School of Art & Design

We guide aspiring artists and designers to become passionate leaders in the art, design, and graphics industry.
In this Section

The School of Art & Design is an artistic and intellectual community that fosters creative thinking and lifelong learning. We prepare individuals for leadership and professional careers in the areas of visual art and design.

Our faculty guide aspiring artists and designers to build both theoretical and practical foundations, and encourage personal development in art, design, and the humanities. The art and design programs at UW-Stout are unlike any other in the nation.

We Live! We Breathe! We Are! The School of Art & Design at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. / UW-Stout

The creative skill set our students acquire has a unique balance of fine art, design, history, theory, and innovation – all within a hands-on environment where students have opportunities to apply their education to real-world problems and solutions.

SOAD Senior Show

The School of Art & Design Senior Show presents capstone projects in various art and design disciplines.

All BFA students take first-year foundation core classes that support advanced coursework. As a student, you’ll benefit from instructors who deliver a vast breadth and depth of experiences as working artists and designers.

If you are ready to learn and grow beyond your expectations, this is the art and design school for you.

Studios, Labs & Galleries

SOAD has dedicated studios, labs and galleries designed to accommodate and enhance your program’s learning experience. 

Bachelor of Fine Arts

The School of Art and Design, as the UW System’s largest provider of undergraduate B.F.A. programs, is uniquely positioned to elevate our existing strengths and become the premier applied art and design school in the nation.

We provide state-of-the-art programming that creates hands-on opportunities students, exemplified by projects with the Jim Henson Workshop, Target and Trek Bicycles. Our vision for the next 50 years will enable expanded educational experiences provided by highly skilled faculty using exceptional equipment in high-tech labs. 

The B.F.A. programs are 120 credits, and offer students a solid foundation in liberal arts, art history and fine arts with a balance of design, theory, conceptual and applied curriculum. 

Bachelor of Science

The School of Art and Design recognizes the need for arts administrators with a refined understanding of how the arts function in society in the 21st century. The arts have the power to shape individuals, engage with current issues, and build communities. To help artists and entrepreneurs achieve these goals, an administrator needs a well-balanced mix of creativity, programming, marketing, community organizing, and collaboration.

 

Art History Minor

The Art History minor offers students the opportunity to broaden and deepen their awareness of historical trends in art and design, and thereby increase their career marketability. The range of quality courses enables students to develop skills and increase knowledge relevant to their discipline.

Studio Art Minor

The Studio Art minor is a flexible program that develops knowledge and sensitivity in the visual arts that will enhance the education of students in non-art majors. Studio courses in a wide variety of art disciplines are available to students enrolled in the minor program.

Photography & Video Minor

The Photography & Video minor will provide you with the knowledge and hands-on experience to be proficient in the visual languages of today's growing media options. Our program emphasizes the digital aspect of photography and video.

Performing Arts

The UW-Stout theatre, band and choir welcome you to explore the performing arts on our campus. These programs provide a creative outlet to students who wish to further refine and explore their artistic talents.

Performing Arts Minor

The Performing Arts minor is a great compliment to any major on campus as you investigate expressions of humanity, create connections beyond subject boundaries, and draw people together, allowing you to relate in meaningful and enduring ways.

Design Minor

The Design minor provides a foundation in visual literacy and creative problem solving within the context of the design studio. Students analyze design systems, processes and products in historical and cultural contexts; they also produce creative works within prescribed constraints. 

 

Master of Fine Arts

The MFA in Design is a 60 credit terminal degree built on inter-disciplinary coursework in Art and Design with a unique focus in Applied Design. No other regional institution can provide a similar collaborative environment across so many design sub-disciplines within the school. In addition, concentration options provided in this program encourage collaboration across other disciplines offered at UW-Stout and will meet the anticipated needs of students, higher education and the practicing design profession. Graduates will be well-versed in qualitative and quantitative research in design and will be well-positioned to respond to emerging employer needs in Wisconsin, the region and around the globe. 

latest animation technology

New Motion Capture Studio

SOAD looks at the present and future of animation and game design, and that’s motion capture.

School of Art & Design

All School of Art & Design News
Arts and humanities events scheduled at UW-Stout for spring 2024. Featured Image

Arts and humanities events scheduled at UW-Stout for spring 2024.

Community events include theater, concerts, art exhibits and more; coincide with Destination Weekend, Spring Showcase
Professor Williams testifies for bill that could boost game design industry in Wisconsin Featured Image

Professor Williams testifies for bill that could boost game design industry in Wisconsin

With three nationally ranked programs in game design, UW-Stout is a leader in providing skilled talent for the digital interactive media industry.
Fish on!: UW-Stout apparel alum designs technical clothing for Eskimo Ice Fishing Gear Featured Image

Fish on!: UW-Stout apparel alum designs technical clothing for Eskimo Ice Fishing Gear

Goodman focuses on ‘making the best product for the market’