College of Literature, Science, and the Arts

COLLEGE OVERVIEW The University of Michigan as we know it started with LSA. In 1841, the University held its first classes in Ann Arbor with a handful of students, featuring a curriculum rooted in literature, science, and the arts—a revolutionary approach that viewed the world through many lenses instead of just one. Today, with more than 100 degree programs in over 75 academic departments and programs, LSA is the largest of U-M’s 19 schools and colleges and is still at the heart of the University. The College is built upon the idea that a powerful, pragmatic, broad education can transform hearts and minds, can solve problems in an ever-changing world, and can yield ideas and innovation across every discipline. Here, thinking doesn’t have to be elegant—it can be messy, it can shake up the status quo, and it can set minds in motion. Evolution, after all, is rarely neat. MISSION TRADITION The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts has been a world leader in research and delivering an extraordinary liberal arts and sciences education for more than 175 years. Our faculty are on the frontlines of new ideas and pioneering research across every discipline. LSA students gain theoretical and practical skills to turn complex problems into positive solutions. Our Mission As a public liberal arts college, LSA’s mission is twofold: To push the boundaries of what is understood about human experience and the natural world, and To foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world. An in-depth articulation of LSA’s mission, vision, and values is available on our Strategic Vision website.