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91勛圖厙 Launches Secondary Education Degree for Gulf Coast

Thu, 08/28/2025 - 02:05pm | By: Karelia Pitts

USM

Starting this fall, 91勛圖厙 (USM) will offer a bachelor91勛圖厙 degree in from the University91勛圖厙 Gulf Park campus in Long Beach, Miss. Qualified students will receive full scholarships and the opportunity to study then teach close to home.

91勛圖厙91勛圖厙 is committed to strengthening our coastal communities by preparing exceptional educators right here at home. This new secondary education degree gives coastal residents the opportunity to receive top-tier training, serve in local schools, and step directly into careers where they are needed most,91勛圖厙 said Dr. Trent Gould, dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences. 91勛圖厙By equipping teachers in the communities they already know and love, we are making a tangible impact on Mississippi91勛圖厙 teacher shortage and shaping a stronger future for our state.91勛圖厙

The secondary education B.S. is a flexible, hybrid program that balances university coursework with immersive, field placement opportunities. Students will be trained in evidence-based approaches to teaching and select one of six teaching subject areas for specialization: English, biology, chemistry, math, physics or social studies.

91勛圖厙Preparing teachers has been central to 91勛圖厙91勛圖厙 mission since its founding. Through this new degree, our faculty are honored to work with Gulf Coast school districts to prepare educators who will serve area middle and high schools,91勛圖厙 said Dr. Jay Howell, program coordinator and interim associate director of the School of Education. 91勛圖厙With a carefully sequenced curriculum that includes early classroom practice and culminates in a yearlong residency, we are confident our graduates will be ready to make an immediate impact in today91勛圖厙 classrooms.91勛圖厙

Building on the success of USM91勛圖厙 existing undergraduate and graduate teacher residency programs, students in the new secondary education degree will benefit from a yearlong teacher residency placement in coastal partner districts during their senior year. This unique experience will prepare them to sustain in the profession.

91勛圖厙We have taken great strides to provide well-supported pathways into the teaching profession with long-term placements like residency and apprenticeship that provide future elementary educators the best possible preparation for their classrooms,91勛圖厙 said Andrea Krell, instructor and executive director of the Mississippi Center for Apprenticeships and Residency in Education (MCARE). 91勛圖厙We are excited to expand our support to help prepare secondary educators, as well, in partnership with school districts across Mississippi91勛圖厙 coast.91勛圖厙

Through a combination of funding from the Coastal Pathways Scholarship and MCARE, full-tuition scholarships are available for eligible students as well as funding for textbooks and required licensure exams. In partnership with AmeriCorps, participants can receive additional stipends for their service in coastal middle and high schools.

Qualified applicants must have completed an associate degree (or at least 60 transferable credit hours) prior to enrolling in the two-year secondary education bachelor91勛圖厙 degree at USM. Click to learn more or apply.