Why study art?

Students studying art at Augustana University can choose between a Bachelor Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) with multiple tracks, called emphases or specializations. 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


Related Programs of Study


Specializations

  • Art Education
  • Ceramics
  • Drawing
  • Graphic Design
  • Painting
  • Photography
  • Printmaking
  • Sculpture

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Latest News

The university is proud to announce that the Augustana Art Department has presented its highest award — the Harold Spitznagel Medal for Achievement in Art — to two Augustana students. Randi Inez Eggum ‘25 and Quinn Ward ‘25 were awarded the prestigious medal during the opening reception of the Augustana Senior Show at the Eide/Dalrymple Gallery on Friday, April 25.

The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery at Augustana University opens “Man Before a Mirror: Gaylord Schanilec,” which will be on view on Thursday, March 20, through Wednesday, April 16. A gallery reception will be held on Friday, March 21, from 7-9 p.m., with a slide lecture by the artist at 7:30 p.m.

The Eide/Dalrymple Gallery at Augustana University opens “Comptoir de Commerce: Luminal — Ceramics by Chotsani Elaine Dean,” which will be on view through Thursday, March 6. The Augustana University Department of Art will host the Dean on Wednesday, March 5, and Thursday, March 6, where she will be meeting with a range of classes. A closing gallery reception will take place from 7-9 p.m. on March 6, with Dean’s artist talk at 7:30 p.m.

Highlights

Drawing Course 2025

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.

    Art Specializations

    Art Education

    Students who specialize in art education at Augustana will be prepared to teach art at the elementary and secondary levels. Secondary art education emphasizes discipline-based art education methodologies.

    Intro to Art Course 2025

     


    Ceramics

    Students studying ceramics at Augustana will graduate with strong technical skills — learning multiple processes of hand building, wheel throwing, mold making and glaze chemistry while studying ceramic history. Courses will explore conceptual development and design processes — creating both utilitarian objects and sculptural works — firing in gas and electric kilns.

    Ceramics 2024

     


    Drawing

    Drawing at Augustana is the foundation for all other areas of pursuit in the art major. The specialization foregrounds the interplay of intuition and response as students interact with physical material(s) and the elements and principles of art and design. The drawing program explores traditional and contemporary ideas, approaches and media.

    Augustana features two drawing studios with natural lighting. 

    Drawing Course 2025

     


    Graphic Design

    Augustana's graphic design specialization offers a diverse curriculum in multimedia and interactive design.

    Students work on projects using industry-leading software in state-of-the-art computer labs.

    Graphic Design Course 2025

     


    Painting

    Specializing in painting at Augustana provides a comprehensive survey of relevant ideas, concepts and techniques in painting. By exploring the course of history to contemporary approaches, students will gain a better understanding of how to express their world through paint in a dynamic studio.

    Painting Course 2025

     


    Photography

    The photography specialization at Augustana empowers students to tell compelling visual stories while learning about the ever-expanding field of image making.

    With access to professional studios, darkrooms and industry-standard editing tools, students gain hands-on experience in a dynamic creative environment.

    Photography 2024

     


    Printmaking

    Printmaking at Augustana offers students a comprehensive exploration of traditional and contemporary print techniques, including etching, lithography, screen printing, woodcut and more. Emphasizing both technical mastery and creative expression, the program encourages innovation across a broad range of methods and combinations of methods.

    Augustana's printmaking studio allows students access — even the university's beginner printmakers — to nearly 50 printmaking stones. The stones, a limited resource, range in size from 10-12 inches to three to four feet.

    Steamroller Printmaking

     


    Sculpture

    Students who specialize in sculpture will learn a wide variety of processes, such as modeling clay, mold making, casting, construction/assemblage, woodworking, stained glass and welding. Students are encouraged to be creative with a variety of materials.

    Sculpture Class 2025