Northern Normal and Industrial School was established by the South Dakota Legislature in 1901 in response to the need for an institution of higher education to serve northern South Dakota. The original curriculum emphasized the industrial arts and teacher preparation, but as the school grew, the curriculum gradually evolved in other directions to fulfil the changing needs of the community. In 1964, the institution became Northern State College, the new name reflecting the school's expansion and diversification, and in 1989 the name was changed to Northern State University.