“Influence the affairs of the world.”
Quick facts:
- Enrollment: 2814
- Private, four-year, liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees
- 70 majors in 24 academic departments, 12 pre-professional programs
Defining statement:
“The purpose of Concordia College is to influence the affairs of
the world by sending into society thoughtful and informed men and women
dedicated to the Christian life.”
Organizational Principles:
Goals for Liberal Learning, Core Curriculum
“Concordia’s Statement of Purpose shows a clear dedication to educating whole persons to lead lives that are both mindful and intentional. The Goals for Liberal Learning are central to achieving that end, both in the Core and the Major. They are intended to facilitate learning in a variety of academic and experiential contexts. They enable our students to become life-long learners, humbly self-confident in mind, body, and spirit, aware of their gifts and of the need to share these gifts with their neighbor and the world.”
Goals for Liberal Learning:
Core Liberal Arts Curriculum:
“As part of the liberal arts approach to learning, every candidate for the Bachelor of Arts degree at Concordia is required to take a specific set of courses that comprise the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum. These courses are designed to provide a solid foundation in written and oral communication skills and to establish a broad background of knowledge through the study of a variety of disciplines. Core courses emphasize analytical and critical thought processes and the ability to recognize, analyze and deal with significant problems constructively. Through the Core Curriculum, students develop an appreciation for other peoples and cultures and the capacity to adapt to change in creative, effective ways.”
Curricular Requirements:
| Core Curriculum |
Credits | |
| Principia (first year) Discourse (first year) Distribution* Math Integration (junior or senior year) Religion Physical Education Multicultural (Optional) |
1 2 7 0-1 1 2 0.5 |
|
| *Distribution |
||
| 7 credits from 5 areas, with no
more than 2 credits from any one area and no more than one credit from
any one department (excepting languages) |
|
| Graduation Requirements Total credits for graduation Core requirements |
31.5 13.5-14.5 |
| Core, percentage of total |
42.86%-46.03% |
| Upper level coursework |
10 |
| Upper level, percentage of total |
31.75% |
Concordia’s website contains a couple of different versions, both purporting to be current. I took the version from the course catalog for the main entry, but this one from Academic Affairs might shed some light on Concordia’s revision process. The number of credits remains the same across both versions.
Becoming Responsibly
Engaged in the World:
The Concordia College
Core Curriculum
“Explanation: The Concordia College core curriculum seeks to prepare students for responsible citizenship in a global world. Therefore, the core will seek to be an experience that assists all of our students in reflecting on their role in the world. The following questions are related to the five goals for liberal learning and are designed to help both faculty and students understand how the goals might be addressed in each core course. Each question may be directly relevant in some course, whereas in other courses only some of the questions will be relevant. In any case, instructors of all core courses will be responsible to take these questions seriously in the preparation of courses and will make a serious effort to include them where possible in the design and teaching of these courses.”
| Core Curriculum - 13.50 courses |
Courses | |
| Foundation Courses |
(First-year) Inquiry Seminar Written Communication Oral Communication Religion I Holistic Health |
1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.25 |
| Fundamentals Courses |
||
| World Languages Quantitative analysis Physical Education |
Maximum 1.00 (can test out of) 0.25 |
|
| Exploration courses (must include one upper level course for each areas) |
Exploration A: Math/Science Exploration B: Social Sciences Exploration C: Arts and Humanities Religion II |
2.00 2.00 2.00 1.00 |
| Capstone Course |
Senior culminating course. Synthesize and reflect on educational experiences. |
1.00 |
| Perspective Courses |
In U.S. diversity and International perspectives. Courses from Core, above, should satisfy these requirements. |
|
| Graduation Requirements Total credits for graduation Core requirements Core, percentage of whole |
31.5 13.5 42.86% |
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