As one of the nation's leading research universities, Southern Miss transcends Mississippi
universities in the number of Goldwater Scholarships earned, a national honor that
recognizes the next generation of great research scientists. USM's research efforts
are conducted by faculty experts and students in numerous academic disciplines.
Academic Opportunities
The sixth-oldest acceptance-based honors program in the nation and the oldest in Mississippi,
the prestigious Southern Miss Honors College fosters a deep, communal engagement with ideas and an atmosphere of personal connection
and achievement by providing students with small classes, active learning, and research
experiences – as well as scholarship funding. Students work closely with a thesis
advisor over two semesters to find and develop a topic, conduct research, and complete
a thesis.
Golden Eagles destined for law school, medical school, or other professional schools
are ably guided through an ideal pre-professional curriculum by the University’s Preprofessional Office.
Research Centers
USM researchers are continually working across the coast to advance sustainable marine
aquaculture and fisheries, broaden the applications of hydrographic data, develop
comprehensive geospatial datasets, study coastal ecology and expand aquatic conservation,
as well as conducting research in other areas. With unique assets, including: the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL)– which serves as Mississippi’s only marine laboratory, the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, the Gulf Blue Innovation Center and a fleet of research vessels.
