University of South Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
The University of South Alabama (USA) is a comprehensive public institution that was founded in 1963. The university has experience continual growth in the size of the student body (presently close to 15,000 total with 2800 graduate students) and in campus facilities. Presently the campus is undergoing construction projects totally $370 million in value. The university is composed of seven colleges and two schools as well as two hospitals and the Mitchell Cancer Center. USA includes the Colleges of Allied Health, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Medicine, and Nursing and the Schools of Continuing Education and Computer and Information Science. The university offers 23 master’s degree programs, 4 professional doctorate programs, and 4 PhD programs.
The Community
The university is located in Mobile, Alabama a city on the bay by the Gulf of Mexico. First settled in 1559, Mobile has a long history as a seaport and center of commerce. Mobile is known to many for its historic neighborhoods, live oak trees, and Mardis Gras. The city offers a variety of cultural and entertainment options including the popular nearby beaches and water related activities. The mild climate of the Gulf Coast has helped attract an increasing population and economic growth. The Mobile metropolitan area has over 500,000 residents.
Programs of Study
The University of South Alabama offers degrees in a variety of health science areas. This includes master’s degrees in nursing, physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, and speech and hearing sciences. In addition the doctor’s degrees are offered in medicine, audiology, physical therapy, and nursing. PhD degrees are offered in communication sciences and disorders and in basic medical sciences.
In addition to degrees in the health sciences, USA offers a variety of other graduate degrees. Included are master’s degrees in civil, chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering. Graduate degrees in education are also offered: Master of Education, Master of Science, Educational Specialist, and the Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Development. Business related degrees include the MBA and Master of Accounting. Also offered are degrees in the sciences and humanities including master’s degrees in biological sciences, marine sciences, environmental toxicology, mathematics, communication, English, history, public administration, psychology, and sociology. Ph.D. degrees in marine sciences and in counseling and clinical psychology are also available. A master’s degree is also offered in computer and information sciences.
Master’s degree programs require a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit. Many programs require or offer the option of a thesis. Many programs offer some or all courses online or partially online. All programs require some sort of sort of comprehensive evaluation of the accomplishments of students as they near the finish of their programs. Doctoral programs require additional course work, training, scholarship, and research beyond the master’s degree level.
Facilities and Resources
Research and scholarly activity take place primarily on the 1200 acre main campus in suburban west Mobile. The campus houses the academic colleges and most of the research related buildings. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab located on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico supports a variety of marine-
based research. In recent years there has been a major building program on the main campus with currently six buildings under construction or recently completed. The campus is served by an internal transportation system connecting its many buildings. On campus housing is available as well as plentiful nearby housing.
All graduate students have access to email, digital access to libraries, computer labs, wireless internet, and other computer related resources. Graduate students have access to a supercomputer through the Alabama Supercomputer network. The university offers a variety of online and internet assisted instruction as well as traditional classroom instruction.
The libraries of the University of South Alabama consist of the University Library, the Charles M. Baugh Biomedical Library, Mitchell College of Business Learning Resource Center, University Archives, Medical Center Library, and the Children and Women’s Hospital Library. A large number of national and international electronic databases provide convenient access to documents and papers.
Well equipped modern research labs are available to support graduate students in a variety of disciplines. A great variety of technologically sophisticated instrumentation and equipment is housed in different facilities on campus.
Expenses
The current resident in-state tuition for graduate students is $300 per semester hour. The current out-of-state tuition for graduate students is $600 per semester hour. The current tuition for graduate web based courses regardless of residency is $366 per semester hour. Graduate students are subject to a few additional fees such as registration fees.
Reasonably priced on campus housing is available as well as plentiful nearby housing.
Financial Aid
Approximately 175 graduate assistantships are funded each year from a variety of sources. Almost every USA graduate program has some graduate assistantships to award. Each graduate assistantship provides full payment of in-state or out-of-state tuition and also furnishes a stipend. Stipend amounts vary by program but run from $6000 to $14,000 per academic year. Assistantships require the student to participate in up to 20 hours per week of educationally related activities such as research or teaching. For information on assistantships the individual graduate programs should be contacted. In addition graduate students are often eligible for traditional financial aid and are frequent recipients of a variety of scholarships.
How to Apply
USA admission process has two levels of review. The Graduate School sets general admission requirements and each graduate program may specify additional requirements. All programs require applicants to take a recognized standardized test, usually the GRE.
Applications for admission are not processed until all credentials required have been received. Prospective students may apply online or receive further information at: http://www.southalabama.edu/admissions/grad.html
International Students
The University of South Alabama has a large international student population of over 1000 students from 99 countries. USA has a fully staffed office dedicated to the serving the needs of international students. Campus and recreational activities at the University of South Alabama are designed to augment the academic pursuits of students. An active Council of International Students Organization (CISO) also represents the social interests of International Students. For more information concerning international admissions please contact the Office of International Services.
Graduate Programs, Graduate Directors/Coordinators
The Graduate School, Dr. B. Keith Harrison, 251 460 6310,
Accounting (M.Ac.), Dr. John Gamble
Audiology (D. Aud.) Dr. Julio Turrens/Dr. Robert Moore
Basic Medical Sciences (Ph.D.) Dr. Ron Balczon
Biological Sciences (M.S.) Dr. S.L. Varghese/Dr. Brian Axsmith
Business Administration (M.B.A.) Dr. John Gamble
Chemical Engineering (M.S.), Dr. Tom Thomas/Dr. Nick Sylvester
Civil Engineering (M.S.) , Dr. Tom Thomas/Dr. Scott Douglass
Communication (M.A.) Dr. S.L. Varghese/Dr. Vanessa Murphree
Communication Sciences and Disorders (Ph.D.) Dr. Julio Turrens/Dr. Robert Moore
Computer and Information Sciences (M.S.), Dr. Roy Daigle
Education (M.Ed., M.S., Ed.Spec.), Dr. Abigail Baxter
Electrical Engineering (M.S.), Dr. Tom Thomas/Dr. Arifur Rahman
English (M.A.) Dr. S.L. Varghese/Dr. Ellen Harrington
Environmental Toxicology (M.S.), Dr. David Forbes
History (M.A.) Dr. S.L. Varghese/Dr. Martha Jane Brazy
Instructional Design and Development (Ph.D.) Dr. Abigail Baxter
Marine Sciences (M.S., Ph.D.) Dr. S.L. Varghese/Dr. Ron Kiene
Mathematics (M.S.) Dr. S.L. Varghese/Dr. Dan Silver
Mechanical Engineering (M.S.), Dr. Tom Thomas/Dr. Anh-Vu Phan
Medicine (M.D.) Dr. Sam Strada
Nursing (M.S., D.N.P.), Dr. Rosemary Rhodes
Occupational Therapy (M.S.) Dr Julio Turrens/Dr. Rebecca I. Estes
Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) Dr Julio Turrens/Dr. Dennis Fell
Physician Asst. Studies (M.H.S.) Dr Julio Turrens/Dr. Zari Aliabvadi
Psychology (M.S., Ph.D.) Dr. S.L. Varghese /Dr. Lisa Turner (M.S.)/Dr. Martin Rohling (Ph.D.)
Public Administration (M.P.A.) Dr. S.L. Varghese/Dr. Sam Fisher
Sociology (M.A.) Dr. S.L. Varghese /Dr. Nicole Carr
Speech and Hearing Sciences (M.S.) Dr Julio Turrens /Dr. Robert Moore
Currently Offered Completely Online Programs
Educational Administration (Class A Certification for Alabama) and M. Ed.
Instructional Design and Development (M.S.)
Educational Media (Class A Certification in Library Media for Alabama) and M. Ed.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) (Class A Certification in ESOL for Alabama) and M. Ed.
Reading Teacher (Class A Certification in Reading Specialist for Alabama) and M. Ed.
Special Education
Gifted Education (Class A Certification for Alabama) and M. Ed.
Nursing Programs
RN to BSN Track for Associate Degree/Diploma Prepared RNs
RN to MSN (for associate & diploma RNs that do not hold a BS/BA degree)
RN to MSN (for associate & diploma RNs with a BS/BA in a non-nursing discipline)
Doctor of Nursing Practice