Michigan State University (MSU) is a public research university located in East Lansing, Michigan, United States and is the first land-grant institution that was created to serve as a model for future land-grant colleges in the country under the 1862 Morrill Act.

MSU pioneered the studies of packaging, hospitality business, supply chain management, and telecommunication. It is considered to be one of America's Public Ivy universities, which recognizes top public universities in the United States.

Following the introduction of the Morrill Act, the college became coeducational and expanded its curriculum beyond agriculture. Today, MSU is the ninth-largest university in the United States (in terms of enrollment), with 49,300 students (2013–14) and 2,954 faculty members. MSU's Division I sports teams are called the Spartans. They compete in the Big Ten Conference in all sports. MSU's football team won the Rose Bowl in 1954, 1956, 1988 and 2014 and boasts six national championships. Its men's basketball team won the NCAA National Championship in 1979 and 2000 and is currently enjoying a streak of six Final Four appearances over the last 13 seasons. MSU men's ice hockey won national titles in 1966, 1986 and 2007. Cross country has historically been Michigan State's most successful sport, especially during a four-decade period spanning roughly 1930–1970 during which the Spartans won eight NCAA championships and numerous other conference and national titles.

The Department of Advertising + Public Relations at MSU is one of the world's largest and oldest such programs.  Founded in 1958, its began under the direction of former advertising executive John Crawford as an undergraduate advertising program.  Over the years it added a Masters program in advertising, and later added a Masters in public relations as well as becoming part of a Ph.D program. Today this program boasts about 1400 undergraduate advertising students, a Minor in public relations, and about 75 advertising and public relations graduate students.  

The faculty of the Department of Advertising + Public Relations take a "full-service" approach to both teaching and research, covering all aspects of these professions.  As a consequence, the Department has developed a strong reputation in multiple areas, including research, general management as well as risk and conflict management, art, copy, and more.  It is one of the largest sources of doctoral graduates in these disciplines, but also a major source for art directors, copy writers, media planners, and so forth.  The faculty are a mix of Ph.D researchers and former industry executives, to serve both academic and professional employers.  And the curriculum is constantly changing, reflecting changes both in society and in the professional fields being served. It is also important to recognize that the Department's mission requires a focus on teaching and research that embraces "social responsibility" as a key element in all we do.

Though the number varies from semester to semester, the Department offers more than 50 different courses related to advertising and/or public relations, easily eclipsing most other programs.  And new courses appear frequently, to address new issues of relevance to these fields.