Welcome

Welcome!

Concordia University was founded in 1864 in Addison, Illinois, and was relocated to the Village of River Forest in 1913. Concordia has grown in many ways through the years and now has a student body of approximately 800 undergraduate and 1500 graduate students.

The original purpose of the University was exclusively for the preparation of teachers for Lutheran elementary schools throughout the country. That goal is now much expanded. Over 4,000 masters degrees have been awarded since the graduate program was started in 1957 with 74 students. Today the program offers 24 options, of which 11 are designed primarily for educators, including a doctoral program. Other graduate programs include church music, religion, gerontology, psychology, community counseling, and human services.

Graduate study at Concordia is designed to build upon competencies developed through the successful completion of a baccalaureate degree program. Participation in the graduate program will build on this foundation to extend both knowledge and intellectual maturity. Graduate study is a goal-structured program providing opportunity for concentrated study. It also provides a closer working relationship with faculty, creative thinking, and more intensive library research. As graduate students study side by side with other graduate students, there is an added dimension of greater depth and breadth of learning, often supplemented by the varied experiences drawn from individual daily responsibilities.

Owned and operated by The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and a member institution of the Concordia University System (CUS), Concordia University aims to integrate the academic disciplines with this spiritual philosophy in order to build a strong set of values for the solution of the problems of today and tomorrow.

Concordia continues the dedication it has had for 140 years; to give you the finest preparation possible for the realities of life; the discipline and Christian commitment that will produce leadership and responsibility in society; the zeal and motivation for continued growth and learning that will last a life time. We look forward to the opportunity to share that experience with you.

General Concordia Information

Concordia University was founded in Addison, Illinois, in 1864. In 1913 the campus of Concordia was relocated to a beautiful 40-acre campus in River Forest, Illinois.

The College of Education

The original mission of Concordia was to prepare educators for Lutheran elementary schools across the country. Today that strong tradition continues and has been expanded to include preparation for public school teachers. Accreditation by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and approval of all education programs from the State of Illinois highlights and recognizes the excellence of the undergraduate and graduate programs of education for those who desire to teach at the preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary level. Concordia's approved education programs provide Illinois State certification by entitlement. The College also houses the Director of Christian Education Program, a course of study offered by Concordia since the mid-1960s.

The College of Arts and Sciences

Concordia strives to provide a solid, broad-based education, rooted in the liberal arts and sciences that can open the door to important understandings for students pursuing professional programs in accounting, computer science, communications, exercise science and a host of other fields, as well as those desiring majors in pre-professional programs which will lead to further study in graduate or professional school. A total of 29 majors are included in the College of Arts and Sciences.

College of Graduate and Innovative Programs

On and off campus opportunities exist for the benefit of professionals already in the work force. Correspondence study, workshops, conferences and seminars for students, teachers, administrators, and musicians are offered. The CU*Succeed: Accelerated Degree Program for Adults offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational management. One of Concordia's newest programs is our 60+ program inviting the over-60 crowd to join us in our classrooms for their personal enjoyment and ours. A vibrant graduate program established in 1957 continues to expand and grow. Professionals in music and social services are able to pursue advanced degrees at the Masters level while those in the education field are able to pursue both Masters and Doctoral degrees.

The Campus Community

Located in the pleasant, tree-lined village of River Forest, Concordia is just minutes from Chicago's Loop. This proximity to a world-class city provides a variety of opportunities for additional cultural, academic and social growth. Concordia strives to provide a creative environment where horizons expand and where personal, social and spiritual growth can become reality. The availability of both urban Chicago areas and the surrounding suburbs increases students' awareness and ability to respond as responsible citizens in our world.

The mission of Concordia University is ultimately achieved in the lives of students. With a student body representing over 30 different states and 7 foreign countries, Concordia's students come with an array of experiences and perspectives. In each college quality faculty and staff work to challenge a quality student body of approximately 1,300 undergraduate students and over 1,000 graduate students. The low student-teacher ratio allows for smaller class sizes, creating a genuine, caring atmosphere where strong student-faculty relationships, facilitating learning and leadership development, are built.

Campus residence halls house approximately 600 students who come to our campus from large cities as well as small towns and farming communities across the world, while nearly half of our students commute from their homes in the surrounding community.

The Campus Facilities

Concordia's 40-acre campus holds 21 buildings, architecturally blending old and newer facilities.

The newest building on campus is The Walter and Maxine Christopher Center for Learning and Leadership. This state of the art teaching facility houses Concordia's Early Childhood Center and the College of Education. The first floor, designed to accommodate the specific needs of young children, serves as a day care/ preschool/ kindergarten for the children of Concordia's students, faculty, and staff as well as children of our community. More than a day care or a school, this facility serves as a teaching laboratory for future teachers learning their craft at Concordia. The second and third floors house faculty offices, conference rooms, testing rooms, methods classrooms, an educational resource library and a state of the art lecture hall.

The Krentz Center, dedicated in the early 90's, houses Bergmann Theatre, an intimate theatre space used primarily for Children's Theatre productions, a television studio, radio station, photography laboratory, lecture hall and various classrooms.

Koehneke Community Center is the location of the cafeteria, Cougar Den, bookstore, post office, meeting rooms, student recreation areas, and the student government offices.

The Chapel of Our Lord/Clara and Spencer Werner Auditorium was designed as Concordia's center for worship services and theatrical performances. This space continues to be occupied by theatre groups, worship activities, rehearsal space, and a quiet location for meditation and prayer. Attached to the chapel is Kretzmann Hall, the home of the Music, Art, and Theology departments. This building also houses art, music, and theology classrooms, the Elizabeth Fergusen Art Gallery, music practice rooms, rehearsal rooms, and a music technology laboratory.

Other academic buildings include Eifrig Hall (primarily used for the natural and physical sciences), and Addison Hall, which encompasses the administrative offices of the university as well as upstairs classrooms.

Klinck Memorial Library houses over 800,000 volumes, periodicals, and documents and is connected to another 10 million titles through ILLNET, the Illinois Library and Information Network. This location also houses CougarNet, which provides information technology services to the campus, Telecom Services which provides and supports the campus phone/voice mail network, the Learning Assistance offices and the Writing Center which provide no-cost tutoring in all areas and assistance with college level writing.

Geiseman Gymnasium houses two gymnasiums, classrooms, athletic offices, the PAW (Physical Activity and Wellness) Center with cardio-vascular and functional training equipment, two newly renovated weight rooms, human performance laboratory and swimming pool. Outdoor athletic and recreational areas include a new all-weather track and football/soccer field, tennis courts, and a field house/concession stand neighbored by softball and baseball fields.

Academic, instructional, and administrative computing services are maintained and supported by CAIS and is located in Mary-Martha Hall. This building is also a Residence facility along with Gross, Kohn, Lindemann, Brohm, Krause, and David-Jonathan halls.

Concordia was not born with its reputation for excellence. For 140 years it has worked to earn and keep it. Today, you have been issued a challenge and an invitation - come and share the Concordia University experience.

Accreditation

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS)
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)