Frequently Asked Questions

Many of our incoming students have little or no experience in formal studio art training. If you have a sincere interest in art and the desire to pursue a professional career in the visual arts, we have the program for you.  

Art and Design awards over 20K annually in scholarships. Scholarship awards are based on portfolio review, academic achievement, and other USM requirements. 

Follow the steps below to apply for an Art and Design scholarship:

• Complete the USM GO Scholarship Application.
• Prepare and submit a portfolio of your artwork. 

We look for an interest in and commitment to art, skills in drawing and/or painting from observation/imagination, a sense of color and design, and all other creative abilities and skills in any visual arts medium.

Portfolio Guidelines:

• Take good photographs of your work.
• Create a document that includes 10-15 images of your work.
• 1-2 images per page, with title/project name, medium, size, and date.
• Save the document as a single PDF file, no larger than 25MB.
• Filename: save file as firstname_lastname_portfolio.pdf
• You may include images of drawing and painting from observation/imagination, printmaking, sculpture, other three-dimensional works, ceramics, posters, packaging design, illustration, typography, web design, identity campaigns (logos and branding), digital photography, interactive media/motion graphics, etc.
• If you have interactive media/motion graphics, please share the URL when submitting the form.

SUBMIT YOUR PORTFOLIO

Remember to also complete the USM GO Scholarship Application.

Yes, we have numerous recruitment events throughout the year including Black and Gold Days and our Annual Open House in Art and Design. We are also happy to meet with potential students one-on-one. Just give us a call. 

We will notify you after portfolio reviews are complete in March or April. 

Rarely. We prefer to use Art and Design scholarship funds to benefit the greatest number of majors. Scholarships range from $500-$2000 per academic year. If you are not awarded a scholarship the first time you apply, you can reapply each year.

Additional scholarships and financial awards are available through the Office of Financial Aid.

Our Dance program is currently accepting dance major application materials via an online form, with an option to physically audition in-person or via video submission. Follow this audition form link for more information.

Many of our incoming students have little or no experience in modern dance: most dancers first experience modern dance in college. The majority of our majors come with various experience in ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, dance team, tap, show choir, etc. If you are accepted to our program, we teach you modern dance from the start. I think it is common to be intimidated by a style of dance with which you are less familiar, but that shouldn’t stop you from auditioning if you want to be a dance major. 

A list of updated required materials for the audition application and both in-person and online video audition submissions can be found in the audition page, under “How to apply/Audition > Audition Information”.

Checklist of materials you need to prepare

You should wear well-fitted dance attire you feel confident moving in (leotard & tights, or leggings/dance pants with a fitted tank top or t-shirt, etc.). For us to assess important things like alignment, it is essential to see your body as you dance.

We will notify you no later than two weeks after your audition. This is true for on-campus auditions and individual online audition submissions. The exception are online auditions in the summer. Depending on faculty availability during this time, reviewing auditions may take more time. You will be notified by letter and required to respond by “accepting” your position as a dance major officially. Directions for how to do this will be in your acceptance letter.

Yes, but not in the same year. If you audition and are not accepted, you can request feedback on what to work on to be more successful in our audition if you try again the following year.  It is important to remember that our audition does not determine whether you are a good dancer or have potential, but whether you would find success in our B.F.A. dance programs if accepted. We have had several students successfully re-audition after another year of independent dance training. If becoming a dance major is your goal, we encourage you to do what is needed to both pursue and achieve this!

There is no cost, for either the on-campus audition or the online audition. 

In addition to the audition application form and your resume, you need to have a dance teacher complete a brief recommendation form (sent electronically) on your behalf. You will also need to complete an essay based on one of the two questions offered. This gives us a better idea of what motivates you as a dancer. Once accepted into the University, you will need to register in the “GO” system to be eligible for any program scholarships.

We rarely offer full scholarships. Instead, we prefer to offer scholarship monies to benefit and invest in as many of our dance majors as possible. The scholarships range from $150 - $3300 per academic year and are awarded based on academic excellence, service to the program, and need. Students have the opportunity to apply for scholarships funds each year. The receipt of a scholarship is designated for one year, and students reapply each year. We send reminders to students about the due dates for scholarships and encourage all qualified majors to submit applications for consideration.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions. You may contact Sandra%20Whittington, the administrative specialist who oversees dance auditions. We look forward to meeting you and are excited about the possibility of you joining our dance family!

Well, USM has one of the finest theatre programs in the South. We can prove it to you, too. The program is nationally accredited by the NAST. The department offers specialized course work in performance, design, stage management, directing, musical theatre, and more. We offer two degree plans so that students can choose a broad focus in the BA or a detailed focus for the BFA. 

Every year, USM students compete at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and represent us very well at both the regional and national levels. We have won regionals (covering the entire Southeastern U.S.) and gone on to nationals several dozen times and in all major areas (acting, directing, playwriting, scenic design, costume design, lighting design, sound design, allied arts, etc.) USM undergraduates have won in every one of these areas, so don’t listen if people tell you only graduate students win. Our undergraduates are trained to be ready. So why wouldn’t you choose Theatre at Southern Miss? #SMTTT

The Bachelor of Arts, or BA, and the Bachelor of Fine Arts, or BFA, are two different but equally respected degree programs within the School of Performing and Visual Arts. The BA offers a broad view of theatre and the chance to explore multiple interests within theatre. It also leaves room in the schedule for other interests, a minor, or even a double major.  Transfer students who completed the general education at a community college can finish a BA in Theatre in two years of regular study.  BFA students specialize in Acting or Design and Technical tracks.  More course work is required within the emphasis area for these students and the faculty apply a higher standard of expectation.

All students enter as BA students so that they learn something about all areas before choosing a specialization. Students may apply for the BFA when they have completed a series of internal requirements.  

Auditions for mainstage shows happen once at the beginning of the school year for fall semester shows, and then once more in the late fall semester for casting of spring semester shows. Auditions take place in the Theatre and Dance Building. We run a 5-show season at Southern Miss. Those cast in mainstage shows rehearse up to 4 hours per night, so showcases and ensembles have to be approved by the faculty. 

Other than the mainstage shows, you may audition to showcases, original playwright readings, and special directing projects. We have student ensembles that present awesome showcases every semester, including Harlem (inclusive performance ensemble celebrating people of color), PRISM (LGBTQ+ performance group), Writers@Play (playwright group), Skip the Script (improvisation troupe), and Fight Club (stage combat group).

Absolutely. Every student that auditions has a fair shot. Major roles are spread through every class level. We understand how daunting auditions can be as you start your collegiate career and we are committed to giving students every opportunity to showcase their talents. We encourage new students to join the ensembles listed above. We also hope you’ll join our national honor society, APO, for a family network that is dedicated to welcoming and supporting the next generation of USM Theatre. 

USM is very proud to host a thriving Master of Fine Arts program with specializations in Directing, Design and Technology (Scenic, Lighting & Sound, and Costume Design), and Performance. The presence of graduate students in the department pushes undergraduates to have a professional sensibility to their work and increases the competitive standard they will need in the real world of professional theatre. Most of the graduate students arrive with considerable resumes in professional theatre. Graduate students work directly with undergraduates in shows and classes and help foster an academic environment that is unique to USM. Graduate TAs offer coaching and practice sessions so that students have more help in putting projects together for their professors.

There is an added bonus for theatre majors at USM because graduate students take up the responsibility of non-majors’ courses and students. This means that our faculty and staff are able to fully dedicate their time to Theatre majors and they are able to teach in much smaller and more intentional classroom settings. You get MORE faculty attention and a support system that helps you become the best you can be.

It is more than a focus, it is a dedication. We celebrate inclusion and diversity in every aspect of our program.  

There are currently 5 mainstage shows running throughout the academic year. We also have 2 major Directing Projects, at least 12 major Showcases, a Playwright Series with a resident Professional Playwright, the APO New Play Festival, and more!  Every other spring the Advanced Directing class puts on 3 nights of One Act Plays. Our Southern Arena Theatre summer repertory is our awesome theatre opportunity for those seeking a professional model of full time theatre. The department strives to stay relevant and desires to invoke thoughtful dialogue with its audience. There is usually a mix of contemporary and classical pieces as well as musical and non-musical selections.

Here is a link to the registrar’s page that features degree plans for all majors that we offer.

Normally, freshmen take three (3) General Education classes (like English or History – and including University 101), two (2) entry-level Theatre classes (like Stagecraft, Introduction to Theatre, or Fundamentals of Acting), and two credits of Practicum (credits you get for working on main stage productions every semester). Then, you keep that balance and try to clear your GEC classes by the end of sophomore year so you can focus on your major more fully during your junior and senior years. If 15 -17 credits is too much right away, you can spread the credits into January intersession (one class before the semester starts leaves a lot more time for the other 4!) or summer session (yea, summer school is pretty cool at the college level).