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
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
Student Designers Turn Greenhouse into Runway for First-Ever Studio 450 Fashion Show
Student designers turned a greenhouse into a runway as Michigan State University’s Horticulture Gardens became the setting for Studio 450, a student-led fashion show showcasing original work by emerging fashion designers. Surrounded by glass conservatories and lush greenery, models moved through an evening of fashion that was about more than garments on display. For the Apparel and Textile Design (ATD) students behind Studio 450, the show was a chance to bring original ideas to life. It represented months of creative work and collaboration, offering valuable hands-on experience in designing, producing, and presenting a public fashion event from the ground
From the Shadows of Beaumont Tower: Hands-On Curatorial Experience Brings Spartan Traditions to Life
Painting the MSU Rock. A primal midnight scream during finals week. Formal social etiquette from a 1954 student handbook. And even Sparty himself. These iconic Michigan State University traditions — and many more — are featured in the What If We Kissed in the Shadows of Beaumont Tower?: Connecting Generations Through MSU Student Traditions exhibition created by students in the Curatorial Practices (MUSM 488/888) course taught by Suzanne Fischer, Assistant Professor in the Arts, Cultural Management, and Museum Studies program at MSU. On view through Aug. 1, 2026, in the MSU Museum’s newly opened Forest Akers Trust Student Exhibition Lab,