Drawing classes were offered at the Michigan Normal School in 1868, by 1881 course offerings expanded to include free hand and object drawing, shading and architectural drawing. From 1896-1900, drawing and art course were offered through the Department of Drawing and Geography before a division in the department created the Department of Drawing in 1904. The first mention of an Art Department in the course catalogs for the Michigan State Normal School were in 1913. Currently, the Art Department at Eastern Michigan University is a part of the College of Arts and Sciences and is housed in Ford Hall. The mission of the Art Department is to provide students and faculty with an environment that fosters creative work and research, excellence in teaching and a department wide focus of student centered learning. The Art Department offers majors in Art History, Art, Fine Arts, and K-12 Art Education, as well as minors in Art and Art History. There are also opportunities for graduate students to earn Master’s degrees in Fine Arts, Visual Arts Education and Studio Art. There are several different mediums and areas of study offered to Art Department students which include: ceramics, drawing, fibers, furniture design, painting, and water color.

The Gallery in Ford Hall is an important space for all involved with the Art Department. This is a place where students and faculty alike have the unique opportunity to display their art work for a public audience. Many of the Art Department’s exhibitions and lectures have been held in the Ford Gallery.