About this Program
The Center for the Study of Southern Culture in the College of Liberal Arts offers the M.A. in Southern Studies. It is an interdisciplinary curriculum touching on many facets of Southern life, history, and culture.
Reflecting the program’s interdisciplinary study of the South, students may
- enroll in seminars on Southern history, literature, music, religion, and other topics;
- take independent study courses that enable them to work closely with faculty; and
- participate in documentary methods courses, such as oral history, photography, and filmmaking.
Students gain the training, experience, and methods necessary to conduct independent study, and take part in individualized learning experiences through research and field work.
Students select from three possible tracks: thesis track, documentary track, and internship track.
On this Page…
Program Information
Program Type
Master's Program
Area of Study
Interdisciplinary Programs
School
Degree
M.A. in Southern Studies
Program Location
Required Credit Hours
30
Program Details
APPLICATION DEADLINE: rolling; February 1 for funding
The Center for the Study of Southern Culture welcomes student applications with the following materials. Additional details are found on the department website.
- Complete the Graduate School’s Online Application.
- Pay the application fee ($50). We have scholarships for the application fee. Contact Graduate Coordinator Catarina Passidomo with questions.
- Submit official transcripts.
- International applicants whose first language is not English may be required to submit scores from an acceptable English language proficiency test.
- Upload Supplemental Application materials for the Center to the link provided by the online application.
- Statement of purpose: 500-word statement of purpose that articulates why joining the program is the next best step. Why is a degree in Southern Studies from UM is the best next move for you? How will it help you to achieve your personal and professional goals? What specifically appeals to you about the program?
- Writing sample
- Two letters of recommendation: provide contact information for two recommenders
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Students in the M.A. in Southern Studies program complete 30 credit hours and follow internship, thesis, or documentary track.
- S St 601: Southern Studies Graduate Seminar I
- S St 602: Southern Studies Graduate Seminar II
Courses taken from at least 3 of the following disciplines with a maximum of 4 courses from any single discipline:
African American Studies
- AAS 504 Research in African American History
- AAS 593 African American Literature
Anthropology
- Anth 511 Cross-Cultural Studies in Ethnography I
- AH 569 Black American Art
- AH 586 African and African American Arts
- Eng 770 Studies in Faulkner
- Eng 775 Studies in American Literary Regionalism
- Eng 776 Studies in Southern Literature
- Hst 605 Readings - US through Reconstruction
- Hst 606 Readings - US Civil War to Present
- Hst 607 Readings - Southern US History
- Hst 701 Research - US through the Civil War
- Hst 702 Research - US from Civil War to Present
- Mus 517 Afri-American Musical Traditions
- Mus 518 History of Jazz
- Soc 607 Studies in the Community
- Soc 611 Studies in Population Analysis
- Soc 613 Studies in Race and Ethnicity
Students in the internship track must take S St 603 (Internship) and make a colloquium presentation.
Students in the thesis track must take 6 hours of S St 697 (Thesis) and complete a thesis defense.
Students in the documentary track complete the following courses and make a colloquium presentation.
- S St 533: Fieldwork and Oral History
- One of the following
- S St 534: Documentary Photography
- S St 535: Anthropological Films
- S St 560: Oral History of Southern Social Movement
- 6 credit hours of S St 697 (Thesis)
Students who apply by February 1 will be considered for an assistantship. Assistantships pay roughly $13,000 per year (August-May). Students with a graduate assistantship receive a scholarship that covers some or all of the tuition and non-residency fee, if applicable, for regular semesters and subsidized health insurance. The CSSC will provide up to $500 per student per year for research or conference related travel.
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.
What is Southern Studies?
We’re Here to Help!
If you have any questions about the M.A. in Southern Studies, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Catarina Passidomo Townes
Associate Professor of Southern Studies and Anthropology
Next Steps
Explore Affordability
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
Apply to the University of Mississippi
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