Creativity and Culture. Bachelor of Arts (BA)
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:
Academic Innovations
All programs at Augustana include a wide-ranging liberal arts and sciences core, taught within our unique “3-11” calendar.
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
Nathan Huisman
Theatre Producer
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.
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
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.
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.
350 - Directing
Fundamentals of directing explored through practical exercises.
Related Information
Roger Admiral, DMus
Hired in 2005, Roger Admiral instructs in Applied Piano, Chamber Music and Music Theory.
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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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Charlene Brown
Charlene Brown was hired in 1996 and teaches voice, co-op studies, chamber music and music with children.
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Alex Carpenter, PhD
Alex Carpenter was hired in 2006 and instructs in musicology, music criticism and popular music.
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Kathleen Corcoran, MMus
Kathleen Corcoran was hired in 1993. She teaches voice, vocal pedagogy, vocal literature, music for the theatre and chamber music/art song.
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Lucas Crawford, PhD
Lucas Crawford teaches courses about mental health from a mad, literary and cultural perspective. His research focuses on transgender creativity, madness, food and queer theory, and emerges as both articles and poetry.
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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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Julian Forrest, MFA
Julian Forrest 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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Roxanne Harde, PhD
Roxanne Harde researches and teaches American literature and culture, focusing on popular culture, women's writing and children's and Indigenous literatures.
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Andrea Korda, PhD
Andrea 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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Kim Misfeldt, PhD
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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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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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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Ardelle Ries, DMus
Hired in 2004, Ardelle Ries teaches music theory, conducting, choral literature and pedagogy, and aural and sight-singing skills.
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Kevin Sutley, MFA
Kevin Sutley has also taught acting and directing for Theatre Alberta, the Citadel Theatre and the University of Alberta North campus.
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Ingrid Urberg, PhD
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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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.
John Wiebe, DMus
Hired in 2012, John Wiebe is director of Choral Activities and conducts The Augustana Choir, Mannskor and Sangkor.
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