9. Academic Colleges, Departments, and Programs

Department of Art and Design

Department Chair: Shawn Dickey

Faculty

Professors: Shawn Dickey, Robert Gibson, Beverly Joyce
Associate Professor: Alex Stelioes-Wills
Assistant Professors: Ian Childers, Jonathan Cumberland

Accreditation

Mississippi University for Women is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The B.F.A. in Art Education program is also approved by the Mississippi State Department of Education and accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), thereby enabling graduates to satisfy the certification requirements for the State of Mississippi in Art Education.  Art Education graduates are licensed to teach grades K-12.

General Program Information

The Department of Art and Design offers the following baccalaureate degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art (BA), Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art (BFA), and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education (BFA). Students in the BFA program in Studio Art complete course requirements in one of the following emphases: Drawing and Painting; Graphic Design; Printmaking; Ceramics; or Photography. The BA degree is a liberal arts degree, focusing on art and design in a broad context. The BFA degree is a more intensive degree in art and design and is intended for professional practice. 

The Department of Art and Design also offers minors in Art History and Studio Art, open only to non-art majors.

Exhibition Requirements:

All freshman, sophomore, and junior art students in any art major are required to enter artwork in the Annual MUW Juried Student Exhibition. In their senior year, all art majors must participate in a final Senior Exhibition. 

Art Core Requirements:

All art students (in the BA and BFA programs) must complete the Art Core . Note: Some courses taken for the major may also fulfill requirements for the University core curriculum.

Programs

• •  Art Core
• •  Art Education Major, BFA
• •  Art Major, Fine Art, BA
• •  Art Major, Studio Art, BFA
• •  Art Minors

Department of Communication

Interim Department Chair: William G. Biddy

Communication Faculty

Associate Professors: Van T. Roberts, Barry P. Smith
Instructor: Eric E. Harlan
Visiting Assistant Professor:  Melissa M. Smith

Programs

• •  Communication Major, BA
• •  Communication Major, BS
• •  Communication Minor
• •  Film Studies Minor

Department of History, Political Science, and Geography

Department Chair: Brian Anderson

Geography Faculty

Visiting Assistant Professor: Ann Fletchall

History Faculty

Professor: Thomas Velek
Assistant Professors: Amber Handy, Jonathon Hooks, Erin Kempker

Political Science Faculty

Professors: Brian Anderson, James D. Ward

Programs

• •  American Studies Minor
• •  History Major, BA
• •  History Major, Concentration in Public History, BA
• •  History Major, Secondary Education Certification in History and Social Studies, BA
• •  History Minor
• •  Interdisciplinary Studies Major, BA
• •  Interdisciplinary Studies Major, BS
• •  International Studies Minor
• •  Political Science Major, BA
• •  Political Science Minor
• •  Public Administration Certificate Program
• •  Social Sciences Major, BA
• •  Social Sciences Major, BS
• •  Social Sciences Major, Secondary Education Certification in History and Social Studies, BA
• •  Social Sciences Major, Secondary Education Certification in History and Social Studies, BS

Department of Languages, Literature, and Philosophy

Department Chair: Bridget Smith Pieschel

English Faculty

Professors: Gloria Lee Bunnell, Kendall Dunkelberg, Bridget Smith Pieschel, Thomas C. Richardson, Leslie Stratyner
Associate Professors: Amy J. Pardo, Michael Smith
Assistant Professors: Nora Corrigan, Kim Whitehead
Instructors: Todd Bunnell, Janet Woodcock

Foreign Languages Faculty

Associate Professor: Thomas M. Longton
Instructor: Erinn Holloway, Robert Raymond

Philosophy Faculty

Professor: Bryan Hilliard
Assistant Professor: Jeffrey Courtright

Programs

• •  Applied and Professional Ethics Certificate Program
• •  Creative Writing Minor
• •  English Major, BA
• •  English Major, Concentration in Creative Writing, BA
• •  English Major, Secondary Education Certification, BA
• •  English Minor
• •  Foreign Languages Minor
• •  Philosophy Minor
• •  Religious Studies Minor
• •  Spanish Major, BA
• •  Spanish Major, Secondary Education Certification, BA
• •  TESL Certificate Program
• •  Women’s Studies Major, BA
• •  Women’s Studies Minor

Department of Music

Department Chair:  Julia Mortyakova

Music Faculty

Professor: Richard Montalto
Associate Professors: James Allen, Carmen Osburn
Assistant Professors: Julia Mortyakova, Valentin Bogdan, Cherry Dunn, Phillip Stockton

Music Programs

Accreditation

Mississippi University for Women is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) for the B.A. in Music with an emphasis in General Music and the Bachelor of Music in Music Education. The B.M. in Music Education program is approved by the Mississippi State Department of Education and accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, thereby enabling graduates to satisfy the certification requirements for the State of Mississippi in Music Education. The Music Therapy program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association.

Programs

• •  Music Major, General, BA
• •  Music Major, Music Education, BM
• •  Music Major, Music Therapy Concentration, BM
• •  Music Minor

Department of Sciences and Mathematics

Department Chair: Dionne Fortenberry

Associate Chair:  Bonnie Oppenheimer

Biological Sciences Faculty

Professors: Lauren Brandon, George V. Pinchuk, Nicole Welch, Ross Whitwam
Associate Professor: Paul Mack
Assistant Professor: Ghanshyam Heda
Instructors: Thomas Dodson, Bianca Simmons-Diez

Mathematics Faculty

Professors: Dorothy A. Kerzel, Bonnie Oppenheimer
Assistant Professors: Agnes Carino, Susan Ficken, Joshua Hanes

Physical Sciences Faculty

Professor: Dionne Fortenberry, Jiben Roy
Associate Professor: Xiaoxia Li
Instructor: Edward Bruster

The Department of Sciences and Mathematics offers majors in the areas of Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physical Science.

Before a student is allowed to register for upper-level courses (those numbered 300 or above) within the department, the student must:

• Have a 2.0 average for all courses taken within the department (including transfer credit)
• Have completed all prerequisites for upper-level courses with grades of C or better

Exceptions to any of the above requirements require approval of the Chair of the Department of Sciences and Mathematics.

Prerequisite Courses for Professional Programs

For students interested in health-related professional schools, a B.S. degree (typically a biology or chemistry major) at the W allows the students to tailor their course selection to ensure all requirements are met for the professional school of their choice. Such professional schools include: Medical, Pharmacy, Veterinary, Dental, and Optometry.

Engineering Dual-Degree Program

The Department of Sciences and Mathematics has joined with the School of Engineering at Auburn University and the College of Engineering at Mississippi State University in offering a Dual-Degree program in Liberal Arts and Engineering. In this program, a student attends MUW for three years and one of the other institutions for at least two additional years. After completing the academic requirements of both cooperating universities, the student will be awarded a baccalaureate degree from MUW and one of several designated engineering baccalaureate degrees from the second institution.

Programs

• •  Biology Major, BS
• •  Biology Major, Secondary Education Certification, BS
• •  Biology Minor
• •  Chemistry Major, BS
• •  Chemistry Minor
• •  Mathematics Major, BA
• •  Mathematics Major, BS
• •  Mathematics Major, Secondary Education Certification, BS
• •  Mathematics Minor
• •  Mathematics, Pre-Engineering Option
• •  Physical Sciences Major, Secondary Education Certification, BS

Department of Theatre

Department Chair: William Biddy

Theatre Faculty

Professor: William Biddy
Associate Professor: David Carter
Instructor: Lee Crouse

Programs

• •  Theatre Major, BA
• •  Theatre Minor

Department of Business

Department Chair:  Martha A. Brock

Business Faculty

Professors: Elaine Evans, Dee Anne Larson
Associate Professor:  Kimberly Dorsey, C. Scott Tollison
Assistant Professors: Martha A. Brock, Andrew Luccasen
Instructors: Thomas Haffey, Carla Lowery, John Williams

Purpose Statement for Department of Business 

The purpose of the Department of Business at Mississippi University for Women is to provide quality undergraduate business programs in Business Administration and Accounting for local, regional, national, and international students. Through small class sizes and the implementation of current technologies, the qualified faculty and staff strive to graduate highly qualified and competent individuals who have developed critical thinking skills, leadership and technical skills, high ethical standards, and an awareness and understanding of national and global business issues, cultural diversity, and women’s issues. The Department of Business supports the Mississippi University for Women’s mission of delivering high-quality instruction designed to assist students in attaining their academic, professional, and personal goals.

Business Majors

Mississippi University for Women, through its Department of Business, is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) to offer the following business degrees:

The Bachelor of Science in Accounting

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in Entrepreneurship, General Business, Management, Management Information Systems, and Marketing

The department also offers the following degrees:

Bachelor of Technology in Professional Studies, with concentrations in Entrepreneurship, General Business, Human Resource Management, Legal Administration, and Management Information Systems

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Administration with concentrations in General Business/Fire Science Management and Law and Government/Fire Science Management

Business Minors

Certain prerequisite courses are required for junior and senior level courses in the Business Minors. Refer to the course descriptions for required prerequisites. A grade of C or higher must be earned in each required  course in the minor, including the prerequisites.

Field Experience (Internship)

Business majors may elect to complete an approved, faculty-supervised internship (BU 400). To be eligible, students must be classified as juniors or seniors in their majors and must possess a 2.5 or higher overall grade point average. During the enrollment  semester, students must complete a minimum of 120 hours of on-site work experience. Students may or may not be compensated for their internship experience. Additional internship requirements include an academic research component and an acceptable evaluation by the internship supervisor. Business majors may earn up to 6 credit hours of internship credit with advisor approval.

Programs

• •  Accounting Major, BS
• •  Accounting Minor
• •  Business Administration Major, Entrepreneurship Concentration, BS
• •  Business Administration Major, General Business Concentration, BS
• •  Business Administration Major, Management Concentration, BS
• •  Business Administration Major, Management Information Systems Concentration, BS
• •  Business Administration Major, Marketing Concentration, BS
• •  Business Core
• •  Business Minor, General
• •  Entrepreneurship Minor
• •  Management Information Systems Minor
• •  Management Minor
• •  Marketing Minor
• •  Professional Studies Major, Entrepreneurship Concentration, BT
• •  Professional Studies Major, General Business Concentration, BT
• •  Professional Studies Major, Human Resource Management Concentration, BT
• •  Professional Studies Major, Legal Administration Concentration, BT
• •  Professional Studies Major, Management Information Systems, BT
• •  Public Safety Administration Major, General Business/Fire Science Management Concentration, BA
• •  Public Safety Administration Major, General Business/Fire Science Management Concentration, BS
• •  Public Safety Administration Major, Law and Government/Fire Science Management Concentration, BA
• •  Public Safety Administration Major, Law and Government/Fire Science Management Concentration, BS

Department of Legal Studies

Director:  Wesley Garrett

Legal Studies Faculty

Professor:  David Smith
Assistant Professor:  Wesley Garrett

Legal Studies

The objectives of the Legal Studies are as follows:

1. To train students as paralegals to assist attorneys in law offices, legal services corporations, banks, corporations, and various government agencies by providing instruction and experience in general education, business, and law.
2. To provide students with a basic understanding of legal concepts and terms of subjects which are vital to practicing paralegals. To provide students with legal writing and research skills to enable graduates to perform as efficient members of a legal team.
3. To support the general principles of ethical legal practices and professional responsibilities and to support the prohibitions against the unauthorized practice of law by lay persons.
4. To provide knowledge of the principles of ethical and professional responsibilities as these relate to lawyers, legal assistants, and clients and to the legal profession.
5. To provide a broad background in general education for the development of a well rounded individual.
6. To constantly improve and adjust the program to meet the needs of the community by seeking input from judges, local attorneys, legal assistants, and students.
7. To maintain equality of opportunity in the education program without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, natural origin, or gender.

Programs

• •  Legal Studies Major, BA
• •  Legal Studies Major, BS
• •  Legal Studies Minor

Culinary Arts Institute

Director:  Erich Ogle

Culinary Arts Institute Faculty

Assistant Professors: Erich Ogle
Chef Instructor: Amanda A. Dahl, Alexei Huguley

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the MUW Culinary Arts Institute, established in 1996, is to provide interdisciplinary instruction in culinary arts in order to prepare students for employment and leadership in diverse areas of the food industry. The Culinary Arts Institute supports the University’s mission by providing instruction in a highly interactive environment through which students develop skills in communication, technology, and critical thinking in addition to fundamental culinary skills. The Culinary Arts Institute further supports the University’s mission by offering students a broad perspective on their chosen profession and encouraging leadership and learning activities outside the traditional classroom setting.

The MUW Culinary Arts Institute offers the following:

1. a Bachelor of Science Degree in Culinary Arts;
2. an emphasis in one of five correlate areas—culinary entrepreneurship; food journalism; food art (food styling and photography); nutrition and health; Culinology®
3. a Bachelor of Science Degree in Culinology®
4. a Bachelor of Technology in Professional Studies with a concentration in Culinary Arts
5. a minor in Culinary Arts or Nutrition and Health

Internship Opportunities

Students majoring in culinary arts are required to complete a 6 or 12 credit-hour internship following their junior year. Internship opportunities are offered in locations throughout the U.S. or internationally and include, but are not limited to, hotels and restaurants, catering services, bed and breakfast operations, publishing firms, and food manufacturers. Sites and assignments are based on the individual student’s professional interests and abilities.

Programs

• •  Culinary Arts Major, BS
• •  Culinary Arts Minor
• •  Culinology® Major, BS
• •  Nutrition and Health Minor
• •  Professional Studies Major, Culinary Arts, BT

Department of Education

Department Chair: Monica Riley

Education Faculty

Professors: Twila Alpe, Richard Holden, Sue Jolly-Smith, Linda Mahoney, Monica Riley
Assistant Professors: Shelley Bock, April Coleman, Brenda Dickey, Angela Farmer, Bob Fuller, Chrystal Hodges, Royal Toy
  

The “Educator as Reflective Decision Maker” is the model for the conceptual framework for the educator preparation programs at Mississippi University for Women. The programs have adopted the Core Standards of the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as goals for teacher candidates, and the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) standards for school administrator candidates. Further explanations of requirements and expectations for undergraduate teacher candidates are in the Teacher Education Handbook published by the Office of Field Experiences, and available through the MUW website.

NCATE (CAEP) Accreditation

The  MUW Educator Preparation Unit and all programs in education are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).The MUW teacher certification programs are also approved by the Mississippi Department of Education, which makes graduates of these programs eligible for Mississippi Educator Licensure in the approved areas. The NCATE accrediting body has merged with another accrediting organization (TEAC) to form the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The accreditation covers both initial and advanced educator preparation programs  . Since many states have reciprocity agreements based on graduation from  NCATE/CAEP accredited schools, graduates of NCATE/CAEP accredited institutions will generally find it easier to apply for educator licensure when they move out of state.

Quality Assurance Policy

All teacher education programs are covered by the Mississippi Institution of Higher Learning Quality Assurance Policy. The university warrants the quality of our graduates for a period of two years immediately following graduation. Certain guidelines do apply. Contact the College of Education and Human Sciences for more information.

Admission to Teacher Education

Students seeking admission to Teacher Education must submit documentation of the following to the Office of Field Experiences through a Mississippi University for Women TaskStream Account:

1. Application for admission to Teacher Education.
2. Curriculum check sheet and tentative program.
3. Minimum grade of C in ED 300.
4. Overall 2.75 GPA on a minimum of 44 semester hours completed.
5. Satisfactory score on the Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) Subtests (Reading, Writing, and Math) OR minimum ACT scores at the time of entrance into college, composite of 21 with no subscore below 18.
6. Verification of completed criminal background check through the university approved site.

Guidelines for this submission are reviewed in the course ED 300, Education as a Profession.

Note to Transfer Students:

Before registering, students transferring to MUW during the junior or senior year who intend to get a teaching license should report to the Department of Education for guidance.

Admission To Teacher Internship

Students must submit applications no later than October 1 for Spring Semester admission or February 15 for Fall Semester admission.

Following admission to Teacher Education, a student must complete a minimum of one semester of coursework before being admitted to Teacher Internship. Materials for application to (teacher internship) will be distributed at a required orientation seminar at the beginning of each semester. Students seeking admission to Teacher Internship must submit documentation of the following to the Director of Field Experiences, College of Education and Human Sciences:

1. Admission to Teacher Education at least one semester prior to filing application for admission to Student Teaching.
2. Application form for Teacher Internship.
3. Verification of experience with school age children and/or youth (75 hours).
4. Passing scores on Praxis II: Principles of Learning & Teaching, and Specialty Area Test.
5. Ethics statement/insurance verification and release.
6. Health information and profile.
7. Teaching Center request for placement form.
8. Completion of 84 semester hours of credit (to include all required professional education courses).
9. Minimum grade of C in each of the following: EN 101 and EN 300 (EN 102 if transferred prior to first semester of attendance at MUW); COM 101; MA 113 or higher (excluding MA 123); MA 111 and MA 112 all professional education courses and all endorsement area courses.
10.  Overall GPA of 2.75 and overall MUW GPA of 2.75.

Professional Field Experiences

Students in teacher education will be required to complete field-based assignments which are designed as a part of each methods course. Students in teacher education curricula should plan their schedules to allow approximately two to five hours per week in related field activities. These field experiences are assigned and coordinated through the Office of Field Experiences in the Department of Education. Students in field experiences will be required to complete a criminal background check through the MUW Office of Field Experiences.

Students admitted to the MUW Teacher Education Program will plan their schedules to insure one semester of the senior year for the Professional Semester, which consists of a fourteen-week teacher internship experience in the schools. The student will also enroll in ED 401, Classroom Management, for which an additional three semester hours credit will be earned. The program of the Professional Semester will be followed without deviation. No regular college course, other than ED 401, may be taken for credit during the Professional Semester, except with the approval of the Admissions/Exceptions Committee for Teacher Education.

Students majoring in elementary education need to plan their schedules so that they can take all their methods courses as a block during the semester preceding teacher internship.

Recommendation For Licensure

The student will be eligible for the recommendation by the institution for a Mississippi Educator’s license on completion of all degree requirements and approved teacher education program requirements, to include a minimum grade of C in Teacher Internship taken in the professional semester. Students must have an official copy of their scores on the Praxis Series forwarded to both the Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Educator Licensure and the College of Education and Human Sciences, Mississippi University for Women.

Notice Regarding Licensure

Requirements governing licensure in the State of Mississippi are continually revised. As a result, requirements for degrees leading to licensure are subject to change from those published in this Bulletin. The student is advised to refer to the current online version of the Teacher Education Handbook and the Mississippi Department of Education office of Educator Licensure to insure that both degree requirements and license requirements are met.

Teacher Education Curricula

All students preparing to teach should follow the appropriate program in the next section. This includes Elementary Education; Special Subject Area-Grades K-12 (Art, Music, Physical Education and Spanish) and the various subject areas of Secondary Education-Grades 7-12 (Chemistry/Physical Science; English; Biology; Mathematics; Social Studies). A minimum grade of C is required in each Education course, in EN 101 English Composition and EN 102 English Composition II, MA 111-112 Modern Elementary Mathematics I & II (for elementary education majors), MA 113 College Algebra, COM 101 Oral Communication, and in each endorsement area course. See academic advisor for program planning.

Programs

• •  Education, Add-on Certifications
• •  Elementary Education Major, BS

Department of Health and Kinesiology

Department Chair: Mark Bean

Health and Kinesiology Faculty

Professor: Mark Bean
Associate Professors:  K. Randell Foxworth, Irene T. Pintado
Assistant Professors: Chad Murphy, Krista Woods
Instructor: Katie Cranston

Programs

• •  Exercise Science Minor
• •  General Studies Major, BA
• •  General Studies Major, BS
• •  Health and Kinesiology Major, Exercise Science Concentration, BS
• •  Health and Kinesiology Major, Exercise Science Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration, BS
• •  Health and Kinesiology Major, Secondary Education Certification, BS
• •  Health and Kinesiology Minors
• •  Health and Kinesiology, Pre-Occupational Therapy Option
• •  Public Health Education Major, BS
• •  Public Health Education Minor

Department of Psychology and Family Studies

Department Chair: Holleen Krogh

Psychology Faculty

Professors: Holleen R. Krogh
Associate Professor: James D. Roth
Visiting Assistant Professor:  Kyle Dempsey
Instructors:  Angelia Taylor, Donna White
Emeriti Faculty:  Richard Millikin

Family Studies Faculty

Associate Professors:  Dorothy Berglund, Youn Mi Lee

Programs

• •  Family Studies Major, BS
• •  Family Studies Minor
• •  Psychology Major, BA
• •  Psychology Minor

Graduate Studies in Education

Program Purpose:

The Graduate Programs in Education provide high quality, advanced professional development and leadership training for educators, which will strengthen their theoretical knowledge, their practice, and increase their accountability for student learning. This reflects the University’s mission of professional education with an emphasis on academic and leadership preparation.

The conceptual framework for graduate programs in education is based on the five core propositions of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The related belief statements that follow each core proposition further characterize the advanced programs in education.  The program in Educational Leadership is aligned with the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards.

The Graduate Programs in Education are: Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education in Gifted Studies, Master of Education in Differentiated Instruction, Master of Education in Reading/Literacy, and Master of Education in Educational Leadership.

Progression in the Program

1. The potential Graduate student must make formal application for admission, providing transcripts of all undergraduate work, GRE scores, 3 letters of recommendation, proof of immunization and $25.00 application fee (MAT applicants must submit passing scores on Praxis I and Praxis II, content area.). 
2. The Graduate student, in consultation with his/her advisor, works out a proposed program of study.
3. After completion of 9 semester hours with a minimum 3.0 QPA, the student who has been admitted conditionally must meet with his/her advisor to determine whether the student’s admission status can be upgraded.
4. The Graduate student must meet with his/her advisor prior to registration to secure approval for courses to be taken in the ensuing semester.
5. The Graduate student must submit an official transcript of any transfer credits before his/ her last semester of course work. No more than 6 hours with minimum grade of B may be transferred.
6. Withdrawal from a graduate class should be done in consultation with an advisor and must be approved by the College Dean.
7. When a graduate student has completed at least 9 hours of degree requirements with an overall QPA of 3.0 (including no more than 6 hours with a grade of C), the Candidacy Form should be completed and submitted for approval.
8. All requests for modification of the Candidacy Form must be made in writing to the Program Coordinator whose approval allows the student to proceed with courses as planned.
9. A minimum of 15 semester hours must be completed following the student’s admission to candidacy.
10. Before graduation all graduate students will submit a professional portfolio to the Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Education. For August graduates, portfolios are due the first day of the second summer session and will be returned by the last day of the same session. For May and December graduates, portfolios are due one month prior to graduation. Students are advised to keep a copy of all contents for their own records.
11. To take the Comprehensive Examination, the student must submit a written request to the Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Education at the beginning of his/her last semester.
12. The Comprehensive Examination will be given in Room 211, Education/HS Building, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Exams are usually scheduled for the last Saturday in April, the third Saturday in June, and the first Saturday in December. Please confirm date, time, location, and other pertinent information in advance of the exam. 
13. The Graduate student needs to meet with his/her advisor to confirm completion of graduation requirements: all admission and program requirements have been satisfied, all transcripts of transfer credit have been submitted to and processed by the registrar, the comprehensive examinations have been complete satisfactorily, the overall QPA is at least a 3.0, and no Incompletes remain on the student’s academic record.

Department of Associate Nursing

Department Chair: Mary Jo Kirkpatrick

Associate of Nursing Faculty

Associate Professors: Karen Nabors
Assistant Professors: Mary Jo Kirkpatrick, Brandy Larmon, Clara Rustin, Maria Stephens
Instructors: Barbara Bryan, Allison Caston, Rita Hargett, Mary Helen Ruffin, Adrian Sligh, Pam Thomas

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the Associate of Science in Nursing Program is to prepare nurses to provide care to patients in the community with acute and chronic health care needs where policies and procedures reflect current nursing standards of care and practices. This purpose relates to the Mission of the University by providing general and specialized education for a diverse population of students, but with an emphasis on career preparation for women. The Associate of Science in Nursing Program functions within the College of Nursing and Speech-Language Pathology and the Department of Nursing to provide education which is facilitated by a personalized environment for entry level into professional nursing practice. This process prepares the graduates to assume responsibilities of a registered nurse as health needs change and research findings expand.

Philosophy

The Associate of Science in Nursing Program at Mississippi University for Women is cognizant of global health care needs and emphasizes the health needs of rural Mississippi. The program combines general and specialized education for a diverse population of students, but with an emphasis on career preparation for women. The program for the associate degree nurse prepares the graduate for entry level into professional nursing practice, which neither requires nor precludes further education.

The faculty believe that each person is a biological, psycho-social, cultural, spiritual and intellectual being. This holistic nature is in part unique to the individual and in part shared with all humankind. The person’s nature is basically good or neutral, and the individual strives to satisfy basic needs, as well as to work toward self-actualization. Interaction between the individual and the environment occurs throughout the life span, and follows a sequential, orderly pattern of growth and development. The person is of value to self, family, community and the environment as an individual, regardless of any innate abilities or differences. Therefore the individual has the right to health care opportunities that promote health behaviors, create health environments, and increase access to high quality health care, which can lead toward the realization of the person’s full potential as a human being.

Nursing is one of many professions providing health care to individuals within society as a whole. In its broadest sense, nursing is the application of arts and sciences in assisting the person to maintain and/or recover the optimum level of health or to accept death. Nursing’s functions include the performance of those activities that would ordinarily be performed by the self, if the individual had the strength, will or knowledge. These nursing interventions should be performed in a manner which reduces risk, prevents disease and promotes the patient’s health responsibility, freedom, awareness and dignity as an integral part of society.

Associate degree nursing combines nursing skills with selected principles from the biological, technological, and social sciences. The associate degree nurse utilizes these principles and skills to assess the individual’s level of growth and development and potential assets along the wellness-illness continuum. Therapeutic nursing intervention and instruction are planned and evaluated to assist the person to achieve maximum health or to accept death. The associate degree nurse is prepared to provide care to patients in the community where policies and procedures reflect current nursing standards of care and practice.

Education is a change in individual behavior which evolves from organized learning experiences through the use of critical thinking. It is the process through which a student acquires knowledge, decision-making skills, and understanding of those facts, principles and concepts that underlie a field of endeavor. The student is assisted in integrating the knowledge, communication and psychomotor skills necessary to function effectively in that field of endeavor in a complex, dynamic society.

Learning is a continuous and active process manifested by change reflected in behavior. This learning is best achieved when outcomes of learning are behaviorally defined and attainable through a sequential learning process from the simple to the complex. With recognition of the dependent nature of the student body, the learner is encouraged toward progressive independence. The learning process is facilitated by a personalized environment which re-enforces individual strengths through technological instruction, written communication, oral presentations, individual conferences, small group discussions, and specific planned activities reflecting evidence-based practice.

Associate Degree nursing education is committed to ensuring program effectiveness through strategic planning and collaborative relationships within the community. Through provision of educational opportunities, graduates are prepared to assume the roles of provider of care, manager of care and member of the discipline of nursing in a changing and diverse society. The functions and responsibilities of the associate degree nurse will change as health needs within society change and research findings expand. In preparing for this change and expansion, a learning environment which emphasizes leadership, management, individual accountability, and the need for continued professional and cultural growth is provided.

Student Learning Outcomes

The Associate of Science in Nursing Program prepares individuals to:

1. utilize the nursing process and Maslow’s hierarchy in providing care to an individual or to a group of patients with acute and chronic health care needs.
2. provide therapeutic nursing intervention, including patient instruction, which reflects decisions based on critical thinking, nutrition, pharmacology, communication theory, research findings, and the assessment of patient needs.
3. evaluate the interrelatedness between the patient’s needs, family, community and cultural, ethnic, and social environment.
4. utilize the patient’s level of growth and development and strengths along the wellness-illness continuum in providing care and instruction.
5. provide nursing care where policies and procedures reflect current nursing standards of care and practice. 
6. participate with other members of the health team in the community in managing patient centered care in acute and long term settings.
7. demonstrate personal accountability within the ethical and legal framework of nursing practice.
8. demonstrate the responsibility of maintaining personal, professional, and cultural awareness.

Admission Policy

See Undergraduate Admissions  in this Bulletin for information concerning admission.

Progression Policy - A.S.N. Program

Once admitted to the A.S.N. Program:

1. All non-nursing co-requisite courses must be passed with a grade of C or above before proceeding to the next semester. The biological science courses may be repeated only once.
2. A grade of C or above is required in each required nursing course (NU 112, 114, 115, 116, 124, 125, 126, 144, 145, 214, 215, 216, 224, 225, 228, 235). A student who makes a D or lower in any nursing course is automatically excluded from the A.S.N. program and must petition for readmission. A student may be readmitted only once to the A.S.N. program. If only one course component is failed it is considered as one failure. If more than one course is failed concurrently (in the same semester) it is also considered as one failure. A student who fails to make a C or above in any required nursing course, following readmission is permanently excluded from the A.S.N. program and is ineligible for readmission. See readmission policy for exception. 
3. For each theory nursing course with an accompanying clinical course (NU 114/115, 124/125, 144/145, 214/215, 224/225 or NU 235) a grade of a C or above is required in the theory course with a grade of C or better in the accompanying clinical course in order to progress. If this does not occur, both the theory and the clinical course must be retaken together. If only one course component (theory or clinical) is failed it is considered as one failure; if both theory and clinical components are failed concurrently it is also considered as one failure.
4. A WF in a nursing course or in a biological science course is considered as a failure in that course.
5. A student who fails a nursing course for unsafe practice, unethical or illegal conduct will be dismissed from the program and will not be eligible for readmission to any program in the Department of Nursing.

Readmission Policy-A.S.N. Program

Students may be readmitted to the A.S.N. Program only once. Students who are ineligible to return to the Department of Nursing due to two nursing failures and who have become Licensed Practical Nurses with a current unencumbered Mississippi license and with at least 2 years work experience as an LPN may be considered for a second readmission into the Associate Degree Program.

1. Students must petition in writing to the A.S.N. Readmission Committee.
2. The Readmission Committee will meet in February, May, August, and October on a date determined by the committee. Petitions for readmission for the summer and fall semesters must be submitted by the 10th of April.  Petitions for readmission for the spring semester must be submitted by the 10th of September.
3. Students must obtain an MUW and an overall grade point average of 2.5 prior to readmission to the A.S.N. Program.
4. Students who have been dismissed from the program for unsafe practice, unethical or illegal conduct will be excluded from the A.S.N. Program and will be ineligible for readmission to any program in the Department of Nursing.
5. Generic students who are ineligible for readmission in the B.S.N. nursing program are ineligible for readmission into the Department of Nursing and therefore ineligible for admission into the A.S.N. program.
6. The transcript, clinical record and letter of petition for each student will be reviewed by the Readmission Committee. Within three (3) working days after review, the Committee will make recommendations and notify each student. The Readmission Committee chairperson will then inform the department chair of the committee’s recommendations.
7. If the recommendation of the committee is to readmit the student to the first semester of the generic option or the 2nd summer session  for the advanced placement option the student must compete for a place in the class.  Readmission to the 2nd, 3rd or 4th semesters will be conditional on a space available basis according to the number of faculty and availability of clinical facilities.
8. Students will be readmitted under requirements of the current Undergraduate Bulletin.

Programs

• •  Nursing Major, Associate of Science in Nursing Generic Option, ASN
• •  Nursing Major, Associate of Science in Nursing LPN to ASN Advanced Placement Option, ASN

Department of Baccalaureate Nursing

Department Chair: Tammie L. McCoy

Baccalaureate Nursing Faculty

Professors: Sheila V. Adams, Linda S. Cox, Tammie McCoy
Associate Professor: Deborah Miranda
Instructors: Hannah Bascomb, Mike Calvery, Jolyn Cooke, Sacha Dawkins, Kimberly Beth Howell, Clara Hurd, Jessica Jeremiah, Russell King, Rosemary Marecle, Gladys Mooneyham, Sally Pearson, Debbie Ricks, Cathy Smith, Robin Spann, Tara Sullivan, James Terry Todd, Dana Walker
Emeriti Faculty: Linda S. Cox, Janice Giallourakis

Purpose

The purpose of the Bachelor of Science in  Nursing Program is to prepare a nurse generalist who is a leader in the promotion and maintenance of health and the improvement of health care outcomes across all settings at the local, state, national, and global levels. This purpose relates to the mission of the university by providing strong academic and leadership preparation to both women and men. Utilizing AACN’s The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice, and ANA Standards as guiding standards, the graduate is able to function as a provider of care, designer/manager/coordinator of care and a member of the profession. Graduates from the Baccalaureate nursing program are prepared with a liberal arts core which contributes to the acquisition of professional knowledge. In-depth preparation in the application of critical thinking skills, communication skills, knowledge acquisition, and standards of professional nursing practice enables the graduate to become a life-long learner..

Philosophy

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing faculty at Mississippi University for Women are committed to the learning process and to the professional development of students by providing programs of academic excellence. In accordance with the mission/purpose of MUW and the Department of Nursing, the faculty have developed a philosophy based on the concepts of person, environment, health, and nursing.

Person

Person constitutes a biopsychosocial, spiritual system constantly interacting with and adapting to the environment to achieve and maintain a homeodynamic state. Person is valuable, holistic and worthy of respect and concern. Person may be defined as an individual, family, community, or society and has varying capabilities for independently meeting universal needs. These capabilities are dynamically influenced by structures, gender, value systems, culture, and environments. Person is responsible for meeting health needs and has the right to make necessary decisions and to receive professional assistance in achieving health goals.

Environment

Environment includes all conditions, circumstances, and influences encountered by and affecting person. Environment may be intrapersonal, interpersonal, or extra-personal in nature. The intrapersonal environment is concerned with forces or interactive influences contained within the person. The interpersonal environment is concerned with forces or interactive influences between persons. The extra-personal environment is concerned with forces or interacting influences existing outside the person. Environment affects the continuous process of becoming, evolving, and changing. Person and environment are complementary systems so that the relationship between the two is reciprocal. Change in one system elicits response in the other.

Health

Health is defined by person in accordance with gender, culture, values, and capabilities. Health is a constantly changing state and exists on an illness to wellness continuum. Promotion and facilitation of optimal health is developed in collaboration with person, when possible, and is based on resources available to both the person and the nurse.

Nursing

Nursing, as a profession, combines concepts from the sciences and liberal arts into an applied science and a creative art which focuses on health needs. The science of nursing is an organized body of knowledge derived through scientific research and theory development and applied through critical thinking skills. The art of nursing is the creative and caring application of this knowledge. The scope of nursing practice deals with diverse populations and includes dependent, independent, and interdependent functioning of the nurse within primary, secondary, and tertiary settings. The faculty believes that the scope of nursing practice changes as health care continually evolves, thus the professional nurse must possess the core competencies and scientific knowledge to provide care across all health care settings. Ascribing to AACN’s The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice and ANA Standards, the professional nurse utilizes core knowledge skills to provide quality and safe patient care. .

Teaching/Learning

Learning is considered to be a complex lifelong developmental process involving the interaction of the person with the environment. The teacher and learner share in the challenge of creating an atmosphere which stimulates intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and individual creativity. The teaching-learning process is augmented when the learner actively participates in defining outcomes and assumes responsibility for achieving these outcomes. The teacher serves as a facilitator, counselor, and resource person.

Curriculum Outcomes

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program is designed to prepare a nurse generalist:

1. Synthesize knowledge from the humanities, social and natural sciences as a basis for nursing decisions.
2. Utilize organizational and systems leadership, quality improvement, and safety principles to promote high quality and safe patient care.
3. Integrate nursing research and evidence-based practice into professional nursing practice.
4. Utilize information management and patient care technology in professional nursing practice to improve patient care outcomes and create a safe care environment.
5. Apply knowledge of healthcare policies to professional nursing practice.
6. Collaborate with healthcare providers and consumers for the improvement of patient health outcomes.
7. Provide professional nursing care across the lifespan to culturally diverse individuals, families, and communities in a variety of health care settings.
8. Demonstrates responsibility and accountability for professional nursing values and role development.
9. Utilize research and theory based knowledge in the roles of provider of care, designer/manager/coordinator of care and member of a profession.

Admission Policy

See Undergraduate Admissions  in this bulletin for information concerning admission.

Progression Policy - B.S.N. Program

Once a student is admitted to the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing:

1. A grade of C or above is required in each nursing course.
   1. Nursing courses may be repeated only once, See “Readmission Policy”.
   2. The student who fails to make a C on a second attempt of a failed nursing course or fails a subsequent nursing course is permanently excluded from the Generic Option of the Baccalaureate Nursing Program.
2. A grade of C or above is required in each non-nursing course prior to graduation.
3. A WF in any course is counted as a failure in that course.
4. For each nursing course with an accompanying clinical course, a grade of C or above is required in both courses in order to progress. If this does not occur, both the theory and the clinical course must be retaken together. If only one course component (Theory or clinical) was failed it is considered as one failure; if both theory and clinical components are failed concurrently it is also considered as one failure.
5. Students may be dismissed from the program for unsafe practice, unethical conduct, or illegal conduct. In such cases a student will receive an automatic F in nursing courses affected by the actions.

Readmission Policy - B.S.N. Program (Generic)

1. Students may be admitted to the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing only once after a nursing course failure. (Multiple course failures in one semester count as one failure.) Students who are ineligible to return to the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing due to two nursing course failures and who have become Registered Nurses may be considered for readmission in the RN/BSN Advanced Placement Option.
2. If the recommendation of the committee is to readmit the student. This readmission will be conditional on a space available basis according to the number of faculty and availability of clinical facilities. Students eligible for readmission will be ranked and chosen according to their overall GPA, total nursing GPA, and final grade in retention course.
3. A student who makes a D or lower in a nursing course is automatically excluded from the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing and must:
   1. successfully complete a retention course with a grade of C or better.
   2. petition in writing to the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing Readmission Committee following successful completion of the retention program.
   3. submit to another criminal background check and drug screen with same conditions as upon entry into the program.
4. The student must have obtained an MUW and an overall grade point average of 2.5 prior to readmission.
5. Students will be readmitted under requirements of the current bulletin.
6. Students who have been dismissed for unsafe practice, unethical conduct, or illegal conduct will not be eligible for readmission.

Readmission Policy - B.S.N. Program (Advanced Placement Option)

1. If the recommendation of the committee is to readmit the student. This readmission will be conditional on a space available basis according to the number of faculty and availability of clinical facilities. Students eligible for readmission will be ranked and chosen according to their overall GPA, total nursing GPA, and final grade in retention course.
2. A student who makes a D or lower in a nursing course is automatically excluded from the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing and must:
   1. successfully complete a retention course with a grade of C or better.
   2. petition in writing to the Department of Baccalaureate Nursing Readmission Committee following successful completion of the retention program.
   3. submit to another criminal background check and drug screen with same conditions as upon entry into the program.
3. The student must have obtained an MUW and an overall grade point average of 2.5 prior to readmission.
4. Students will be readmitted under requirements of the current bulletin.
5. Students who have been dismissed for unsafe practice, unethical conduct, or illegal conduct will not be eligible for readmission.

Application to Junior Level

The number of students admitted to the nursing program depends upon the available resources. Any student who expects to enroll in the generic nursing option must complete an application for the nursing program. This application will normally be completed during the fall semester of the Sophomore year (November). Please see “Undergraduate Admission ” in this bulletin for additional information on admission to the junior level. Admission decisions for the generic option are made in January and all required documents must be in the BSN program office by 5 pm on January 20th of each year.

General Degree Requirements

1. A minimum of 128 semester hours earned. 
2. Satisfaction of University core with a C or better (62 hours).
3. Satisfaction of Nursing courses with a C or better (66 hours).
4. Transfer students of regionally accredited community/junior colleges that transfer to MUW will be required to earn at least 50% of the semester hours required for a specific degree at a senior institution (including 25% of the semester hours at MUW) before becoming eligible for any degree.

Programs

• •  Nursing Major, Bachelor of Science in Nursing Generic Option, BSN
• •  Nursing Major, Bachelor of Science in Nursing RN to BSN Advanced Placement Option, BSN

Department of Speech-Language Pathology

Department Chair: Joy Townsend, Interim

Speech-Language Pathology Faculty

Professors: Marie Byrne, Michelle Harmon
Instructors: Donna Burlingame, Lynn M. Hanson, Joy Townsend

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the speech-language pathology undergraduate program is to provide students with a basic understanding of normal and disordered communication as preparation for entrance into graduate school. The program requires majors to have a scientific knowledge base for good decision making skills.

Accreditation

The graduate Speech-Language Pathology Program is accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.

Facilities

The programs are taught in Cromwell Communication Center, the MUW Speech and Hearing Center, and various clinical sites in health care facilities and schools.

Programs

• •  Speech-Language Pathology Major, BS

Department of Graduate Nursing

Department Chair: Johnnie Sue Cooper Wijewardane

Master of Science in Nursing Faculty

Professors: Sheila V. Adams, Tammie L. McCoy, Patricia E. Smyth
Assistant Professors: Sueanne Davidson, Carey McCarter, Johnnie Sue Wijewardane
Instructors: Lorraine Gaddis, Terri Hamill, Shonda Phelon

Purpose

The purpose of the Department of Graduate Nursing is to prepare advanced practice nurses by expanding and refining a broad base of knowledge and skills of baccalaureate education incorporating the experiential background of the professional nurse. This purpose relates to the Mission of the University by providing professional education at the graduate level that emphasizes advanced academic preparation of specialized knowledge and competencies through the process of role mastery.

Philosophy

The purpose of the Master of Science in Nursing Department is to prepare a family nurse practitioner who is a leader in the promotion and maintenance of health and the improvement of health care outcomes across practice settings at the local, state, national and global levels.  This purpose relates to the mission of the university by providing strong academic and leadership preparation to both women and men.  The graduate is able to function as a provider of care, designer/manager/coordinator of care and a member of the profession.  Graduates from teh Master’s Degree nursing program are prepared to use evidence-based strategies that contribute to the acquisition of professional knowledge.  In-depth preparation in the application of advanced management, counseling skills, knowledge application, and standards of professional nursing practice enhances the graduate to contribute further to their professional role in the world wide community.

Curriculum Objectives—Graduate Nursing Program

The Master of Science in Nursing Program is designed to prepare Advanced Practice Nurses who will:

1. Synthesize advanced knowledge of the humanities with biophysical and behavioral sciences as they influence the healthcare system and role development,
2. Integrate theoretical and research knowledge from evidence based practice into primary healthcare,
3. Conduct scientific investigation of issues relevant to primary healthcare and the advanced nurse practice role,
4. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for provision of quality healthcare,
5. Employ an interdisciplinary team approach for the improvement of healthcare delivery,
6. Self-evaluate continuing scholarship, professional growth, and role mastery,
7. Demonstrate advanced competencies for the specialized role of the nurse practitioner.

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Philosophy

The purpose of the Doctorate of Nursing Practice is to prepare nurse practitioners to be leaders in the promotion and maintenance of population health and to improve health care outcomes across practice settings at the local, state, national and global levels.  This purpose relates to the mission of the university by providing strong academic and leadership preparation to both women and men.  The graduate is able to function as a provider of care, designer/manager/coordinator of care, and leader in the nursing profession.  Graduates from the Doctorate of Nursing Practice program are prepared to develop, apply, synthesize, and evaluate evidence-based strategies and their outcomes that contribute to the acquisition of professional knowledge, practice, and improved health care outcomes.  In-depth preparation in the application, analysis, and evaluation of advanced practice management, research interpretation and application, and standards of professional nursing practice enhances the graduate to contribute further to their professional role in the world wide community.