Undergraduate

The College of Architecture, Art, and Design includes the following undergraduate programs:

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ARCH

School of Architecture

The School of Architecture offers the only curriculum in the state of Mississippi leading to a professional degree in architecture. 

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ART

Art

The Department of Art is the largest undergraduate studio art program in the state of Mississippi with concentrations in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, and Photography.

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BCS

Building Construction Science

The Department of Building Construction Science is one of just two studio-based construction programs in the nation.

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ID

Interior Design

The Department of Interior Design offers students a broad background in interior elements, materials, sources, and practical experience in the business of interior design.

Graduate

The College of Architecture, Art, and Design includes the following graduate programs:

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MFA

Historic Preservation

Mississippi State University’s Master of Fine Arts degree in Historical Preservation will culminate in a terminal degree, one of the few degrees of its kind in the United States and focuses on historic preservation combined with preservation field studies.

Background Image Alternative Text: Steve Badanes presents an Architecture Harrison Lecture in Giles Hall (photo by Megan Bean / © Mississippi State University)

Collaboration and Access to
Experts in the Field

In the Mississippi State University of College of Architecture, Art and Design, we believe in the importance of collaboration between majors, across campus, and with industry professionals.

We provide multiple opportunities that allow students to have interaction and network with alumni and other art, design, and construction professionals. All of our architecture and building construction science students participate in a two-semester collaborative studio to learn the art and benefit of collaborative work in these fields.

View Work from the Collaborative Studio.

All the seniors in the college come together to work in teams on an industry-sponsored competitive project for two weeks each year. Students especially love this project because the winning teams receive scholarship money to put toward their studies.

View Work from the Brasfield and Gorrie Competition.

Background Image Alternative Text: Mississippi State University interior design students visited The Today Show in New York on their 2012 field trip.

Background Image Alternative Text: Mississippi State University building construction science seniors visited The United Nations in New York on their 2016 annual field trip.

Field Trips

Field trips are an important component of education for students in the College of Architecture, Art and Design. Each program offers varying levels of field trips to students. Students prepare for these trips by engaging in research and producing case studies. The time on site is divided between structured visits to important buildings, museums, and offices, and free time for students to explore on their own.

Over the years, field trip destinations have included metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, New Orleans, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Minneapolis, and Cincinnati.

In addition to longer field trips, students also participate in local and regional field trips. These trips are not only planned in conjunction with the design studios, but also complement lecture courses and may last a few hours or require an overnight stay.

Study Abroad

The College of Architecture, Art, and Design at Mississippi State University believes students in our college need exposure to art, design, construction, and culture abroad. We encourage all students to take advantage of opportunities to explore academic opportunities outside of the U.S. 

Where CAAD Can Take You

Background Image Alternative Text: a student takes in the views with her arms stretched up on the Mississippi State University College of Architecture, Art and Design (CAAD) Rome Program, Summer study abroad. The student was on a class field trip to Orvieto, Italy.

Background Image Alternative Text: A Mississippi State University Building Construction Science major, Isaiah Brooking, shakes hands with representatives at a career fair in Howell Building.

Externships and Internships
Cooperative Education

There are numerous opportunities in the College of Architecture, Art and Design for students to gain professional experience through either an internship, externship, or co-op. 

Architecture Art Building Construction Science Interior Design

Background Image Alternative Text: Jordan Smith, right. a senior architecture major from Jackson, holds a chair being constructed from cardboard by 2 campers (working, left) at Design Discovery in Giles Hall

Camps

Not sure if architecture, art, building construction design or interior design is the right fit for you? We have a camp for that!

Architecture Camp Art Camp Building Construction Science Camp Interior Design Camp

Resources

The College of Architecture, Art and Design at Mississippi State provides a number of state-of-the art specialty resources to help our students have the tools they need to excel in our unique, studio-based programs.

Embedded Counselor Galleries Libraries Specialty Labs Shops University Resources