Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will begin offering an Associate of Science degree in fall 2015. The new degree focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and is designed to allow for a more seamless transfer to a four-year university for students majoring in STEM areas. The 60-hour degree will include a larger number of mathematics and science courses within its core requirements than the college’s traditional transfer degree, the Associate of Arts. The college also has two other degrees currently in place, the Associate of Applied Science and the Associate of Applied Science in Occupational Education, both designed for technical and career programs.

Many factors precipitated MGCCC’s development of the new degree option, including national research related to degrees offered by community colleges and MGCCC’s strategic commitments to form partnerships with universities and to enhance student success.  “At the national level, community colleges are expanding their degree offerings and becoming increasingly aware of the need for graduates with strong STEM skills,” said Dr. Jason Pugh, vice president of Teaching and Learning. “The associate of science degree will provide greater possibilities for students in South Mississippi and will be an instrumental component of the four-year engineering degrees to be offered at MGCCC in partnership with Mississippi State University.”

Named a 2015 STEM Jobs Approved College, MGCCC adds the associate of science degree to its portfolio of programs, activities and investments undertaken to enhance the STEM workforce and business climate along the Gulf Coast. The college currently has grants from NASA and the National Science Foundation that provide scholarships and research opportunities to faculty and students, and the college will soon begin construction on a $5 million STEM facility on the Jackson County Campus.  Additionally, a groundbreaking will be held next month for MGCCC’s Nursing and Simulation Center, which will be located in the health care zone on Highway 67 at Tradition.  The new facility will allow the college to double the number of nurses graduating from its Associate Degree Nursing program. MGCCC has also placed student interns in science, technology and engineering work environments; instituted the Gulf Coast Scholars program, which provides scholarships and leadership development for students majoring in STEM fields; and, through its workforce training division, specializes in customized training for companies in STEM fields.

“While we very much understand our role to educate our citizens, we also see our college as playing a vital role in the economic development of the Gulf Coast,” Dr. Mary S. Graham, MGCCC president, said. “We are now trying to create vigorous and effective collaborations within and between our programs, facilities, faculty, staff, students, and resources – including government, community and academic partnerships – that will help drive the economic prosperity of our district, region and state.”

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