Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction

at Global University Systems (GUS) - Concordia University Chicago USA

At Concordia University Chicago, our small political science class sizes make it easy for students to get to know their professors. Professors are easily accessible to answer students’ questions and informally chat about class discussions or a wide variety of related issues.

We’re proud that approximately 90 percent of our students are employed or enrolled in graduate programs in their fields within six months of graduation. We educate students to be faithful, civic minded individuals who will actively engage and change the world through their careers and/or their volunteer efforts. Some political science majors continue their education in graduate school in political science or another social science discipline or go on to law school.

For this major, you will be required to take the introductory American government and politics course and then select your remaining coursework from a variety of electives. Past offerings have included The Politics of the Middle East, Global Terrorism and International Security in addition to:

• Political Theory
• The American Presidency
• State and Local Government
• Constitutional Law
• Public Policy
• American Foreign Policy
• Comparative Politics
• International Relations

Our liberal arts foundation provides communication skills that are essential to being effective in your career of choice.

Founded as a school for education, the university continues its long tradition of preparing excellent teachers. If you are seeking a middle or high school education major, you will take required math courses in combination with your education classes. We offer a fully accredited program leading to Illinois certification.

Mathematics majors at CUC have been successful in gaining entrance to graduate programs at respected institutions across the country.

Mathematics Course Information

You may choose between a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree.

• B.A.: Required courses that cover calculus, mathematical proofs, abstract algebra and analysis. This degree track allows you to choose from many math courses. You can even select a computer science course.
• B.S.: Designed for students considering graduate school in mathematics, or who want to connect their interest in mathematics with another discipline such as accounting or the natural sciences. Through this track you will choose a specialization from natural science, pure mathematics, computer science or actuarial science.

Concordia University Chicago's MBA specialization in digital marketing provides you with the strategic and analytical skills to guide organizations in a digital world that is overflowing with data on customers, products, and interactions. The four courses within this specialization are designed to help you understand digital marketing strategy and planning, mobile marketing and social media strategies as well as digital marketing analytics. Your organizations are demanding that you understand important and appropriate digital metrics and how to use them to analyze and improve digital marketing initiatives and marketing ROI. Graduates will successfully champion digital marketing campaigns while achieving their organization’s growth initiatives.

Specialization Outcomes

• Synthesize concepts from various business disciplines to develop effective digital marketing strategies and strategic plans.
• Develop a refined management and leadership framework to evaluate ethical issues in digital marketing and social media strategies.
• Understand current developments in social media, the potential impact on marketing strategies, and selection of appropriate information technologies to develop business solutions and improve performance.
• Integrate a global interconnectedness perspective into a business philosophy and practice.

Concordia’s Studio Art major ensures you understand visual arts from a studio perspective, as well as the promotional skills to thrive as a studio artist.

Our University offers small class sizes where art faculty members know you by name and continually support you throughout your college career. They accept your current level of art experience and are committed to advancing your ability. Art faculty members are experienced artists and art educators who have a vested interest in providing a quality art program.

The Art Department consists of large, well-equipped studios, a dark room for photography, a computer lab, a lecture hall and an outdoor kiln area for raku firing of ceramics.

If you are interested in advancing your career and obtaining a management position within a health care-related organization, an MBA specialization in health care management will help get you there.

This specialization addresses the unique attributes of health care organizations. Students are prepared to take on leadership roles and address specific managerial issues encountered in today’s health care economy. Students will develop critical thinking and fundamental business analysis skills. They will leave this specialization proficient at problem solving the operational and financial challenges that health care administrators face.

Specialization Outcomes

• Understand and analyze accreditation, regulatory, licensure, and compliance issues as they relates specifically to the healthcare industry.
• Apply and assess the economic supply and demand aspects of the healthcare service delivery model(s) and the impact on the organization and stakeholders.
• Identify and evaluate the major causes of global healthcare delivery, financial, management and political challenges and develop strategies to improve the delivery of  healthcare policy and services.
• Apply understanding of diversity, economic, ethical, and fiscal perspectives to healthcare management decision making aligned to healthcare reform initiatives and policy formation as it impacts the business and stakeholders.
• Demonstrate proficiency in use of technology to make and evaluate data driven decisions.

Our bachelor of arts degree in Social Work provides a curriculum and learning environment that is accessible to a broad diversity of students, who will make important and unique contributions in their service to clients, communities and the profession-at-large.

Graduating social work students are prepared to enter the profession in various positions and employment settings. They are also prepared to continue their education at the graduate level with a master’s degree in social work.

The full-time social work faculty members have doctorates in social work, and many years of clinical practice experience in the field. This enables them to connect theory and practice in the classroom by utilizing real-life examples. Social work courses are small with much individual attention and one-on-one interaction with your professors.

The social work degree and field experience will prepare you to work immediately after graduation. Many graduates find employment with the agency where they complete their field experience. If you plan a career in social work, we highly recommend that you complete the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Concordia students have attended graduate school at well-regarded institutions such as Washington University (St. Louis); University of Chicago; University of Illinois; Loyola University; University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Michigan.

Our qualified and devoted faculty whose educational, career and research backgrounds are directly related to the interests and needs of those pursuing an interdisciplinary degree. Our courses will allow students to critically analyze how institutions that deal with issues of Criminal Justice impede and promote social justice.

Most courses for the Criminal Justice program derive from sociology and political science. Students are required to take courses that set the foundation and build upon their theoretical background, research methodology and practical application of criminal justice issues.

The program helps students develop awareness of how communication practices impact individuals and society

We emphasize ethics and our classes seek to have students identify how their work impacts the world around them.

In addition to preparing students for an array of jobs, the Department of Communication prepares students for continuing graduate education. Across the majors students acquire strong research, writing, and analytical skills.

Based near downtown Chicago, our program places students in dynamic internships which provide them with learning experiences integral to future job placement.

When taking courses from our Communication Major, students will take a core set of courses and then choose an area of specialization relevant to their career paths.

The three specializations in the department are:

• Human Communication and Culture
• Media
• Strategic Communication

Additionally we have a Journalism major.
As a student at Concordia-Chicago, you will never sit in a lecture hall with hundreds of students. Our classes are taught by experienced professionals who are willing to assist you throughout your education process. Your professors will know you on an individual basis and will be available to address any concerns you may have. The Communication faculty is dedicated to preparing you for your role in communication.

Concordia University Chicago's MBA specialization in leadership and change management will build the business fundamentals you need to advance your career while focusing on leading people and organizations. The courses are designed to help students understand the value of an array of leadership theories, the intercultural impact of leadership practice, and the intricacies of facilitating strategic change. Students develop servant leadership, interpersonal, and influencing skills to effectively shape group change. Graduates will successfully champion systemic change while achieving their organization’s mission.

Specialization Outcomes

• Correlate and critique global mentoring, training, and coaching practices to specific organizational leadership challenges and the impact on the business and stakeholders.
• Examine and evaluate transformational leadership strategies and techniques to promote capacity, sustainability, and renewal at all levels of the organization.
• Explore and evaluate how leadership styles impact global face-to-face and virtual organizations through effective use of communication and technology to inform strategic planning and decision-making.
• Analyze and synthesize descriptions and conditions for diagnosing organizational change culture, agenda, processes, and practices providing management the guidance to execute and lead organizational change.
• Demonstrate proficiency in use of technology to make and evaluate data driven decisions.

Several popular classes focus on research, providing students with opportunities to conduct original work under the guidance of a faculty member.

Recent research projects have focused on the homeless, the dynamics of congregations, family interactions, labor unions, the assimilation of minority groups and criminal justice.

There are many electives to choose from to complete your degree requirements. Electives cover areas such as the sociology of gender, human rights, criminology, social movements and more.

Students have an opportunity to complete an internship as part of their coursework and to integrate their academic learning with work experiences. They also can participate in the Sociology and Law and Justice Club, a recently formed chapter at CUC.