Culture and Society | Office of Admissions and Scholarships
Background Image Alternative Text: Members of the MSU Wind Ensemble warm up before a concert Thursday [April 7] in Lee Hal's Bettersworth Auditorium. Representing the musical student leadership of the MSU band program, the Wind Ensemble is the premier student ensemble at MSU. The group performs under the direction of MSU Director of Bands Elva Kaye Lance.

Culture and Society

Anthropology is the study of humans as biological and cultural beings. Its subfields include archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistics. Students majoring in anthropology may undertake course work in all four subfields; AMEC offers concentrations in archaeology, cultural anthropology, and biological anthropology. 

Criminology, as a field, explores the nature and causes of crime. Criminology also examines the impact crime has on society and how in turn society responds to the social problem of crime. The Bachelor's degree in Criminology will emphasize the study of types, patterns and trends in criminal behavior; the social etiology of crime; and the social response to crime and its effect on society. The program will also train students to analyze crime data, test explanations of crime and victimization, and critically evaluate crime theory and policy. 

The study of English gives students knowledge of the language and its literature, including familiarity with the literature that helped define past eras. Studying English also helps students develop their ability to read perceptively, think critically, analyze problems, and write persuasively. For these reasons, a major in English has traditionally been viewed as good training for careers in law, government, business, and publishing, as well as for careers in teaching and writing. 

Studying and teaching languages are the passions of the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures. There are 10 different languages and have 4 (soon to be 5!) language concentrations. The faculty currently plan and lead study abroad programs to Spain, Central America, Germany and France. 

The History Major at Mississippi State University exposes undergraduate students to a wide range of human perspectives and experience. Our professors and our curriculum facilitate a valuable understanding of the historical past and the present, as well as cultural differences amongst peoples of the world. 

The Department of Music offers two undergraduate degrees in music: the Bachelor of Arts in Music (B.A.) and the Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.). 

The Department or Philosophy and Religion offers a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy, either focusing on Philosophy or adding a concentration in Religion.

  • Religion
  • Pre-Ministry

Mississippi State University's bachelor's in political science is one of the best in the country, as reflected in our students winning so many Truman Scholarships. MSU is among an elite group of five universities to have first received the Truman Honor Institution Award, granted by this prestigious foundation based in Washington, D.C. 

A degree in psychology provides training in the science of psychology, experimental design, statistics, critical thinking, as well as strong writing and interpersonal skills.  Majoring in psychology will help you to learn more about the emotions, motivations, and behaviors of others, as well as yourself. Additionally, a bachelor’s degree in psychology will prepare you for a variety of careers and for graduate education.

The Social Work Program at Mississippi State University is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Social work is a challenging and rewarding profession with the primary goal of enhancing individual functioning and promoting human rights and social and economic justice. 

Sociology is the scientific study of society and its institutions, organizations, and groups. Sociologists study the ways that social structure and interactions shape human life. Sociology’s subject matter is diverse, ranging from crime to religion, from the family to the state, from the divisions of race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, and from social stability to radical change in whole societies. 

Students who prefer to specialize in more than one field of study may earn a B.A. degree in General Liberal Arts.

The Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies is a university-wide degree coordinated through the College of Arts & Sciences by the Interdisciplinary Studies Committee. This multi-discipline academic program is appropriate for students motivated by specific interests not recognized in traditional majors and is not intended to compete with existing programs.