Skip to main content
Home
Find a school 
  • Home
  • Programs
    • Animation
      • 3D Animation
      • Computer Animation
      • Cartooning
      • Illustration
      • Web Animation
    • Art
      • Digital Art
      • Electronic Art
      • Entertainment Art
      • Studio Art
    • Design
      • 3d Graphics
      • Digital Design
      • Graphic Design
      • Interactive Design
      • Motion Graphic Design
      • Simulation
      • Virtual Modeling
      • Visual Effects
      • Web Design
    • Gaming
      • Game Animation
      • Game Art
      • Game Design
      • Game Development
      • Game Management
      • Game Production
    • Media
      • Digital Media
      • Digital Video
      • Electronic Media
      • Film
      • Multimedia
      • Visual Communications
  • Rankings
  • Interviews
  • Schools & Colleges
    • Alabama - Kentucky
      • Alabama Schools
      • Alaska Schools
      • Arizona Schools
      • Arkansas Schools
      • California Schools
        • Academy of Art University
        • Animation Mentor
        • Art Center College of Design
        • CalArts
        • California College of the Arts
        • California State University, Fullerton
        • California State University, Northridge
        • Chapman University
        • Gnomon School of Visual Effects
        • Laguna College of Art and Design
        • Long Beach State
        • Loyola Marymount University
        • Otis College of Art and Design
        • San Jose State University
        • SAE Ex’pression College
        • University of California, Irvine
        • University of California Los Angeles
        • University of California, Santa Cruz
        • University of Southern California
        • Woodbury University
      • Colorado Schools
        • Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
        • University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
        • University of Denver
        • University of Colorado, Denver
      • Connecticut Schools
        • Quinnipiac University
        • University of Connecticut
      • Delaware Schools
      • District of Columbia (DC)
        • American University
      • Florida Schools
        • The Digital Animation & Visual Effects School (DAVE School)
        • Florida State University
        • Full Sail University
        • Ringling College of Art and Design
        • University of Central Florida
        • University of South Florida
      • Georgia Schools
        • Georgia Institute of Technology
        • Kennesaw State University
        • Savannah College of Art and Design
      • Hawaii Schools
      • Idaho Schools
        • University of Idaho
      • Illinois Schools
        • Bradley University
        • Columbia College Chicago
        • DePaul University
        • Northern Illinois University
        • School of the Art Institute of Chicago
        • Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
        • University of Illinois at Chicago
      • Indiana Schools
        • Ball State University
        • Indiana University - Bloomington
        • Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
        • Purdue University
      • Iowa Schools
      • Kansas Schools
      • Kentucky Schools
    • Louisiana - North Dakota
      • Louisiana Schools
        • Louisiana State University
        • University of Louisiana at Lafayette
      • Maine Schools
      • Maryland Schools
        • Maryland Institute College of Art
        • University of Maryland Baltimore County
      • Massachusetts Schools
        • Becker College
        • Boston University
        • Emerson College
        • Hampshire College
        • Massachusetts College of Art and Design
        • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
        • Montserrat College of Art
        • Northeastern University
        • School of the Museum of Fine Arts
        • University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
        • Worcester Polytechnic Institute
      • Michigan Schools
        • College for Creative Studies
        • Eastern Michigan University
        • Grand Valley State University
        • Kendall College of Art and Design
        • Lawrence Technological University
        • Michigan State University
      • Minnesota Schools
        • Minneapolis College of Art & Design
        • Minnesota State University, Moorhead
      • Mississippi Schools
      • Missouri Schools
        • Kansas City Art Institute
        • Missouri State University
      • Montana Schools
      • Nebraska Schools
        • University of Nebraska, Lincoln
      • Nevada Schools
        • University of Nevada – Reno
      • New Hampshire Schools
        • Dartmouth College
      • New Jersey Schools
        • Bloomfield College
        • The College of New Jersey
        • Montclair State University
        • Stevens Institute of Technology
      • New Mexico Schools
        • Eastern New Mexico University
        • New Mexico State University
        • Santa Fe University of Art and Design
      • New York Schools
        • Adelphi University
        • Cornell University
        • Marist College
        • New York University
        • Parsons The New School for Design
        • Pratt Institute
        • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
        • Rochester Institute of Technology
        • School of Visual Arts
        • Stony Brook University
        • Syracuse University
      • North Carolina Schools
        • East Carolina University
        • North Carolina State University
        • University of North Carolina - Charlotte
        • University of North Carolina School of the Arts
      • North Dakota Schools
    • Ohio - Wyoming
      • Ohio Schools
        • Bowling Green State University
        • Cleveland Institute of Art
        • Columbus College of Art and Design
        • Kent State University
        • Miami University
        • The Ohio State University
        • Ohio University
        • Shawnee State University
      • Oklahoma Schools
      • Oregon Schools
        • Pacific Northwest College of Art
      • Pennsylvania Schools
        • Carnegie Mellon University
        • Drexel University
        • Edinboro University
        • University of Pennsylvania
        • The University of the Arts
      • Rhode Island Schools
        • Rhode Island School of Design
      • South Carolina Schools
        • Clemson University
      • South Dakota Schools
        • Dakota State University
        • South Dakota State University
      • Tennessee Schools
        • East Tennessee State University
        • Middle Tennessee State University
      • Texas Schools
        • Baylor University
        • Sam Houston State University
        • Southern Methodist University
        • Texas A&M University
        • University of Texas at Austin
        • University of Texas at Dallas
        • University of the Incarnate Word
      • Utah Schools
        • Brigham Young University
        • University of Utah
      • Vermont Schools
        • Champlain College
      • Virginia Schools
        • George Mason University
        • Virginia Commonwealth University
        • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
      • Washington Schools
        • Academy of Interactive Entertainment
        • Digipen Institute of Technology
      • West Virginia Schools
      • Wisconsin Schools
        • University of Wisconsin – Stout
      • Wyoming Schools
    • Canada
  • Careers in Animation
    • eSports
    • Animation Firm Profiles
    • Employment Trends
    • Salary Trends
    • Types of Jobs
    • Education/Training Requirements
  • Software & Technology

Find the right school for you

Academy of Art University

Did you know? Academy of Art University’s School of Motion Pictures & Television offers a BFA program with six areas of emphasis -cinematography, directing, editing, producing, production design, and screenwriting- designed to equip the storytellers of tomorrow. Learn more

Top 5 Graphic Design School Programs in South Dakota - 2019 College Rankings

February 07, 2019 written by ACR Staff

2019
Top 5 Graphic Design School Programs in South Dakota - 2019 College Rankings
RankingSchoolCity
1Augustana UniversitySioux Falls
2South Dakota State UniversityBrookings
3Dakota State UniversityMadison
4University of South DakotaVermillion
5Dakota Wesleyan UniversityMitchell

Our 2019 rankings of the top 5 graphic design school programs in South Dakota. For an explanation of the ranking criteria, click here.

1. Augustana UniversityAugustana University, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Founded in 1860 as Augustana Seminary, Augustana University (Augie) serves more than 2,100 students from 29 states and 36 countries. The school offers more than 100 majors, minors and pre-professional specializations through dozens of departments. The Department of Art offers a BFA in Art with a Liberal Arts Track and a Graphic Design Concentration.

This unique program allows students to pursue a second major, which the school says “increases potential career choices.” Popular second majors include Business, English, Journalism, and Marketing. In addition, students pursuing a career in Graphic Design are encouraged to take the 53-60 credit hour, pre-professional track, which “provides more in-depth preparation for admission to graduate programs or professional career in art.”

Find a school

Program highlights include access to the Art Department’s Mac lab with the latest Adobe software, studios for printmaking, sculpture, painting, ceramics, drawing and graphic design, participation in Art Club and Photography Club, and experiential learning opportunities “through discovery and experimentation, internships, student teaching, off-campus study and hands-on research.” Students have interned at places such as Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, Derix Glasstudios in Taunusstein, Germany, Frogman’s Printing Workshop, Metropolitan Museum of Art, TSP Architects, and many others.

In addition to Germany, students have studied in India, Greece, Peru, Paris and more. Finally, Graphic Design “actively” help nonprofit organizations in the community and Augustana student organizations “produce outstanding communications and marketing materials.”

South Dakota State University2. South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota

Founded in 1881, South Dakota State University (SDSU) serves more than 12,000 students from every state and 83 countries. The state’s largest higher-education institution, SDSU offers more than 200 academic programs through nine colleges and around 40 departments. The College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences houses the School of Design.

Established in 2015 and serving 450 students, the School of Design “combines all of SDSU's design fields of study including architecture, interior design, studio art, graphic design and landscape architecture into an academic framework that shares curriculum and resources as the means for increasing collaboration and providing a comprehensive, robust design education for all students.”  

The School’s 120 credit hour BFA in Graphic Design allows students declare a minor in an area such as Advertising, Film Studies, Entrepreneurial Studies or Studio Arts, or enroll in a certificate program such as Animation or Printmaking. The program, which comprises design studio lecture, and professional application, instructs students in “visual communication theory and process in digital, print, time-based (animation), on-line, and interactive media (web and app design). Areas of study include: design foundations, creative thinking, computer graphics, typography, photography, illustration, motion graphics, publication design, identity systems, interactive design, design research, animation, and a graphic design specific senior capstone course.”

The program’s “distinctive interest in professional experiences is realized through” professional practice courses, internships, and travel study to national and international design centers, corporate studios, public relations, and advertising offices. Past internship opportunities have includes Fresh Produce, IBM Design: design in motion, Lawrence & Schiller Advertising, SDSU Wellness Center and many others.

Students will also travel to design conferences and art galleries and museums. Annually, trips are made to Minneapolis, Omaha, and Sioux Falls. Previous professional travel-study include China, Germany, Los Angeles, Japan, Chicago, Copenhagen, Denver, Dallas, and New York.

Graduates of the Graphic Design Program have gone on to land positions as Advertising Designers, Art Directors, Creative Directors, Graphic Designers, Logo and Brand Identity Designers, and Web/Illustrative Interactive Designers at companies such as Blend Interactive Web Strategies, Daktronics, Lawrence & Schiller Advertising, Lemonly – Information Graphics Design Agency, and NBC Universal Sports.

Dakota State University3. Dakota State University, Madison, South Dakota

Founded in 1881 as a school for teacher education in the Dakota Territory, Dakota State University (DSU) specializes in computer management, computer information systems, and other related undergraduate and graduate programs. With more than 45 majors to choose from and a “robust” graduate program, DSU serves around 3,300 students. Programs for aspiring graphic designers include a BS in Digital Arts and Design: Computer Graphics.

Per the school, the program “lays a solid foundation in graphic design and 3D design with a technological focus,” says the school. Students will “work with current software on projects developed to mimic real-life experiences, develop print and web-ready graphics, as well as interactive graphic pages for the web.” Course highlights include Audio Production, Computer Graphic Effects, Design on Computers, Digital Editing, Digital Photography, Digital Storytelling, Drawing, Graphic Effects, 3D Design, and Written Communication.

Students will complete an internship during the Junior or Senior year, and at the end of the program, they will have completed a “strong” Capstone/undergraduate research project/portfolio. “In the end,” students “acquire the experience to work in a digital design studio or as an in-house designer—and everything in between.” Sample job titles include Art Director, Broadcast Design Artist, Content Developer, and Graphic Designer.

University of South Dakota4. University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota

Founded in 1862 as University of Vermillion, University of South Dakota (USD) serves more than 10,000 students enrolled in 198 undergraduate programs and 79 graduate programs through eight colleges and schools and USD Online. In conjunction with the School of Education, the College of Fine Arts offers a BFA in Art Education with a Specialization in Graphic Design/Multimedia. The College also offers a BFA In Studio Art with a Specialization in Graphic Design/Multimedia, an MFA with a Specialization in Graphic Design, and a Graphic Design Certificate.

BFA students will take courses such as Brand Identity, Digital Design, Digital & Web Design, Information Design, Package Design, Publication Design, Typography, and Portfolio Design. MFA students will take many of the same courses as well as Design Methods, Graphic Design Concept and Theory, Graphic Design: Special Problems and Print Studio. MFA students will also complete Graphic Design Master’s Portfolio and Graphic Design Master’s Thesis. All MFA students will have access to graduate studios with office and workstations.

Program highlights for students in all programs include the opportunity to show their work in the Design Exhibition Space in Sioux Falls, access to nationally and internationally-recognized guest speakers who will come to campus to present their work, conduct workshops, critique student works and facilitate classes, and participation in Midwest Press. Students will may also become members of AIGA and participate in Spring Break in New York City (NYC Spring Break). Study Abroad opportunities are also part of the program. Past locations have included China, Italy, France, Scotland, Ireland, Korea, and many others.

Dakota Wesleyan University5. Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, South Dakota

Founded in 1885, Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) serves nearly 1,000 students enrolled in more than 40 majors and minors, four pre-professional programs, and two graduate programs through four colleges including the Donna Starr Christen College of Healthcare, Fitness and Sciences, and the Colleges of Arts and Humanities, Public Service and Leadership, and Adult and Professional Studies.

The College of Arts and Humanities houses the Digital Media and Design (DMD) Program. Per the school, DWU is the “only school the region that focuses on teaching user interface design (UI), user experience (UX) and interactive classes in digital media and design.” The program, which leads to a BA in DMD with a Concentration in Computer Graphic Design or Web Design, teaches students how to combine their “creativity with the latest technology to create ads, brochures and other marketing materials.”

Course highlights include Advanced Digital Imaging; Color Theory Design; Communication, Media, & Society; Computer Graphics; Desktop Publishing; Introduction to Design; Typography, and Web Page Design. Students will complete a Digital Media/Design Portfolio and internship opportunities are available. Graduates of the program will be well prepared to apply their skills in careers such as Creative Design, Prepress Artistry, and Visual Merchandise Design.

Related Articles

South Dakota Top Graphic Design Programs in South Dakota
2019 Top 5 Graphic Design School Programs in South Carolina - 2019 College Rankings
South Dakota Animation Careers: Employment & Salary Trends, Job Opportunities, & Colleges Offering Animation Programs in South Dakota
List of South Dakota Schools with Graphic Design Degree Programs
South Dakota Best Graphic Design Programs in South Dakota
2019 Top 5 Graphic Design School Programs in Iowa - 2019 College Rankings

Categories

Rankings Schools & Colleges

Short Animation Contest

We are proud to announce our first short animation contest of 2019.

View contest gallery More info

Full Sail University

Winter Park, FL & Online
More Information
Home
© 2019 Animation Career ReviewCompany info
Sign in | Register

Resources

  • Home
  • Programs
  • Rankings
  • Interviews
  • Schools & Colleges
  • Careers in Animation
  • Software & Technology

Connect

  • Follow
  • Friend

Discover

 Find a school