In addition, the department offers coursework for emphases in art education, music education and physical education. Augustana's commitment to the liberal arts is expressed in its graduation requirements, which ensure a balanced exposure to the College's broad curriculum. Now I know my job is not only to guide my students through books, but to provide them with active experiences from which they can learn and grow. One priority of the department is to educate teachers who strive toward individualized education, yet cope successfully with the realities of modern educational systems. Consistent with this philosophy, the faculty treat students as individuals with distinct talents and needs, even as they learn to do the same for their own future students.
All students work closely with a faculty adviser to help plan course schedules.
From the moment a student declares a major, he or she is assigned a departmental adviser to assist in developing an academic program. The department's strong emphasis on preparation for graduate study provides the edge for advanced work in education. Augustana students cope better with the academic demands of graduate school than do many of their classmates, a fact which attests to the high quality of Augustana's faculty and perpetuates the College's excellent academic reputation. The Quad Cities area has a vast array of schools, so exposure to a myriad of education environments is at the fingertips of education students from their first clinical experience. The Quad Cities is a multicultural community of 380,000.