Augustana College, Illinois

Augustana is a selective, private liberal arts and sciences college, founded in 1860 by Swedish settlers.The 115-acre wooded campus is in Rock Island, Illinois, on the Mississippi River. It's part of the Quad-Cities (population 400,000), and about 165 miles west of Chicago.

Augustana is a residential campus. First-year and sophomore students live in residence halls; juniors may choose transitional living areas (apartment-style housing on campus); seniors live on campus or in the neighborhood.Student activities include music groups, theatre, debate, publications, broadcasting, student government, local Greek system, and a wide variety of professional, religious, departmental, political, social and service organizations.

Augustana College, rooted in the liberal arts and sciences and a Lutheran expression of the Christian faith, is committed to offering a challenging education that develops qualities of mind, spirit and body necessary for a rewarding life of leadership and service in a diverse and changing world.

The words of Augustana’s mission statement reflect both tradition and vision. Founded by Swedish Lutheran settlers in Chicago in 1860, Augustana has grown from a small school educating Swedish immigrants into a selective college of the liberal arts and sciences. The college honors its roots and its affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. At the same time, Augustana’s rich liberal arts environment is enhanced by diversity.Augustana continues to do what it has always done — challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in a complex, ever-changing world.

The Learning Commons is the place for all academic support needs. Whether you need help editing your research paper, searching for a Spanish tutor, improving your study skills or developing English language skills, we're here to help.The Learning Commons includes the Reading/Writing Center and the Office of Student Success Services. It is on the fourth floor of the Gerber Center.

Merit-based scholarships and awards are a form of gift aid, awarded without regard for financial need, and do not need to be repaid. Augustana offers merit-based scholarships and awards based on demonstrated academic achievement, talent, program of interest, and other criteria.

Students are automatically considered for many of the awards listed below based on their application for admission.Other awards require auditions or an additional application process.Students are automatically considered for academic merit scholarships based on their application for admission. Students may receive one of the following awards based on their credentials. Notification of any award is included in a student's acceptance letter.Scholarship amounts are based on the year in which a student first enrolls at Augustana.

Most students, including transfer students, live on campus for their first three years. As seniors, they're prepared to move into off-campus housing.Augustana offers a variety of residences, from historic House on the Hill to the modern layout of Swanson Commons.

Augustana College is committed to providing an inclusive environment for all students. Students with documented disabilities should contact Yen Dao, director of Student Success Services, to determine the most appropriate accommodations. We provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act.

Many studio art majors prepare for graduate work in a specific art genre or for a career in areas such as art administration or education, art therapy, medical illustration or museum work. Some students double-major or minor in areas such as art history, psychology, biology, education or business.Art-related internships are available to integrate these areas, and faculty advisors work with students to help them apply their talents to future goals.Graphic design majors and minors have launched their careers in museum marketing and design for news and industry. Art education students are employed in public and private schools.

Besides choosing theatre as a vocation, study in theatre arts — combined with a solid liberal arts foundation — promotes skills that apply to many professions, including public relations, arts administration, broadcast journalism, marketing and advertising, law, government, communications and arts education.

Augustana graduates have completed Ph.D. and M.F.A. programs in theatre history, acting, directing, set design, theatre technology, costume design and lighting design.Recent Augustana theatre alumni have built successful careers as talent agents, regional theatre performers, television and film actors, independent film producers, lighting designers, sound technicians, directors, stage managers, and teachers at the secondary and college levels.

Augustana theatre students have more opportunity to be involved than at many undergraduate schools: besides actors, designers and technicians, students may be stage managers, directors and playwrights who collaborate on productions with faculty every season.Theatre arts majors also can be dramaturgs, conducting the historical and contextual research for mainstage productions.

Music students prepare for their careers through carefully planned coursework in a strong liberal arts curriculum, individual advising, career internships, public performances and other professional experience.Music education students gain teaching and conducting experience in their coursework and in area schools with cooperating teachers.Many students teach at the SBC Music and Arts Academy, a local program offering reduced-price lessons to promising students.

Recent music graduates have entered graduate programs at the Boston Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, Cincinnati Conservatory, Northwestern, and the universities of Michigan and Southern California.