Graduate Programs in Art

Our graduate programs focus on advanced technical skills while fostering engagement with contemporary practices

printmaking art work

Department of Art & Art History

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Studio Art is a terminal degree that prepares students to teach at the college level and work as a professional artist.  The MFA is a three-year 60 credit hour program. During the three years, graduate candidates will take courses in their major areas as well as other required and elective courses. Students also will have the opportunity to teach, work in the gallery, and hold various graduate assistant positions. Their third year is dedicated to the creation of an MFA thesis exhibition.

The Department of Art & Art History at The University of Mississippi is committed to preparing graduate students to excel in creative production, research, education, and service in the visual arts. Applicants to this program should have strong motivation to pursue their discipline in depth and demonstrate the creative energy and imagination that can be recognized, supported, and assisted by specialized faculty.

A prospective graduate student may choose from four areas of study; Ceramics, PaintingPrintmaking & Sculpture.

MFA in Art and Curriculum Info

Durant B Thompson

Graduate Program Coordinator

Our program fosters creative development and provides a solid foundation in artistic practice, with an emphasis in ceramics, painting, printmaking, or sculpture. Students have the opportunity to explore diverse mediums, engage with innovative techniques, and push the boundaries of traditional art forms. Through personalized mentorship and a dynamic studio environment, we help students cultivate their unique artistic voice while honing essential skills for success in the art world. Graduates are well-prepared for a range of careers in the arts, including studio practice, gallery management, curating, and arts education. At the University of Mississippi, we strive to nurture artists who are not only technically skilled but also dedicated to the transformative power of art in society.

Durant B Thompson

Professor of Art

About the Master of Fine Arts in Art

Learn more about admission requirements and research support below.

There are two steps in the application process. The prospective student must apply fully to both The Department of Art & Art History and The Graduate School to be considered.

The Department of Art and Art History does NOT require the GRE for Admission

 

1. Please email the following items to the Graduate Coordinator, Professor Durant Thompson, in three (3) separate PDF documents:

First PDF Document

  • Letter of Intent
    • Please include a brief introduction, your proposed area or areas of study, the semester and year you plan to begin the program, and your goals as a graduate student.
  • Artist’s Statement
  • Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
  • Three (3) References
    • Including name, phone, and email. These may be from academic or non-academic sources.

Second PDF Document

  • 20 portfolio iimages of your work
    • Save as one PDF document with an Image list
    • PDF file size should be no larger than 10MB for the whole document.
  • Image List
    • Include dimensions, medium, process, and year.

Third PDF Document

  • Unofficial Transcript

Email to: durant@olemiss.edu. Please include your last name and “MFA Applicant” in the email line.

 

2. Please send the following items to The Graduate School:

send to:
The UM Graduate School
gschool@olemiss.edu | 662-915-7474
The Graduate House
P.O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677

Some graduate students are eligible to receive assistantships through the Department of Art & Art History. These assistantships can include the following:

The Graduate School’s financial aid webpage lists a variety of funding possibilities, including summer support and a recruiting fellowship program that promotes academic excellence and access to graduate education to groups who are historically underrepresented.  

Each graduate student has their own studio space. To see the facilities and equipment for each studio area, visit the following department webpages.

The department also has Gallery 130 where you can see photos from exhibitions of our students.

Our Graduate Program

Check out the work our graduate students are producing each year.

Jenna Schmidt

Meet a Current Graduate Student

As a maker, I consider not only the historical practicality of taking clay from the earth to create vessels to eat from or store food in, but also as an avenue for artistic expression. As a potter, I am exploring forms that are first found within the consideration of function. They are then created in a way where the gesture and imbalance of the human touch in not only evident but highlighted. Marks I leave behind are an honest product of the building process, emphasizing physical acts and recording movements, fingerprints and emotions. I intentionally compress and smooth certain areas as not only a way to encourage utility, but also as a way to contain marks and imagery. Working in a way with fluidity but guided by the importance of pottery's utility gives me a balance between disorder and order.
                                                                                                                                                       

Jenna Schmidt

M.F.A. in Art (Ceramics)

More Graduate Students

Higher Education Career Examples

  • Brandon High School
  • Coldwater High School
  • East Baton Rouge Parish Schools
  • Mackintosh Academy
  • Smith Center High School
  • Tunica County Schools
  • Wyoming East High School
  • Coahoma Community College
  • Itawamba Community College
  • Northwest Mississippi Community College
  • Hinds Community College
  • Holmes Community College
  • South Louisiana Community College
  • Alabama State University
  • Alabama A&M University
  • Converse University
  • McNeese State University
  • Mississippi College
  • Norwich University
  • St. Petersburg College
  • Stanislaus State
  • Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
  • Troy University
  • University of Alabama
  • University of Louisiana - Monroe
  • University of Massachusetts - Amherst
  • University of Memphis
  • Utah Valley University
  • West Texas A&M University

Non-Higher Education Career Examples

  • Dozens of Self-Employed Artists
  • City Planner, City of St. Petersburg
  • VP of Strategic Giving, National Audubon Society
  • Visual/Performing Artist and Cultural Arts Event Planner
  • Curator, Tennessee Valley Museum of Art
  • Curator, Bradbury Art Museum
  • Artist and Picture Frame Maker
  • Director of Exhibits, Science Museum of Virginia
  • Co-Owner, St. Petersburg Clay Company
  • Foundry Manager, Sloss Metal Arts
  • General Manager, City Grocery

  • Co-Owner, Studio T/M Pottery and Clay
  • Director, Eichold Gallery
  • Technical Writer, PipeSuite Software