Augustana University is proud to announce that the art department has been granted accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) for its Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees. With this accreditation, Augustana joins approximately 350 schools, conservatories, colleges and universities who are accredited members of NASAD.
Professor of Art History Dr. Lindsay Twa and Associate Professor of Art Anna Reich guided the department through the extensive application process — a process that began in the spring of 2019. This included on-campus visits from NASAD accreditors and program development.
“The formal accreditation of our program speaks to the depth and breadth of our department and diverse offerings we have for students. Specifically, this highlights the value of what faculty offer individually, in all of our respective disciplines, and collectively, in the strength of our entire program,” said Reich, who teaches photography.
The pursuit of NASAD accreditation coincided with the development of Augustana’s BFA Program, culminating in the successful completion and graduation of the first BFA cohort in May of 2022. The BFA is a rigorous pre-professional track within the art program designed for students who are committed to pursuing careers in the arts and considering furthering their education with graduate school.
Students pursuing a degree within the Augustana Art Department can emphasize in any of the following disciplines: art education, ceramics, drawing, graphic design, photography, painting, printmaking and sculpture. The NASAD accreditation process required an in-depth review of the curriculum in each emphasis area.
For more information about the Augustana Art Program, visit augie.edu/art.