Arts and Humanities
The Arts and Humanities major, through the School of Residential Community-Engaged Arts and Humanities (RCAH), is designed for students who want to explore big questions about culture, identity, history, ethics, and creativity. The major mobilizes the arts and humanities through a range of courses and real-world learning to create collaborative, community-engaged methods for addressing complex societal problems.
Students in the Arts and Humanities major are part of a living-learning community offering the opportunity to build a creative network together in Snyder-Phillips Hall, a historic building in the North Neighborhood on campus. In addition to classrooms, Snyder-Phillips includes other creative learning spaces like the Student Center, RCAH Poetry Center, LookOut! Art Gallery, RCAH Theatre, RCAH Art Studio, and the Language and Media Center with a music recording studio.
Why study Arts and Humanities at MSU?
As an Arts and Humanities student, you get the benefits of a personalized major along with the small-college experience of a living-learning community combined with the opportunities of a Big Ten research university.
The Arts and Humanities major is a flexible interdisciplinary program that helps you develop strong skills in writing, critical thinking, and problem-solving — all while studying how the arts and human experience shape the world we live in.
Whether you’re interested in social justice, storytelling, public policy, or performance, this major encourages you to chart your own path while preparing for a wide range of careers or graduate study.
What will you learn in the Arts and Humanities program?
The Arts and Humanities program connects what you learn in the classroom to real-world issues through community engagement, global learning, and creative projects. As part of an academic living-learning program, you’ll also have the opportunity to work closely with your professors and peers on creative and community-engaged projects and initiatives.
Students will learn:
- Critical thinking and analysis.
- Problem solving and collaboration.
- Communication and presentation skills.
- Creative reasoning and project development.
What types of careers are available?
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in Arts and Humanities pursue careers in a range of industries, including educational, creative, governmental, and nonprofit fields. Some graduates also pursue additional professional schooling and graduate programs.
Arts and Humanities students have a 99% placement rate into the workforce or continuing education following graduation.