Prospective Student for Art & Art History
When you enter the Department of Art and Art History, you are truly beginning a life immersed in a community dedicated to visual art.
Build Your Future in Art and Art History
To be a studio artist, you need a strong foundation in material, processes, and critical thought, as well as an environment that supports creativity and learning. To be an art historian, you need to examine works of art in their historical, social, and political contexts, conduct research, and discern the ideas conveyed by art. This is exactly what we offer! Our faculty are all working artists, designers, and art historians who have achieved success and distinction in their careers, and they invest in every student, guiding and instructing them in small classes with individualized attention. We welcome anyone with this passion to learn more about our three undergraduate degrees in studio art and art history.
Welcome From The Recruitment Committee Chair
I often receive questions about the difference between the B.A. and B.F.A. in Art degrees. Both start with the same art skills foundation yet offer two different experiences.
The B.A. degree has a deeper and wider general education foundation than the B.F.A. degree and requires a minor in another area of study, such as Art History, Business, Marketing, Professional Writing, Southern Studies, and more. BA students use their art electives to focus on the studio area of their choice or to sample across many studios. As a broad, flexible degree within the context of the liberal arts, B.A. students are prepared for a wide range of careers.
The B.F.A. is a professional degree focusing more intensely in studio art, with a narrower general education base. The B.F.A. includes a portfolio review of work completed in the foundation core classes, focused work in one of two concentration areas, and more rigorous conceptual development that culminates in a professional portfolio and thesis exhibition. The B.F.A. degree prepares students for graduate study or working as a professional artist/designer.
Our department also offers the study of Art History, where students learn a wide range of media, cultures, and time periods in art history and complete a minor such as Studio Art, Museum Studies, Classics, Anthropology, Italian, and more. Students can pursue careers as educators or as responsible stewards of art and artifacts in museums, galleries, and other cultural institutions.
Let me answer questions you might have about our programs of study and how you might achieve your educational and career goals!
Stacey Rathert, Recruitment Committee Chair
Department of Art & Art History
662-915-7193 | slrather@olemiss.edu
Meet Our Student Ambassadors
Aubrey Best
Which professors inspired you the most?
See Aubrey’s Answer
Isabelle Lopez
Do you have any advice for incoming art students?
See Isabelle’s Answer
Ann Grigsby
What has been one of your most memorable or enjoyable moments at UM?
See Ann’s Answer
Open House
We are pleased to host this event to allow you to meet our current studio and art history faculty and students, participate in workshops and activities in the department, and attend a portfolio preparation session or review of your writing sample with art professionals in all disciplines. We hope you will come spend the day with us!
When:
- March 20, 2026
Where:
- Meek Hall, Department of Art & Art History
How to Register:
- Registration Link Coming Soon!
Things to Experience:
- Meet our faculty and students within the department.
- Tour the facilities and attend an exhibition.
- Participate in workshops, make-n-takes, and demonstrations.
- Sign up for portfolio and writing consults to prepare for scholarship applications.
- A sample schedule is available here.
How to Prepare:
- Register (link coming soon)! Options to sign up for a workshop and professional consult!
- Students interested in studio art should bring 10 –15 pieces of artwork or a digital portfolio.
- Students interested in art history should bring a 3–5 page research-based writing sample from an English, history, or art history class.
The UM Department of Art & Art History also offers asynchronous Portfolio and Writing Consults for those who cannot attend our Open House. To receive a portfolio/writing consult click here.
Art Scholarships
Information about scholarships in the department
The Department of Art & Art History’s Art Merit Scholarship will open December 1st 2025 and closes January 31st 2026. Please contact Stacey Rathert for additional information.Scholarships in the Department of Art and Art History require the submission of a portfolio or writing sample which will be judged through a blind jury process of faculty members.
Studio Art applicants submit a digital portfolio with 10 to 15 pieces of their best work. Art History applicants submit a digital writing sample of three to five pages. Applicants for scholarships are automatically considered for all three scholarships.
Art Merit Scholarship
- For incoming freshman or transfer students
- Up to $3,000 per year for 8 consecutive semesters
- Non-residents $2,000 scholarship toward the non-resident fee
Hollingsworth Scholarship
- For incoming freshman
- Vary in amount
- Mississippi Resident
- First preference for those interested in painting or sculpture
The Arts Scholarship
- For incoming freshman or transfer students
- Up to half tuition for Mississippi residents or full amount of non-resident fee for out-of-state students
- Funded by the Office of the Provost and administered by the Institute for the Arts
As part of the scholarship application process, you are asked to provide a statement that speaks to your interest in Studio Art and why you want to pursue a BA or BFA in the Department of Art & Art History.
You will also be asked to include contact information for 2 references. Letters of recommendation will be requested at a later date for finalists and will be used to evaluate your ability to maintain required GPA (3.0 cumulative) and potential for growth in the program. Your references will be contacted and provided with a secure link. Please do not send letters via email or prior to request.
Please read all information carefully
Digital Portfolio Guidelines
- Create a slideshow presentation in PowerPoint, Keynote, or similar format and convert to a PDF that doesn’t exceed 100 megabytes. You may need to compress your file for upload. You may use this template if you would like.
- Your presentation should include 10 to 15 images of your best work. Detail images may also be included as additional slides, not to exceed 20 slides total.
- A wide range of work is encouraged, which may include drawing, design work, digital work, photography, painting, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media works, etc. as well as pages from your sketchbook. Portfolios will be judged based on originality, diversity of mediums and techniques, and craftsmanship of work included.
- Label each image in your slideshow with the title of the artwork, material, approximate size, date of completion and assignment (if applicable). Do not include any identifying information in your portfolio, such as your name, resume information, etc. The review process is blind. Signatures on artwork are ok.
- Name your PDF file lastname_firstname_portfolio.
- Portfolios that do not follow the directions may not be considered for the scholarship. Portfolios that use generative AI or contain content produced by generative AI may not be considered for the scholarship.
- For any questions regarding the portfolio submission, technical support, or accessibility assistance please contact Stacey Rathert.
Complete the application form, including a statement of interest, and upload your portfolio here. (If you have trouble uploading your application, please email Stacey at slrather@olemiss.edu)
As part of the scholarship application process, you are asked to provide a statement that speaks to your interest in Art History, and why you want to pursue a BA in the Department of Art & Art History.
You will also be asked to include contact information for 2 references. Letters of recommendation will be requested at a later date for finalists and will be used to evaluate your ability to maintain required GPA (3.0 cumulative) and potential for growth in the program. Your references will be contacted and provided with a secure link. Please do not send letters via email or prior to request.
Please read all information carefully.
Writing Sample Guidelines
- Submit a three to five page research-based writing sample (1,500 – 2,500 words, not including footnotes or bibliography) from any Art History, English, or History class, converted to a PDF.
- Writing samples will be judged based on originality of work and topic explored, depth of research, analysis, or comparison, demonstrating potential for achievement in an Art History program, and proper citation.
- Do not include any identifying information in your paper, such as your name, resume information, etc. The review process is blind.
- Name your PDF file lastname_firstname_essay.
- Essays that do not follow the directions may not be considered for the scholarship. Essays that use generative AI or contain content produced by generative AI may not be considered for the scholarship.
- For any questions regarding the writing submission, technical support, or accessibility assistance please contact Stacey Rathert.
Instructions for Saving a File as a PDF
Microsoft Word
File > Save As… > File Format: select “PDF” from dropdown menu > Export
Pages
File > Export To > PDF > Next… > Export
Google Doc
File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf)
Microsoft PowerPoint
File > Export > PDF is the default > Export
Keynote
File > Export To > Next > Export
Google Slides
File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf)
Instructions for Compressing Large Files
Microsoft PowerPoint
File > Compress Pictures > Picture Quality: select “On-screen (150 ppi)” > Ok
Keynote
File > Reduce File Size > Reduce This File or Reduce a Copy > Save
Google Slides
Images must be smaller before inserting into your presentation
The UM Department of Art & Art History often hosts portfolio/writing prep events and portfolio/writing consults throughout the year to help you learn how to best present your work in a professional manner. To receive a portfolio/writing consult click here.
These resources will also provide you with tips and tools to make a stunning submission.
UM Writing Center Handouts, Guides, and More (scroll to bottom of page)
Developing A Research Topic from the University of Mississippi Writing Center
https://owl.purdue.edu/ Citations guides, writing labs, information about avoiding plagiarism, and more!
Amy Kim, Lecturer in Arts at UT Permian Basin – How to Photograph Your Artwork at Home with Phone
Visit Us
This fall the UM Office of Admissions has weekday visits to campus using health officials’ guidance on how many can gather together. You can sign up on the admissions webpage for the information session and campus tour.
The Department of Art & Art History can send out information about our programs, schedule limited in-person visits, and arrange phone calls or Zoom meetings. Please complete the following short form below to learn more about our department.
Please email art@olemiss.edu if you want more information about our department or would like to schedule a tour. To help us better serve you, please provide contact information, education status, area of interest, and one of the following:
- Please send me information about the department.
- I would like to speak with someone in the department.
- I would like to visit the department.