General Education Curriculum

Written Communication (6 hours)

Natural Science (8-10 hours minimum)

Select 2 courses with labs:

Humanities

Select 2 courses, 1 history required:

Aesthetic Values (3 hours)

Select 1 course:

Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)

Select 2 courses:

Mathematics (3 hours)

Writing-Intensive Requirement (Major Area)

ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites

Speaking Intensive Requirement (3 hours)

Select 1 course:

Capstone Requirement (Major Area)

Program Curriculum

Major Area of Study Requirements (64 hours)

Minimum grade of “C” required in all Major Area of Study courses.

Additional Requirements (18-21 hours)

Select 1 course:

Electives

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements: See University Admission Policies

The following is required from all undergraduate applicants:

• Application for Undergraduate Admission
• $45 non-refundable application fee
• An official high school transcript for freshman (high school) applicants OR official transcripts from all institutions attended after high school for transfer applicants
• Submission of ACT or SAT scores for freshman (high school) applicants

Students should be mindful of admission deadlines. For a full list of admission requirements, see the University Admission Policies.

Academic Policies and Requirements for Programs:

• Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to transfer into programs offered in the School of Human Development and Family Science.
• Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all courses required for the major area of study (DEG 01 and DEG 02) and any courses substituted for major courses in order to graduate.
• See University Academic Policies and Requirements

Licensure Requirements: Graduates of the Early Childhood BS may pursue an educator license to teach pre-kindergarten through kindergarten in the public school system. To do so, students must pass the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching-Early Childhood exam (5621) and the Praxis II Education of Young Children exam (5024). Additionally, students with an ACT below 21 must pass the Praxis Core exams (5713/5723/5733). This program is designed to meet the professional competency standards for licensure in Mississippi. The University of Southern Mississippi cannot determine whether this program leads to licensure in any state other than Mississippi.  It is recommended that students who intend to seek licensure in another state verify that this program of study meets the desired state’s licensure requirements. To review institutional determinations as to program licensure/state certification, see the Professional Licensure Disclosures webpage.

Accreditation: The Council for Accreditation of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences accredits the undergraduate program in the School of Human Development and Family Science.