference materials. Physical items located on the Starkville campus are accessible through Interlibrary Loan and the Library Express document delivery service at no charge to MSU-Meridian community.

An “Electronic Library Room” is available so that individuals at MSU-Meridian may access these online resources and services including online workshops and podcasts.The MSU University Libraries, with a Phil Hardin Foundation Library on both the College Park Campus and Riley Campus in downtown Meridian supports the teaching, research, and service needs of the MSU-Meridian community. Meridian faculty, students and staff have full access to all the electronic collections offered by the University Libraries including scholarly journals, government documents, books, newspapers and reference materials. Physical items located on the Starkville campus are accessible through Interlibrary Loan and the Library Express document delivery service at no charge to MSU-Meridian community.

Degree Programs

Junior, senior, and graduate-level courses offered at MSU-Meridian allow students to fulfill requirements for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Specialist’s degrees. They may also elect to enroll in specific classes for professional or personal growth.

Undergraduate Degrees

• Division of Arts and Sciences
  • Bachelor of Arts in Communication
    (Concentration in Broadcasting)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Criminology
  • Bachelor of Arts in General Liberal Arts
  • Bachelor of Arts in History
  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
  • Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Bachelor of Social Work
  • Bachelor of Applied Technology in Healthcare Services
• Division of Business
  • Bachelor of Accountancy
  • Bachelor of Business Administration with concentrations in:
    • Business Administration
    • Healthcare Administration
      
      Students may also earn a minor in:
      • Management
      • Marketing
• Division of Education
  • Bachelor of Science in Education with majors in:
    • Elementary Education
    • Secondary Education
    • Special Education

Graduate Degrees

• Division of Education
  • Master of Science degree with majors in:
    • Elementary Education
    • Secondary Education
    • Counselor Education
    • School Administration
  • Master of Arts in Teaching degree with major in Comm. College Education
  • Master of Arts in Teaching - Secondary Teaching Education (Alternate Route program)
  • Educational Specialist with concentrations:
    • Elementary Education
    • Secondary Education
    • Counselor Education
    • School Administration