Graphic Design Degrees in Wisconsin (U-Z)

Turning your innate creativity and passion for art into a rewarding career in the “Badger State” is infinitely easier when you attend one of the accredited graphic design degree programs in Wisconsin. Although our 23rd largest state is best known for being America’s Dairyland, there’s nearly as many educational opportunities for graphic designers in Wisconsin as cows! Studying graphic design in Wisconsin is ideal because technology, manufacturing, and tourism are its biggest industries. In fact, Oshkosh-Neenah, Madison, and Racine all rank within the top 10 metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of graphic design jobs. This means that students shouldn’t have a problem gaining hands-on learning in the visual communications. The 4,750 graphic designers working in Wisconsin earn an annual mean salary of $45,810 too. To see more graphic design degrees, visit Graphic Design Degrees in Wisconsin (A-U).

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

College of Letters and Science

Situated on a 136-acre urban campus along the Fox River, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a comprehensive four-year public senior institution serving more than 13,900 students at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Well-known for ranking 23rd among U.S. colleges in renewable energy use, UW Oshkosh is named the 69th best regional college and 19th top public school in the Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report. As the university’s largest division, the College of Letters and Science is split into 31 departments spanning the fine arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Bachelor of Fine Arts with Design Emphasis

At UW Oshkosh, the Bachelor of Fine Arts program is available for undergraduate students wishing to prepare for a professional career in the studio arts and meet the admissions criteria for graduate art programs. Within the 82-unit program, students can choose the Design Emphasis to focus their creative studies for becoming a graphic designer. Students can expect to take courses delving into topics on art history, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, typography, and more. Design majors receive extensive hands-on learning time in the university’s computer lab, which boasts 20 Apple iMacs and Adobe’s latest Creative Suite. All fine arts students are required to pass a Post-Foundation Portfolio Review (PFPR).

Accreditations

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)

Contact

800 Algoma Blvd.
Oshkosh, WI 54901
(920) 424-2222
artdepartment@uwosh.edu
http://www.uwosh.edu/art/programs

University of Wisconsin Parkside

College of Arts and Humanities

Enrolling more than 4,750 students, the University of Wisconsin Parkside is a comprehensive senior public liberal arts institution located on a sprawling 700-acre suburban campus in Kenosha near the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. Highly regarded as a creative hub for southeast Wisconsin, UW Parkside offers 33 bachelor’s degrees and three master’s degrees. In the College of Arts and Humanities, the Art Department has the mission of giving students a thorough background in visual arts with well-rounded experience in both 2D and 3D studies.

B.A. in Graphic Design

At the crossroads of technology and art, the B.A. in Graphic Design program at UW Parkside is focused on preparing undergraduate students to craft the face of businesses in advertising or digital media careers. Students take courses in studio art and graphic design to fully develop their artistic talents with highly marketable design skills. With this 70-credit major, students are given the know-how to implement creative problem-solving strategies in shaping print or digital art. Along with courses, graphic design majors will have ample opportunities to consult with real clients on real-world design projects. Many also work on-campus in Creative Services to create the university’s brochures, posters, and banners.

Accreditations

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)

Contact

900 Wood Road
Kenosha, WI 53144
(262) 595-2707
lisa.barber@uwp.edu
https://www.uwp.edu/learn/programs/graphicdesignmajor.cfm

University of Wisconsin Platteville

College of Liberal Arts and Education

Initially founded in 1866, the University of Wisconsin Platteville is a comprehensive public senior teaching institution educating more than 11,700 on-site and online students from its 820-acre rural campus in Platteville within the state’s southwestern corner. Named as one of the safest campuses nationwide, UW Platteville is acclaimed for being the Midwest’s 80th best college and 27th top public school by the U.S. News and World Report. Also offering the 50th best online bachelor’s programs in America, the College of Liberal Arts and Education strives to cultivate a breadth of knowledge and an awareness of the complexities of human culture.

Bachelor of Art in Graphic Design

Built within a dynamic 120-credit curriculum, the Bachelor of Art in Graphic Design program at UW Platteville is focused on fostering the development of imaginative problem-solving abilities to prepare graduates who can meet business’s creative challenges. After the foundational year, students jump into engaging courses on typography, printmaking, multimedia design, graphic design history, and packaging design to begin conceptualizing artistic solutions. Before graduation, majors must complete the culminating Design for the Greater Good program, which involves creating designs that benefit community partners. Graduates are well-equipped with the technical skills to succeed in visual communications as illustrators, animators, web designers, graphic designers, art directors, and advertisers.

Accreditations

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)

Contact

1 University Plaza
Platteville, WI 53818
(608) 342-1021
nelsogr@uwplatt.edu
https://www.uwplatt.edu/undergraduate

University of Wisconsin Stevens Point

College of Fine Arts and Communication

Headquartered on a main 400-acre rural campus in the small town of Stevens Point with satellite locations in Tomahawk, Rhinelander, and Red Cliff, the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a senior comprehensive public four-year institution meeting the academic needs of over 9,600 students. Placed 34th in the ETC College Rankings Index, UWSP is named the 54th best regional college and 13th top public school in the Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report. The College of Fine Arts and Communication is dedicated to encouraging students to flourish within the fields of art, music, theatre, dance, and communications.

BFA in Graphic Design

In accordance with the standards of the NASAD, the BFA in Graphic Design program at UWSP consists of 80 major credits to provide intensive work in art and design before engaging in a professional career in visual communications. Graphic design majors are put through a dynamic curriculum to develop the conceptual, theoretical, historical, and technical skills required for critical evaluation of visual arts. Studio courses have a low student-teacher ratio to provide individual attention that maximizes artistic growth. The university makes it simple for fine arts students to purchase their essential supplies with an art bundle at the UWSP Bookstore.

Accreditations

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)

Contact

2100 Main Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
(715) 346-2669
artdesign@uwsp.edu
http://www.uwsp.edu/art-design/Pages/programs.aspx

University of Wisconsin Stout

School of Art & Design

Founded in 1891, the University of Wisconsin Stout is a public state-supported polytechnic institution serving more than 9,300 students on its beautiful 124-acre urban campus in the thriving micropolitan of Menomonie. Renowned for being the first Malcolm Baldridge Award winner in higher education, UW Stout is currently placed as the 65th best regional college and 17th top public school in the Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report. Fully accredited by the NASAD, the School of Art & Design is a close-knit artistic community that seeks to develop creative thinking among future artists and designers through transformative education.

BFA in Graphic Design and Interactive Media

For a half century, the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at UW Stout has produced change makers, innovators, and dynamic leaders to significantly impact the Midwest’s art world. As Wisconsin’s largest undergraduate art program, the BFA allows students to tailor their studies in Graphic Design and Interactive Media to become professional designers. Students journey through a 120-credit curriculum to explore various facets of advertising, publishing, packaging, motion graphics, web design, and more. Students work directly with expert faculty and state-of-the-art equipment in high-tech labs to complete hands-on projects. Previous graphic design majors have worked with Target, Trek Bicycles, and the Jim Henson Creative Shop.

MFA in Design

Intended as a terminal degree for professional artists and designers, the MFA program at UW Stout covers 60 credits of advanced graduate studies to prepare students for growing into creative leadership opportunities. From a unique polytechnic approach, students combine their artistic studio work with applied learning for a well-rounded art school experience. Graduate students are challenged to develop a “change the world” mentality through a focus on sustainability. Students with the Design emphasis delve into graphic design, game design, industrial design, interior design, interactive media, and entertainment design. The MFA can be completed in a flexible format of online, daytime, weekend, or evening courses.

Accreditations

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)

Contact

712 Broadway Street South
Menomonie, WI 54751
(715) 232-2254
beckdav@uwstout.edu
http://www.uwstout.edu/artdes/academics/programs.cfm

University of Wisconsin Whitewater

College of Arts and Communication

Sprawling over a historic 400-acre rural campus near the southern end of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, the University of Wisconsin Whitewater is a comprehensive public four-year residential institution educating the young minds of over 11,900 students annually. Featuring a student-faculty ratio of 21:1, UW Whitewater is currently ranked as the 48th best regional college, 12th top public school, and 18th best university for veterans in the Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report. The College of Arts and Communication has the mission of inspiring creativity, inquiry, free expression, and integrity through an embodied artistic education.

B.A. with Graphic Design Emphasis

Leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree, the B.A. with Graphic Design Emphasis program at UW Whitewater is ideal for undergraduate students who are seeking the entry-level preparation to work as creative graphic designers in today’s budding art scene. Students are trained with the fundamental knowledge necessary to inform, educate, and persuade audiences through visual arts. B.A. students are required to select a relevant minor in areas like marketing, advertising, business, media arts, or game development. This program takes on a more liberal arts approach in completing the 120-credit curriculum for graphic design. The graphic design studio area is equipped with three state-of-the-art labs for creative content development.

B.F.A. with Graphic Design Submajor

At UW Whitewater, the Bachelor of Fine Arts program offers a Graphic Design Submajor to provide well-defined training in the creative arts for undergraduate students seeking more advanced leadership positions in graphic design. Students can utilize their advanced skill sets to become art directors, design directors, brand managers, creative directors, and advertising managers as well as enroll in graduate school. BFA students focus in their major area without a minor for in-depth knowledge in typography, print media, web design, visual arts, interactive media, animation, illustration, modeling, and motion graphics. Students must pass a portfolio review before obtaining unconditional admissions into the fine arts program.

Accreditations

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)

Contact

800 West Main Street
Whitewater, WI 53190
(262) 472-1324
artanddesign@uww.edu
http://www.uww.edu/cac

Viterbo University

College of Arts and Letters

Initially established in 1890, Viterbo University is a comprehensive private non-profit Roman Catholic institution rooted in the liberal arts to educate over 2,700 students on its urban campus in the city of La Crosse on Wisconsin’s western border. As one of just 22 members of the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities in America, Viterbo is ranked the 109th best regional college in the Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report. Boasting an average class size of 16, the College of Arts and Letters is dedicating to educating the whole student by guiding educational experiences through the liberal arts and humanities.

B.S. in Creative Media Design

In collaboration with the Dahl School of Business, the B.S. in Creative Media Design program is available for undergraduate students at Viterbo who are interested in marrying the creative and traditional aspects of the business world. Within the 120-credit curriculum, students will develop a solid business background while unleashing their artistic talents in advertising design, video production, computer illustration, animation, 3D modeling, motion graphics, and marketing. The program is ideal for students wishing to improve their visual communication abilities utilizing the university’s cutting-edge technological resources. Creative media design majors are taught by seasoned faculty who are active practitioners within the artistic community.

B.F.A. in Studio Art with Design Emphasis

Built as an honors program, the B.F.A. in Studio Art degree is available for skilled Viterbo undergraduate students who are seeking further concentration in studio arts to develop a professional career utilizing their creative talents. After completing the 18-credit art foundation, students have the freedom to select a Design Emphasis to develop their personal direction. Students culminate their 85-credit major with independent studio work and exhibit their finished visual art projects within Viterbo’s gallery. Admissions for the B.F.A. isn’t granted until the second semester of the sophomore year to students who submit a quality, cohesive portfolio. Graduates will have the essential fundamental knowledge to enroll in a master’s program.

Accreditations

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)

Contact

900 Viterbo Drive
La Crosse, WI 54601
(608) 796-3753
sjlisota@viterbo.edu

Although graphic design jobs don’t always mandate a college degree, putting in the extra effort to attend post-secondary education will make you more marketable in the field. Graphic design degrees unlock opportunities that aren’t offered to other designers, including access to expert faculty, hands-on practice in state-of-the-art labs, and strong portfolio development. Attending a graphic design school approved by the NASAD will ensure you have the network connections to allow your career to liftoff into creative leadership. Check out these accredited graphic design degree programs in Wisconsin to begin your quest towards success in the visual arts.