Mindful of
the past, We contemplate
and create a better future
We inspire rigorous paths of study through individual expression and collaboration across many disciplines of art, art history, and design. Through education and encouragement of broad dialogue within arts, we promote positive and sustainable change in our global community.
Art and Design at MSU
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Master of Fine Arts
Our MFA program seeks to expand our empathic understanding, cultivate the voices of underserved populations and ideas, and mitigate and critique damage done to ecologies, marginalized cultures, and the environment brought about by several centuries of colonialist pursuits.
new program studies race through art
We have established a Critical Race Studies Residency Program that will bring an Artist-in-Residence and a Designer-in-Residence to campus to enrich the life of student experiences and the greater community by facilitating practices of inclusion through art and design as part of the Department of Art, Art History, and Design.
SPARTAN'S JOURNEY OF DETERMINATION
Born with no hands and missing her big toe along with the supporting bones on each foot, Kathryn Bailey, a 24-year-old Studio Art graduating senior hasn’t allowed her quadrilateral limb deficiency to keep her from living a “normal” life and now is about to graduate with a degree in Studio Art and a concentration in Painting and Graphic Design.
MFA in Art, Art History, and Design
The Master of Fine Art program seeks highly motivated students who have the artistic and scholarly vision to guide us into equitable, sustainable, and creative futures. We encourage new and rigorous forms of artistic expression and design innovation that transcend typical constraints to make meaningful contributions to the world. A 100% funded program, your able to customize your student experience at one of the leading research institutions in the world.
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Rebecca dekuiper
Apparel and Textile Design Alumna
Lead Designer, American Girl
featured News
College Celebrates 29 Faculty Members Who Earned Promotions
This year, 29 faculty members within the College of Arts and Letters received promotions. Their achievements will be celebrated during the 2026-27 academic year at promotions ceremonies hosted by the Office of the Provost. This year’s group marks another milestone for the college as the first to include faculty from the School of Residential Community-Engaged Arts and Humanities (RCAH), which integrated with the College of Arts and Letters on July 1, 2026.
2026-2027 STANLEY & SELMA HOLLANDER VISITING ARTIST, DESIGNER, AND SCHOLAR LECTURE SERIES
Please join the MSU Department of Art, Art History, and Design for our annual Stanley & Selma Hollander Visiting Artist, Designer, and Scholar lecture series. All of our events are free and open to the public. Please plan to bring your MSU ID as many MSU campus buildings lock at 6pm. Someone will watch the door for community members to ensure they are able to continue to join us for these inspiring talks. FALL 2026 American Artist, Tuesday, September 29, 6pm, 107 S Kedzie American Artist makes thought experiments that mine the history of technology, race, and knowledge production,
Arts and Humanities in Action: How MSU’s College of Arts and Letters Is Shaping Michigan’s Future
The impact of Michigan State University’s College of Arts and Letters extends far beyond campus. Across Michigan, students, faculty, and alumni are putting the arts and humanities to work through education, language access, accessibility, public engagement, and creative partnerships that preserve cultural heritage, expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and prepare the next generation of leaders. “The arts, culture, and humanities enrich our lives by helping us better understand ourselves and others, appreciate different perspectives, and find meaning and common ground in an increasingly divided world,” said Thomas Stubblefield, Dean of the College of Arts and Letters. “They foster a stronger