Undergraduate Catalog
General Concordia Information
Concordia University was founded in Addison, Illinois, in 1864. In 1913 the campus of Concordia was relocated to a beautiful 40-acre campus in River Forest, Illinois.
The College of Education
The original mission of Concordia was to prepare educators for Lutheran elementary schools across the country. Today that strong tradition continues and has been expanded to include preparation for public school teachers. Accreditation by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and approval of all education programs from the State of Illinois highlights and recognizes the excellence of the undergraduate and graduate programs of education for those who desire to teach at the preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary level. Concordia's approved education programs provide Illinois State certification by entitlement. The College also houses the Director of Christian Education Program, a course of study offered by Concordia since the mid-1960s.
The College of Business
Our College of Business provides students with an innovative and truly world-class learning experience. Courses are taught by experienced business leaders and learned scholars, who assist their students throughout a rigorous, but flexible, degree track. By utilizing the latest technology, stressing the importance of integrity and engaging students with real world business scenarios, our faculty and staff have established an exciting, well-rounded learning environment that prepares students for success in both today’s business world and that of tomorrow.
The College of Arts and Sciences
Concordia strives to provide a solid, broad-based education, rooted in the liberal arts and sciences that can open the door to important understandings for students pursuing professional programs in accounting, computer science, communications, exercise science and a host of other fields, as well as those desiring majors in pre-professional programs which will lead to further study in graduate or professional school. A total of 29 majors are included in the College of Arts and Sciences.
College of Graduate and Innovative Programs
On and off campus opportunities exist for the benefit of professionals already in the work force. Correspondence study, workshops, conferences and seminars for students, teachers, administrators, and musicians are offered. The CU*Succeed: Accelerated Degree Program for Adults offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational management. One of Concordia's newest programs is our 60+ program inviting the over-60 crowd to join us in our classrooms for their personal enjoyment and ours. A vibrant graduate program established in 1957 continues to expand and grow. Professionals in music and social services are able to pursue advanced degrees at the Masters level while those in the education field are able to pursue both Masters and Doctoral degrees.
The Campus Community
Located in the pleasant, tree-lined village of River Forest, Concordia is just minutes from Chicago's Loop. This proximity to a world-class city provides a variety of opportunities for additional cultural, academic and social growth. Concordia strives to provide a creative environment where horizons expand and where personal, social and spiritual growth can become reality. The availability of both urban Chicago areas and the surrounding suburbs increases students' awareness and ability to respond as responsible citizens in our world.
The mission of Concordia University is ultimately achieved in the lives of students. With a student body representing over 30 different states and 7 foreign countries, Concordia's students come with an array of experiences and perspectives. In each college quality faculty and staff work to challenge a quality student body of approximately 1,300 undergraduate students and over 1,000 graduate students. The low student-teacher ratio allows for smaller class sizes, creating a genuine, caring atmosphere where strong student-faculty relationships, facilitating learning and leadership development, are built.
Campus residence halls house approximately 600 students who come to our campus from large cities as well as small towns and farming communities across the world, while nearly half of our students commute from their homes in the surrounding community.
The Campus Facilities
Concordia's 40-acre campus holds 21 buildings, architecturally blending old and newer facilities.
The newest building on campus is The Walter and Maxine Christopher Center for Learning and Leadership. This state of the art teaching facility houses Concordia's Early Childhood Center and the College of Education. The first floor, designed to accommodate the specific needs of young children, serves as a day care/ preschool/ kindergarten for the children of Concordia's students, faculty, and staff as well as children of our community. More than a day care or a school, this facility serves as a teaching laboratory for future teachers learning their craft at Concordia. The second and third floors house faculty offices, conference rooms, testing rooms, methods classrooms, an educational resource library and a state of the art lecture hall.
The Krentz Center, dedicated in the early 90's, houses Bergmann Theatre, an intimate theatre space used primarily for Children's Theatre productions, a television studio, radio station, photography laboratory, lecture hall and various classrooms.
Koehneke Community Center is the location of the cafeteria, Cougar Den, bookstore, post office, meeting rooms, student recreation areas, and the student government offices.
The Chapel of Our Lord/Clara and Spencer Werner Auditorium was designed as Concordia's center for worship services and theatrical performances. This space continues to be occupied by theatre groups, worship activities, rehearsal space, and a quiet location for meditation and prayer. Attached to the chapel is Kretzmann Hall, the home of the Music, Art, and Theology departments. This building also houses art, music, and theology classrooms, the Elizabeth Fergusen Art Gallery, music practice rooms, rehearsal rooms, and a music technology laboratory.
Other academic buildings include Eifrig Hall (primarily used for the natural and physical sciences), and Addison Hall, which encompasses the administrative offices of the university as well as upstairs classrooms.
Klinck Memorial Library houses over 800,000 volumes, periodicals, and documents and is connected to another 10 million titles through ILLNET, the Illinois Library and Information Network. This location also houses CougarNet, which provides information technology services to the campus, Telecom Services which provides and supports the campus phone/voice mail network, the Learning Assistance offices and the Writing Center which provide no-cost tutoring in all areas and assistance with college level writing.
Geiseman Gymnasium houses two gymnasiums, classrooms, athletic offices, the PAW (Physical Activity and Wellness) Center with cardio-vascular and functional training equipment, two newly renovated weight rooms, human performance laboratory and swimming pool. Outdoor athletic and recreational areas include a new all-weather track and football/soccer field, tennis courts, and a field house/concession stand neighbored by softball and baseball fields.
Academic, instructional, and administrative computing services are maintained and supported by CAIS and is located in Mary-Martha Hall. This building is also a Residence facility along with Gross, Kohn, Lindemann, Brohm, Krause, and David-Jonathan halls.
Concordia was not born with its reputation for excellence. For over 140 years it has worked to earn and keep it. Today, you have been issued a challenge and an invitation - come and share the Concordia University experience.
