University of Southern Mississippi

What you'll study

The undergraduate drama curriculum at the University of Southern Mississippi covers core theatrical disciplines alongside a range of electives that allow you to specialise. Typical areas of study include acting techniques (voice, movement, scene study), directing, play analysis, theatre history and dramatic literature, stagecraft (scenic construction and carpentry), lighting and sound design, costume design and construction, stage management, dramaturgy, and introductory courses in scriptwriting and theatre pedagogy.

Students engage in practical learning through production practicum: participation in mainstage and studio productions is a required element of training. Courses combine classroom work with studio labs and rehearsal-based classes. Upper-level students usually undertake a senior-capstone project or performance, which may be a directed production, a solo performance, or a design/technical portfolio.

• Foundation courses: fundamentals of acting, introduction to theatre, voice and movement.
• Production courses: scenic and technical labs, costume shop practicum, lighting and sound workshops.
• Academic studies: theatre history, dramatic literature, play analysis, theatre research methods.
• Advanced training: directing, design portfolios, advanced acting seminars, and a senior capstone project.
• Electives and interdisciplinary options: opportunities to study film/television acting, arts management, or courses in related departments such as music and dance.

Entry requirements

Admission to the University of Southern Mississippi requires a completed secondary education credential and meeting the university's general admissions criteria. Specific entry expectations for the drama programme typically include a satisfactory high school academic record and recommended coursework in English and the arts.

Performance-focused pathways often ask applicants to audition and may require a portfolio for students wishing to concentrate in design or technical theatre. Applicants should prepare a short acting monologue or other appropriate audition material and be ready to discuss theatrical experience and interests. Some tracks may request a brief personal statement and letters of recommendation that speak to creative potential and work ethic.

Transfer applicants are considered and should provide transcripts from prior postsecondary institutions; transfer credit for theatre courses and production work is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Career prospects

Graduates of the drama programme leave with practical production experience and a portfolio of work that prepares them for a broad range of theatre and related careers. Common career paths include:

• Actor for stage, film, television and new media;
• Director or assistant director in professional and community theatres;
• Stage manager, production manager or technical director;
• Scenic, lighting, sound or costume designer and technician;
• Arts administrator, producing staff, marketing and audience development roles;
• Teaching and education roles (often requiring additional certification for K–12 positions);
• Further study at MFA or MA level in acting, directing, design, theatre studies or arts leadership.

Alumni commonly find work with regional theatres, touring companies, community arts organisations, film and television productions in the Gulf Coast region and beyond, or pursue freelance careers combining several of the above roles.

Why study at University of Southern Mississippi

The University of Southern Mississippi offers a focused, studio-driven theatre education with multiple performance opportunities each year. Students benefit from hands-on experience in fully equipped scene and costume shops, lighting and sound labs, and flexible rehearsal and black-box performance spaces that support both experimental and traditional productions.

Faculty include practicing theatre artists and scholars who mentor students through production work and independent projects. The programme emphasises practical training, collaboration across design and performance disciplines, and community engagement through outreach productions and internships with regional arts organisations. For students seeking a balance of academic study and practical experience in a campus environment with access to regional professional networks, the University of Southern Mississippi provides a supportive setting to launch a career in theatre or continue to graduate study.