Department of Art and Design
The University of Southern Mississippi
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118 College Drive #5033
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Telephone: (601) 266-4972
Fax: (601) 266-6379
E-mail: visual.arts@usm.edu
The Department of Art and Design is a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
Degree requirements for all degree plans are in accordance with the published regulations of NASAD.
The Department of Art and Design has grown steadily over its sixty-year history and is proud of the many professional accomplishments of its alumni.
Art courses have been offered at the institution since its inception in 1910. The initial degree programs in art began in the 1940’s. Today’s department is comprised of an extensive range of visual arts programs. While the majority of today’s students are enrolled in professional degree plans such as Graphic Design, Interior Design and the fast growing area of Sculpture; all areas of study are vibrant with increasing enrollments.
All first-year students and many transfer students begin their studies within the Department of Art and Design at Southern Miss in the Art Foundations program. “Foundations”, as many know the program, is an intense first year experience organized to prepare students for a successful transition into their desired area of visual specialization. The foundations year includes five basic, yet challenging studio courses including drawing, two and three-dimensional design and color theory.
As with more advanced studio courses that follow, foundation level courses are oriented toward understanding the creative process, as well as comprehending and developing a personal sense of visual sophistication connoisseurship. Also significant in the foundation year is the need to acquire and use with confidence a strong vocabulary relating to the visual arts. A strong beginning makes for a highly qualified and professionally valuable graduate from any of the visual arts/design programs.
A very special component of the Department of Art and Design is The Museum of Art. The Museum offers quality exhibitions including international, national and regional traveling shows, exhibits crated by the museum staff as well as numerous exhibitions of current student works. The museum is a meeting place for students and faculty from across the university as the community and is often a destination for campus visitory. It is a laboratory for students of the visual arts to see and witness impressive work from both past and contemporary artists. Too, it is a “proving ground” for young artist/designers to exhibit and defend their work.
Once the student has successfully completed requirements of the Foundation program it is time to move into their preferred area of specialization.
Undergraduate Degrees:
The department offers three distinct degree programs that include a broad range of opportunities for preparation in either traditional or professional career paths. These three undergraduate degree tracks are:
1. Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), a broadly based, traditional arts program offered in general Art studies.
2. Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), professional career preparation in any one of the following four areas of emphasis:
a. Art Education (teacher preparation for primary and secondary level schools)
c. Graphic Design (identity design, collateral design, editorial design, package design, poster design, advertising design, and interactive design)
d. Sculpture (sculpture, ceramics)
For a detailed view of any of these degree options, visit the individual program page. For information concerning transfer credits, visit the Sample Degree Plan page(s).
For inquiries about undergraduate art and design programs, please contact:
Department of Art and Design
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive #5033
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Telephone (601) 266-4972
Fax (601) 266-6379
E-mail: visual.arts@usm.edu
Located in the Fine Arts Building, Room 108
Graduate Degree:
The department offers the Master of Art Education degree with a choice of two degree tracks:
1. Studio, a practice-oriented degree plan with 18 semester hours in art studio courses.
2. Research, a research-oriented degree with certification, including nine semester hours in art studio work and six hours in research courses if state certification is desired.