Program requirements for all degrees, approvals, certificates and endorsements are outlined in the related sections of the catalog.
Administrative Drop, Administrative Withdrawal, Leave of Absence, University Withdrawal
Administrative Drop
Students who fail to meet the course prerequisite will be administratively dropped from the course (please note this includes temporary grades such as I, NG and NR). Additionally, students* who have not participated in their course within the first fourteen days of the term and cannot be reached by their academic advisor or do not respond to their academic advisor regarding non-participation will be administratively dropped from the course. Course participation is measured by the following:
- physical presence in the classroom for face-to-face courses
- presence in the virtual classroom for online synchronous and hyflex courses
- submission of a discussion post, assignment, and/or exam in hybrid and online asynchronous courses.
Students who are administratively dropped will not be charged tuition or course fees for the course nor will the course appear on their transcript. Students who are administratively dropped will not be readmitted into that course for the remainder of the term. Students who have had their degree/credential conferred are not eligible for an administrative drop. Questions regarding the implications of an administrative drop on financial aid can be directed to the Office of Financial Aid at Financial.Aid@CUChicago.edu or at 708-209-3113.
*International students not utilizing US federal funds (e.g. Title IV) and attending face-to-face courses physically located and delivered outside of the United States of America, US Territories, and/or Minor Outlying Islands are exempt from the non-participation part of the administrative drop policy.
Administrative Withdrawal
Students who initially participate in the course and then do not officially withdraw from the course by submitting an add/drop form to their academic advisor/graduate program specialist will be considered unofficially withdrawn. When students earn a grade of F (Failure) or W (Withdrawal) the professor will submit the last date of participation based on CUC’s attendance policy. Students will be considered to have earned all of their federal financial aid after the completion of sixty percent of the payment period. Questions regarding the implications on financial aid can be directed to the Office of Financial Aid at Financial.Aid@CUChicago.edu or at 708-209-3113.
Physical or Financial Hardship Withdrawal Policy
If a student is unable to successfully complete their courses due to documented financial, physical, or mental health reasons, he/she may request a hardship withdrawal through the Dean of Students Office. Students may request a hardship withdrawal when the emergency or situation that they are experiencing makes it impossible for them to continue in the course(s) for which they are registered. Students experiencing a physical or financial hardship who wish to appeal tuition charges and/or fees are encouraged to complete a form through the Office of the Dean of Students. Supporting documentation related to the physical or financial hardship is required. More information can be found on the Concordia-Chicago website.
Leave of Absence
A leave of absence is a temporary postponement of studies at the university with the intention of resuming within 180 days. A student currently enrolled at Concordia University Chicago, and who plans to return within 180 days, must request an official leave of absence. The student must submit the University Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form to his/her Graduate Program Specialist (GPS). Only under extraordinary circumstances, as approved by the Office of the Registrar, may the leave of absence status be extended. A student on leave of absence does not need to apply for readmission to the university, but must contact his/her academic advisor to resume studies. A Leave of Absence request is for institutional purposes only. Students receiving federal financial aid who have not completed more than 60% of the term will be reviewed by the Office of Financial Aid for a Return of Title IV calculation. (Please refer to the Return of Title IV Financial Aid Policy in this catalog.) A student who is absent for more than 180 days will be administratively withdrawn from the university for non-attendance.
International students requesting a leave of absence (which is different from Annual Leave) should contact International Student Services at ISS@cuchicago.edu or view the Early Authorization Withdrawal Policy.
Leave of Absence Policy for Military Educational Benefits Recipients
Leave of Absences due to deployment are handled by the Office of the Dean of Students. Students should contact the Office of the Dean of Students to discuss the best option available based on timing of deployment within the semester.
University Withdrawal
Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment (a minimum of one course during the semester – certain student populations may have stricter requirements) at Concordia University Chicago from semester to semester (fall and spring, excluding summer) will be administratively withdrawn from the University if students are not enrolled in any terms that semester per CUC's academic calendar or unless the student is eligible, successfully files for, and is granted a leave of absence. Please note that students whose Leave of Absence is expired based on their Leave of Absence documentation will be administratively withdrawn from the University. Students can learn more about their options by reading the Leave of Absence Policy. Students that are administratively withdrawn are invited to apply for readmission. Students can learn more about their options by reading the Readmission Policy. Please note that financial assistance, readmission, and program progression may be impacted if a student is administratively withdrawn.
University withdrawal is intended for students who wish to permanently discontinue their studies. Graduate students who desire to withdraw from the University are to consult with their Graduate Program Specialist (GPS) and submit the University Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form. Failure to follow this procedure may result in a grade of F rather than a grade of W.
International students requesting a withdrawal from CUC should contact the International Student Services at ISS@cuchicago.edu or view the Early Authorization Withdrawal Policy.
Withdrawal Policy for Military Educational Benefits Recipients
Degree-seeking students who desire to withdraw from the University due to deployment are to consult with the Office of the Dean of Students and fill out the University Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form. Withdrawal is not official until specific responsibilities have been met. Failure to follow this procedure may result in a grade of F rather than a grade of W.
Students who do not maintain continuous enrollment at Concordia University Chicago from semester to semester will be withdrawn from the University as of their last semester of attendance, unless the student is eligible and files for Leave of Absence status.
Academic Status: Satisfactory Progress, Academic Probation, Academic Dismissal
Satisfactory Progress
All students will be monitored for satisfactory progress at the following points: after nine (9) semester hours; after twenty-one (21) semester hours; before approval of the capstone experience and before graduation. Students are considered to be making satisfactory progress if the grade-point average is 3.0 or higher and all deficiencies have been removed. Students not making satisfactory progress will be placed on academic probation. Grades of D and F earned in graduate level coursework cannot be used in their final degree audit.
A graduate student is considered to be in Good Standing when the Concordia-Chicago Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is at or above a 3.0 for all graduate work attempted. A final grade of D+, D , D-, F, AU, AW, NP, NR or W in any graduate level course cannot be applied toward any graduate program. A student who has attempted nine or more semester hours and falls below the 3.0 CGPA will be placed on one of the following probationary or dismissal statuses: Academic Probation, Academic Probation Continued or Academic Dismissal.
Academic Probation
A student in Good Standing who falls below a CGPA of 3.0 will be placed on Academic Probation. Under Academic Probation the student may continue to be enrolled for one additional semester. The student may continue enrollment after this probationary semester if:
- The cumulative GPA is at or above 3.0, and therefore the student regains the status of Good Standing.
- The term GPA is at or above 3.0 even though the CGPA remains under 3.0; such a student will be placed on Academic Probation Continued. A student on Academic Probation whose additional term GPA falls below 3.0 and who has a cumulative GPA below a 3.0 will be subject to Academic Dismissal. Academic Probation is based solely on GPA calculations. The only basis for appeal of this status is for calculation error and the appeal must be submitted in writing to the Registrar.
Academic Probation Continued
A student under Academic Probation whose probation semester results in a Term GPA at or above 3.0 but still has a CGPA below 3.0 will be placed on Academic Probation Continued. The student may continue enrollment after this probationary semester if:
- The cumulative GPA is at or above 3.0, and therefore the student regains the status of Good Standing; or,
- The term GPA is at or above a 3.0 even though the CGPA remains under a 3.0; such a student will remain on Academic Probation and be granted an additional probationary semester of enrollment. Academic Probation Continued is based solely on GPA calculations. The only basis for appeal of this status is for calculation error and the appeal must be submitted in writing to the Registrar.
Academic Dismissal
A student under the status of Academic Probation or Academic Probation Continued whose probation semester results in a term GPA below 3.0 and a CGPA below 3.0 will be placed on Academic Dismissal. Students placed on Academic Dismissal will not be allowed to continue enrollment and will be dropped from the graduate program. Furthermore, students who are academically dismissed are not eligible to reapply for admission as a Guest Graduate or in another program of study. Academic Dismissal is based on GPA calculations. Appeals to be reinstated under Academic Probation Continued must be submitted in writing to the appropriate dean.
Credit, Transfer Credit, Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), Course Substitutions, Course Waivers
Concordia University Chicago is proudly accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The College of Education is also accredited by the prestigious Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). CUC also holds a number of program-specific accreditations, such as NASM. Typically, credits transfer to other accredited institutions, yet it is the receiving institution’s decision to accept and apply another university’s credits according to its policies. Students are responsible for contacting the receiving institution about their transfer credit policies.
Concordia University Chicago operates on a semester system. The Academic Year consists of three 16-week semesters (Summer, Fall, and Spring) with Summer acting as a header to the Academic Year. Summer semester courses typically run from early May through late August, Fall semester courses typically run from late August through mid-December, and Spring semester courses typically run from mid-January through early May. Various terms shorter in length than the semester are offered.
Transfer Credit
Concordia University Chicago reserves the right to determine the number, age, content and type of transfer credits accepted toward the student’s degree or program.
After the completion of 12 semester hours of coursework at CUC, no more than 50 percent of combined transfer credit and previously-applied CUC credit may be applied to a program. Application to have transfer of credits apply to a graduate program must be made by the student through the advisor. These credits must be approved by the appropriate program coordinator, division chair and the Registrar. Only courses taken within the past eight years of the student's program start term with a grade of “B” or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education will be considered for transfer credit. Graduate work beyond the student's initial master's degree, satisfactorily completed at other regionally accredited institution(s), may be accepted toward doctoral degree programs upon approval of the student’s GPS advisor, division chair and the Registrar.
A CUC student’s cumulative GPA is calculated solely on courses taken at CUC; transfer coursework is accepted as credit. Only courses with standard grades (A+, A, A-, B+, B) will be considered for transfer credit.
Workshop credit taken outside of Concordia University Chicago will not be accepted for transfer credit. Workshop credit earned at Concordia-Chicago will count toward program requirements, where applicable. Joint Services Transcripts will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will only be applied if it fulfills academic requirements for the student's program.
Students pursuing any licensure, endorsements, or certificates are required to complete a minimum of 50 percent of the semester hours of required coursework specifically selected to meet state requirements at Concordia University Chicago. Once coursework has been specified, it cannot be changed without the approval of the appropriate program coordinator, division chair, and the Registrar.
*The only exceptions to this rule are specifically-approved transfer credit from CU-Portland: EDAD-650 (applied to CUC EDL-6951 or EDL-6952) or EDAD-652 (applied to CUC EDL-7894, EDL-7895 or EDL-7896).
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is experience-based learning attained outside the traditional institutions of higher learning. Graduate students may earn CPL only under special circumstances and only with the approval of the division chair and college dean towards a Concordia University Chicago (CUC) program. Students wishing to pursue CPL should contact their graduate program specialist to initiate the process. Approved CPL will be awarded as transfer credit and is subject to CUC’s transfer policies. When CPL is approved, a fee will be applied; please see the Fees page or contact Student Business Services at 708-209-3241 to learn more.
Please contact the Office of the Registrar at transferequivalency@cuchicago.edu with any questions about CPL.
Course Substitutions and Course Waivers
Occasionally, a student may find that he/she has taken a course as part of another graduate degree program that is essentially the same as a required course in his/her current Concordia-Chicago degree/program plan. It may be possible to waive that specific course requirement, but it will be necessary to substitute another graduate-level course for the same number of credits for the one that is waived. Application for a course substitution must be made by a student through the graduate advisor. The waiver and course substitution must be approved by the appropriate program coordinator, division chair, and the Registrar.
Directed Study and Independent Study
Directed Study: Under special circumstances, directed studies are available to non-guest students in order to complete a degree or endorsement program when a course is not available. Approval by the appropriate department chair and the dean is required.
Independent Study: Independent Study courses are designed to provide students with the opportunity to pursue a specific interest above and beyond the department curriculum offerings. The independent study is available for full-time CUC students only. Courses in the curriculum may not be taken by independent study, nor can an independent study duplicate the content of an established course. Grading procedures and policies concerning incompletes also apply to independent study courses. Graduate students are subject to the following limitation: a maximum of two, three-semester-hour independent study courses in a 30-hour master’s program.
The Independent Study Application form is available through the student's GPS advisor or in CUConnect. Specific proposal information is included on the form. The proposal and form are to be turned in to the student’s GPS advisor one semester prior to the beginning of the semester of enrollment. Once approved by the GPS advisor, the application is to be presented to the department chair, along with the proposal, for his/her approval and signature.
Grades, Incomplete Grades, Repeats
Graduate students are required to earn an average of three quality points for every credit hour required in his/her program toward graduation. A final grade of D+, D , D-, F, I, AU, AW, NP, NR or W in any graduate-level course cannot be applied toward a graduate program and will not be used in a final degree audit.
All attempted graduate credit will be included to calculate the student’s cumulative GPA. Final program audit requirements include a minimum of 3.0 CGPA in all attempted graduate-level coursework. If a Concordia-Chicago course is repeated, the highest grade will be used in calculating the grade-point average. All attempts to repeat the course will remain on the student's record and transcript. Students are encouraged to review their grades for accuracy right after the end of every term.
The unit of credit is the semester hour. Normally one semester hour of credit is awarded on the basis of one 50-minute class session per week equivalent. The outside preparation required is approximately twice the time of instruction.
Grade Quality Points
| Grade | Quality Points |
|---|---|
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.67 |
| D+ | 1.33 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 0.67 |
| F (Fail) | 0.00 |
| P (Pass) | 0.00 |
| AU (Audit) | 0.00 |
| AW (Academic Withdrawal) | 0.00 |
| I (Incomplete) | 0.00 |
| NG (Not Graded) | 0.00 |
| NP (No Pass) | 0.00 |
| NR (Not Reported) | 0.00 |
| S (Satisfactory) | 0.00 |
| U (Unsatisfactory) | 0.00 |
| W (Withdrawal) | 0.00 |
- *
A grade of B or higher shall be equated with Pass for students graded on the Pass/Fail option for coursework taken at Concordia-Chicago.
The Incomplete (I) Grade
An Incomplete (I) grade is a temporary grade requested by the student to postpone course work due to extenuating circumstances (e.g. illness, death in the family). An agreement must be made between the student and the instructor outlining the remaining work needed to complete the course by submitting the Incomplete Grade Authorization Form to the Office of the Registrar. This signed form and related documentation must be received by the Office of the Registrar by the appropriate deadline below. Incomplete submissions, late submissions, or submissions for students who do not meet the criteria (satisfactory standing in the course at the time of the request and documentation of extenuating circumstances) will not be processed. Students must resolve the incomplete grade within six weeks from the day the course ended. Upon completion, the instructor will change the “I” to the appropriate letter grade by submitting the Change of Grade Form to the Office of the Registrar. If the student fails to complete the course work, a grade of “F” is recorded. A one-time extension beyond the six-week deadline may be granted only with the approval of the instructor and the Office of the Registrar and must be received prior to the official posting of the student’s final grade. Whether or not the student is enrolled during the following term has no effect upon this completion date (please note that an unresolved incomplete grade by the start of the following term per the academic calendar will not meet prerequisite expectations outlined in the administrative drop policy). In the event that the original instructor is no longer available to grade the work, the Program Leader or Division/Discipline Chair, where applicable, or the College Dean will identify the faculty member who will resolve the incomplete. The form is here: Incomplete Authorization form
Incomplete Grade Submission Deadlines
| Semester/Session | Incomplete Request Deadline |
|---|---|
| 5-Week | Friday of Week 4 |
| 8-Week | Friday of Week 7 |
| 11-Week | Friday of Week 10 |
| 16-Week | Friday of Week 15 |
Students must contact the Office of Financial Aid once the grade change has been processed in order to re-evaluate their SAP status for the semester they did not meet SAP. The Director of Financial Aid will review and make any necessary changes to the SAP status.
Course Repeat
Students are allowed to repeat a course with certain exceptions to fulfill program requirements. The course must be a designated repeatable course or a grade improvement is required in order to meet the program or curriculum minimum requirements. If students are unsure if the course is a designated repeatable course, please contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@cuchicago.edu or 708-209-4078. If a Concordia-Chicago course is repeated, the highest grade will be included to calculate the grade-point average and earned hours; the lowest grade(s) will be excluded from the cumulative grade-point average calculation and earned hours, but all attempts will remain listed on the student record.
Any student receiving federal or state financial aid will have additional restrictions based on regulations established by the Department of Education, Illinois Student Assistance Commission and Department of Veterans Affairs.
If receiving financial aid, a student may repeat a course for which a passing grade was not previously earned (ex. F, U, W or AW). The repeated course grade will be factored into the student's attempted hours, not earned hours. Please see Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy for information regarding the completion rate. If repeating a course with a passing grade (ex. D- or higher), a student can repeat it once more whether financial aid was received for the first attempt. On the third attempt of repeating a course with a passing grade, the student must pay for the repeated course out of pocket since it is not eligible for financial aid. For specific questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at financial.aid@cuchicago.edu or 708-209-3113.
If receiving military educational benefits, a student may repeat a course for which a passing grade was not previously earned (ex. F, U, W or AW). On the third attempt repeating a course, the student may be responsible for the amount of the repeated course. If so, a debt letter will be sent directly to the student from the Department of Veterans Affairs. For specific questions related to military educational benefits, please contact the Veterans Certifying Official in the Office of Financial Aid at 708-209-3113.
Change of Grade and Grade Appeal
Final grades are considered final and may not be changed by submitting additional work, assignments, exams, discussion posts, and/or extra credit after the end of course’s term (16-, 11-, 8-, and 5-week terms) based on the academic calendar. All work must be submitted by the last day of the term unless the student has been approved for an incomplete. The university encourages students to review their final grades within seven days of the last day of class. If the student believes there is a substantial, unreasonable, or unannounced departure from the syllabus, rubrics, course outcomes, and/or assignments a student must initiate a grade appeal within fourteen days after final grades are due for that course. The Grade Appeal Process and Form are found in CUConnect. It is the student's responsibility to ensure all final grade change forms are completed, contain all required signatures, and are submitted to the Office of the Registrar within six weeks after final grades are due. Whether or not the full grade appeal process is pursued, all grade changes not resolved by the six-week deadline for the course’s term will not be processed by the Office of the Registrar.
Program Procedures for All Graduate Students
Active Status and Time Limit for Degree/Program Completion
A graduate student who has completed a course within a semester is considered an active student. A student who has not completed a course within a semester or whose Leave of Absence is greater than 180 days will be administratively withdrawn due to non-attendance. If a student wishes to reenroll at the University, the student is required to report to the Office of Graduate Admission and Student Services and follow the Readmission process prior to registration for courses. The readmitted student will comply with current catalog requirements at the time of readmission and be assessed the current tuition rate of their program.
All credit toward a degree, approval, certificate or endorsement must be completed within 8 academic years after registration for the first course counted toward the degree/program. A petition for time extension is to be addressed to the appropriate division chair and dean.
Advisor
All students will be assigned a Graduate Program Specialist (GPS) advisor. Master of Church Music and Master of Arts in Music students will be assigned a music faculty advisor. It is strongly recommended that the student meet with his/her advisor before registering for courses to plan for appropriate coursework to be taken. It is important to make frequent contacts with the advisor, who will assist the student in an orderly progression from enrollment to graduation. The ultimate responsibility for compliance with academic requirements for graduation, selection of courses, prerequisites and class registration rests with the student.
Capstone/Dissertation Experiences
Nearly all master-level students must complete a capstone experience as part of their degree requirements. Some graduate programs have course-embedded capstone experiences which, depending on the program, can include a recital, portfolio, research project, internship experience or practicum requirement. Students receive graduate credit while enrolled in the capstone course if all requirements have been successfully met. See specific capstone requirements listed in the program section of this catalog.
Doctoral students complete a dissertation. More information about the process is available in Blackboard's Collegial Cloud. DBA candidates who desire more information regarding specific course requirements, comprehensive examinations, dissertation, etc., should consult the Doctor of Business Program Handbook.
Change of Program
New students are accepted into most graduate degree-seeking, certificate, endorsement and/or post-graduate programs for online and on-campus study for in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Students seeking to change programs may do so by submitting a Change-of-Program quick app. Applicants must be in good academic standing according to Concordia University Chicago’s satisfactory academic progress standards and meet published program admission requirements at the time of requesting a program change. Program changes will be processed and recorded for the subsequent semester.
Registration Policies and Procedures
Course Load
A full-time graduate student course load at CUC is defined as being enrolled in six (6) or more credit hours per semester. Half-time graduate student course load is three (3) to five (5) credit hours per semester. Less than half-time status is defined as any credit value less than three (3) credits per semester. The standard graduate student load at CUC is six (6) to nine (9) credit hours per semester. Graduate students who wish to enroll in more than nine (9) credit hours per semester must seek approval from their program’s division chair via their Graduate Program Specialist (GPS).
CUC’s course load is aligned with the U.S. Department of Education’s financial aid standards for the awarding of full-time and half/part-time financial aid. Veteran’s Benefits, military aid, state aid and institutional aid are also aligned to these standards to determine eligibility for financial aid.
Prerequisites
A prerequisite is a requirement that students must successfully complete prior to taking a course. Please note that not every course has a prerequisite – prerequisite information is found in the catalog course description. With student success being the focus at CUC, if a student has not yet completed the prerequisite, they will be required to meet the minimum prerequisite at the time of registration based on the current catalog. Students who completed the prerequisite requirement prior to the standardization will not have to retake the prerequisite if they previously earned a lower eligible grade or score than currently required.
Students are responsible for checking prequisites prior to course registration. Students who fail to meet the course prerequisite will be administratively dropped from the course.
In order to keep programs and coursework relevant and current, the College of Health, Science & Technology at Concordia University Chicago has implemented a "6-Year Rule," which allows a student to utilize completed prerequisite course credits towards subsequent coursework for up to six years after a course is successfully completed. Courses falling outside of the 6-year timeframe must be repeated unless successfully appealed to the Assistant Dean of the College of Health, Science & Technology. If the expired course no longer exists in the program’s current curriculum, the student must take the designated replacement course to satisfy the prerequisite requirement. The 6-Year Rule applies to all College of Health, Science & Technology coursework and programs of study. Transfer credits from courses taken externally are subject to the same rules based on the date the credits were posted to a student’s transcript.
Course Audits
Registration for course audits should occur at or before final registration deadline. Students may change from credit to audit or audit to credit up to and including the 20th day of classes in a 16-week term and the 10th day of classes in an 8-week term by submitting an add/drop form to the Office of the Registrar. A grade of audit (AU) will be assigned at the completion of the course. Students should be aware that audited courses are not eligible for financial aid.
Auditors are welcome in many classes at Concordia-Chicago, except the MUSA courses. However the exact terms of participation in class activities will be determined upon agreement with the instructor of the course. Depending on the discipline and the type of the course (e.g., lecture; seminar; studio courses in art, music or theater; physical education courses; lab; independent/directed study; service learning, etc.), participation may be limited at the discretion of the instructor. Likewise, students cannot expect to be given a grade and feedback on assignments (e.g., papers, tests, homework, labs, etc.) or to receive individual assistance from the instructor outside of class. Exams and papers assigned to students taking the course for credit do not apply to audit students; all other expectations are the same. A grade of audit (AU) will be assigned at the completion of the course. Graduate students are not allowed to take regular undergraduate courses as audit, with the exception of music courses.
Course Add/Drop Policy
Once the term has started, courses can be added to or dropped from a student schedule only during the first five days of the term. All registration documentation must be accompanied by a student's official signature or must be done electronically via the student portal. Non-registered students may not participate in the course after the first week of the course.
Graduate students who have not connected in Blackboard with their course/instructor within the first ten (10) business days of the term, and cannot be reached by their GPS advisor or who do not respond to their GPS advisor regarding their course participation status within the first ten (10) business days of the term, will be administratively dropped from the course. See the Administrative Drop section for more information.
NOTE: Failure to attend class after the 100% refund period does not constitute an automatic withdrawal from the course. Graduate students MUST drop courses via their GPS advisor after the 100% refund period. Failure to drop a course will result in no refund and a grade of "F" on the student's transcript after the 100% refund period.
Dropping a Course
The following procedures are to be used in the event of withdrawal from a class. All withdrawals must be completed in writing, with the student’s signature. The Course Add/Drop form must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admission and Student Services. Unauthorized withdrawals from a course or the University, i.e. failure to attend class, will result in the grade of “F.”
Full Semester Course Policies:
- During the first two (2) weeks of the term, a graduate student may withdraw from a course for a 100% refund by submitting a Course Add/Drop form to the Office of Graduate Admission and Student Services. The course will not appear on the student’s transcript.
- By the Friday of the third week, a graduate student may withdraw from a course for a 67% refund. The course will not appear on the student’s transcript.
- From the fourth week through the Friday of the tenth week, a graduate student may withdraw from a course for no refund. A grade of “W” will be recorded on the student’s transcript.
- After the tenth week of the semester, a “W” will be granted only for extraordinary circumstances approved by the Dean of Students. Unauthorized withdrawals from a course or the University, i.e. failure to attend class, will result in the grade of “F.”
Eight-Week Courses:
- During the first two (2) weeks of the term, a graduate student may withdraw from a course for a 100% refund by submitting a Course Add/Drop form to the Office of Graduate Admission and Student Services. The course will not appear on the student’s transcript.
- By the Friday of the third week, a graduate student may withdraw from a course for a 67% refund. The course will not appear on the student’s transcript.
- By the Friday of the fifth week, a graduate student may withdraw from a course for no refund. A grade of “W” will be recorded on the student’s transcript.
- After the fifth week, a “W” will be granted only for extraordinary circumstances approved by the Dean of Students. Unauthorized withdrawals from a course or the University, i.e. failure to attend class, will result in the grade of “F".
Please see the Academic Calendar for other graduate term policies.
Teach-Out: Concordia University Portland (CUP) and Cardinal Stritch University (CSU)
In 2020, Concordia University Chicago was named as the official teach-out institution for two graduate degree programs from Concordia University Portland: Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Doctor of Education (EdD). CUP students in good academic and financial standing are guaranteed admission to Concordia-Chicago, and receive a customized degree completion plan supporting each student’s goals and concentration selections. Concordia-Chicago will accept 100% of credits earned at, or accepted as transfer credit by, Concordia University Portland toward a related degree program. This option is available to all MBA and EdD students who have attended and earned credits toward their degree program at Concordia Portland within the last three (3) calendar years. All admissions to Concordia-Chicago are subject to standard University requirements, policies and procedures.
In 2023, Concordia University Chicago was named as the official teach-out institution for several degree programs from Cardinal Stritch University. At the graduate level, this includes the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and several Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs. CSU students in good academic and financial standing are guaranteed admission to Concordia-Chicago, and receive a customized degree completion plan supporting each student’s goals and concentration selections. Concordia-Chicago will accept 100% of credits earned at Cardinal Stritch by students eligible for teach-out toward a related degree program. This option is available to all MBA, DBA, and PhD students who have attended and earned credits toward their degree program at Cardinal Stritch University within the last three (3) calendar years. All admissions to Concordia-Chicago are subject to standard University requirements, policies and procedures.