Center for the Study of Southern Culture

Leadership

  • Kathryn B McKee - Director of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, McMullan Professor of Southern Studies, and Professor of English

Contact

Barnard Observatory
University, MS 38677
KMCKEE@OLEMISS.EDU
http://southernstudies.olemiss.edu

Overview

The Center for the Study of Southern Culture offers a minor, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), and Master of Arts (M.A.) in Southern Studies. The center also offers a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Documentary Expression.

Beginning with the fall 2023 semester, admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Southern Studies will be by admission only. This program is part of the Academic Common Market of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB).

Academics & Admissions

Undergraduate Studies

Beginning with the fall 2023 semester, admission to the B.A. in Southern studies will be by application only.

Incoming freshmen: Once accepted to UM, the applicant will have access to the online "Special Programs and Scholarship Application.” In addition to the general information required from all students, applicants will select the Southern Studies option to answer a short essay prompt that changes each year. The application deadline is February 15.

Incoming transfer students: Once accepted to UM, transfer students will complete the application found on the Center for the Study of Southern Culture website and submit a resume. February 15 is the deadline for students starting in the fall semester; October 15 for those starting in the spring semester.

Current UM students: Current UM students will complete the application found on the Center for the Study of Southern Culture website and submit a resume. Decisions are made on a rolling basis for current students.

Competitive applications will have a high school or college GPA of 3.0, have a resume that shows leadership and engagement with local communities, and a well written essay that shows creative and critical thinking about the prompt. In addition, they must be ready to immediately enroll in Southern Studies 1010 in their first semester in the program. For those incoming freshmen who submitted an ACT or SAT score, they must have an ACT reading subscore of 17 or higher (SATR 470) or have successfully completed WRIT 0970 Intermediate Reading. Intermediate Reading. For current students, they must have successfully completed WRIT 0970 Intermediate Reading if required.

The Academic Common Market program of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) is a tuition-savings program for college students in 15 SREB states who want to pursue degrees that are not offered by public institutions in their home state. Students can enroll in out-of-state institutions and pay the in-state tuition rates for a select number of degree programs. The programs differ by institution and home state.

Once ACM applicants are admitted to the Southern studies major, they must officially apply for the Academic Common Market program through their home state’s ACM application to be certified as a resident. The Center for the Study of Southern Culture will provide an official letter to verify that the applicant has been admitted to the program. Only a letter from the center may be used to confirm enrollment in the ACM application.

Graduate Studies

In addition to meeting Graduate School requirements for admission, applicants to the M.A. program in Southern Studies must hold a baccalaureate degree in the humanities, arts, social sciences, or journalism. Applicants are required to submit a 500-word essay explaining why they wish to pursue a M.A. degree in Southern Studies. Admissions decisions are made by a committee composed of the program director and at least two other members.

Coursework in cultural studies paired with advanced training in production will enable students to tell compelling and nuanced stories of a complicated region and world. In addition to meeting Graduate School requirements for admission, the M.F.A. program requires students to already have an M.A. degree in the humanities, social science, or journalism. The M.F.A. application includes the following:

  • Completed electronic application through the UM Graduate School website
  • Transcripts from all previous institutions attended, sent directly from the institution to the UM Graduate School
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • A writing sample
  • A portfolio that includes any previous documentary work the applicant would like to share with the admissions committee
  • A 500-word statement of purpose that articulates why joining the program is the next and best step for the applicant. We encourage applicants to briefly outline or describe a potential project.

See the degree requirements under Programs.

Faculty in Center for the Study of Southern Culture

Annemarie Anderson

SFA Assistant Professor of Practice and Lead Oral Historian
203 Barnard Observatory
University, MS 38677
aenicho1@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-3355

Ralph Eubanks

Faculty Fellow and Writer in Residence
255 Grove Loop,Barnard Observatory
University, MS 38677
wreubank@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-5993

Kathryn B McKee

Director of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, McMullan Professor of Southern Studies, and Professor of English
209 Barnard Observatory
University, MS 38677
kmckee@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-3372

Ellie Palazzolo

Southern Foodways Alliance Assistant Professor of Southern Studies and Assistant Professor of History
208 Barnard Observatory
University, MS 38677
egpalazz@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-5993

Xavier Sivels

Instructional Assistant Professor of Southern Studies
111 Barnard Observatory
University, MS 38677
xesivels@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-3376

Emeritus Faculty

Robbie Ethridge

Professor Emeritia of Anthropology
107 Leavell Hall
University, MS 38677
rethridg@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-7317

Ted M Ownby

William F Winter Professor Emeritus of History
310 Bishop Hall
University, MS 38677
hsownby@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-7148

CHARLES R WILSON

Professor Emeritus of History and Southern Studies
316 BISHOP
UNIVERSITY, MS 38677
crwilson@olemiss.edu — UM Profile
1 (662) 915-7148