Undergraduate Accelerated Online Degree Program (ADP)

Concordia University Chicago believes that a liberal arts education is valuable to all. That's why we offer Accelerated Degree Programs (ADP) that cater to individuals who may have family or work responsibilities and require a more flexible and non-traditional approach to attending college.

Accelerated Degree Programs (ADP) are an excellent option for individuals who are highly motivated. These programs are specifically designed for those who can manage their time effectively, are committed to meeting the rigorous demands of the program and are interested in completing an undergraduate degree in a Christian environment. ADP programs offer a flexible and convenient pathway to a degree, providing opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to pursue their academic goals. 

Concordia University Chicago is a Christ-centered institution of higher education. It aims to provide a learning environment that supports students who are seeking to complete an Undergraduate Degree. The university considers prospective students for admission who possess the academic qualifications necessary to be successful in their chosen program. To be eligible for admission, candidates must demonstrate a reasonable ability to complete their chosen program of study. Additionally, they must exhibit the attitudes, values, and character that align with and contribute to the University's mission, vision and values. 

Admission Requirements

•  A completed application for admission to the Accelerated Degree Programs.
•   Submission of official transcripts from ALL colleges or universities attended. The most recent college transcript must indicate that the student was in good standing and earned at least a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average on a 4.0 scale.
•   If an applicant has completed fewer than 15 semester hours of credit, or has not completed one semester at full-time status, a final high school transcript with graduation date must be provided. An official high school transcript is also required if the college from which the credit was earned does not have accreditation. Applicants who have not completed high school must provide documentation of successful completion of the G.E.D.
•  Applicants will be notified of admission decisions generally within 48 hours after receiving all required documents.

Additional Information to Support an Admission Decision

• The Admission Committee reserves the right to evaluate applicants on an individual basis or request additional information when prior college transcripts do not reflect a 2.0 cumulative grade-point average.
• Transfer students who leave a college under any circumstance other than good standing may be required to have an interview with a designated University staff member and may be asked to permit CUC personnel to speak with the Dean of Students office at the sending school.

Transfer Credit Acceptance

The University reserves the right to determine the number and type of transfer credits accepted toward the student’s degree. No more than 90 semester hours of transfer credit from a regionally accredited community college and/or university will be counted toward graduation, unless the student is participating in a recognized articulation agreement that allows for additional credit to be transferred. One-half of all the credit hours in the major must be completed in residence. At least 30 semester hours of study at Concordia University Chicago is required to meet residency requirements, preferably the last year before graduation.

In order to keep programs and coursework relevant and current, 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. Courses under other Colleges (Business, Education, and Theology, Arts & Humanities) are not subject to the 6-year rule.

Although a student’s cumulative college grade point-average for all prior college coursework will be used for admission purposes, only courses taken at Concordia University Chicago will be considered for the calculation of a student’s Concordia University Chicago cumulative grade-point average; transfer coursework is accepted as credit. Please note that any AP or CLEP credit counts toward the 90 semester-hour limit.

Credit for Prior Learning

Prior learning is experience-based learning attained outside the auspices of standard institutions of higher learning. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is not awarded for experience per se, but for college-level learning. 

Students may earn credit from sources such as workshops, seminars, corporate training programs, military service or other experiences. Documentation that the student presents, demonstrating college-level learning acquired from these sources, is evaluated and may result in transfer credit hours being awarded. There is a $250.00 fee per title. 

Received Document Policy

The undergraduate admission office does not release received documents such as transcripts, college entrance exam scores, etc., that have become the property of Concordia University Chicago. Since Concordia-Chicago is not the official, legal custodian of record for any documents that did not originate at the institution, the office does not have the appropriate authority to release them. Therefore, please contact the originating institution or organization that produced the original records in order to obtain such documents.

Leave of Absence

Students may elect to submit a leave of absence form for up to 180 days by notifying their ADP Enrollment Advisor. When the student is ready to return, he/she should notify the Enrollment Advisor.  The Executive Director for the Online Accelerated Degree program in consultation with staff and the Financial Aid Office makes a determination on eligibility to resume enrollment. Students who do not re-enroll after the 180 days, excluding summer, must complete an application for re-admission because they will be withdrawn from the University.