The purpose of the College of Arts and Sciences is to provide quality classroom instruction, practical learning experiences, and academic and cultural enrichment opportunities that will lead to successful student learning. Through the programs in its eight departments, the College provides students with a focused course of study that will prepare them for graduate or professional schools or employment. The College also provides students with a solid educational foundation in the liberal arts that will prepare them for continued personal and intellectual growth after graduation.
The College of Arts and Sciences offers academic programs through the departments of Art and Design; Communication; History, Political Science, and Geography; Languages, Literature, and Philosophy; Music; Psychology and Family Science; Sciences and Mathematics; and Theatre. Additionally, the College offers minors or courses in American Studies, Art History, Film Studies, French, International Studies, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Philosophy, Pre-Law, Geography, Religious Studies, and Women’s Studies, as well as certificate programs in Teaching English as a Second Language, Child Advocacy Studies Training (CAST), and Applied and Professional Ethics. For students interested in going to professional schools after MUW, academic advisors help students select the appropriate courses to meet application requirements for medical or dental schools, pharmacy or veterinary medicine programs, law or other professional schools.
Department of Art and Design
Department Chair: Shawn Dickey
Faculty
Professors: Shawn Dickey, Robert Gibson, Beverly Joyce
Associate Professors: Ian Childers, Alex Stelioes-Wills
Accreditation
Mississippi University for Women is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
General Program Information
The Department of Art and Design offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fine Art (BFA) degree. Students complete course requirements in one of the following studio art emphases: Drawing and Painting; Graphic Design; Printmaking; Ceramics; or Photography. The BFA degree is a more intensive degree in art and design and is intended for professional practice.
The Department of Art and Design also offers minors in Art History and Studio Art, open only to non-art majors.
Exhibition Requirements:
All freshman, sophomore, and junior art students in any art major are required to enter artwork in the Annual MUW Juried Student Exhibition. In their senior year, all art majors must participate in a final Senior Exhibition.
Art Core Requirements:
All art students must complete the Art Core . Note: Some courses taken for the major may also fulfill requirements for the University core curriculum.
Undergraduate Major
Minor
Other Programs
Department of Communication
Department Chair: Barry P. Smith
Communication Faculty
Professors: Van T. Roberts, Barry P. Smith
Associate Professor: Melissa M. Smith
Instructor: Eric E. Harlan
Undergraduate Major
Minor
Department of History, Political Science, and Geography
Department Chair: Erin Kempker
Geography Faculty
Visiting Assistant Professor: Ann Fletchall Frazier
History Faculty
Professor: Thomas Velek
Associate Professors: Amber Handy, Jonathon Hooks, Erin Kempker
Visiting Assistant Professor: Kristi DiClemente
University Archivist: Derek Webb
Political Science Faculty
Professors: Brian Anderson
Assistant Professor: Chanley Rainey
Undergraduate Major
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History Major, BA
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History Major, Concentration in Public History, BA
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History Major, Secondary Education Certification in History and Social Studies, BA
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Interdisciplinary Studies Major, BA
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Interdisciplinary Studies Major, BS
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Political Sciece Major, Nonprofit Advocacy Concentration, BS
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Political Science Major, BS
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Political Science Major, Social Studies Concentration, BS
Minor
Department of Languages, Literature, and Philosophy
Department Chair: Kendall Dunkelberg
English Faculty
Professors: Nora Corrigan, Kendall Dunkelberg, Amy Pardo, Bridget Smith Pieschel, Thomas C. Richardson, Leslie Stratyner, Kim Whitehead
Associate Professors: Michael Farris Smith
Assistant Professors: Shahara’Tova Dente,Thomas Kris Lee, Allene Nichols, Brandy T. Wilson
Instructors: Todd Bunnell, Janet Woodcock
Foreign Languages Faculty
Assistant Professor: Reyna Vergara
Instructors: Erinn Holloway, Robert Raymond
Philosophy Faculty
Assistant Professors: Joshua Dohmen, Jill Drouillard
Certificate
Undergraduate Major
Minor
Department of Music
Department Chair: Julia Mortyakova
Music Faculty
Professors: Julia Mortyakova, Carmen Osburn
Associate Professors: Joe Alexander, Valentin Bogdan
Assistant Professor: Susan Hurley, Brandon Robinson
Visiting Instructor of Music: Elizabeth Jones
Music Programs
Accreditation
Mississippi University for Women is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) for the Bachelor of Arts in Music, the Bachelor of Music in Music Education, and the Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy. The B.M. in Music Education program is approved by the Mississippi State Department of Education and accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, thereby enabling graduates to satisfy the certification requirements for the State of Mississippi in Music Education. The Music Therapy program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association.
Undergraduate Major
Minor
Other Programs
Department of Psychology and Family Science
Department Chair: Dorothy Berglund
Psychology Faculty
Professor: Holleen Krogh
Assistant Professors: Heather Bliss, Andrew Nguyen
Family Science Faculty
Professor: Dorothy Berglund
Associate Professor: Youn Lee
Visiting Assistant Professor: Cecilia Brooks
Accreditation
Mississippi University for Women’s Family Science major is approved by the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) as a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE) program. Students graduating from this program can apply for provisional certification through an abbreviated process.
Certificate
Undergraduate Major
Minor
Department of Sciences and Mathematics
Department Chair: Bonnie Oppenheimer
Biological Sciences Faculty
Professors: Ghanshyam Heda, Nicole Welch, Ross Whitwam
Assistant Professors: Travis Hagey, Benjamin Onyeagucha, R.C. Sample, Davida Crossley
Instructors: Thomas Dodson, Bianca Simmons-Diez
Mathematics Faculty
Professors: Dorothy A. Kerzel, Bonnie Oppenheimer, Clifton Wingard
Associate Professor: Joshua Hanes
Assistant Professors: Hwamog Kim
Physical Sciences Faculty
Professors: Dionne Fortenberry, Jiben Roy
Associate Professor: Xiaoxia Li
Instructor: Edward Bruster
The Department of Sciences and Mathematics offers majors in the areas of Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physical Science.
Before a student is allowed to register for upper-level courses (those numbered 300 or above) within the department, the student must:
- Have a 2.0 average for all courses taken within the department (including transfer credit)
- Have completed all prerequisites for upper-level courses with grades of C or better
Exceptions to any of the above requirements require approval of the Chair of the Department of Sciences and Mathematics.
Prerequisite Courses for Professional Programs
For students interested in health-related professional schools, a B.S. degree (typically a biology or chemistry major) at The W allows the students to tailor their course selection to ensure all requirements are met for the professional school of their choice. Such professional schools include: Medical, Pharmacy, Veterinary, Dental, and Optometry.
Undergraduate Major
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Biology Major, BS
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Biology Major, Secondary Education Certification, BS
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Chemistry Major, BS
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Mathematics Major, BA
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Mathematics Major, BS
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Mathematics Major, Secondary Education Certification, BS
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Physical Sciences Major, Secondary Education Certification, BS
Minor
Department of Theatre
Department Chair: David Carter
Theatre Faculty
Professors: David Carter
Associate Professor: Lee Crouse
Instructor: Sarah Shotts
Undergraduate Major
Minor
