YOU BELONG
WHERE HUMAN SCIENCE AND SERVICE INTERSECT YOU BELONG in applied sciences
You belong in Applied Sciences.
ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Where human science and service intersect, you’ll find graduates from Applied Sciences improving the lives of individuals and communities across the world. Our students find careers as registered dietitians, exercise physiologists, homeland security experts, FBI agents, social workers, elder care specialists, recreation administrators, attorneys, hotel and restaurant managers, event planners, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists, just to name a few. Inside this Viewbook, you will meet students who discovered their futures and their path to becoming inspired leaders and compassionate providers in the School of Applied Sciences.
Experience Matters. Our programs are interdisciplinary, immersive and community engaged. You can mix and match majors and minors and undergraduate (UG) and graduate degrees across our interdisciplinary school to create the perfect educational background for your personal career aspirations. Even better, a growing number of our programs have 4+1 and 3+3 options to reduce the cost and accelerate the pace of obtaining an undergraduate AND graduate degree. Visit sas.olemiss.edu/future to learn more and connect with our faculty and staff. Follow us on social @OleMissSAS to see how we are making a difference every day.
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Applied Gerontology Communication Sciences & Disorders Criminal Justice Dietetics & Nutrition Exercise Science Hospitality Management Law Studies Public Health & Health Sciences Social Work Sport & Recreation Administration LEARN HOW YOU BELONG WHERE HUMAN SCIENCES AND SERVICE INTERSECT.
Improve healthy aging. Strengthen communities.
Recent studies have shown a surge in the American aging population has resulted in a new, booming industry: gerontology. There is a critical need for more highly skilled practitioners who are able to manage the aging public’s wide array of needs across industries, such as health care, law, business, finance, and public policy. That’s where our Applied Gerontology graduates enter the scene. Projected percentage of population For the first time in U.S. history, older adults are projected to outnumber children by 2024.
23.4%
Children under 18
19.8%
15.2% Projected number (millions)
94.7
77.0 76.5
73.6
80.1
49.2
2016
KE Y B EN EF ITS
Adults 65+
22.8%
‘20
‘25
‘30 2034
‘40
‘45
‘50
‘55
2060
Note: 2016 data are estimates not projections. Source: National Population Projections, 2017 www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popproj.html
APPL IED GERONTOLOGY
An interprofessional (IPE) curriculum is paired with community-based, service-learning experiences with real agencies that interface with the public. Besides general education requirements, students who pursue the B.S. in Applied Gerontology take related courses in communication disorders, advanced composition, nutrition and hospitality management, sport and recreation administration, exercise science and general business. Students will learn about the legal environment as it applies to an aging population, human behavior and the social environment, and aging in the 21st century. Students elect a recognized minor or second major to help them specialize in an area related to their career aspirations. Our program is even available in an online minor.
Meet Annabelle
Applied Gerontology | Tyler, Texas Background My brother actually was a senior when I was a freshman, which made me want to come here more. Having an older brother here was an amazing part of my freshman year. My dad also went here. I have a lot of family ties here. Gerontology is the study of aging, directed towards the elderly population, both the medical side and the business side. I am interested in the medical side. I was really close with my grandparents growing up; I watched one grandmother suffer from Alzheimer’s, which was terrible, and two other grandparents had COPD, so that experience I had with them made me have a love and appreciation for the elderly population.
Career Goals
The plan is to go to physicians assistant school to be a physicians (physical) assistant. I kind of want to go back to Texas, but it really depends. I have to get a lot of direct patient care hours to apply, so after I get those and I see which school fits me best, I’ll make a decision on which state. I am currently a volunteer at hospice. It’s a great experience. I’ve tried to prioritize my time with school and volunteering. Every time I’ve gone, I feel so good after leaving; it’s such a heartwarming experience. You’ll go to the nursing home, and you will get closer and closer with these patients.
What makes Applied Gerontology at Ole Miss special? Everyone who’s involved in the department is really excited about the field, which makes me really excited (because I didn’t think anyone knew what it was). But the faculty and staff are excited and supportive. My teacher, Mrs. Cole, is supportive and always gives me opportunities to do things. It’s like a little community. It’s special and small right now. It’s cool being a part of the first couple of people to join this relatively new program.
Advice
Figure out what you want to do after college—I think there are a lot of job opportunities in this field! Be involved. I wasn’t my first year but am now, and it helps to get to know the faculty and staff and get more opportunities.
Meet John
Applied Gerontology | Oxford Background I’ve always helped out with my grandmother’s basic tasks around the house, and I always enjoyed that; I liked sitting and listening to her stories about what life was like. I know I want to help people after I graduate, so this seemed like the best career path to take to do that. I liked that it was also a small major at the time. My grandmother used to be an academic adviser here, and she was searching for majors for me. She said this seemed like an interesting major I might want to look into. I was touring around campus and interviewed with several different majors; I visited with Mrs. Cole and Mrs. Je’Lisa Magee...and something clicked. I liked the way they worked as an interprofessional program, and I liked how it was growing.
Career Goals To be honest with you, when I came here I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I’m still trying to figure it out. When I was at Northwest Mississippi Community College, I was general studies/ business. I went back to general studies then I got into Applied Gerontology here. I’m just trying to find my way and what I’m good at, but I’ve known the whole time that whatever I do, I want to help people and make their lives better. I know when you’re dealing with the elderly community sometimes there’s a stigma of “Oh, it’s sad and depressing,” but it doesn’t have to be. Life is meant to be lived, which is how I view it. If I can help make someone’s life better and make them smile, then I feel like I’ve accomplished something.
Why is Applied Gerontology at Ole Miss so special? I think what makes it unique is the fact that I feel like I’m fulfilling something that I really never knew I wanted to do. I’ve said I want to help people but I’ve never known how. I’ve known that when my grandparents were talking to me, I was passionate about it. I hear about stuff like that every day in my classes while also learning about the science of aging and what goes on mentally and physically. I find that so interesting.
Advice If you get into a career of helping people, you could make someone’s life a lot better. If that appeals to you, then this might be the major for you.
Meet Madison
Communication Sciences & Disorders Jonesboro, Arkansas Background As a senior in high school, I was pretty set on Ole Miss, through coming to the Grove, campus visits, etc. I actually applied as an early entry pharmacy program major. I came for the interviews then decided I didn’t want to do pharmacy. My freshman year I started as a chemistry major and went through all of that. I kind of just felt like I wasn’t in the right place; changed my major to biochemistry, went another year. Finally, sophomore year, I still wasn’t really happy. I had a friend who was sitting in our sorority house dining room and she was doing her phonetics homework, and phonetics is one of the CSD classes. She was over there making speech sounds under her breath, and I asked her, “What are you doing?” She showed me her homework. I told her I was interested in changing my major and asked her what interested her about CSD. From there, she encouraged me to look into it and apply. I reached out to one of the advisers, and the rest is history: here I am!
Career Goals My career goal, short term, is to apply to graduate schools for audiology programs. Long term, I want to be a clinical audiologist.
What makes CSD at Ole Miss special? I think what makes my experience so special is that I’ve gotten to work in a couple difference research labs already. I started working in the research labs the first semester of my junior year. I worked in a lab that was more speech research at first. I got to see an entire different side of it than I am working on right now in audiology. Now I work in audiological research. Last spring semester, I was searching for projects that I could work on for my honors senior thesis. Dr. Rawool wanted to test out a new device that was on the market called “IQ Buds,” which is marketed as an over-the-counter hearing aid. She wanted to test it on adults in different hearing situations, testing with and without the buds. The research is going well; we are halfway done with data collection right now. We still have a ways to go, but I have learned a lot so far.
Advice I want to continue with research throughout my career. I am passionate about working in a clinical setting as a clinical audiologist, but I think that research is so important to stay involved with and up-to-date on in anyone’s current field. I think contributing to that research can give you a sense of pride and accomplishment.
When you improve a person’s ability to communicate, you improve their foundation for life. In Communication Sciences and Disorders, you will learn the anatomy and physiology of speech, language, and auditory processes; how abnormalities in these processes occur; and how speech-language pathologists and audiologists manage these disorders clinically. You will have unique, handson clinical and research opportunities in modern research laboratories that will prepare you to work with adults and children across a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, health departments, industry, research centers, and private practice. No matter what path you choose, you will be equipped to improve the lives of the patients you serve and those who love them most.
KEY B E N E F ITS
COM M U NICATIO N SC IE N CE S AND D ISO RD E RS
Hands-on Clinical Opportunities
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Clinical training with neurotypical children, and children with autism, language, and/or learning challenges Audiology clinic UM Speech and Hearing Clinic
CSD Student Organizations
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NSSLHA Ole Miss Handband (American Sign Language)
Graduate School preparation
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Speech-language pathology Audiology preparation
Research Opportunities
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Collaborate on research projects Present and/or publish your research in modern laboratories
Meet Kornicha Criminal Justice | Sallis Background While I was in high school, a mentor of mine was already enrolled at Ole Miss in a communications program. I admired her tenacity, how much she loved it here, and how much she was immersed in the culture. She brought me down here; she knew I was interested in criminal justice (CJ). So, I toured the campus and immediately fell in love. Everyone was just so nice; the hospitality was there, the faculty was amazing, so there was no turning back at that point. I chose criminal justice because I am interested in its application to law. I wanted to be in a position that if I didn’t go straight to law school, I would still have a plan that was dedicated to my passion—criminal justice. The program just opened up doors to so many sectors pertaining to law, whether it’s research, policy, or implementation. It’s just a broad range of endless possibilities.
Career Goals I would love to be an attorney in the criminal sector. I am also open to other areas of law, such as medical malpractice and civil rights. I am also open to research and being an educator. I believe the teaching/research side is so important because you and your students can address the problems that exist in the criminal justice system. Our generation and generations to come are responsible for filling that knowledge gap, so something in research or policy implementation is still enticing (researching which policy is best suited for the problems in society, making sure they are effective, and making sure we are allocating the right resources for those laws.)
What makes CJ at Ole Miss special? I would definitely say the faculty. They are so admirable. They come from different sectors in academia, the U.S. Military or U.S. Armed Forces, and the federal side of the justice system. They are passionate about the field and students getting hands-on experience to pursue our goals and purposes. They also push us towards our potential in areas that we didn’t know prior to being in this program.
Advice I would say if you have the slightest interest in the CJ program, pursue it. The CJ program immerses you in so many different areas of the field. The opportunities are endless. You will love the program, faculty, curriculum, and the practicality.
Discover solutions for a safer, more just world and healthier, happier communities. Students like Kornicha will tell you that your teachers make all the difference in Criminal Justice, and that they’re a big part of why the program is one of the Top 5 majors on campus. Faculty have a huge range of academic and real-world experience in legal studies, policing, courts, and corrections. They are experts in teaching and research across criminal justice, criminology, victimology, race and crime, and homeland security (just to name a few). Why does that matter to you? Your teachers will incorporate the most current, cutting-edge research and evidenced-based practices into what they bring to the classroom everyday.
KE Y B ENEFI TS CRI MINAL JUSTIC E • • •
Students get hands-on internship or in-field experience before graduation. Program is nationally recognized for student research and service. Department leader (below, center) has been recognized as the No. 1 criminologist in the world in terms of peer-reviewed, scholarly publications.
Faculty will share real-world experiences that will help prepare you for your future career and help you meet employers who trust our program to produce outstanding graduates. You will not only receive a world-class education; you will also have top-notch field experiences and networking opportunities that can lead to employment in a variety of local, state, and federal governmental agencies, law-related professions, and the private sector.
Emphasis areas allow for specialization based on student’s career goals, including:
Corrections
YOU WILL CONNECT WITH PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD.
Law Enforcement Homeland Security
Meet Brittney
Dietetics and Nutrition | Wesson Background Ole Miss was my first and only choice. I knew they had the best of the best programs in our state, so I didn’t look anywhere else. I’m the first to go to a university and the second to go to college in my family. Dietetics and Nutrition wasn’t my first choice. I changed my major four times and finally my adviser told me I had to pick something. All I knew was I wanted to be a dentist. She asked me what I do at home, and I told her my mom is a “health-freak,” and I’ve grown up that way. I tried Dietetics and Nutrition; I fell in love with the degree and the department. People don’t realize nutrition is a big part of dental health, as well as medicine. A lot of what you eat factors into how you take care of your teeth. I’m glad I have this background because not only will I learn dentistry, I can also share what I know from this department. I’m glad I chose Dietetics and Nutrition.
Career Goals I am following the health sciences emphasis because I want to go to dental school.
What makes Dietetics and Nutrition at Ole Miss special?
I think this program is so special because of the faculty. To me, something that is very important is going into an environment that feels caring and loving and that you feel a part of. This faculty is always willing to help in anyway. You walk in, and they know who you are. We are like a small family, which is important.
Advice It’s a great choice. Don’t limit your options. People come to a university and they think they are going to do one thing. I did that, and two years later I’m not doing what I thought I would. I think it was the best decision I ever made. I made close friends and met amazing faculty. Go in with an open mind.
Translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living. About half of American adults experience preventable, chronic diseases, many of which are related to poor quality eating habits. That’s where our Dietetics and Nutrition graduates come in—from school nutrition professionals, who help build lifelong, healthy eating habits in children, to Registered Dietitian Nutritionists who provide evidence-based nutrition advice to individuals and health care professionals to meet health and wellness goals and prevent or treat illness for people of all ages.
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Graduates eligible to take the Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR) exam. Graduates may choose to complete a supervised practice program that will make them eligible to take the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) exam. NDTR’s and RDN’s are the health care professionals who have extensive knowledge of foods and are able to provide safe, evidence-based nutrition advice to individuals/institutions. The Dietetics emphasis area is the only emphasis area accredited by the Accreditation Council of Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
KEY BENEFITS
D I E T E T I C S & N UT RI T I ON
Emphasis areas allow for specialization based on student’s career goals, including:
dietetics
Students who plan to continue their education in a healthrelated profession will find the health sciences emphasis has enough flexibility to allow for an individualized undergraduate course plan. You will be able to meet the pre-requisites of your preferred professional school and have plenty of elective hours to allow for an optional minor.
Students completing the child nutrition emphasis area will be prepared for a career as a school nutrition professional—a career with competitive salaries, opportunities to advance professionally and a convenient work schedule—who influences child nutrition daily through meal service. This is a career path to help create a healthier generation and make a difference in the lives of children. programs.
health sciences
child nutrition
Students can interface with the Institute of Child Nutrition, the only federally-funded program of its kind dedicated to applied research, education and training, and technical assistance for child nutrition.
Meet Raksha
Exercise Science | Greenville Background I have grown up in Mississippi my entire life and thought I always wanted to leave the state for college. When senior year came around at the Mississippi School for Math and Science, I attempted to do so and made a housing deposit to another university. Then I came to the Ole Miss campus April of my senior year to stay with a friend, and we were just walking around campus when I realized the atmosphere and welcoming feeling I felt here was not what I experienced at that the other campus. Since my offer for the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and scholarships were still standing, I switched everything over and ended up coming to Ole Miss—a decision I don’t regret! I started off as a biology major, but I needed to take an extra elective class during the second semester of sophomore year. One of my friends recommended the Exercise Science (ES) department because the classes were really interesting. I ended up taking the course ES 391: Trends and Topics in ES with Dr. Jeremy Loenneke. He was extremely knowledgeable, and I really enjoyed the way he taught. It was more of a discussion class and actually processing the material versus just memorizing the facts. I approached him about doing my honors college thesis research under his supervision. Once he agreed and I joined his lab, it reaffirmed my decision to switch to ES.
Career Goals I just got accepted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine! All of my ES classes have emphasized the muscles, bones and joints, and how the body moves. With my knowledge of exercise science and my love for kids, I would love to connect the two and ultimately go into pediatric rheumatology.
What makes Exercise Science at Ole Miss special? When I started working in the lab, I felt the family atmosphere of the ES program. It’s a lot smaller than other programs, and I really like that. I’m close to a lot of the professors already, even if I haven’t taken a class with them, just seeing them around the department. The academic adviser for the program is responsible for all of the students, and he takes a personal interest in all of us—another thing that really drew me towards the program. Every graduating student has to do a practicum or internship their senior year, so you are getting that “real life” experience in college. So, if you want to go into PT or OT or you want to go to medical school, there are so many different opportunities within the ES program that can really prepare you.
Advice Don’t be scared of the opportunities you can get in ES program. There are a lot of things that the professors, advisers, and other students have experiences with, so if someone brings up an opportunity for you and you’re not really expecting it, take it and run with it.
TRAIN WITH THE PROS IN THE SEC.
MAXIMIZE INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE.
Exercise Science graduate Raksha Chatokondi staking her flag on the map at UMMC in Jackson, where she now attends the School of Medicine.
The job opportunites in Exercise science are projected to grow faster* than average in the fields of physical and occupational therapy, exercise physiology, and fitness over the next five years. For an exciting and rewarding career in the field, you need the knowledge from trusted experts in exercise science and practical experience to compete in today’s market. Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Our internationally renowned faculty will engage you in the classroom and coach you through a real-world, hands-on internship or practicum.
K EY BENEF I TS
E XERCISE SCIENCE • • •
Connect with advisers in the Office of Health Professions Advising to optimize your potential for pre-professional programs. Engage in opportunities for first-year research. If you thrive in research, you can apply to our 4+1 bachelor’s and master’s program and continue your research in our Health and Kineisiology Ph.D. program. *Bureau of Labor Statistics
Meet Madison Hospitality Management White Hall, Arkansas
Background I originally came here for forensic chemistry, but I’ve always wanted to do hospitality. My hobbies were cooking and constantly trying to plan things. I love watching the Food Network and TLC. I’ve always wanted to be a chef or a wedding planner, but for some reason I went through a weird thing where I thought forensic chemistry was my thing but didn’t like it. So I took an aptitude test, and my strongest scores were in hospitality areas. What a good idea! I’ve worked for One Fine Day, which is a wedding planner in Oxford. Currently, I work at *Snackbar as a hostess, and I love it. Oxford has a cool service industry community with really cool people, and it’s fun. I like knowing about guests and catering to their needs when they come in.
Career Goals I want to own my own business, whether it’s a restaurant, event planning, or a hybrid of both. I want to be the *John Currence of somewhere outside the Oxford market.
What makes Hospitality Management at Ole Miss special? All of the professors are really passionate about hospitality, and it’s inspiring. Through the program, I’ve been able to work with a lot of people in the community since I worked with One Fine Day and the *City Grocery Restaurant Group. I’ve learned so much. The HM major is so close knit, and we help each other.
Advice Try Hospitality Management! You’ll most likely enjoy it. Everyone is lovely in the best, crazy way. You’ll find a career—it’s networking. And talk to your teachers!
Practical Experience Promise Maddie is like so many Hospitality Management students who get to work at local businesses run by the industry’s best, including James Beard Award Winning chefs, John Currence and Vishwesh Bhatt of the City Grocery Group (home of critically acclaimed restaurants, City Grocery and Snackbar). Not only do students get handson work experience and internship hours with some of the South’s best dining establishments, they also work with local boutique and corporate hotels, catering companies, event planners, city and university tourism, and the program’s own 200 hours work experience 400 hours internship restaurant, Lenoir Dining. We even have an intern at The Alluvian Hotel and Spa in Greenwood!
This is Mississippi.
Hospitality is what we do best.
On-site Certified Green restaurant gives students experience in sustainability business practices.
• Students develop strong relationships extending beyond graduation with industryexperienced faculty mentors. • Students learn key career entry-level skills in: • technology innovation • digital trends • financial management, marketing • human resources and communication
There is no better place to study Hospitality Management than Oxford, Mississippi. Thriving tourism and local support for university and community events, a buzzing restaurant scene, and a plethora of locally-owned and operated hotels give our students all the opportunity to flex their hospitality management muscles in exciting internships, here and throughout the U.S. Students can learn hospitality at its finest right here on campus by being a part of operations management at the Inn at Ole Miss (pictured below), executing a welcoming restaurant experience at the department’s Lenoir Dining (left), or being a part of the multiple Aramark foodservice establishments.
K EY B ENEFITS Hospitality Management
event management
Emphasis areas allow for specialization based on students’ career goals, including: lodging food service
Meet Jessi
Law Studies | Franklin, Tennessee Background I started at the university for psychology. I realized that was an advocacy path that I enjoyed, but I would rather advocate through the legal realm. I came here, and when I passed by the law school, I turned to my mom and said, “This is where I will be one day.” I came here and did the Law Studies 3+3 program for undergrad, and now I am at the Robert C. Khayat School of Law. The deciding factor was John Grisham, reading his books and learning what Ole Miss taught him about the law. That was how I chose to look at Ole Miss. When I came here, it fell into place. I talked to advisers and faculty in the School of Applied Sciences who told me about the 3+3 program—the accelerated law program. I figured out I could jump start my law career through attending an amazing undergraduate university that would prepare me for law school...then stay for an amazing law school. Since high school I was interested in the legal realm. I really enjoyed learning how laws function in our society. So, I decided what when I came to OM I would major in legal studies to get a taste and see if it was really something I wanted to go to into. I learned it was something I was really passionate about, which is learning about laws and helping people through the legal system.
Career Goals
My overall career goal is to advocate for people, to help them understand what the laws are, and to guide them through the parameters of our legal system through contracts or wills and estate—help people figure out what they can do to better themselves and prepare themselves. My end goal is to become a Law Studies professors to pay it forward for all my professors did for me.
What makes Law Studies at Ole Miss special? I already knew professors who would teach me in law school because they taught me in 3+3 Law Studies, like Professor William Berry who taught me LA 491 (Advanced Studies in Law)—the class that teaches you how lawyers should think, how to answer LSAT questions, and how to get through the process of applying to law school. I learned legal research and writing under Melissa Jones (pictured across, bottom), who is just an incredible professor. She pulled me out of my shell and made me want to explore the profession more. She is very approachable and cares deeply about her students. At this point in my life, she is my greatest inspiration. I learned a plethora of rules from Professor Bill Luckett, who has been an incredible civil litigator for years; so may criminal law aspects from Professor Danny Hall; and wills and estates from Professor Robert Mongue, who is a great asset in elder law.
Advice
I love learning about laws and how laws interact with and shape our society. I realized that you can advocate for people and help people by learning the law and assisting them through their legal issues.
Injustice anywhere Is a threat to justice everywhere.
*Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Law Studies offers two unique pathways to your future in the legal profession. Are you are looking for a program to prepare you for the rigors of law school and become a practicing attorney? Or perhaps you want to work as a legal assistant, practicing alongside a licensed attorney. No matter which path you choose, our Law Studies program prepares you for the demands of the legal realm. Learn the legal research and writing, legal terminology, civil litigation, and criminal laws and procedures you will need in the real word taught by professors who have practiced law and criminal justice for years.
KEY BENEFITS LAW STUDIES •
• • •
Faculty have legal expertise and real-world experience in the field, offering students a unique, firsthand perspective and networking opportunities in the legal community. All students get in-field, internship experience with legal professionals before graduation. UM School of Law professors connect with students through varied methods of instruction. Access to Justice course gives students the opportunity to get experience by helping populations without appropriate access to legal services.
Emphasis areas allow for specialization based on students’ career goals, including:
A C C E L E R AT E D L A W EMPHASIS
Fourth-year requirements satisfied by completing first-year law school classes at the *UM School of Law. *pending adm ission into UM Law
PARALEGAL EMPHASIS
Meet Tess
Public Health and Health Sciences* Portland, Oregon Background We moved to Oxford for my husband’s job with Ole Miss Football Academics. I got involved with Ole Miss right away due to his position as well as our two daughters attending Willie Price Lab School. I have been teaching yoga at the school for over three years and implemented the garden program two years ago. Two professors from the School of Education used my yoga program as a research project, and we developed a working relationship from that point forward. I served as a FoodCorps service member at Oxford School District for a year and truly enjoyed getting to work with children, gardens, food, and the community. Through my year of service, I was able to more in-depth my knowledge of food injustice and institutional racism that happened within school food. I knew I wanted to continue work in this area, but not as a traditional teacher. I began exploring degrees and what would make the most sense for my interests with yoga, food, and gardening. When I came across *Health Promotions, it appears to be a perfect fit for me to develop the tools to work within schools and communities to help change the health statistics for kids.
Career Goals Food is medicine, and I believe helping educate our youngest generations about the importance of a healthy diet and where our food comes from will have a significant impact on their lives. I want to work in a farm-to-school setting on a large scale, helping to make policy and educational change for kids. I want students to see fresh, healthy food in their cafeterias.
What makes PHHS at Ole Miss special? *Health Promotions at UM is special and unique because it provides the groundwork and theoretical background of Health Promotions but then allows you to explore what that means for you as the student and how you can make an impact. There isn’t one way to become a Health Promotions Specialist, and the courses allow you to explore all the different areas.
Advice My advice would be to think outside the box. There are so many ways to use a Health Promotions degree that aren’t your traditional paths but are changing communities and the health of our society.
K EY B E N E F ITS PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SCIENCE •
•
Through practical application built into the curriculum, you will enjoy hands-on experience and networking opportunities that can lead to successful job placement or graduate school admission. Graduates are prepared for employment or graduate school in public health, community health or allied health professions such as physical therapy or other medical related professions.
*Tess is a master’s grad in Health Promotions. The new undergraduate program is called Public Health & Health Sciences.
THOSE WITH HEALTH HAVE HOPE.
PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVING. Learn the science of public health and health behavior. Design health programs to improve the health and well-being among individuals and communities everywhere. Our program will prepare you to be a change maker across careers in public health, health education, community health, worksite health, global health and other health-related professions.
EM PHA S I S A REA COMMUNITY HEALTH This emphasis area is designed to develop rich foundational and applied knowledge in the area of health promotion, community health, and public health. You may select professional electives and special topics that align with your public health passions to accompany practical application and coursework in program planning and evaluation.
EM PHA S I S A REA HEALTH SCIENCES This emphasis area will prepare you for graduate education in medicine, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training and other health related professions.
Meet Morgan Social Work | New Abany
Background I’m from a small Mississippi town. Everyone goes to community college, but I took the leap straight to Ole Miss. I interned at a non-profit in Thailand that works in the red-light district, providing holistic healing. There was a social worker there. I didn’t know why she was there because before this Social Work progam, I associated social work with Department of Public Safety and Child Protective Services, not with all of other amazing things you can do with social work. I was in Thailand, out of my comfort zone; but she was there, and she was incredible. She extended to them all of the values of social work—social justice, dignity, and the worth of a human being. She lavished that on them, and it was so influential. It really changed the way I saw social work as a profession. It broadened social work for me. I changed my major. From there, there’s been such confirmation that this is where I am supposed to be. It’s a way I can love people and love them well. I’m surround by people who have the same values as me: they see the importance of other people, the value in others and the worth of them. Social justice is a concept and a value. It’s been really cool.
Career Goals I’m interested in getting my Master of Social Work. I think part of the reason I love social work is that I can do anything. I can pursue a Ph.D. and be a professor or go into practice, policy, or advocacy work. I would love to do something along those lines, but right now I’m unsure.
What makes Social Work at Ole Miss special? Something that I have loved about the Social Work department here is the professor to student connections. I’ve met so many professors who are so knowledgeable about things that they are passionate about. They share that and invite students to join them. They encourage and rally behind me in what I’m passionate about. They push me forward to do things, like a big presentation in front of the entire Mississippi-Alabama Social Work Conference we hosted here. The way the professors relate and connect to their students and care genuinely for us is so unique. I’m so thankful for them and all they do.
Advice Take advantage of the resources and opportunities here—the professors and the people in the community. Ole Miss is a very unique place in Mississippi. The people are passionate, and they care. Whether its protesting or volunteering or researching, there are so many people here who are passionate. Many people don’t think about that when they think about Ole Miss. When you think beyond all those stereotypes we have...there are amazing people here.
Social workers relieve suffering, fight against social injustice and improve lives and communities. Social workers help people in need. You will learn how to help people get needed services or undertake individual, family or group counseling or therapy; support communities to provide or improve social and health services; and participate in the formation or change of social policy across a variety of industries.
K EY BENEFITS SOCIAL WORK • •
Get hands-on field experience before graduation. Learn from experts in the field of social work with real-world experience in practice.
• Voter Empowerment
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Job outlook is projected to grow 15% from 20162026, much faster than average. 100% pass rate for our Master of Social Work Program
CAREER SETTINGS • Health care • Criminal justice • Education • Government agencies • Elder care
• Adoption and foster care • Military and Veteran services • Non-profit • Community organizations
Meet Alahaje
Sport & Recreation Administration Horn Lake Background
Senior year of high school, as I was looking at all the schools, I wanted to go somewhere far enough away, but not too far. If I need my parents or if they need me, they are only an hour away. My parents, like a lot of international parents, wanted their children to go into the medical field. They also instilled in me that I was going to be a doctor or nurse. I always said, “Ok, I’m going to do what my parents say.” That’s the good thing about college. Your freshman year, you’re experimenting with what you want to do—you get the independence. I thought to myself when I started those classes, it wasn’t something I enjoyed. When I talked to my friend who said his major was sport and recreation administration, I thought “Wait, we have that degree? Sports are my life and where I’m happiest.”
Career Goals Once I switched majors and classes, my grades improved because it was something I enjoyed. I met Coordinator of Advising, Recruitment and Retention, Bradley Jenkins, who is my favorite person on this campus; he told me if this was something I wanted to do and if it was something I wanted to do long term, why don’t I just switch. At the time, I was already working with the football team, so I was already setting myself up for a career in sports. Once I switched, I felt a new passion for school. I was paying more attention; I understood it easier.
What makes SRA at Ole Miss special? When I joined the program, there were a core group of kids, maybe 15-20 kids, and we all have the same core classes. We see each other every day and interact with each other. After a while, I found myself relying on those people not just in the classroom but also outside the classroom; if I need something, I know who I can call, and vice versa. We built a bond. In other classes, it was larger, and we weren’t going to interact if we didn’t already know each other. But in SRA, it’s a core group.
Advice Being an African American student, I was always told not to go to Ole Miss because of the connotations or history. I’ve personally never experienced that. Don’t be afraid to break the barrier. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. You never know how it will set you up for your future.
THIS IS THE SEC.
We eat, breathe, and sleep sports and recreation. Sport and Recreation Administration is the study of the research, planning, management, evaluation, and marketing that drive it all. When you think of all the sporting events and recreational programs you’ve enjoyed with friends and family over the years, you may not realize there was a team of professionals behind the scenes that made those memories possible. Sport and recreation professionals specialize in understanding all of the intricate details that go into making professional, college, and community sports and recreation possible— legal issues, facilities planning, operations management, the business of sports, sports marketing communications, sports economics and finance, and programming, just to name a few. Our graduates are those memory makers.
KEY BENEFITS SPORT AND RECREATION ADMINISTRATION •
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Get experiential learning opportunities in planning, developing, and leading sporting events and recreational programs. Develop strong relationships with industryexperienced faculty mentors. Opportunity to complete “4+1” bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Sport & Recreation Administration
Meet Mackenzie
Background
Sport & Recreation Administration Wichita Falls, Texas
A lot of people ask me why Ole Miss, since I’m about 10 hours from home. I visited Arkansas, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, you name it. I came here, and loved it. I compared everything back to Ole Miss. I took that as a sign. I knew I could fit in and do well here. Oxford has the small town feel, while still being home to an SEC school. I couldn’t picture myself anywhere else. I played sports in high school—softball, basketball, track, tennis, and volleyball. My senior year, my volleyball team made school history and went to the regional tournament. I was named to the Texas Scouts Coaches Association All State Team, and I was debating playing at a small school for volleyball but knew my career was going to be more important. But I love sports.
Career Goals
I want to be a sports agent. A lot of people, with me being a girl, think it’s different. I knew it would be cool to continue sports even though I wasn’t playing in college, so I looked around for sports programs. I came here and met with Mrs. Kelley Jenkins junior year of high school. She told us the sports program here was pretty new. Once I came, I liked the legal aspect of it. I liked negotiating. I know player’s potential. Most sports agents either played in the majors or have a law degree. Obviously, it’s going to be a very hard industry to get myself into, but, I know I can do it. I am taking the LSAT in November, then from there I will apply to law schools. I am looking at schools that have a specific sport concentration, but a lot don’t. Ole Miss does. I feel like any law degree is good, but I want to be in classes that I enjoy and that intrigue me. Ole Miss offers NCAA law, which I think is so cool. A law degree with a sport concentration—it makes me excited to talk about it because I can’t wait.
What makes SRA at Ole Miss special?
I have taken classes from marketing to law, which I love. It’s very hands on in our major. All of our professors believe that projects and presentations needs to outweigh just tests. Being able to have those abilities, was something I was very impressed with. In the classes, I’ve learned a lot. With sports marketing class, I’m going with other students to compete in the Sports Marketing Association conference case study. So, we get there, we get a case, and we have 24 hours to prepare then compete.
Advice I am the only one from my grade that went out of state. I like being different and setting my own path. I knew I needed to do something that I enjoy. I’ve been around sports my entire life and will continue to. I could talk stats and plays for hours, and people ask me, “How?” But, that’s just what I’ve been around and what I’m comfortable with. I obviously love it and want my career to be something I love.
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