The College of Arts & Humanities (CAHS) at University of Wisconsin – Stout (UW-Stout) is home to the School of Art & Design. Consisting of more than 1,000 students and 65 faculty, the School of Art & Design is the largest art and design school in the upper Midwest. Programs within the school emphasize hands-on, polytechnic-infused curriculums supplemented by local, national, and international internships; study abroad experiences; and Cooperative Education and Field Experiences.
The School of Art & Design houses the Design Department, which has a collaborative cross-disciplinary Animation & Digital Media BFA, and a Design MFA. Across programs, students benefit from learning that takes place in studio classrooms; access to state-of-the-art labs and studios, such as the Animation and Game Design & Development Studio Lab; and active faculty with extensive professional experience in the field.
The UW-Stout Animation & Digital Media BFA consists of 120 credit hours of study. The program explores traditional two-dimensional animation, three-dimensional modeling and animation, real-time production, character and environment design, motion capture, and principles of visual storytelling. Students in this program will develop creative and critical thinking skills, while taking courses that cover specific animation and design software.
Course examples for the program (including electives) include 3D Modeling and Animation; Design Drawing and Concept Visualization; Commercial Motion Graphics; Digital Illustration; Virtual and Augmented Reality Video Applications; Visual Effects and Compositing; 3D Character Animation; Digital Sound; Video Production; Typography in Motion; Comics; Animation Production; and Professional Practices in Design.
The Animation & Digital Media BFA program at University of Wisconsin - Stout ends with a two-semester sequence Animation Capstone. This culminating experience for the BFA includes the development of a professional level project from concept to published digital media, modeling the approach used in the animation industry.
The Design MFA at University of Wisconsin – Stout takes place in a cross-disciplinary environment where graduate students may focus in areas such as Animation & Digital Media; Cinema, Video, & Photography; Game Design & Development; User Experience Design; Graphic Design & Interactive Media; and Experience Design. Design MFA students will complete several design studios and seminar courses, independent study, and at least nine credits of focused electives.
This flexible program utilizes the hybrid model of delivery, consisting of evening core classes combined with on-campus and online meetings. Students have the option to select full-time, on-campus studio courses or customize a part-time plan with hybrid classes and independent projects.
The culminating experience for the Design MFA program at University of Wisconsin – Stout is the Creative Thesis in Design, which consists of an independent design research project produced and implemented under direction of a primary research adviser and committee. MFA students will present their final projects to a thesis committee, to include a public exhibition or lecture.
Graduates of the Animation and Design programs at University of Wisconsin – Stout are prepared to pursue leadership roles and others across industries. As part of UW-Stout, program alumni enjoy a near perfect 99.4% employment rate.
School of Art & Design are Animators (2D or 3D), Stop-Motion Animators, Concept Artists, Game Designers, Art Directors, and 3D Modelers at places such as Disney, Apple, DreamWorks Animation, Shutterfly, Raven Software, Larsen Design, PUNY Entertainment, The Nerdery, and Fantasy Flight Games. Some Design MFA alumni have gone on to become educators at UW-Stout, and other schools such as UW-River Falls and Vancouver College of Art and Design.
University of Wisconsin – Stout (UW-Stout) was established in 1891 as The Stout Manual Training School. Today, the school one of just 125 polytechnic universities in the U.S. and the only one in the State Wisconsin. Serving approximately 6,940 students, University of Wisconsin-Stout provides more than 145 programs, many of which are unique to UW-Stout or are not offered anywhere else in the Midwest. Programs are organized into two colleges, with five schools and a graduate school.
University of Wisconsin – Stout is accredited the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The Graphic Design and Interactive Media program is accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
