3501 Lee Hall
P.O. Box BQ
Mississippi State, MS 39762

The following academic programs are housed in the Office of Academic Affairs:

• Geospatial and Remote Sensing Minor (Starkville Campus)
• Master's Program in Physician Assistant Studies (Meridian Campus)
• Master of Science in Computational Biology (Starkville Campus)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Computational Biology (Starkville Campus)
• Computational Biology Minor (Starkville Campus)
• Master of Science in Data Science (Starkville and Online)
• Data Science Minor (Starkville Campus)

Complete information on each program is found in this section of the Graduate Catalog.

Grad College Degrees and Programs

Department	Degree and Major	Concentration	Thesis	Non-Thesis	Starkville	Meridian	Distance
Academic Affairs	Minor in Remote Sensing				X
Academic Affairs	Minor in Data Science				X
Academic Affairs	Minor in Computational Biology				X
Academic Affairs	Master of Physician Assistant Studies			X		X
Academic Affairs	Master of Science - Computational Biology		X		X
Academic Affairs	Master of Science - Data Science			X	X		X
Academic Affairs	Doctor of Philosophy - Computational Biology				X

Master of Science in Data Science

The interdisciplinary Master of Science in Data Science degree program will provide students with a broad training in managing, processing, and extracting value from a giant and diverse data sets and allow them to communicate their findings. The program will prepare students for professional employment in industry, government, and NGOs and at the same time obtain sufficient skills to continue into more advanced degree programs. Admission to the Master's program in Data Science is open to graduates from all disciplines with a strong quantitative background and computational skills. The program of study is a blend of statistical and optimization methodology laced with data management and computational skills, and it provides graduate students with the opportunity to participate in data analytics projects. For more information, please contact either Dr. Rahimi (rahimi@cse.msstate.edu) or Dr. Razzaghi (razzaghi@math.msstate.edu).

This program offers four concentrations for students to choose from:

• General
• Manufacturing Analytics
• Geospatial Science
• Agricultural Autonomy

CSE 8423	Data Science Concepts and Practice	3
ST 8123	Statistical Thinking: Probability Models and Theory of Statistics	3
ST 8133	Statistical Modeling	3
CSE 6503	Database Management Systems	3
CSE 8080	Directed Project in Computer Science	1-3
General Electives
Students will complete 15 hours in approved Data Science electives. Up to 6 hours Directed Individual Studies may count towards the degree.		15
Total Hours		30

Geospatial and Remote Sensing Minor

Director: Dr. John Rodgers
Department of Geosciences
355 Lee Blvd, 108 Hilbun Hall
Mississippi State University, MS 39762
Telephone: 662-325-3915
E-mail: jcr100@msstate.edu
Mailstop: 9537

The Geospatial and Remote Sensing (GRS) minor is a cross-disciplinary program that allows students from any major to develop and enhance their geospatial skills. Students will learn important theoretical concepts associated with geographic information systems and remote sensing sciences, and they will acquire the ability to use these methods to solve spatial problems.  Graduate students must complete a minimum of 12 hours of GRS coursework at Mississippi State University with a grade of C or higher from a list of approved courses.  A 3.00 GPA is required. An MSU Graduate Faculty member with geospatial expertise must serve as minor professor on the student’s graduate committee.

A student who chooses this minor must have the approval of his or her graduate committee and graduate coordinator in the major field. The minor coursework is then included on the student's program of study and is approved by the minor graduate coordinator.

School of Nursing

Dean: Dr. Mary W. Stewart
Mississippi State University-Meridian
Riley Campus
2212 5th Street
Meridian, MS 39301
601-696-2277
info@nursing.msstate.edu
Website: nursing.msstate.edu

The mission (why we exist) of the School of Nursing is to provide access and opportunity to exemplary graduate nursing education in Mississippi and beyond.  

Our vision (where we want to be): To be a community of nurse scholars, leading graduate nursing education and ensuring a better life for all through learning, discovery, service, advocacy, and caring for what matters. 

The foundational tenets of the School of Nursing are learning, discovery, service, and advocacy. These principles emanate from a commitment to caring and creating a community of belonging for all persons.

MSU-SON Foundational Tenets and Broad Goals for Program Graduates  

Learning: Graduates will apply specialized nursing competencies in dynamic and diverse health care settings.  

Discovery: Graduates will create solutions to better the world’s health starting in their own backyard.  

Service: Graduates will engage in making life better for citizens and communities.  

Advocacy: Graduates will lead change for health equity, access, and social justice. 

Master of Science in Nursing Program
Director: Dr. Kayla L. Carr

The Master of Science in Nursing program offers an educational pathway to practice as a Registered Nurse for those who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field of study. The education sequence consists of 58-semester credit hours offered over an accelerated, three term format. The competency-based program is face-to-face and consists of lecture, laboratory, and clinical practicum courses. Graduates of the program meet entry-to-practice competencies for the role of Registered Nurse and upon graduation are eligible for the NCLEX-RN licensure examination.

The program was granted Phase II approval in February 2024. Active recruitment began immediately after. MSU-SON intends to seat its inaugural class in the 2024-2025 academic year. MSU-SON submitted application for initial national accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) in November 2023. MSU-SON will seek Phase III: Full State Accreditation by IHL while concurrently pursuing national accreditation by CCNE in November 2024. 

Program of Study

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021) and the AACN Essentials of Master's Education (2011) serve as the framework for the curriculum. Other professional standards, guidelines, and competencies incorporated in the curriculum include the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Core Competencies (2023), the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) NCLEX Test Plan (2022), and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) Competencies (2022).

Students can expect purposeful didactic, simulation, and/or clinical practice experiences that enable students to provide care to individuals and populations with diverse life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. Likewise, planned experiences foster interprofessional collaborative practice.

End of Program Student Learner Outcomes 

1. Synthesize knowledge from nursing, previous learning, and life experiences as a basis for professional nursing practice. 

2. Provide, coordinate, and manage person-centered care for individuals, families, populations, and communities across the four spheres of care. 

3. Communicate, collaborate, and apply leadership skills to participate in and lead interprofessional health care teams to improve health outcomes. 

4. Critically appraise evidence-based studies for application to practice with diverse populations within different healthcare practice settings. 

5. Use quality improvement strategies to inform clinical practice, promote change, and improve quality of care for individuals, families, and populations. 

6. Contribute to a culture of safety and support the development of strategies designed to mitigate unsafe environments. 

7. Coordinate resources and generate innovative solutions within complex systems of health care to ensure safe, quality, equitable care that influences health outcomes. 

8. Use information, communication technologies, and informatics tools to advocate for equitable access and assist patients and consumers to use these tools to engage in care and improve health. 

9. Express one's identity as a nurse through actions that reflect integrity; a commitment to evidence-based practice, caring, advocacy, and service for diverse patients, families, and populations. 

10. Display actions aligned with a capacity to engage in self-reflection and leadership, continued lifelong learning through a spirit of discovery, and ongoing commitment to personal well-being. 

Plan of Study

Fall Term 1 (21 Credits)
NSG 6002	Professionalism I: Socialization into Nursing	2
NSG 6015	Person-Centered Care I: Fundamental Concepts for Nursing Practice	5
NSG 6025	Person-Centered Care I: Practicum	5
NSG 6033	Health Assessment and Physical Examination	3
NSG 6043	Principles of Pathophysiology and Pharmacology	3
NSG 6053	Nursing Science: Translation and Application to Practice	3
Spring Term 2 (24 Credits)
NSG 6103	Professionalism II: Leadership in Health Systems	3
NSG 6116	Person-Centered Care II: Applied Clinical Judgment in Nursing Practice	6
NSG 6125	Person-Centered Care II: Practicum	5
NSG 6134	Applied Clinical Judgment in Specialty Populations	4
NSG 6141	Specialty Populations Practicum	1
NSG 6152	Population Health and Policy	2
NSG 6163	Patient Safety and Quality Improvement	3
Summer Term 3 (13 Credits)
NSG 8204	Professionalism III: Transition to Nursing Practice	4
NSG 8213	Person-Centered Care III: Advancing Clinical Judgment in Nursing Practice	3
NSG 8224	Person-Centered Care III: Practicum	4
NSG 8232	Clinical Synthesis Practicum	2
Total Hours		58

*Note: In addition to the introductory course NSG 6043 Principles of Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, advanced, graduate-level concepts of pharmacology and pathophysiology are incorporated across the curriculum.