University of South Alabama (USA) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Located in Mobile, Alabama, the University of South Alabama offers a plethora of degree options to students as well as many community education courses available to the public. Greek life is active on campus and there are numerous student clubs and organizations from which to choose. Athletics play a big part in life on campus and there are several varsity sports for students to participate in or observe.

The university also offers many unique programs and strives to provide a quality education to a diverse population. There are several academic fields that have achieved national recognition and the school prides itself on its research as well as it educational opportunities. The liberal arts core curriculum provides students with a well-rounded education that prepares them to be successful in whatever field they may choose.

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Information Summary

Ranks 12th in Alabama and 896th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	81.8
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$21,706
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	27 / 1240
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	21 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	74% / 47%
Enrollment Total (all students)	14,834

Academics

USA offers students the opportunity to earn professional certificates, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctorates via ten different schools or colleges of training. Students who wish to pursue advanced education but may not be able to attend traditional classes may choose from a diverse array of distance learning classes and programs available online. Following is a list of the colleges and schools of the university and a brief description of some of the programs that they offer. Students should be aware that the university does not guarantee acceptance into any of the post-baccalaureate programs and should apply separately the program of choice.

College of Allied Health Professions

Students interested in a career in the health industry may choose from two professional certificates, five bachelor programs and six graduate or doctorate programs. The certificates include the Basic EMT Certificate and the Paramedic Certificate. Bachelor’s programs include study in biomedical science, radiologic science, and cardio-respiratory care among others. Students who were accepted under the College of Medicine Early Acceptance Program will obtain an undergraduate degree from this school.

Master’s and doctorate programs in this school include study in occupational, physical and speech therapy. Students may choose to study more than one therapy program and receive the Ph.D. in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Mitchell College of Business

Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), the Mitchell College of Business offers students wishing to become the great business minds of tomorrow the opportunity to earn five different bachelor’s degrees or two masters. Undergraduate students may choose to major in marketing, finance, accounting, management or general business. Masters degrees may be earned in business administration or accounting.

College of Arts and Sciences

This college is the hub of the entire campus. It is here that all students receive training in the university’s core liberal arts curriculum. Students seeking degrees in the natural and social sciences, humanities or arts will spend most of their academic life here. Students wishing to major in such fields as psychology, biology, physics, chemistry or communication will do so under the tutelage of the of the faculty in this department. There are numerous baccalaureate programs available as well as several master’s and doctorate programs. For students who choose to participate in the honors program, this is the college that hosts it.

School of Computer & Information Sciences

The School of Computer and Information Sciences strives to provide an interesting and diverse curriculum designed to educate students seeking a degree as well as business professionals and citizens who are seeking to stay current in the IT field. The school offers individual classes, three bachelor’s programs and two master’s programs. Students may choose to study either computer science or information systems at either the baccalaureate or master’s level, or may choose to study information technology for a bachelor’s degree.

College of Engineering

USA focuses on both teaching and research and students learn in a very hands-on manner. The College of Engineering receives considerable funding from well-known sources such as the Department of Energy, NASA, the National Science Foundation and Chevron. Projects of note include research on the environmental impact of the Gulf oil spill, summer youth camps and educational programs designed to spark an interest in engineering in children. Students may choose undergraduate majors such as chemical, electrical, mechanical, civil or computer engineering and there is also a master’s degree available.

College of Education

Students seeking professions in the teaching industry may earn bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degrees in education. There are several different areas of study including health, special education, physical education and elementary education that students may choose from as well as four different post-graduate choices. Certification in Alabama Class A or AA Professional Teaching is available where appropriate.

School of Continuing Education and Special Programs

This is the public outreach arm of the school. Providing continuing education certificates, programs and courses to individuals and local businesses, the school provides a valuable service by keeping professionals well-educated and current in their fields. The school offers CEU credits, professional certificates, specially designed bachelor’s degrees and an English as a Second Language Program to adults as service to its community.

College of Medicine and College of Nursing

These two colleges are focused on providing the best medical training available to their students. Areas of study are concentrated and students work in both classroom and clinical settings in order to ensure a well-rounded education that will prepare them to be leaders in the medical fields. The College of Medicine provides students with a Ph.D. in Basic Medical Services and the College of Nursing provides a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (Ph.D.) and a Master of Nursing degree.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Unique Programs

This school has unique entry programs designed for high school students. Students that do particularly well in high school should contact the school or review the website to learn more about the programs that are available.

Accelerated College Enrollment Program

Mobile or Baldwin County high school students who are interested in getting a head start on a college career have the option of taking one free class at the university in the fall semester of their senior year of high school. There are a limited number of spots available and students must meet minimum GPA and ACT requirements and have a recommendation from a school counselor. Students interested in learning more about this program should contact the Admissions Officer.

College of Medicine Early Acceptance Program (COMEAP)

This program is designed to select a few students every year that show particular promise throughout their high school career for provisional acceptance into the medical school. Students that are interested in attending medical school at the University of South Alabama and have excelled in advanced high school courses and tested well above average on the ACT or SAT should consider applying for this program.

Those accepted will be enrolled in the Health Pre-Professions Program and will be required to maintain a minimum GPA, enroll full time each semester and complete all of the prerequisite classes at USA. Preference will be given to Alabama, Florida and Mississippi residents, but all students who meet the requirements of the program are encouraged to apply. The deadline for application to this program is December of the student’s senior year of high school.

College of Nursing Early Acceptance Program

Also offered is an early acceptance program for their post-baccalaureate nursing program. Guidelines are very similar to the COMEAP program, except that the student will be accepted provisionally into the professional component of the nursing program instead of the medical school. The deadline for all application materials to be submitted for this program is in February. Students interested in either program should consult the university for additional details.

Honors Program

Students who have excelled throughout their high school careers may be interested in applying for the Honors Program. This program includes interdisciplinary courses in addition to the student’s core and major curriculum as well as honors seminars and a senior project. Some of the benefits of this program include having an honors mentor, graduation with honors, access to the honors center and the option to choose designated honors housing. There are requirements for this program, so students that are interested may contact the Honors Program Director.

Admissions

Undergraduate Admissions

Students entering the university straight out of high school will need to submit an official GED or high school transcript documenting a minimum GPA and completion of core college preparatory classes including English, mathematics, social science, foreign language and natural science. SAT or ACT reports with minimum scores must also be submitted. If a student has taken a minimum amount of college credits from another university and wishes to enter as a freshman, transcripts from all previous institutions of higher learning will need to be submitted as part of the application packet.

Students who do not meet the minimum preparatory class requirements may be admitted with special requirements. In this situation, the student is admitted with the understanding that all deficient courses will be completed with a grade of C or better by the end of the third term in order to remain eligible for enrollment at the university. Most students choose to take care of any deficiencies in the first term but in some cases, it may take longer.

This school offers high school students with exemplary grades and high SAT or ACT scores the opportunity to apply early for admission. In order to be eligible for this, students must also submit a letter of recommendation from a school counselor.

Transfer students and students twenty-three years of age or older have different requirements for admission than students entering straight from high school. The admissions policy is slightly less stringent, so students in this category should contact the school for more information.

Graduate Admissions

Admission requirements to graduate school will vary depending upon the program, but there are a few standard requirements for all applicants. They include submission of official transcripts from all schools attended and test results from any graduate school admissions test that may be required for the program that the student is seeking admission to. Students that obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of South Alabama will not need to submit transcripts as they will automatically be forwarded to the admissions office. If there are documents missing from the student’s permanent USA file, the school will send out a notification.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, federally subsidized loans and work programs. Students wishing to apply for financial aid will need to complete the Free Application for Financial Aid available online and submit it the university.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 311th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Alabama.

Athletics

The Jaguars are members of the Sunbelt Conference and their colors are red, white and blue. The university offers varsity sports including men’s and women’s basketball, tennis, cross country, golf and track and field. Men may additionally choose to participate in football and baseball while women have the additional options of softball, soccer and volleyball.

University of South Alabama