What is Creativity and Culture?

Creativity & Culture brings together the study of the humanities (literature, language, cultural studies, art history, and music history) with the fine arts (studio art, creative writing, music, and drama). Students focus on studying and using words, images, and sound, with the goal of engaging with cultural works.

Creativity and Culture at Augustana

Traditional humanities and fine arts majors graduate with a specific set of discipline-based skills. In contrast, our students are exposed to a variety of methods and approaches, and they are encouraged to pursue their own unique path through the program.

Program Information

Interdisciplinary Studies: Creativity and Culture is available as a:

Admissions Requirements

Academic Innovations

All programs at Augustana include a wide-ranging liberal arts and sciences core, taught within our unique “3-11” calendar.

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Careers

Take control of your future with an undergraduate degree majoring in Creativity and Culture from Augustana to shape rather than simply consume our culture in careers such as:

  • Librarian
  • Curator (Gallery/Museum)
  • Human Resources Professional
  • Journalist
  • and many more!

Featured AlumnUS

A portrait of Nathan Huisman
Nathan Huisman
Theatre Producer

Nathan credits Augustana's drama professors with providing him with the foundation for his career. “Each of them is an inspiring artist in his or her own right, and together they challenged me to grow and develop my skills and myself.”

Course Highlights

204 - Technology and Society

Introduction to current topics in computing and their application to a wide variety of areas within our society. Topics may be chosen from, but are not limited to, the following: Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Cryptocurrency, Data Compression, Data Mining, Encryption, Internet of Things, Machine Learning, Microchip Implants, Multimedia, Privacy, Robotics, Security, Social Media, Wearable Technology, and Virtual Reality. This course, being a concepts course and not a programming course, is intended to be interdisciplinary in nature.

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215 - Creative Writing

Introduction to the writing of poetry and short fiction. Literary examples are analyzed, and a student is required to write poetry and fiction with attention to specific elements of writing such as imagery, structure, dialogue, and characterization. A central element of the course is peer discussion

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226 - Music and the Moving Image

An examination of the use of music in film, television, and video games, with an emphasis on semiotic analysis and the historical development of the aesthetics and technologies of linking music to moving images.

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232 - Drawing the Figure

Further exploration of drawing practice with the application of observational and conceptual skills that focuses on the figure. Includes an examination of anatomy, the portrait and the expressive potential of the human form.

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350 - Directing

Fundamentals of directing explored through practical exercises.

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More courses in the Course Catalogue: Art, Drama, English, Music

Faculty

Portrait of Roger Admiral

Roger Admiral, D.Mus.

Hired in 2005, Roger instructs in Applied Piano, Chamber Music and Music Theory.

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Portrait of Brandon Alakas, PhD

Brandon Alakas, PhD

Brandon Alakas teaches courses on classical and medieval literature. His interest in Latin literature in particular is fuelled by his research on monastic culture.

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Portrait of Charlene Brown

Charlene Brown

Charlene was hired in 1996 and teaches Voice, Co-op Studies, Chamber Music and Music with Children.

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Portrait of Alex Carpenter, PhD

Alex Carpenter, PhD

Alex was hired in 2006 and instructs in Musicology, Music Criticism, and Popular Music.

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Portrait of Kathleen Corcoran

Kathleen Corcoran, M.Mus.

Kathleen was hired in 1993. She teaches voice, vocal pedagogy, vocal literature, music for the theatre, and chamber music/art song.

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Portrait of Marina Endicott

Marina Endicott

Marina Endicott's first book, Open Arms, was short-listed for the Amazon First Novel award. Good to a Fault won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and was on CBC's Canada Reads.

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Portrait of Julian Forrest, MFA

Julian Forrest, M.F.A

Julian teaches studio courses in Foundation, Drawing, and Painting. His painting practice largely focuses on the figure, as represented in popular culture.

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Portrait of Roxanne Harde, PhD

Roxanne Harde, PhD

Roxanne researches and teaches American literature and culture, focusing on popular culture, women's writing and children's and Indigenous literatures.

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Portrait of Andrea Korda, PhD

Andrea Korda, PhD

Dr. Korda teaches courses in the history and theory of art and visual culture. Her research focuses on 19th-century art and visual culture with an emphasis on new media.

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Portrait of Kim Misfeldt, PhD

Kim Misfeldt, PhD

Dr. Kim Misfeldt teaches German language, literature and women's studies courses. She has published on Heinrich von Kleist, Mariella Mehr and drama pedagogy.

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Portrait of Stephanie Oliver, PhD

Stephanie Oliver, PhD

Stephanie Oliver teaches courses on Canadian, postcolonial, and diasporic literatures. Her research focuses on representations of smell in Canadian diasporic women's writing.

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Portrait of Craig Peterson, PhD

Craig Peterson, PhD

Craig Peterson has worked at Augustana since the fall of 2007, teaching a wide range of courses and directing the operations of the Augustana Writing Centre

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Portrait of Ardelle Ries

Ardelle Ries, D.Mus

Hired in 2004, Ardelle teaches music theory, conducting, choral literature and pedagogy, and aural and sight-singing skills.

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Portrait of Kevin Sutley

Kevin Sutley, M.F.A

Professor Sutley has also taught acting and directing for Theatre Alberta, the Citadel Theatre and the University of Alberta North campus.

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Portrait of Ingrid Urberg, PhD

Ingrid Urberg, PhD

Dr. Ingrid Urberg teaches Norwegian language and Scandinavian literature and culture courses, and she is also a recipient of the Augustana Distinguished Teaching Award.

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Portrait of Willow White, PhD

Willow White, PhD

Willow White teaches English literature and Indigenous studies courses. Her research focuses on literatures of the long eighteenth century, women writers, and Indigenous studies.
Portrait of John Wiebe

John Wiebe, D.Mus.

Hired in 2012, John is Director of Choral Activities and conducts The Augustana Choir, Mannskor and Sangkor.

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