Why study art?

Students who major in art will study the history, theory and culture of art, manipulate structures of design in the Center for Visual Arts studios and critically analyze works of art.

  • Augustana provides a community of artists who are passionate and eager to help others grow into careers. 
  • State-of-the-art facilities are always available, and professors regularly work alongside students in the studios.

Art students curate exhibits at the Eide/Dalrymple Gallery and work with the permanent collection of more than 3,000 pieces.

Art at AU

Art at AU

Course Descriptions

Major Map

Faculty

Contacts


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Latest News

The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery at Augustana University opens “Conjecture: Tom Rickers,” which will be on view from Thursday, March 21, through Friday, April 19. A gallery reception will be on Friday, March 22, from 7-9 p.m. with a talk by the artist at 7:30 p.m.

The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery at Augustana University will feature “Drawing Truth to Power: 40 Years of Political Cartoons by Rob Rogers,” which will be on view from Nov. 16, through Dec. 14.

The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery at Augustana University opens “Rachel Cox: Exercises for Control: Part I (an end and a beginning),” which will be on view from Friday, Oct. 6, through Wednesday, Nov. 8. A gallery reception will take place on Friday, Oct. 13, from 5-7 p.m., with an artist talk at 6 p.m. Rachel Cox has created a body of work that examines the personal and cultural stigmas associated with female infertility and assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Highlights

Art Student

Careers

Many art graduates secure employment as commissioned fine artists, creative directors, animators, architects, graphic designers, professors, historians and museum curators.

Hands-On Learning

Internship opportunities include:

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Architect at Koch Hazard
  • Curator or archivist at the Center for Western Studies (CWS)
  • Graphic design at Fresh Produce
  • Art therapist at Sanford or Avera Health

Art students study away in:

  • India — focusing on religion, art, and sound with AU faculty
  • France — focusing on anthropology and rock art with AU faculty
  • London, England, or New York City, New York — focusing on art history with AU faculty
  • Worldwide through the Upper Midwest Association for Intercultural Education (UMAIE)

Augustana is a founding member of the Higher Education Consortium on Urban Affairs (HECUA), through which the university participates in rigorous off-campus learning through Art for Social Change.

Courses & Organizations

The program stresses foundations in drawing and design as a basis for all art-making processes, with strong components in community learning and peer critiques.

Undergraduate art majors can choose between a Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Arts with multiple tracks:

  • Art education — prepare to teach at elementary and secondary levels
  • Art history — practice evaluating and reflecting on the ways of seeing and representing the world, dictated by culture and time period
  • Ceramics — shape, glaze and fire clay free-form and wheel-thrown forms
  • Drawing — establish conceptual framework and foundation for all other studio areas
  • Graphic design — design digitally with the latest Adobe software in the Mac lab
  • Painting — develop original expression in painting techniques
  • Photography — learn conceptual, aesthetic and visual tools of digital photography
  • Printmaking — master intaglio, lithography, screenprinting, woodcut and wood engraving
  • Sculpture — sculpt using modeling and mold-making in plaster and clay, carving, construction, assemblage, stone carving, bronze casting, welded metals, plastics and contemporary movements