Business Education at Concordia University Chicago
The 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 highly supported, degree track program which allows each student the option of a general or specialized business degree. By utilizing the latest technology, stressing the importance of integrity and engaging students with real-world business scenarios and experiences, the faculty and staff have established an exciting, well-rounded learning environment that prepares students for competency in today’s business world.
Mission Statement
By providing our students with innovative learning experiences and a premier education, we aspire to develop competent, confident, ethical leaders who can think critically, communicate effectively and serve compassionately in a dynamic business world.
Vision
To build on the University’s 155-year distinguished heritage and become a distinct and globally recognized college of business that prepares ethical business leaders for the world of tomorrow.
Opportunities and Disciplines
The College of Business offers a teaching-focused faculty and provides an extensive range of degree options and majors with the opportunity to serve in numerous campus organizations, including a Business Club, known as Concordia Enterprise Group (CEG), which focuses on student-led entrepreneurship.
Professional Experience in Business
Concordia University Chicago has a long tradition of offering its students a supervised work experience. More recently, the College of Business has included opportunities for practical and developmental work experiences in business for credit. The College of Business offers an integrated internship program that is based on an agreed understanding among the student, work site provider and the College, which defines responsibilities and identifies educational goals for the participants. Students are able to engage in this through both traditional and online course formats. The College of Business is in a unique position to use the Chicago area as a laboratory for experiential learning for business students by working with area businesses to develop business and marketing plans and specific projects focusing on real business problems and opportunities. The internship program partners with established and entrepreneurial firms in the Chicago area to allow students to apply what has been learned in the classroom.
Although not part of the internship program, in recent years this domestic experience has been enhanced by opportunities in foreign countries. Our Marketing department provides an opportunity to engage with companies to develop and evaluate marketing plans as part of the marketing course. Recent engagements with Chinese, French and British universities expanded opportunities for overseas study and multicultural experiences.
The internship program requires applicants to attend workshops as a precondition to an approved internship. From the application process through conclusion, the intern student will learn and experience the rigors of modern career responsibilities and the rewards of dedicated effort. These experiences include enrollment and successful completion of the course titled BUS-4990 College of Business Internship and may include concentrations in any major or minor. Internships may be taken in addition to regular coursework during the academic year or during the summer months. Internships may or may not be a paid experience.
To receive course credit for an internship, a student must develop learning objectives and conduct activities to accomplish those goals. The objectives must be approved by the faculty supervisor and the work site supervisor before the student may register for the Internship. In general, students must have completed 12 hours toward their majors and have a B average in all major courses. No credit is given credit on a retroactive basis. The objectives must be approved by the faculty supervisor and the work site supervisor before the student can register for the Internship. Application must be made to the Internship Supervisor in accordance with program guidelines.
Career Services
The Career Services Office offers job assistance to students in public education, the College of Health, Science & Technology, College of Theology, Art & Humanities and the College of Business.
Workshops on résumé writing, networking and interviewing skills, as well as opportunities for mock interviews are available. Seniors can participate in several college job fairs introducing them to companies that hire college graduates each year.
The Career Services page on the CUConnect (portal) includes job opportunities sent to Concordia University Chicago.
All freshmen, sophomores and juniors are encouraged to utilize Career Services early in their college careers. CUC offers PSY-1010 Career Management to freshmen and sophomores to assist in career planning, and offers PSY-1015 Employment Strategies for Arts & Sciences Students to juniors and seniors to develop job search techniques including résumé writing and interview techniques. Internship workshops are presented during each semester.
Pre-Seminary Program
A student may pursue the Pre-Seminary Program of Studies in the College of Theology, Art & Humanities, College of Business, or in the College of Education. These programs will meet all academic entrance requirements for both seminaries of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Students in the College of Theology, Art & Humanities, please see the Pre-Professional Studies Programs section of this catalog. For students in the College of Education please see the College of Education Church Worker Studies page of this catalog.
The Pre-Seminary Program of Studies is not in and of itself a degree program, but designates coursework to be taken within a Liberal Arts, Business or Education degree program. Students completing all the prescribed coursework will be identified as having completed the Pre-Seminary Program of Studies on their transcripts and when enrolled in the College of Business will receive a degree in Business Management.
Students desiring entry into a public ministry in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod must have earned a minimum GPA of 2.75 for all prescribed Theology requirements. All courses used in the GPA calculations must have a grade of C or better and cannot be taken under the Pass/Fail grade option.
Pre-Seminary Business Track
Students who select the Pre-Seminary Business track will choose the Church / Not-for-Profit Management Major for Pre-Seminary Students and a Biblical Languages Minor.
Required coursework if not taken as part of major or minor:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One PHI Course | 3 | |
| THY-2010 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 |
| THY-2220 | Lutheran Foundations | 3 |
| THY-3105 | Introduction to the New Testament | 3 |
| THY-3220 | Lutheran Theology 1 | 3 |
| THY-4220 | Lutheran Theology 2 | 3 |
| THY-4310 | Encountering Religion in America (encouraged but not required) | 3 |
Graduation Requirements
Students in the College of Business must meet all University requirements found in the Academic Information section of this catalog. Specific requirements of the College of Business include:
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for all coursework completed at Concordia University Chicago.
- A minimum GPA of 2.0 for all courses taken in a major at Concordia University Chicago.
- A minimum grade requirement of C (not C-) or higher for all courses taken within the College of Business.
- In addition to satisfying the overall minimum credits for a given degree, major, minor, and/or special program such as Concordia Honors Program or Pre-Seminary Program, additional course requirements may be required. Deficiency in any area of the program will delay awarding the degree and require a new intent to graduate form be filed in alignment with completion of requirements. Students may elect to drop minors or other programs if they present an obstacle for graduation, however, the term assigned to awarding degrees will be consistent with the term the program change is submitted. Please note, students are subject to additional fees for subsequent intent forms.
- No course in a major may be taken on the Pass/Fail grade option.