Colleges Michigan State University

Michigan State University https://msu.edu

Michigan State University is a public institution that was founded in 1855. Its sprawling campus sits on 5,192 acres in East Lansing, Michigan perched on the banks of the Red Cedar River. Students can join more than 900 student clubs, including 60-plus fraternities and sororities. The university has one of the largest single-campus residence hall systems in the U.S., and freshmen must live on campus, with a few exceptions. Students can take advantage of more than 275 study abroad programs. The school’s sustainability effort, Be Spartan Green, has earned national recognition. Similarly, Michigan State is also home to one of the nation’s only environmental journalism organizations, a solar car racing team, and a student-run organic farm. MSU was the first land-grant institution in the country and became a model for similar schools. Its graduate programs include the highly ranked College of Education and the well-regarded Eli Broad College of Business.

Academics

MSU has over 200 academic programs offered by 17 degree-granting colleges. It’s a member of the Association of American Universities and is classified among R1 Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activities. The University’s six professional schools include the College of Law, Eli Broad College of Business, the College of Nursing, the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the College of Human Medicine, and the College of Veterinary Medicine. Michigan State pioneered the studies of music therapy, packaging, hospitality business, supply chain management, and communication sciences. The student-faculty ratio at MSU is 17:1, and the school has 27% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. Popular majors include Advertising, Biology, and Psychology.

Special Highlights

The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. Home to one of the top nuclear physics graduate programs in the nation, MSU is shaping the next generation of nuclear scientists who will advance the boundaries of knowledge. The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams provides unparalleled research opportunities and attracts top graduate and undergraduate students in physics and related fields. Experiments at the facility will generate new knowledge about the makings of atomic nuclei and the origins of the universe as well as new technologies that are yet to be imagined for use in a variety of industries. FRIB is where the doors to discovery are thrown open. It’s where nuclear science researchers from around the globe perform experiments that deepen our understanding of the universe and lead to real-world applications in medicine, industry and homeland security.

Residential Colleges. James Madison College is a smaller component residential college featuring multidisciplinary programs in the social sciences, founded on a model of liberal education. James Madison College is housed in Case Hall. Classes in the college are small, with an average of 25 students.  Lyman Briggs College teaches math and science within social, historical and philosophical contexts. Many Lyman Briggs students intend to pursue careers in medicine, but the school supports over 30 coordinate majors, from human biology to computer sciences. Lyman Briggs is one of the few colleges that lets undergraduates teach as Learning Assistants. The Residential College in the Arts and Humanities (RCAH) provides around 600 undergraduates with an individualized curriculum in the liberal, visual, and performing arts.

School Mission & Unique Qualities

Michigan State University is an inclusive, academic community known for our traditionally strong academic disciplines and professional programs, and our liberal arts foundation. Our cross- and inter-disciplinary enterprises connect the sciences, humanities, and professions in practical, sustainable, and innovative ways to address society’s rapidly changing needs. The university’s campus houses the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, the W. J. Beal Botanical Garden, the Abrams Planetarium, the Wharton Center for Performing Arts, the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, and the country’s largest residence hall system.

Student Reviews…

“At MSU, I experienced a vibrant campus community with diverse academic opportunities and extracurricular activities. The supportive faculty and resources encouraged growth and exploration. However, I believe there could be improvements in campus infrastructure and diversity initiatives.”