Bachelor of Arts in Missions

at Concordia University Wisconsin USA

The special education program has a strong liberal arts foundation with a Christian emphasis. Education coursework and fieldwork experiences begin freshman year. It offers a public education track, a Lutheran teacher diploma track for students wishing to pursue education as an LCMS church work professional, and a Christian teacher certification track for students wishing to pursue education in another Christian school setting. This program may be pursued as a special education major only, leading to K-12 certification in cross categorical special education or as a dual major combining special education and general education. Dual majors are available at the early childhood and elementary/middle school levels. The special education program is accredited and approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.  Job openings in this field are plentiful, as this is a high-need certification area nationally.

In addition to coursework, you’ll experience firsthand the blessing and challenge of working with special needs children in an actual, real-world setting. You’ll be grounded in a deep understanding of child and adolescent development in mind, body, and spirit, as well as the range of exceptionalities. You’ll work to master content knowledge in addition to a wide range of instructional strategies and learner accommodations. You’ll develop skills in classroom management, curricular design and assessment, and engagement and collaboration with other educators and school stakeholders.

You’ll be taking 25 credits of required coursework to give you a firm basis in drawing, color, design, art history, and aesthetics (the stuff that everyone who is serious about art needs to be aware of). But after that, you get to choose what aspects of art to focus on. We’ve got plenty of options to pick from and you’ve got 15 credits worth of courses to fill with whatever 2D or 3D electives inspire you!

By the time you finish this program you’ll have refined your artistic skills creating original designs, manipulating imagery, and applying design principles to visual communication. As you develop your unique artistic style, you will have a clearer understanding of how your artistic talents make a difference in the world. You will have an opportunity to showcase your work with an exhibit in the CUW Art Gallery and to assemble a professional portfolio highlighting the best of your work.

You have the vision and ambition to create beautiful and meaningful photographs that communicate your vision to the world. Our program will help you define your fields of interest, sharpen your visual as well as technical skills, and to build a professional portfolio. Concordia’s photography major prepares you for the world ahead with the skills and awareness to pursue your chosen future.

The Photography Major is part of a comprehensive curriculum at Concordia intended to develop your professional skills as well as spiritual and intellectual values. Your classes outside your major at CUW will provide you with a well-rounded bachelor’s degree, and your study of photography will include a chosen minor in perhaps Marketing, Business, English, or Graphic Design to help you build the necessary skills for a successful career in photography. Your major courses will be supplemented by internship opportunities that will give each student professional experiences, and enhance your preparation for the professional world.

A degree in Photography can lead to a variety of careers, including fine art, commercial photography, journalism, editing, education and research, museum and online curation, art direction, marketing, storytelling, and more. We encourage students to develop their own professional techniques and style. You’ll develop a comprehensive understanding of the craft of photography using Concordia’s digital facilities to develop contemporary skills, and darkroom facilities to understand and explore historical processes.

Classes outside your major will consist of the liberal arts core curriculum, your selected minor, and foundational studio art courses. In the Photography Major you will study photographic composition, camera usage, studio and natural lighting, editing, digital technologies, contemporary marketing practices, portfolio development, image presentation, and develop the ability to photograph a wide array of subject matter with personal intent and professional standards.

Our graphic design courses prepare you for careers in both digital and print design. In order to offer the fullest education possible, Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) has partnered with the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), which is just a 25-minutes drive from our Mequon campus. Most of your classes (all core requirements, over half major requirements, and your minor) will take place at CUW. Because we have a lab specially designed for our graphic design students, you’ll be able to work on your projects right on campus. Only 15-18 credits of your classes will take place at MIAD. It is worth noting that while graphic design is a highly-demand career, we highly encourage you to  pursuing a complementary minor, such as business or marketing.

The classes you will take in this program will lay the groundwork of good design principles that will guide you through the rest of your career as a designer. Much of your learning will  occur outside of the classroom. Why? Because outside the classroom is where you’ll be putting into practice the design principles you learned in the classroom, developing your creative ideas and completing projects.

As a CUW graphic design student, you will have opportunities to work on professional projects with real-world clients. This, in addition to regular coursework, will contribute to your professional portfolio, which will be published (physically or digitally). One final note on what to expect: in order to be successful, it is critical that you meet project deadlines during your time with us. The faculty are always happy to work with you, so don’t be afraid to ask them for advice.

This program will help you develop your understanding of major events and themes across the eras. You’ll learn about global history and the philosophy of history, and you’ll gain the skills necessary to read, write, speak of, and teach about history. From ancient civilizations to modern Europe, from Asia to America, from politics to economics, from the history of warfare to the history of food, clothing and sports, studying the past helps us to learn about human nature and thus, ourselves. Is there a particular aspect of history that interests you? As a CUW history student, you’ll get to choose an area of emphasis in American, European, or Global history - so you can focus on what you’re passionate about.

Studying history involves more than reading books.  Your learning will revolve around a process that is applicable in many other fields. You’ll start by locating, evaluating, and organizing historical information. Once you have digested the content and various views, you can begin to develop the historical information into written or oral form. Through this repeated procedure, you develop your ability to summarize, analyze, organize, and synthesize texts from a variety of sources. Wherever your career takes you, you’ll be able to use this process to research, understand and analyze information to make important decisions and gain new insights.

The Biblical Studies program lays out a good foundation for further work not only in the LCMS but for all Christian denominations. This program offers classes that all Christian students can be prepared for church work or simply because they want to know more about the Bible and the God who is revealed in it. At the same time, this is a great program for Lutheran students who want to focus on the Bible itself.

With this program, students will explain and analyze the basic tenets of the Christian faith and will apply the Christian worldview and doctrines to current situations (personal, professional, and societal) and to historical problems and situations.

Biblical Studies graduates can expect to:

• Develop an understanding of the origin of the Bible, recognize the unique qualities of God's word, appreciate the varied yet unified content of the Old and New Testaments, and use sound principles in interpreting Scripture.
• Recognize the Bible as the authoritative source for knowledge of God and humankind, articulate key doctrines of the Christian faith, especially the gospel of Jesus Christ, and apply the teachings of Scripture to the life of the individual.
• Develop an appreciation for how God has worked in history, recognize key figures and movements in the life of the Church, and identify the state of theology today.
• Grow in their relationship with Christ and put His teachings into practice in their vocations.
• Observe, assess, and interpret today's cultures and world views. Students will be familiar with various methods of delivering and defending biblical truth in a relevant and practical way to diverse groups.
• Demonstrate an understanding of research skills in the discipline.

A good manager can adapt to almost any business structure in any industry. Because managerial skills are, for the most part, universal. This program will allow you to explore how businesses are structured and provide you with the skills you’ll need to succeed in almost any environment. You’ll gain mastery of current software for designing and managing business projects, while adopting proven project management tools and techniques at each stage in a project’s lifecycle. You’ll gain an understanding of how to integrate organizational strategies that involve the parent, supplier, and sub-supplier organizations working together in domestic and global environments.

You’ll also gain practical knowledge of marketing tools, market segmentation, research analysis in decision-making, media and promotion, budgeting, and evaluation. From developing a comprehensive and viable business plan to setting and obtaining investment objectives – such as capital, debt, securitization, and government subsidized options – this program will arm you with a variety of applicable skills. And you’ll learn about small businesses too, the way management is applied. Most importantly, you’ll acquire skills and experience that’ll help you become the well-rounded and insightful leader your organization deserves, whether you’re in small business, investments, or real estate.

Welcome to the world of technology, advancement, and innovation. You are going to be creating the future. Don’t believe us? Computer scientists are instrumental to anything and everything that involves computers. And let’s be honest, pretty much everything today involves computers. Robotics, virtual reality, and videogames are often cited as future job areas, but you could also be a part of many other fields—animation, music, automobiles, analytics…the list goes on.

What comes to mind when you think of computer science? In our modern world, there are decreasingly fewer things that don't rely on computers and technology in some shape or form, making computer science one of the most practical and versatile fields of study out there. At Concordia, we define computer science as solving problems using technology. If you can learn to create and manage technology solutions, you can apply your skills to just about any career path.

With five different concentrations available and substantial flexibility in electives, you have the power to customize this degree and make it your own. In this program, you'll receive a well-rounded education through the Concordia Core, as well as a firm foundation of computer science knowledge through our Technology Core. You'll learn the ins and outs of hardware, software, operating systems, databases, coding, and user interfaces. From there, you can branch out into one or more concentrations of computer science, specializing in the areas that are of most interest to you. You can use your electives to earn multiple concentrations, or to explore coursework in any other field at Concordia, broadening your knowledge base.

In the psychology program, you’ll study the biological and psychological influences on the human mind. What makes our program unique? At CUW, our courses are grounded in science, ethical research, and Christian service. This translates to a holistic approach toward learning in which you first build up your knowledge in the classroom and then apply it in supervised, practical experience at local agencies and institutions. Toward the end of your studies (typically during your junior year), you’ll apply for senior status. Once approved, you can then enroll in Practicum, Research Proposal, and Senior Seminar. By the time you graduate, you’ll possess the skills and knowledge needed for graduate studies or to pursue a helping profession.  This program is also available as a minor.

During your time here, you’ll be introduced to topics like theories of personality, abnormal psychology, psychotherapy, and human behavior. Through it all, we’ll help you become familiar with the procedures, principles, theories, and vocabulary of psychology. This gives you the tools necessary for success. Each psychology class builds on and enhances the others. For example, learning about the developmental stages from conception to death is relevant when studying how individual preferences and worldviews are shaped. Similarly, properly interpreting research is key to using current therapy approaches in treating behavioral disorders. Outside of the classroom, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in numerous service endeavors in the community - so you can start making a positive impact before you frame that diploma.

By the end of the program, you’ll not only have a deep understanding of theories in psychology, you’ll have hands-on experience from your practicum and service learning efforts. You’ll be a stronger leader, a better writer and communicator, and a strategic problem solver. Whether you decide to go into counseling, clinical psychology, research, academia or another exciting profession, you’ll be prepared to change other’s lives for the better.

One of the most important skills you can bring to any business is the ability to be a leader who understands the industry, knows how to build up a team, and creatively problem-solves when challenges arise. Our MBA in Management will equip you to do just that. The program is designed with flexibility in mind so you can complete the program while working full-time. Because our classes are offered at our main campus, our off-site locations and online, you can take courses no matter where you’re located on the map. You’ll broaden your perspective as you learn from industry leaders and work alongside a diverse student body. And you’ll have freedom to choose which courses you want to take for your concentration. As you progress through the program, faculty will engage you in topics like global productions and operations, supply chain management, sustainable business practices and strategic innovation - so you’ll be well-equipped to make a positive impact in the world of business.

When you cross the stage as a graduate of our MBA program, you’ll have in-depth knowledge of management practices, lean systems and analysis, loss prevention and project management processes. You’ll have the hands-on experience to apply proven project management tools and techniques at each stage in a project’s lifecycle. You’ll also have the understanding of how to integrate organizational strategies while involving the parent, supplier and sub-supplier organizations in domestic and global environments. What’s more, you’ll come out as a stronger leader, a better communicator, and a strategic thinker. You’ll even have a portfolio of your work to show potential employers.