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
Undergraduate
graduate
community
Majors
Minors
Art photograhy
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.
Come visit us!
Sign up for our newsletter
Rebecca dekuiper
Apparel and Textile Design Alumna
Lead Designer, American Girl
featured News
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
MSU Sculpture Students Learn Metal Casting, Build Creative Networks in Michigan
An arts education at Michigan State University goes beyond two dimensions. Students have opportunities to participate in fabrication, metal casting, and sculpture experiences with their peers at MSU and around Michigan — all while wearing proper safety gear of course. MSU Assistant Professor of Sculpture Jamie Weinfurter teaches casting, sculpture, and introductory art courses in the MSU Department of Art, Art History, and Design (AAHD). In these courses, students learn the artistic process of metal casting, which involves heating a metal to its molten state and then pouring the liquid into a mold to solidify a specific shape. “Hands-on
Ask the Expert: How Arts and Humanities Drive Michigan’s Economic Future
Higher education plays a key role in educating Michigan residents as well as supporting the state’s economy, workforce, and culture. Michigan’s 15 public universities generate nearly $45 billion in annual economic impact with Michigan State University supporting $9.7 billion, according to the Michigan Association of State Universities Economic Impact Report released in 2026. Additionally, MSU educates more Michigan residents than any other university with more than 60% of Spartan graduates remaining in-state after graduation, directly contributing to Michigan’s workforce and economic growth. College of Arts and Letters alumni alone total more than 18,500 in Michigan. Growing Michigan opportunities are