The University of Southern Mississippi has asked the College Board to approve a graduate degree in logistics, trade and transportation beginning in 2010 at its Gulf Coast campus.

David Marchman, USM associate director of the School of Construction, says regionally, there is a projected need for 11,000 transportation-related managers and an annual shortfall of 774 degreed applicants.

Marchman says the masters-level program has been developed over the past two years in cooperation with area employers, such as Northrop Grumman.

Marchman says USM will work with employers to offer online classes and in some cases onsite classes to make it easier for employees to work their way up.