Rust College

Accounting

The Accounting Program at Rust College provides education and training to individuals who plan to pursue careers as professional accountants in consulting, business, government, and industry. The Bachelor of Science degree provides a general business foundation including courses in business statistics, business finance, and information systems. Students complete an internship that supports the development of interpersonal, teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Biology

The Bachelor of Science in Biology degree offers students a rigorous academic experience focused on the study of living organisms and their interactions with the environment. Students explore diverse areas of biology, including genetics, ecology, microbiology, and physiology. The program culminates in a capstone project allowing students to conduct independent research or address real-world issues in biology.

Biology Education

A secondary education licensure program offered by the Division of Education in collaboration with the Division of Science and Mathematics, intended for those who wish to teach biology at the high school level. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher in all major courses and follow MDE Praxis guidelines to maintain licensure.

Business Administration

Students who elect to major in business administration seek a career in business but do not desire to specialize in a specific functional area. The degree offers a broader range of business knowledge for students seeking careers in management or in developing a small business. The major provides the background needed for entry-level position in business.

Business Administration

The associate degree in business administration affords students seeking entry level positions in business with no desire to specialize in a specific functional area. The degree offers a broader range of business knowledge for students and prepares students who seek a higher degree in an area not afforded by the college.

Business Education

The student majoring in the Business Education Program must first meet the admission requirements in Education. This program prepares students to teach in Mississippi high schools as outlined in the Mississippi Business and Technology Framework by the State Department of Education.

Chemistry

The Bachelor of Chemistry program provides students with a strong foundation in the principles and practices of chemistry, with coursework covering organic, inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry as well as laboratory techniques and instrumentation. The program emphasizes research and practical application, culminating in a capstone project under the supervision of a faculty advisor.

Childcare Management

The Division of Education offers a non-teaching bachelor's degree in Childcare Management. The program serves nontraditional students in the Evening Program and traditional students who aspire to work with preschoolers and to become entrepreneurs as owners of day care centers. The program structure blends functional business disciplines and education components into a cohesive unit of core courses, and is designed to prepare managers of childcare facilities rather than credentialed teachers.

Computer Science

The Bachelor of Computer Science program is designed to impart students with a comprehensive understanding of computer science theory, programming languages, and software development methodologies. Students delve into algorithms, data structures, computer architecture, and software engineering, and complete a capstone project. Students can also pursue concentrations in software engineering or cybersecurity as part of their degree program.

Early Childhood Education

The Division of Education offers the Associate of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education. Students follow the College procedures for admission to the associate degree program through regular admission, and upon admission are assigned an advisor and provided a degree plan to follow in order to meet curriculum requirements.

Elementary Education

The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6) prepares caring, competent, creative educators committed to professional excellence and state licensure. All Elementary Education majors must choose a concentration area of 21 semester hours in addition to the 21 hours required in a Reading concentration; MDE-approved concentration areas are English, Social Science, Mathematics, and Science.

English

The Bachelor of Arts program in English with a concentration in writing and literature teaches students strategies for inquiry and action. Students explore the ways that communication creates knowledge and action and study how communication is constructed, circulated, reacted to and repurposed through time and place. Students choose either the Literature or the Writing concentration.

English Education

The Bachelor of Science in English Education is offered in partnership between the Division of Humanities and the Division of Education, preparing students for secondary licensure to teach English. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher in all major and concentration courses and follow MDE Praxis guidelines.

General Education

The Bachelor of Science in General Education is a non-teaching, non-certified degree program offered by the Division of Education through RC Online. It is one of two Rust College degree programs offered via the online modality.

Global Supply Chain Management

Students majoring in global supply chain management are prepared for careers in product distribution and delivery in the local and global marketplace. The global supply chain program affords students with the competencies needed for succeeding in entry-level positions in trucking, shipping, and air delivery systems.

Health Sciences

The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) is an undergraduate program that prepares students to enhance the quality of life of the individuals and communities they serve, and is designed for students interested in pursuing a health-related career. The curriculum emphasizes self-directed and engaged learning skills and culminates in an original capstone project.

Marketing

Students majoring in Marketing complete the business major core along with marketing courses such as International Marketing, Corporate Image and Brand Management, Marketing Research, and Marketing Management. Business students must complete the Senior Project, 160 hours of internship, and Service Learning.

Mass Communications

The Mass Communication program encompasses a comprehensive course of study to produce competent and skillful media professionals. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications (Broadcast or Print Journalism) meets the standards and guidelines prescribed by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). Of the 125 credit hours required for graduation, at least 80 hours must be of liberal arts and sciences courses.

Mathematics

The Bachelor of Mathematics degree is crafted to equip students with a solid foundation in mathematical principles and problem-solving techniques essential for various professions in mathematics and related fields. Coursework covers calculus, algebra, statistics, and discrete mathematics, and the program concludes with an original capstone project.

Mathematics Education

A secondary education licensure program offered by the Division of Education in collaboration with the Division of Science and Mathematics for students who plan to teach mathematics at the high school level. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher in all major courses and satisfy MDE Praxis requirements.

Music

The Division of Humanities offers a liberal arts degree in Music. The primary goal of the Music Program is to prepare and train students within the framework of a liberal arts education to work as effective musicians in worship, entertainment, and service industries. The music major has three curricular tracks: Piano, Instrumental and Vocal.

Political Science

The political science degree program at Rust College is designed to develop an in-depth understanding of how political theory and policy connect to practical issues, and focuses on the relationship between citizens and their forms of government. The curriculum prepares students for civic participation, law school, graduate study, and employment in the private and/or public sectors.

Social Science

The Social Science non-teaching interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to prepare students with a well-rounded understanding of the social world, allowing students to examine social institutions like the government, the family, church, education, and the economy. The major prepares students for careers in law, teaching, civic service, and social service and opens opportunities for graduate and professional studies.

Social Science Education

The Social Science Education program is designed for students preparing for a teaching career in the area of Social Studies. Majors are required to complete 30 semester credit hours in social science courses and successfully complete the Senior Comprehensive Examination and Senior Thesis requirements, along with the professional education courses required for State of Mississippi certification.

Social Work

The Social Work Program provides generalist foundation courses designed for entry level social work practice, incorporating Social Work Practice, Human Behavior and Diversity, Social Welfare, Social Policy, and Research Methodology for Social Workers. The program also prepares students for advanced graduate-level academic work and has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) since 2000.

Sociology

The Sociology program is designed to prepare students for graduate and professional studies, and private and public employment in a broad range of areas such as Demography, Criminal Justice, Community Development, Counseling, and Social Services. Sociology majors complete thirty-three semester credit hours plus six credit hours of internship experience; a Criminal Justice concentration is also offered.