The College of Humanities and Fine Arts strives to foster awareness and appreciation of the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences among students, the university community, and the public. The College is a learning community dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and its application through civic and professional leadership. Students and faculty members act as advocates for the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences in a variety of ways, ranging from teaching and scholarly work to performance, exhibition, and consultation. To this end, the College actively promotes research and creative activities among its faculty and students.

The College seeks to provide a personalized learning experience promoting the free and rigorous pursuit of knowledge, respect for differing points of view and cultures, appreciation of personal expression in all its artistic forms, awareness of the role of an educated citizenry in a democratic society, and understanding of the role values play in thought and action. The College aims to develop students who think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, and participate actively in their communities. Thus, the College of Humanities and Fine Arts is committed to preparing well-educated, thoughtful, and contributing citizens of the world.

The College was created during a university reorganization several years ago through the combination of most of the departments in the former College of Humanistic Studies and the College of Fine Arts, and the addition of the former department of Political Science and Legal Studies. The "maiden voyage" of our new college was the 2000-2001 academic year. We are the largest and most diverse college at MSU, with over 100 full-time, tenure-track faculty producing the greatest number of student production credit hours at the university. The college teaches the majority of the university studies curriculum that defines MSU's mission. Our departments are spread out in numerous buildings, including Faculty Hall, Doyle Fine Arts Complex, and Wells Hall. The following departments or programs make up the College: Art: English and Philosophy; Government, Law and International Affairs; History; Modern Languages; Music; Psychology; Sociology; and Theatre and Dance. We are also the administrative center for the Kentucky Institute for International Study, a consortium of schools running study abroad programs all over the world.

As a college we value academic excellence as well as collaborative teaching and learning enterprises. The college has been instrumental in the successful development of the Commonwealth Honors Academy and hopes to lead by example by providing a new focus upon Service Learning. We are the campus leaders in the use of technology to enhance teaching and learning, and have an active undergraduate research agenda. As the artistic and cultural heart of the campus, the College of Humanities and Fine Arts sponsors film, lecture, and reading series; musical and theatrical performances; and exhibitions that enrich the quality of life in the region.