Academic Programs Catalog

General Information, Policies, Procedures and Regulations

The Campus

The Michigan State University campus in East Lansing occupies 5,218 contiguous acres and has long been recognized as one of the most beautiful in the nation. The developed campus comprises 2,100 acres, and the remaining 3,118 acres are devoted to experimental farms, outlying research facilities, and a 36-hole golf course. Combined, the developed campus and farms area also contain 26 natural areas which encompass more than 700 acres. The gently rolling campus is graced by a park-like landscape, traversed by the scenic tree-lined Red Cedar River. Campus beauty is enhanced by a mature collection of trees, shrubs, and woody vines that serve teaching, research and outreach functions with over 36,000 plants accounted for in an interactive digital database. Planting of trees on the campus began shortly after its founding in 1855. A more formal collection of trees was initiated on campus in 1874 in what is known as the Campus Arboretum Collection. The rich campus open space complements and unifies the 577 permanent university buildings that provide over 25.3 million gross square feet of space to serve the institution’s land-grant mission.

The spacious campus arboretum is punctuated at intervals by focal points of plant interest.  Notable among these are the Beal Botanical Garden, the Horticultural Demonstration Gardens, the 4-H Children’s Garden, the C.E. Lewis Landscape Arboretum, the West Circle Drive loop, and the Sanford, Red Cedar, Baker, Beal Pinetum, Bear Lake, and Toumey Natural Areas. The Beal Botanical Garden was established in 1873 to support teaching, research and community outreach across campus. Besides being one of the very first continuously operated campus botanical gardens in North America, it is the site where hybrid maize was first developed by Professor Beal, and is still the place where the longest running science experiment in history is ongoing today. The 2,200 plant taxa in the labeled beds are organized into systematic, and economic collections. The adjoining slopes have many more species that comprise regional ecological and landscape groupings. The Horticultural Demonstration Gardens, which showcase beautiful displays of over 1,200 varieties of flowering plants, are used for instruction and demonstration and for testing the performance of plants in the climate of central Michigan. Beal Botanical Garden is on the State Register of Historic Places, a designation which honors its 150+ years legacy of education and research innovation in the heart of campus. They include both All-American Trial and Euro-Select Trial Gardens for annual plants and an All-American Display Garden for roses. Natural areas on the campus are protected vestiges of our natural heritage and include Toumey Woodlot, an old-growth beech-maple forest designated by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a Natural Landmark. In 2023, Baker Woodlot was inducted into the Old Growth Forest Network. Management of the natural areas is held to a minimum necessary to assure that their manifold teaching, research, recreational, and inspirational values will continue to serve generations of future students, staff, and faculty.

 


Abrams Planetarium

The Abrams Planetarium is an acknowledged leader in the popularization of astronomy. It is named after Dr. Talbert "Ted" and Mrs. Leota Abrams, who generously gave the original gift of $250,000 over 50 years ago. Today, the building features a 140-seat Sky Theater housing a digital full-dome projector, a black light gallery, an exhibit hall, and gift counter.

The major goals of the planetarium include offering engaging multimedia presentations that always contain a live presentation to the public, tailored program for the needs of K-12 students, and up-to-date undergraduate education across disciplines through collaboration with people across campus and the community.

Star shows and other events are offered to the public on weekends and special occasions. Visitors to the exhibit hall are welcome between 9:30 a.m. and noon and 1:00 p.m. an 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

For more information and a full listing of our offerings visit www.abramsplanetarium.org.



 

Alumni Memorial Chapel

Nestled amidst trees and lawns that slope gently down to the Red Cedar River stands the picturesque Alumni Memorial Chapel. Dedicated on June 7, 1952, the Chapel’s simple elegance, timbered ceilings, stained glass windows and collegiate gothic charm are among the reasons many choose this location to celebrate weddings, baptisms, memorials, family celebrations and more. Accommodating all faiths, each ceremony is treated with the same respect and reverence. The chapel was built “in honor of those who served their country” and “in memory of those students and alumni who made the supreme sacrifice.” More than 5,000 alumni and friends of the university raised the initial $200,000 to build the chapel. The chapel seats 160 people and is also home to various performances sponsored by the MSU College of Music including those on the new, state-of-the-art, custom-made pipe organ, the Red Cedar Organ. To reserve the MSU Alumni Memorial Chapel, call 1-517-432-2446.

Athletic Facilities

Michigan State University has wide-ranging facilities supporting intercollegiate athletics. The Jenison Field House has complete synthetic surfacing for track and a seating capacity of 5,017 for gymnastics and wrestling events. The Breslin Student Events Center and Berkowitz Basketball Complex, a multipurpose building, have two auxiliary gymnasiums for practice. Breslin has a seating capacity of 14,797 for basketball, volleyball, and other student events. The Munn Ice Arena is available for ice hockey, skating, and athletic events with a seating capacity of 6,470. The full-service MSU Tennis Center has eight indoor tennis courts, offers a wide variety of tennis programs for MSU and the greater Lansing community, and has a seating capacity of 1,200. Twenty varsity and recreational tennis courts are located south of the Duffy Daugherty/Skandalaris Football Center. Spartan Stadium has a playing area covered with grass and is used for football games and for large outdoor occasions. It has a seating capacity of 75,005. The Skandalaris Football Center has a full-size indoor football field and a 16,500- square- foot weight room. The two 18-hole Forest Akers Golf Courses were financed in part through a gift from Forest Akers, a long-time member of the University governing board. Included with the courses are all-weather, year-round driving ranges, practice greens, and the Lasch Family Golf Center. Old College Field is the location of the Secchia Stadium for softball, DeMartin Soccer Complex, and McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field. The field hockey and track and field facility, known as the Ralph Young Field, has an all-weather track and artificial turf infield available to students and faculty. Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center is a 31,000-square- foot facility that houses a computer lab with 74 stations, a 210-seat auditorium, two 70-seat study areas, 10 individual tutorial rooms and 10 staff offices. Rowing facilities are located adjacent to the Grand River in Lansing. Administrative offices for intercollegiate athletics are located on the 4th Floor of 1855 Place.


MSU Auditorium

Both Fairchild Theatre (464 seats) and the main Auditorium (3,152 seats) feature a variety of performing arts events as well as formal lectures and commencement ceremonies. The classrooms, studios and offices of the Department of Theatre are in this building. The main Auditorium and Fairchild Theatre are managed by Wharton Center for Performing Arts, and used by the College of Music and Department of Theatre for performances and instructional activities.

 


Beaumont Tower

This familiar landmark stands on the site of the first building in America where agriculture was taught as a science on a university campus. The tower contains a 49-bell carillon.

 


Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum

The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University (MSU BAM) connects people with art in ways that inspire curiosity and inquiry through a rotation of exhibitions featuring local, national, and international artists, a permanent collection of over 10,000 works, and dynamic programming for students, educators, and families. With a focus on the art of our time—in dialogue with the historical—the museum encourages engagement with issues of local relevance and global significance. Admission to MSU BAM is always free. For more information, visit broadmuseum.msu.edu, email eebam@msu.edu, or call 1-517-884-4800.

International Center

Built in 1963 and substantially expanded in 2002, the Delia Koo International Academic Center continues to be the hub of international activity at Michigan State University. Housed within the International Center is the Office of International Studies and Programs (ISP), a university-level office led by an vice provost and dean. ISP supports and encourages international activities throughout the institution, and within ISP are offices with responsibility for education abroad, international students and scholars, international research and Peace Corps recruiting, international health and safety, as well as area studies centers focusing on Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, Russia, Eurasia and Latin America and the Caribbean. ISP has strong ties to thematic international units across the campus that focus on international agriculture, business, education, engineering, gender, youth, health, and languages. Global Youth Advancement Network (GYAN), Global Center for Food Systems Innovation, Visiting International Professionals Program, Global Innovations in Development, Engagement, and Scholarship (Global IDEAS), and visiting international scholars affiliated with the international and thematic centers also have offices here. The International Center also houses the Volunteer English Tutoring Program, a language-tutoring program for the international community, and is available for use by MSU’s many other international centers and institutes. ISP hosts a myriad of international conferences, seminars, colloquia, and workshops. Other residents include the Cross-roads Food Court, MSU ID Office and the Spartan Bookstore. In addition to offices and meeting space, the International Center also offers room 115 just off the lobby. Primarily used as a classroom, room 115 is available for large meetings and is often the site of academic governance sessions during fall and spring semesters. To request use of room 115, contact classroom scheduling in the Office of the Registrar. Registered student organizations may request use of the lobby area through the Department of Student Life for various cultural, social and recreational activities. Similarly, the International Center also hosts events sponsored by the University Activities Board.

 


Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center

Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center plays a key role in the fulfillment of the university’s land grant mission. Built in 1951 in partnership with the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, the Kellogg Center has been a model facility for continuing education. Today, the facility serves as the “front door to the university,” offering unrivaled customer service, an award-winning restaurant, experiential training to support students in The School of Hospitality Business, flexible space to host an array of functions, state-of-the-art technology, and more. Available to the public as well as the university community, the Kellogg Center is a hub for community activities, professional meetings, and social events, featuring guest rooms and suites, flexible meeting space and banquet rooms, and private dining options. Located in the hotel is the State Room Restaurant, offering seasonal cuisine and lunch options for dining plan holders. Additionally, Kellogg Market is located near the front desk, offering Combo-X-Change options for dining plan holders, refreshments, grab-and-go meals, and more. Lastly, the Kellogg Center houses teaching laboratories for The School of Hospitality Business. The facility offers paid internships and opportunities for student growth in the areas of hospitality, hotel front office operations, and engineering.

 

Kresge Art Center

A gift of the S. S. Kresge Foundation, this building houses the Department of Art, Art History, and Design. Among its resources are lecture classrooms for art history and disciplinary studios for ceramics, drawing, electronic art and intermedia, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. Other resources housed within the Kresge Art Center include: a woodshop, a professional lighting studio for documentation of artwork, two digital labs, a print lab, a state-of-the-art electronic fabrication, prototyping and sculpture facility, a visual resource library, and an art store/café. The Department of Art, Art History, and Design Gallery 101 and 114 provide additional exhibition space and feature rotating exhibits throughout the year. All gallery exhibits are open to the public. For additional information call 1-517-355-7610, e-mail art@msu.edu or visit www.art.msu.edu.


Michigan State University Museum

The MSU Museum is an innovative and experimental collaboratory that exists to catalyze creativity. Here, people can freely explore, express, and experiment with ideas across various disciplines and interests, indulging their natural curiosity about the world. The Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and holds the distinction of being the state's first Smithsonian Affiliate. Since 1857, the Museum has been collecting objects and specimens, and creating exhibitions that reflect our shared histories and experiences. These collections and exhibitions serve as catalysts for teaching, learning, and research, establishing a dynamic collaboratory for student and faculty success. For more information, visit our Web site at www.museum.msu.edu. For general inquiries, please call 1-517-355-2370 or email us at museum@msu.edu.
 


MSU Union

The MSU Union is a busy student and alumni hub offering shopping, dining, flexible event space and convenient amenities designed to serve the Michigan State University community. Located at the corner of Abbot Road and Grand River Avenue, it's easily accessible by all methods of transportation. The MSU Union is located at the entrance to north campus, within a park-like atmosphere. In keeping with location’s storied past, the MSU Union acts as a central meeting place for students, faculty, staff, alums and university guests to experience cultural, educational and social activities. Services available at the MSU Union include:

Admissions Welcome Room MOSAIC Multicultural and Unity Center
Cap and Gown Rental and Purchase Neighborhood Student Success Center
Classrooms 50, 55 Nursing Mothers Room
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Personal Health Room
Commencement Merchandise Quiet Study Lounge
Community Police Office Spartan Spirit Shop
Computer Labs Sparty's Mini Market
Meeting and Conference Space Strange Matter Coffee
MSU Federal Credit Union Student Parent Resource Center
MSU Tours University Advising

The MSU Union also provides campus-wide student activities through the University Activities Board (UAB) with events held at a variety of campus locations. Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) can use the MSU Union for meetings and events. Other interested parties can book space within the union for meetings, conferences and special events, with Kellogg Catering our preferred caterer. Contact the Sales department at 1-517-432-2446 or email will1760@msu.edu. You can also visit us at msuunion.com.


Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education

The Michigan State University Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education opened in 1997 and combines auditorium, classroom, arena, and exhibit spaces. Exhibit space covers 66,240 square feet and can accommodate 368 animal stalls that can be removed to create open space for a variety of events. The arena seats 2,000 people and has a show floor of 28,670 square feet. The auditorium seats 400 and is used for meetings, auctions, and livestock industry events. An event office, showers, livestock wash racks, public address system, Michigan State University concession stand, and recreational vehicle hook-ups are available for Pavilion events.


Student Services Building

The Student Services Building is home to the Division of Student Life and Engagement and several of its units, including the Office of the Assistant Vice Presidents for Students Involvement and Leadership; and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, the Career Services Network; Student Life; Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions; The Gender and Sexuality Campus Center; the Student Veterans Resource Center; Women*s Student Services, Student and Community Relations; Fraternity and Sorority Life; and the Center for Community Engaged Learning. Other offices in the building include the Office of Financial Aid, Center for Survivors, Health Promotions, Recovery Room, ASMSU, as well as the administrative offices for the Eli Broad Art Museum.
 


Wharton Center for Performing Arts

Wharton Center, located in the heart of MSU's campus at the corner of Bogue Street and Shaw Lane, was founded on the belief that art is a dimension of culture that should be shared with and made accessible to all. Through diverse programming and inclusive initiatives—like Sensory-Friendly Performances, ASL-interpretation, and Audio Description, among other programs—Wharton Center strives to inspire and connect with the creative spirit in everyone. Wharton Center serves the community by bringing the best in touring Broadway shows, innovative dance companies, top classical musicians, and jazz artists to Mid-Michigan, as well as hosting performances by the Department of Theatre, College of Music, and the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. Through performing arts and arts education, Wharton Center is committed to fostering confidence, creativity, cooperation, and empathy. Wharton Center Institute for Arts and Creativity collaborates with MSU departments and colleges, on a variety of innovative projects; music and dance masterclasses; and storytelling and improvisation workshops. In addition, the Institute offers summer musical theatre classes led by Broadway professionals, and numerous community and school programs that educate and inspire more than 30,000 learners each year. Wharton Center offers internships and student employment and is supported by an MSU student marketing team. Full-time MSU students receive ticket discounts, including $29 for most MSUFCU Broadway Series performances and $19 for most Performing Arts events. For more information on Wharton Center programs,  visit www.whartoncenter.com.