| Michigan State University is a public college located in | | | | took the same scientific agriculture courses as male |
| East Lansing, Michigan. It is a land-grant university and | | | | students. In 1896, the faculty created a "Women |
| was the first agricultural college in the United States. | | | | Course" that melded liberal arts and sciences, with a |
| Michigan State University(MSU) has a fantastic | | | | home economics curriculum. That same year, the |
| hospitality school and the study abroad program is the | | | | College turned the old Abbot Hall dorm into a women's |
| largest of any single-campus university in the nation, | | | | dormitory. However, it was not until 1899 that the State |
| offering more than 200 programs in more than 60 | | | | Agricultural College admitted its first African American |
| countries on all continents. Following the introduction of | | | | student. The first African American student, William I. |
| the Morrill Act, "MSU" became co-educational and | | | | Thompson, went on to teach at what is now |
| expanded its curriculum beyond just agriculture. "MSU" | | | | Tuskegee University. In September 2005, current |
| is currently listed as the six-largest university by | | | | university president Lou Anna Simon called for "MSU" |
| enrollment. As a research university, Michigan State | | | | to become the global model leader for Land Grant |
| University is a member of the Association of | | | | institutions by the year 2012.The Athletic teams, all 22 |
| American Universities.In 1855, Governor Kinsley S. | | | | of them, are named the Spartans and dress in green |
| Bingham signed a bill to establish the nation's first | | | | and white colors. Michigan State offers 14 varsity |
| agriculture college, the Agricultural College of the State | | | | sports for men and 15 for women. The men's |
| of Michigan. Classes began in May of 1857 with three | | | | basketball team has won the national championship |
| buildings, five faculty members and 63 students. The | | | | twice, once in 1979 and another in 2000. The 1979 |
| first designed curriculum was one that required more | | | | championship team was led by the well-known NBA |
| scientific study than any undergraduate institution of | | | | great, Earvin "Magic" Johnson. Football has a long |
| the era, balancing liberal arts, sciene and practical | | | | tradition at Michigan State, starting as a club sport in |
| training. After the Reorganization Act of 1861 was | | | | 1884, but football gained varsity status in 1896. The |
| passed, Colleges had a four-year curriculum and the | | | | team won the Rose Bowl in 1954, 1956 and 1988. The |
| power to grant master's degrees. That same year, the | | | | basketball games are played at the Jack Breslin |
| school changed its name to State Agricultural College | | | | Student Events Center and the football games are |
| and its first class graduated. However, there was not | | | | played at Spartan Stadium, in the center of the |
| much for an elaborate graduation ceremony, most of | | | | campus.Michigan State University is one of the many |
| the alumni were drafted into the American Civil War | | | | fine schools to attend after high school in the United |
| that followed soon after. The college first admitted | | | | States. The academic program and athletic program |
| women in 1870, although at that time there were no | | | | of the university meets the requirements to become |
| female dormitories. Females, even from the early days, | | | | successful beyond graduation. |