Special Programs at Ole Miss
Applicants for the Chinese Language Flagship Program are encouraged to take advantage of the many other excellent academic programs available at The University of Mississippi. The programs below are selective programs offering small classes, advising, career development, and in many cases, scholarship funding. Many students are part of multiple programs; in fact, it is often the combination of these programs and the competitive edge that they create for their graduates that make our institution so attractive to high-achieving high school seniors from around the country.
Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College
The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College attracts a diverse body of high-performing students to The University of Mississippi and provides them a vibrant center of academic excellence to help them become outstanding in their fields and engaged citizens of their communities and the world. Established in 1997 through a gift from alumni Jim and Sally Barksdale, the Honors College merges intellectual rigor with public service. It offers an education similar to that at prestigious private liberal arts schools and universities, but at a far lower cost. Small, discussion-based classes, dedicated faculty, and a nurturing staff enable Honors College students to experience intellectual as well as personal growth. For more information, visit the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
Croft Institute for International Studies
Founded in 1997, the Croft Institute for International Studies combines area studies and global studies, study abroad, proficiency in a language other than English, and an undergraduate thesis to create a multidisciplinary B.A. degree in International Studies. All Croft students select both a regional focus (East Asia, Europe or Latin America) and a thematic concentration (global economics and business, international governance and politics, or social and cultural identity). Croft students also pursue advanced proficiency in a foreign language as an integral part of their studies. A degree from Croft can lead to careers in law, international business, journalism, education, and research, or to employment with agencies such as the United States Foreign Service, the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Save the Children. For more information, visit the Croft Institute for International Studies.
Center for Manufacturing Excellence
The CME is a center unique in its educational focus on undergraduate interdisciplinary manufacturing education. The CME brings together the Schools of Accountancy, Business Administration, and Engineering to provide students the professional skills involved in successful manufacturing along with an understanding of accounting, communication, human resources, leadership, management, and marketing. The CME Advisory Board includes executives from Toyota’s nearby plant and other manufacturing companies and industry experts to ensure a close tie to industry. More info at: the CME website
Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program
METP is an innovative new teacher education program aimed at attracting top-performing students to teachEnglish and mathematics in Mississippi public high schools using one of the most valuable scholarships ever offered in the state. Participants receive room & board, a $1k technology scholarship, funding for study abroad, and several other benefits in exchange for their commitment.
More info at: the METP website
Center for Intelligence and Security Studies
CISS trains students for careers in intelligence analysis and provides educational and scholarly resources to the national Intelligence Community (IC).
The program consists of a minor in Intelligence and Security Studies, for which students must apply and be selected out of the introductory class.
All CISS students must complete an internship related to intelligence, including local and federal law enforcement or national intelligence community agencies, such as the FBI, CIA, and the Department of Defense.
Core competencies such as engineering, critical language (e.g., Arabic, Chinese), computer and physical science, international relations, and business are highly sought after by the Intelligence Community, and students in such programs are strongly encouraged to apply to the minor.
More info at: The CISS website
Lott Leadership Institute
The Lott Leadership Institute was established in 1999 to honor U.S. Senator Trent Lott, a distinguished graduate of the University. The Lott Institute has a two-fold mission. First, it prepares students to assume positions of leadership in an increasingly complex world, and second, it supports policy relevant research through the Public Policy Research Center.
Lott students earn a degree from the Department of Public Policy Leadership, which provides a challenging undergraduate major that prepares high-performing students for positions of leadership in an increasingly complex world. The interdisciplinary curriculum for the major incorporates geography, political science, economics, philosophy, psychology, and history. The program emphasizes the global nature of responsible decision making, the ethical imperatives of leadership, critical thinking and communication skills, and the quantitative skills necessary for careful policy analysis. visit the Lott Leadership Institute
Note: this is a partial list. There are other highly selective “special programs” at our university, and there are majors and programs without the “special programs” designation that combine very well with our program. Here we list only the most common. Do inquire about other combinations that might interest you.