General Information
The College of Health, Science & Technology is an exciting new college at Concordia University Chicago created to spotlight the growing need for people who are grounded in the Gospel of Christ, the liberal arts, and a broad education to serve the special needs of our society in health care, science, and technological fields.
Curriculum
The College of Health, Science & Technology allows a student to pursue a field of interest, to prepare for graduate school, or to prepare for a variety of careers and life vocations. The programs include on-campus or online learning formats, and they range from Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees all the way to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Depending on a student’s interests, a minor or elective credit may be taken from the offerings in other colleges, as long as that is allowed by that college and program.
Experiential Learning and Career Services
- Faculty and staff work to help prepare students for the next step in their career development through skill building, experiential learning, networking and assistance with job placement.
- Experiential learning opportunities take many forms: service learning, volunteer events, internships (paid and unpaid), observations and field experience. Many of the academic programs include opportunities or requirements for experiential learning, and the Office of Career Services facilitates even more possibilities for real-world, hands-on experiences.
- Students wishing to pursue an internship should consult their faculty advisors and the Office of Career Services at least a semester in advance. All academic internships (internships for which a student will receive credit) require faculty approval, and will contain clear objectives and evaluative criteria.
- The Office of Career Services serves all Concordia University Chicago students and alumni as a source for career exploration, career development strategies, and market assessment. Staff members facilitate connections between students and employers, and assist with job searches. Students are encouraged to connect with Career Services throughout their time at CUC, as events and services are tailored for various stages of career development.
- The Synodical Placement Office provides placement orientation and manages placement for students in programs offered by the University leading to professional work in The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
6-Year Rule
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. Courses under other Colleges (Business, Education, and Theology, Arts & Humanities) are not subject to the 6-year rule.
Applicability
The 6-Year Rule applies to all College of Health, Science & Technology coursework and programs of study.
Transfer Credits
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.
College of Health, Science, and Technology Special Admissions Criteria
Certain programs offered by the College of Health, Science, and Technology have special admissions criteria beyond general admission to the University.
Health Sciences
School of Pharmacy—Early Acceptance Program
Concordia University Chicago/Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
The Early Acceptance Program, in partnership with LECOM, is a competitive admission program for selected high school seniors or current Concordia-Chicago students prior to the start of their junior year. To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the minimum following requirements:
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. International students contact LECOM.
- Must have a provisional letter of acceptance from LECOM before starting third year at Concordia University Chicago.
- Minimum SAT I score (Math and Verbal Reasoning) of 1170 (1240 on SAT II) or a minimum ACT Composite score of 26.
- An unweighted high school GPA of 3.5 or higher for high school seniors and CUC freshmen. CUC sophomores must meet the GPA of item 5 (below) by the end of the sophomore year.
- A CUC cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher and a science GPA of 3.2 or higher.
- Taking the PCAT exam is optional but highly recommended. If the PCAT exam is not taken, a writing assessment is required.
- Complete last two consecutive years of enrollment at CUC immediately prior to LECOM matriculation.
- In January of the last year of enrollment at CUC a background check must be conducted prior to matriculation at LECOM.
School of Medicine—Early Acceptance Program
Concordia University Chicago/Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
The Early Acceptance Program, in partnership with LECOM, is a competitive admission program for selected high school seniors or current Concordia-Chicago students prior to the start of their junior year. To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the minimum following requirements:
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. International students contact LECOM
- Must have a provisional letter of acceptance from LECOM before starting third year at Concordia University Chicago.
- Minimum SAT score (Math and Verbal Reasoning) of 1170 (1240 on SAT II) or a minimum ACT Composite score of 26.
- An unweighted high school GPA of 3.5 or higher for high school seniors and CUC freshmen. CUC sophomores must meet the GPA of item 5 (below) by the end of the sophomore year.
- A CUC cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher and a science GPA of 3.2 or higher.
- Students may be exempted from taking the MCAT if they have completed Biochemistry and Genetics (with a grade of C - or higher) and have documented their SAT or ACT scores with LECOM. Students taking the MCAT must score at or above 500.
- Complete last two consecutive years of enrollment at CUC immediately prior to LECOM matriculation.
- In January of the last year of enrollment at CUC a background check (including a drug and alcohol screening) must be conducted prior to matriculation at LECOM.
School of Dental Medicine—Early Acceptance Program
Concordia University Chicago/Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
The Early Acceptance Program, in partnership with LECOM, is a competitive admission program for selected high school seniors or current Concordia-Chicago students prior to the start of their junior year. To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the minimum following requirements:
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. International students contact LECOM.
- Must have a provisional letter of acceptance from LECOM before starting third year at Concordia University Chicago.
- Minimum SAT score (Math and Verbal Reasoning) of 1170 (1240 on SAT II) or a minimum ACT Composite score of 26.
- An unweighted high school GPA of 3.5 or higher for high school seniors and CUC freshmen. CUC sophomores must meet the GPA of item 5 (below) by the end of the sophomore year.
- A CUC cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher and a science GPA of 3.2 or higher.
- DAT exam scores of 19 or higher are required in areas of Academic Average, Reading Comprehension, and Perceptional Ability.
- Complete last two consecutive years of enrollment at CUC immediately prior to LECOM matriculation.
- In January of the last year of enrollment at CUC a background check must be conducted prior to matriculation at LECOM.
Social Work
- Students must make formal application to the social work program during their sophomore year.
- All students must be formally admitted to the program prior to registering for social work practice courses (SOW-4420 Social Work Practice I: Micro-Methods of Intervention, SOW-4430 Social Work Practice II: Mezzo-Methods of Intervention, SOW-4440 Social Work Practice III: Macro-Methods of Intervention), and after having successfully completed the introductory course for the program (SOW-4000 Introduction to Social Work).
- Students who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to the profession of social work must meet the stated criteria, complete the application form, and submit the necessary documentation to the Department of Social Work.
- Applicants to the program must have attained an overall GPA of 2.5 (on a scale of 4.0), and have taken or be taking the following courses as prerequisites with a grade of C or better (these courses may also be taken to meet general education requirements):
- ATH-2020 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
- SOC-2010 Introduction to Sociology
- PSY-2000 General Psychology
- BIO-1201: Biology in the World Today
- POS-1100 American Government & Politics
- POS-2300 Social & Political Philosophy
- The student must submit:
- A completed application for admission.
- Personal statement detailing their interest in the profession of social work.
- Two letters of reference which provide support of the applicant’s academic and personal capacities for social work, and their potential for success in the field. One letter must be from a former teacher/instructor.
- The Department of Social Work does not grant course credit for life experience. This includes all work and volunteer experiences prior to or during the period of time the student is enrolled in the Social Work Program at Concordia University Chicago.
Graduation Requirements
Students in the College of Health, Science and Technology or The College of Theology, Arts and Humanities must meet all University requirements found in the Academic Information section of this catalog. Specific requirements for these Colleges include the following:
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 for all coursework completed at CUC
- A minimum GPA of 2.00 for all courses taken in the major at CUC
- A minimum grade of C for all courses taken in a major at CUC
- All administrative obligations to CUC must be cleared in order to prompt the release of CUC transcripts and diploma(s).
- The Division of Natural Sciences requires a minimum grade of D- for courses within the major that are not pre-requisites for other courses. For courses that are pre-requisites, the C minimum remains unless superseded by admission grade requirements for specific programs, e.g., medicine/dentistry/pharmacy at LECOM, etc.).