UW STOUT Gaming Programs Power Up ⋆ 715Newsroom.com

ABOVE PHOTO: The animation and digital media program at UW-Stout is ranked No. 1 in Wisconsin among public universities.

Three programs from University of Wisconsin-Stout’s School of Art and Design are the best in the state, according to new national rankings.

Ranked No. 1 in Wisconsin are two Bachelor of Fine Arts programs: game design and development-art; and animation and digital media, along with the Master of Fine Arts in design. The rankings are by Princeton Review and Animation Career Review.

“As the animation and gaming industries continue to grow in both size and prominence around the globe, university-level programs are as well. We’re honored to continue to be considered a top-tier institution in these categories, both on the undergraduate and graduate level,” said Dave Beck, School of Art and Design director. “This is truly a testament to the diversity of creative disciplines, faculty expertise and hands-on facilities that we strive to offer at UW-Stout.”

Students in the Game Design and Development programs showcased their work in the biennial public celebration. Students, staff, alumni, and community members came together to see the work during the show, which took over the whole top floor of the MSC.

For more than a decade, UW-Stout’s game design programs have led state rankings and have been among the national leaders. They are part of UW-Stout’s polytechnic, lab-based, hands-on approach to learning. The School of Art and Design is the largest in the Upper Midwest with more than 1,200 students.

Princeton Review, an education services company, also ranked UW-Stout’s game design BFA No. 6 nationally among public colleges or universities. Overall, UW-Stout was No. 30 nationally.

“Our consistent recognition is due in no small part to the professional environment we try to create in each of our classes,” said Professor Andrew Williams, interim director of the program. “Our programs teach with the latest industry trends but also with an eye to essential fundamentals of art, design and programming.”

The MFA in design also was No. 6 among public schools nationally and No. 23 overall. Game design is one of eight focus areas within UW-Stout’s MFA in design, which has a cross-disciplinary approach to help students customize the program to their interests and skillsets.