Augustana's art program provides a strong foundation in both the history and the practice of visual art through its focus on basic knowledge. It is particularly suited for students who are in the very early stages of their artistic development, or who may even be at the very beginning. This program provides a solid education for those interested in acquiring a fundamental knowledge of art and it provides an exceptional grounding for those who plan to move on to more specialized programs. There are two overlapping components to this program. On one side is art history and theory and on the other is studio practice.
Students can concentrate on either or can minor in one while majoring in some other discipline.
Ideas and techniques are explored in traditional materials as well as current media and software. Students use their art to reach for expressive goals, to communicate ideas and to describe a world seen with new eyes. There are several opportunities to exhibit artwork, from various venues on campus to a major exhibition in a local gallery. The art history component of the program begins with a broad exploration into the array of visual culture of different times and places. Not only does this demonstrate the variety of art in history, it introduces students to methods of visual thinking and research.