To students looking for a excellent academic college and a school that will look good on your resume this is the college. I would choose this college because of it's high standard. The pros are you will likely get a good job after you attend this school. The con are you need a car to get in and out of town.
USM is a great school. The Long Beach campus has smaller classes but does not have the college campus feel that the Hattiesburg campus does. Good people!
If you plan to attend the USM campus on the coast be aware that some classes not available in Long Beach are either on line or are available in Hattisberg. Also, be warned that not all exams for online classes are on line some online classes that are based in Hattisberg will require a $10.00 proctor fee for EACH exam if you choose to take it in Long Beach. But to not let this stop you from choosing the Long Beach campus. The beach campus has smaller classes. It is a great school. Good people.
The School of Polymers and High Performance Materials at The University of Southern Mississippi (http://www.usm.edu/polymer/) is one of the premiere programs in advanced materials science in the United States. The program has been historically ranked as one of the top three polymer programs worldwide in the field of material science.
The undergraduate and graduate programs are extremely challenging. Undergraduate students take classes in polymer technology that compliment standard curriculum that includes organic chemistry, mathematics and statistics. Graduate students are divided among research groups that are run by well-known faculty members who are often the leaders in their respective fields of study. For graduate students, the training is intensive and requires the development of critical thinking skills. Additionally, students are challenged to present research updates and research proposals in a public forum multiple times during their tenure in the program.
Students both undergraduate and graduate who complete the program join an en ever-growing fraternity of scientists in industry and academia who are considered to be leaders in the field.
I enjoyed attending the University of Southern Mississippi and look forward to being able to go back. Furthering my education and experience is very important to me and they strive to help the students to gain knowledge and experience in their chosen field of study. The admission and registration experience is always smooth and not time consuming as it is in other schools. If a student finds themselves in need of assistance, the staff and faculty are always willing and usually able to give whatever they can back to the students.
