The University of Mississippi College of Liberal Arts Prospective Student Guide—Fine Arts

r formin & pe g a e n rt fi s

COLLEGE of LIBERAL ARTS

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI

VENTRESS HALL

Fine & Performing Arts Majors Art (BA) A RT (BFa) em phases in ce ramics ; g raphic design; imaging arts ; painting ; printmaking ; scu l pture .

Fi lm Production (BFA) M usic (BA) music (Bm) em phases in music education; music pe r formance .

T h eatre Arts (BA) th eatre (Bfa) em phases in acting for stage and screen; design and th eatre production.

Welcome

We are a community of vibrant and innovative departments that are a balance of creativity and scholarship.

You’ll find us in studios as well as national film festivals, orchestras, the stage, and galleries. We are supporters and nurturers of human expression, and we invite you into a world where hard work, technical skill, and imagination are the raw ingredients of our creations.

Scan this QR code to see all your choices

We will meet you where you are and guide you where you want to go.

Most of our majors offer a more flexible bachelor of arts (BA) degree for combining the arts with other areas of study, and a more specialized bachelor of fine arts (BFA) or bachelor of music (BM) degree. At our core, we are a community that cares about our students. We raise the bar high and give you the support to attain excellence.

Together,

WE CAN EXPLORE THE ARTS IN SOCIETY

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Here are a few of our students’ favorites.

African American Studies

Entrepreneurship French

Business

History

Cinema

Journalism

Classics

Italian

Computer Science

Gender Studies

Creative W riting

Museum Studies

Digital Media Studies

Recreation Therapy

Education

Southern Studies

English

Why

does diversity on the screen and behind the scenes matter for society?

How

can art be a catalyst for change in our society?

Does

music have positive effects on health in the elderly?

What

makes the arts a pillar of different norms, cultures, and traditions?

How

can the performing arts contribute to the development of children?

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ART

& ART HISTORY

Develop a personal vocabulary of aesthetics. ce ramics – throwing, hand- building, molding, glazing, firing graphic design – typography, vector imaging, illustration imaging arts – photography, lighting, digital arts, cyanotype painting – painting, sketching, coloring printmaking – relief, intaglio, lithography, silkscreen, digitize sculpture – carving, modeling, molding, casting, welding, sewing

Sarah bridges the gap.

Sarah straddles the worlds of creative expression and commerce.

She pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art with an emphasis on graphic design. Her sights are set on a dream job: working in the graphic design department of a college.

Sarah enrolled at UM after completing her associate degree at Itawamba Community College. She describes her years at UM as a “whirlwind.”

“There are opportunities to bridge the gap between college and career,” she said.

She honed her skills with an internship with the university’s Marketing & Communications, where she gained expertise creating logos, advertising materials,

infographics, and flyers. Through the graphic-design student organization, she was connected with graphic design communities in Oxford and beyond.

Sarah’s talents led to commissions such as designing a shopping center kiosk for Tupelo River Coffee and design work for Mill Creek Hunting Club in South Alabama.

“The studio classes required a lot of out-of-classroom work, and the hours I spent on projects in the arts building made me close with other students in the department,” she said.

Although the coursework was challenging, she felt mentored by her professors.

“We have a professor we call the ‘art mom,’ and she is one of the best teachers I’ve ever had in my entire life.

She’s very supportive of students, and has won campus advising awards and went on to earn regional and national advising awards. The majority of the teachers in the department are here to teach you things they want to know for the rest of your life. They aid students inside and outside the classroom.”

SARAH ROPER

w hich deg ree shou ld i choose ?

t u p e l o, m i s s i s s i p p i

BACHELOR

Fine Arts

B ac h e l o r o f f i n e a r t s em p h asi s i n g ra p h i c d e si g n

Have competitive admission after foundational art courses.

Gain wide training across the studio areas and depth in an emphasis Build a professional portfolio.

Hold a final thesis show.

OR

BACHELOR

Arts

Gain a deeper and wider general education foundation than the BFA. Have flexibility for combining the study of art with a minor field of study.

Focus on the studio area of your choice.

department of art &

ART HISTORY Rowan Murray ox f o r d, m i s s i s s i p p i

BA I N A R T H I S T O RY

Rowan is a practitioner.

“It’s nice to apply what I’m learning in the classroom to my own work like a painting of a ballet dancer inspired by Degas,” she said. “Most of my work is done in acrylics, but I’ve also done a lot of work in colored pencil.”

Her favorite artists include Frida Kahlo and Georgia O’Keefe.

“I like to look at women artists as inspiration from Baroque artists like Artemisia Gentileschi to O’Keefe.”

She gets to the see O’Keefe’s work in person at the UM Museum, where the collections span the ages from ancient Greek to modern art. Rowan has spent many hours working in the museum, where she has learned some basics about curating.

“I have been working at the UM Museum since my freshman year. It has been one of my favorite aspects of my time at UM,” she said. “I teach classes, lead gallery tours, and help plan and prep programming for the community. Being an intern has helped me become more confident in my abilities, connect with others, and ultimately helped me decide my career.”

S t u dy a r t ac r o s s a wi de range of m edia, c u lt u r e s , a n d p e r i o ds Greek Art and Archaeology Studying Ancient Artifacts

Viking Art and Archaeology Italian Renaissance Art 20th Century Art

Black American Art

History of Photography Art of Japan

History of Museums

She finds that art history encompasses all her passions.

“Art history combines everything I love: art, research and writing, history, culture, language, religion, and other fields,” she said. “Art history also leads to so many amazing careers including museum and gallery work, archaeology, object study, education, and so much more.”

Her love of ancient art inspired her to minor in classics.

“I learned a lot about fine arts by studying the symbolism, mythology, and propaganda of Roman art,” Rowan said.

Her education has included studying abroad in Florence, Italy, at a villa with a rare fine arts collection that students helped manage. She will continue her museum work in a master’s program in Museum Studies at New York University.

Museum Studies Minor Explore the world of museums and all they encompass: collections, interpretation, exhibitions, education, archives, research, and more. Students can pursue career paths in museum work, public history, and public humanities.

MUSIC d e pa r t m e n t o f

BA in Music or BM in Music: Emphases in music education and music performance Choose from 3 concentrations: Instrumental • Keyboard • Vocal

Michael carries the beat.

Michael has always drummed up opportunities to share his love of music with young people.

When he was in seventh grade, his band director let him stand up in front of the band and direct for the first time.

“I didn’t know what I was doing, but I loved it,” said Ivy. A bass drum player in the Pride of the South UM marching band, Michael played drum No. 6, the second to largest.

As college student, he has been chasing the dream of being a high school music teacher. He taught drums at the Houston High School summer band clinic.

of eight to follow in his mother’s footsteps and graduate from UM. He tried a couple of different majors in his first year on campus but kept returning to his love of music.

“If the band directors aren’t drummers, it’s typical to bring in a drum tech to teach the drummers their music and technique,” Ivy explained.

The training he received in the music education program has helped him grow into even a more well-rounded music educator. He’s also honed his teaching skills by performing in percussion and jazz ensembles at UM.

He created new cadences by writing music that was exciting but easy enough for them to play.

His efforts were rewarded with the offer of a full-time job at Houston High School as a new assistant band director after he graduates.

The sixth of eight children in his family, Michael is also the sixth

“You’re playing such a variety of songs; the parts are so intricate and there are solos to improvise,” he said. “These experiences are priceless, and I’m taking all of that with me when I start teaching fulltime,” he said.

Music Education Prepare to teac h K-1 2 m us ic with pro g ra m s th at exceed t h e min imal Mis s is s ip p i Teach er Certif ic at io n stan dard s .

B M I N m us i c, m us i c e du cat i o n

Bachelor of Music

Small clas s s ize s allow for more o n eo n -on e time w it h mu s ic edu cat io n facu lty.

Facu lty a re experien ced in a l l th ree major mu s ic edu cation met h o d s Kodaly, Orff, a n d Dalcroze.

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Michael Ivy bat e s v i l l e , m i s s i s s i p p i

Sou t h si d e Ga l l e ry

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Cultural mecca of the south Tucked away within the north Mississippi hills is one of the nation’s best college towns. The city of Oxford is a large part of what makes Ole Miss special. Even with the historic downtown Square, the unmatched food scene and the countless opportunities to experience music and the arts, Oxford never seems to lose its small-town charm.

No matter where life takes you, this place will always feel like home.

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Gre at p e rfo rm i ng sp ace s – N ut t Au d itori um , M e e k Au d itori um , Fo rd C e nte r fo r t he Pe r fo rm i ng Art s , lo c al c hurc he s .

Clo s e m e nto rs hi p with we l l - know n fac ul t y w ho provid e net wo rk i ng o p p o rt uni t i e s .

Yo u r i nd i v i d ua l p ath i s c a ref ul l y cu ltivate d , w i t h st ag e t i m e t hat i s ofte n onl y p o s s i b l e d u r in g g rad uate stu d ie s e l s ew he re .

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the diverse world of music through OPERA THEATRE • CHOIRS JAZZ ENSEMBLES • BANDS • PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES • CHAMBER ENSEMBLES • ORCHESTRAS

and

m a k e l i f e - l o n g f r i e n ds h i p s a l o n g t h e way

Emma owns the stage.

As a coloratura soprano, she sings at the top of the range of female opera singers. As a performance major, she worked closely in the studio with music professors to perfect her art.

Emma has been performing since she was seven years old.

She started out taking voice lessons in her hometown and participated in musical theater during middle and high school.

At UM, she has upped her game to performing in major operas, thanks to opportunities both on campus and off. For help with her video auditions, her voice teacher recorded the piano parts of all Emma’s audition pieces; she uploaded the tracks and sang along, filming her performances with a tripod and her cell phone.

She spent the summer at the Young Artists Program at Opera in the

Ozarks in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a summer arts colony that has produced world-class artists.

In the Opera in the Ozarks music festival, Emma performed in the chorus and in minor roles of fully staged productions of Cendrillon and Lucia di Lammermoor, as well as The Magic Flute adapted for families.

On campus, she took master classes and even had a stint on the production end of opera, learning about costume design.

“I came to UM because I felt that it was where I belonged,” she said.

“The performance program is very rigorous. The professors have a high bar, and we’re expected to hit it, but they are super supportive and give feedback in a loving way.”

“It’s like a big family.”

B m I N m us i c, m us i c p e r fo r m a n c e

MUSIC Department of

An entrance audition demonstrating technical skills, musicianship, and musical literacy in preparation to study music at the collegiate level is required for both BA and BM degrees.

Emma Johnson pa d u c a h , k e n t u c k y

WHY US?

All performance, management, and design opportunities exclusive to undergraduate students.

Join the Senior Showcase in NYC to audition for and receive feedback from casting directors and agents.

Collaborate with studentrun theatre, film, or dance companies.

ERIN STANPHIL

B r o o ks v i l l e, m i s s i s s i p p i

THEATR

DEPARTMENT OF

Erin takes the heat.

On campus, she steps into the spotlight, including HMS Pinafore, Wolves, and an upcoming production of Legally Blonde, where she’ll play the title role.

Off campus, she stretches into downward facing dog in hot yoga

classes in a studio heated as hot as 90 degrees.

“I’m passionate about fitness,” she said. “I started doing yoga in middle school because it gets me out of my head and into my body. I discovered my strength and my balance.”

After several years of taking Vinyasa flow classes, she decided to get her certification to teach yoga. The training was pricey, but

Erin was determined to attain her instructor’s certification, so she worked three jobs while taking classes full time.

“Yoga is like theater,” she said.

“You can make someone feel something deeply without forcing them into it.”

On stage, Erin has been inspiring audiences with her performances since freshman year, including

A d m i ss i o n to t h e Bac h e l o r o f F i n e A rts d e g r e e i s by co m p e t i t i v e e n t ry p r i o r to t h e f r e s h m a n y ea r .

CREATES A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION in the e n t e r ta i n m e n t i n d u st ry with filmmakers, actors, and designers who learn and grow together as they hone their crafts and create professional portfolios.

B A i n T h e at r e A r t s

& FILM

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WHY US?

A c t i n g f o r S ta g e a n d S c r e e n D e s i g n a n d T h e at r e P r o d u c t i o n

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with the student-run Ghostlight Repertory Theatre group.

“In the theater program, you start getting cast the moment you begin classes,” she said. “It’s unlike other schools where you have to wait for several years until you can act.”

During the pandemic, Erin was part of a cast to create a video version of the musical Urinetown, performing in front of a green screen.

“We recorded our voices and then lip synced to them in front of the screen,” she said. “Our professor directed us and edited the footage into an amazing video production.”

“I’d love to play Rapunzel and be interacting with people at the park all day. Being a Disney princess and taking pictures with five-yearolds would be incredible.”

After graduation, she’d like to perform in regional theaters around the country. She harbors a dream of entertaining on cruise ships and at amusement parks, specifically Disney World.

In fact, she’d love to both perform and teach yoga on a cruise ship.

“No matter what I do once I’m out in the ‘real world,’ I’ll still be guiding people through yoga classes,” she said.

B FA i n f i l m p ro du c t i o n

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FILM PRODUCTION

FACILITY with

T wo s o u n d stag e s , i n c l u d i n g 3 0 f t s e a m l e s s g r e e n s c r e e n wa l l V i deo e diti n g labs P r i vat e e d i t i n g s u i t e s S o u n d r e c o r d i n g ( F o l e y ) st u d i o

Tony is a team player.

As a soccer enthusiast, he plays a mid-field position.

In his film studies, he’s a director and editor on group projects.

Tony plays intramural soccer with indoor and outdoor teams that he puts together, one co-ed and the other all male. Inside, he plays at the new South Campus Recreation Center and outside he plays at fields that are designated for intramural sports.

“I love being able to exercise with other people; you can’t play soccer by yourself,” he said. “There’s an art to knowing where everyone is on the field and knowing just how to pass the ball to them.”

Of Italian descent, Tony has been “playing soccer since I could stand up. In Italy, soccer is essentially a

& FILM DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE

Tony King

ox f o r d, m i s s i s s i p p i

religion, and it’s one of my biggest passions outside of film.

“As a kid I’d go to Italy in the summers for soccer camps and routed for Juventus, which is based in Turin.”

On a film crew, Tony is more of a center midfielder, a team leader. He hopes to be a director one day and is also interested in editing, a skill he’s worked on for years, starting with high-school projects.

The summer of his junior year, he and some classmates were hired by the nonprofit organization, Opera for Earth, which uses performing arts to teach environment education to children. His crew filmed a week-long Opera for Earth program in the MS Delta and turned that footage into a half-hour documentary.

“It’s great to say that I got a paying job even before I graduated,” he said. “There are a lot of opportunities that come from the film production program.”

Film production courses: Screenwriting I & II Directing I & II Cinematography I & II Sound Design Motion Picture Lighting Editing I & II Cinematic Storytelling Film Practicum for 7 semesters

R1

Our research is among the best in the country.

We are proud to say that the University of Mississippi is classified as an R1 research university, placing us among top 2.5% research universities in the country.

And, unlike many R1 universities, our extraordinary faculty are teaching and mentoring undergraduates!

They come from Harvard, Bryn Mawr, University of Rome, New York University, Chicago, Northwestern, City University of New York, Manhattan School of Music, Art Institute of Chicago, UT-Austin, UCLA, UNCChapel Hill, SCAD, Cornell, New England Conservatory of Music, University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar, Eastman School of Music, Florida State, and the National Theatre Conservatory.

Our fine & performing arts alumni work in all kinds of fields.

Check out the top 6.

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Not only do our faculty provide close mentorship, but we bring in working professionals » to teach demonstrations, workshops, and master classes » to network with students » to serve as guest artists with for exhibitions and performances

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We will meet you where you are, and guide you where you want to go.

BUILD YOUR LEGACY

olemiss.edu/libarts