Augustana University facts for kids
 |
|
|
Former name
|
Augustana College and Seminary (1860–1918) Augustana College and Normal School (1918–1926) Augustana College (1926–2015) |
|---|---|
| Motto | Verbum Dei manet in aeternum |
|
Motto in English
|
The Word of God endures forever |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1860 |
|
Religious affiliation
|
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
| Endowment | US$90 million (2016) |
| President | Stephanie Herseth Sandlin |
|
Academic staff
|
134 |
| Students | 2,080 |
| Undergraduates | 1,613 |
| Location |
,
,
United States
43°31′36.7″N 96°44′13.3″W / 43.526861°N 96.737028°W |
| Campus | Urban 100 acres (40 ha) |
| Colors | Navy blue and gold |
| Nickname | Vikings |
|
Sporting affiliations
|
NCAA Division II – NSIC |
| Mascot | Ole the Viking |
| Website | www.augie.edu |
 |
|
Augustana University is a private university in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It is connected to the Lutheran church. The university started in 1860. It shares its founding year with a similar school in Rock Island, Illinois, called Augustana College.
The name "Augustana" comes from the Confessio Augustana. This is also known as the Augsburg Confession. It is an important document for Lutheranism. Before September 2015, the school was known as Augustana College. Augustana is the biggest private university in South Dakota. It offers many different study programs. Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in over 50 subjects.
Contents
History of Augustana University
Augustana University's story began in 1835. Scandinavian immigrants started the Hillsboro Academy in Hillsboro, Illinois. In 1846, it became the Literary and Theological Institute. It later moved to Springfield, Illinois, and was called Illinois State University.
In 1860, church leaders created the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod. Professor Lars Paul Esbjörn and his group moved to Chicago. They started their own school there. This school was called Augustana College and Seminary. This is the year Augustana University considers its founding date.
As the United States grew, the school moved again. It went to Paxton, Illinois, in 1863. Later, some leaders from Norway wanted to start their own school. They moved to Marshall, Wisconsin, in 1869. The Swedish leaders then moved to Rock Island, Illinois. They started Augustana College (Illinois) there.
The school in Marshall moved to Beloit, Iowa, in 1881. Then it moved to Canton, South Dakota, in 1888. In 1889, the Lutheran Normal School opened in Sioux Falls. It was created to train teachers. This school was in a building now called Old Main.
In 1918, Augustana College in Canton joined with the Lutheran Normal School. They became Augustana College and Normal School in Sioux Falls. In 1926, "and Normal School" was removed from the name. The Canton site became Augustana Academy. This academy was not connected to the college anymore. It closed in 1971. The 2010–11 school year marked Augustana University's 150th anniversary.
The name "Augustana" comes from the Augsburg Confession. This document was written in 1530. It was important during the Protestant Reformation. The Latin name for the document is Confessio Augustana. On August 21, 2015, the school changed its name. It went from Augustana College to Augustana University. This change happened on September 1, 2015.
What You Can Study at Augustana
Augustana University offers many different subjects. You can choose from 53 majors and 34 minors. There are also 15 programs to prepare you for professional careers. The most popular subjects are nursing, biology, business, elementary education, and psychology.
The school year has two main parts called semesters. Each semester lasts 15 weeks. In January, there is a four-week break called an interim period. You can also take classes during an optional eight-week summer term.
Augustana has a good student-to-teacher ratio. There is one teacher for every 12 students. This means you can get more personal attention.
To graduate, you need 124 credit hours. About 45 of these are general education courses. You also need a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
S.O.P.H.I.A. Core Curriculum
Augustana has a special set of required courses called "S.O.P.H.I.A." This name comes from a Greek word meaning "wisdom." The goal of SOPHIA is to help students become strong thinkers. It helps them solve problems and communicate well.
S.O.P.H.I.A. stands for "Science, Orientation, Perspectives, Humanities, Intersections, and the Arts." First-year students start with a "First-Year Seminar" (FYS). This course helps them with writing and grammar. It also helps them think about their future careers.
Students can also do internships. They can study abroad in other countries. Many students (44%) study abroad before they graduate. Augustana also has an honors program called Civitas.
Admissions and Rankings
In 2016, Augustana had 1,825 undergraduate students. Most students (99%) attend full-time. About 59% of the students are female. The university accepts about 61% of students who apply.
U.S. News & World Report says Augustana is a "more selective" school. Many students (62%) were in the top quarter of their high school class. The average GPA for new students is 3.7. The average ACT score is 26.
Most students come from South Dakota (42%) and Minnesota (34%). Others come from Iowa (12%) and Nebraska (4%). In 2010, Augustana had its largest group of international students ever. There were 79 international students from 23 countries.
Augustana is often recognized for its quality. In 2015, U.S. News & World Report ranked it third among Midwestern colleges. It was also called a "Best Buy" school. This means it offers good academics for its cost. The Princeton Review also named it one of the "Best in the Midwest" schools.
Arts at Augustana
Augustana has a strong focus on the arts.
Center for Western Studies
The Center for Western Studies started in 1970. It is a library and a place for art and historical items. It also publishes books. The center holds a yearly conference. This conference is about the history, art, and culture of the Northern Plains. It is the biggest event of its kind.
The Center also has art shows. These shows feature Western, Scandinavian, and Native American art. It also hosts the Boe Forum on Public Affairs. Famous speakers like Pervez Musharraf and Mikhail Gorbachev have spoken there.
Music and Theater
The Augustana Choir and Concert Band travel a lot. They perform in the United States and other countries. They have visited places like China, Italy, and Tanzania.
The Augustana University Theatre Company puts on four main shows each year. One of these is always a musical. Students also produce two shows through a group called the Augustana Collaborative Theatrical Society. The theater department also has an improv group called Brand Name Improv.
In 2006, the Center for Visual Arts opened. It has studios for artists and professors. There are classrooms for design, drawing, and painting. It also has the Eide-Dalrymple Gallery. This gallery hosts several art shows every year.
Civitas Honors Program
Augustana's honors program is called Civitas. It started in 2007. "Civitas" is a Latin word meaning "citizenship." The program is inspired by the ideas of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian.
Bonhoeffer wrote about "The Structure of Responsible Life." This idea is central to the Civitas program. Students study his work in special classes. About 40 students are chosen for the program each year. They need to keep a good GPA.
Natural Sciences
Augustana has strong science programs. Over the last three years, about 90% of students applying to medical school were accepted. This is double the national average. The nursing program also has a 100% success rate for graduates finding jobs.
In 2014, construction began on the Froiland Science Complex. This project added new parts and updated the Gilbert Science Center. It was finished in December 2015.
Augustana Athletics
The Augustana Vikings play in NCAA Division II sports. They are part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The men's basketball team won the NCAA Division II national championship in 2016. The women's basketball team reached the Final Four in 2013. The men's baseball team won the NCAA Division II national championship in 2018.
The Sanford Pentagon is where the men's and women's basketball teams play. The Elmen Center is home to the volleyball and wrestling teams. In 2018, Augustana announced plans to move to NCAA Division I sports. In 2023, Augustana University started its Division I men's hockey team. This is a step towards that goal.
Media
The university used to have a radio station called 89.1 FM KAUR. It played different types of music. KAUR started in 1972. In 2009, the university stopped student operations for KAUR. Instead, it started broadcasting Minnesota Public Radio News.
See Also
- List of Augustana University alumni
