Skip navigation

The Arts

USM is one of only 39 institutions in the nation accredited in theatre, art and design, dance and music.

Arts and Academics

When you think Arts, think Southern Miss

 

Music

The School of Music is dedicated to its longstanding international reputation for musical excellence, providing a myriad of musical and educational opportunities for the professional and artistic growth of our student musicians.

Here you will work side-by-side with distinguished faculty who have performed on world-class stages and teach at festivals and conferences around the globe. Find yourself performing in ensembles including The Southern Chorale, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and the Steel Pan Orchestra at regional, national and international events as well as attending master classes with guest artists.

School of Music

Performing and Visual Arts

The School of Performing and Visual Arts houses undergraduate programs in art, graphic design, painting and drawing, sculpture, dance performance and choreography, dance education, theatre, theatre performance, and theatre design and technology.

Graduate programs are offered in theatre performance, theatre design and technology, and directing.

The school produces exhibitions and performances throughout the year, and students are highly engaged in practice in the arts.

School of Performing and Visual Arts

English (Creative Writing)

The School of Humanities is comprised of the major disciplines of English, history, philosophy and religion. In other words, we are the school that examines and celebrates the human capacity for expression, empathy and critical evaluation.

The Creative Writing program in our School's Center for Writers offers courses and workshops in fiction, nonfiction, prose and poetry, taught by distinguished faculty who are widely published in their field. Students in the program can work toward an MA or PhD in English with an emphasis in creative writing and are afforded opportunities to study with internationally acclaimed resident and visiting authors. 

 

Center for Writers

Arts News

 The Latest on Our Vibrant Arts Community

 

USM Dance Professor Participates in Global Activism Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence

In conjunction with the international campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV),” created by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership and UN Women, Dr. Candice Salyers, Assistant Professor of Dance at USM, invited artists from across the world to join her in a virtual performance project. The 16 Days of Activism started this month and runs through December 10, Human Rights Day.

Read More

USM Alumnus Ed McGowin to Receive Governor's Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement

Each year, the Mississippi Arts Commission, in partnership with the Office of the Governor, honors individuals and organizations for their outstanding work in the artistic disciplines, arts-based community development, and/or arts patronage in Mississippi through the Governor’s Arts Awards.

On its 35th edition, a dynamic painter and sculptor and a University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Art and Design Alumnus Ed McGowin, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Read More

Mississippi Made: From the Mississippi Delta to living the NYC Dream

Over the span of 18 years through all of his education and auditions, traveling from gig to gig, experiencing many successes and failures, and going through a global pandemic, USM graduate Ezekiel Andrew (2017) is at the pinnacle of his career. During the summer, he made his NYC dream come true through an invitation to join the cast of Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway.

Read More

Experience the Arts