Master of Social Work

at Concordia University Wisconsin USA

The purpose of this program, offered as a major or minor, is to assist you as you discover the gifts and talents God has given you for service. Although you will not train as a missionary, you will be studying how mission work is accomplished around the globe. A key element of this program is recognizing and deliberating on the challenges that arise in the mission field. Along the way, you’ll have opportunities to participate in spring break mission trips, Missions Club, and global trips that will provide you with hands-on experience.

Neither the missions major or minor is a training program. Mission groups (such as LCMS World Mission) train their own missionaries to prepare for the specific areas where they’ll be sent. The goal of our program at Concordia is to help you decide if God is truly calling you to serve as a missionary.

Several of our theology faculty have a great deal of experience in mission work and will mentor you as you explore the possibilities. By the end of the program, you’ll be well-acquainted with the urgent need for missionaries and be prepared to decide if and how you want to serve. You’ll also leave with a better understanding of how to work in cross-cultural settings, how to navigate other religions, and how to handle the challenges that come with missionary work.

Study how to create complex hardware and software systems, manage complex computer information systems (IT), and lead a technical team. Now offering two new tracks in Software Engineering and Computer Information Systems. Both of these tracks will build on your existing experience by deepening your skills and knowledge in the main areas of computer science. A bachelor's degree in a related field is recommended, but not required. Optional catch-up modules are available for each course to help bring you up to speed.

Upon completion of the MSCS program, you’ll be trained in problem solving, collaboration, creative design processes, professional literature, writing, presentation, and ethical practices. You’ll be prepared for advanced professional positions in software development and other technical/design-oriented roles in computing.

Program Highlights

• STEM certified
• Ethics & vocation are central themes in our program showing how professionals respond to the needs of clients, users, and society
• Program can be completed in 18 months
• Start dates available every six to eight weeks throughout the year
• Available online and in person

Graduates from the MSCS program pursue a variety of careers such as system/database administrators/architects, business intelligence analysts, software engineers, application developers, and many others. Our recent grads have gone on to work at:

• Experius
• EP Soft Technologies
• Charter Communications
• iDigital
• QA Labs
• Integra Tech
• Concurrency
• And many more

Our computer science master's program was designed with working professionals in mind. You’ll get a rigorous, quality education that fits within your busy schedule. All courses will be available online in an accelerated eight week format, but three courses per semester will be offered face-to-face on campus.

Information Systems

While software engineering focuses on the development of technology solutions, information systems puts a greater emphasis on the application and management of technology solutions. The specialization courses explore advanced networking, hardware and software system design, integration, and administration in the context of current emerging technologies.

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.

If you are ready to have a positive impact in your community and the world—perhaps a degree in public service is the right fit. You emerge with analytical skills, critical thinking skills, and go on to practice in organizations fostering service and commitment to serve local, national and international organizations.
This concentration emphasizes skills needed to inform your interests and expertise needed to lead justice-related organizations, namely corrections, courts, justice administration, law enforcement, and probation/parole.

• Criminal Justice Research Methods
• Forensic Investigation
• Management of Public Service Agencies
• Criminal Justice Liability Law

If you’re going to be a defender of the law, it’s probably a good idea you study up on ethics. You’ll get plenty of that in this program, taking a look at ethical decision-making by criminal justice workers. You’ll also gain an introduction to a wide variety of other topics, like criminal psychology, as well as public policy and its effect on the American court and criminal justice system. You’ll have an opportunity to understand criminal investigation processes like interviewing, crime scene analysis, and collection of evidence. (Hint: CSI: Miami had it all wrong. Now, COPS, on the other hand …) You’ll study the law as it relates to arrests, searches, and seizures by law enforcement, probation and parole officers, and corrections officials. You’ll even study the rules of evidence and courtroom procedures.
There may not be a bat signal at the end of this program, but you’ll be thoroughly prepared for a career in court administration, security management, custodial and community-based corrections, intelligence operations, or investigations. Or maybe you’ll be more interested in municipal, state, or federal law enforcement. Or maybe state or federal probation and parole. Who knows? You could even use this degree as a good launching point for a bid at law school! Point is, you can expect this program to help you explore the incredibly exciting study of the courts, crime causation, criminal law, public policy, and the justice system.

The CUW Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program is a professional level program, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).

The CAATE accredited Concordia University Wisconsin Master of Science in Athletic Training program will provide students with the professional preparation necessary to succeed as an entry-level athletic trainer.  The program will provide students an educational experience encompassing communication, problem solving, clinical skills, and service.  As a result, students graduating from the program will possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a successful clinician, will be prepared to pass the Board of Certification Examination, and will be eligible for appropriate state credentialing.  The Concordia University Wisconsin Master of Science in Athletic Training program will accomplish its mission through a holistic approach to the development of the mind, body, and spirit.

The Art Education major prepares future teachers with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to teach visually and perceptively. As an art educator, you can share tools such as patience, passion, and critical-thinking which are vital for living a peaceful and joyous life. You’ll learn to guide others as they explore their inner selves, the external world, and the relationships between them.

Art provides the means to give physical form to all of human experience. You will learn the power of using faith as a part of education in both public and parochial settings. You will learn to promote engagement between art and theology, the importance of the spiritual as revealed in art objects, sacred spaces, and in artistic practice, and the connections between visual art and faith. You will learn how art affects the development of children from a physical, mental and spiritual perspective. This program is a licensable subject area major for those seeking a K-12 Education Bachelor's degree.

Science aims to understand the incredible intricacies of God's creation. It all starts with a question, which leads to research, forming a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and analyzing and communicating the results, which often leads to new questions. This scientific inquiry is what leads to theories and laws that observe and describe the world around us.

In this program, you'll study everything that exists in the earth's environment, from the plants and animals to ecosystems and climate patterns, and how they all correlate. Two concentrations are available; ecology and environmental chemistry. Both tracks take a deep dive into a wide variety of scientific disciplines, with each specialization putting an extra emphasis on ecology or environmental chemistry respectively.

The environmental science major explores the physical, chemical, and biological properties and processes of our world. The program seeks to help students grow in the following six areas:

• Knowledge base: demonstrate an understanding of and an ability to explain major biological and related scientific concepts.
• Laboratory procedures: demonstrate the ability to appropriately collect and analyze data while utilizing laboratory equipment and procedures safely and effectively
• Scientific inquiry: develop investigative and critical thinking skills to explore complex questions and solve challenging scientific problems
• Scientific communication: demonstrate the ability to communicate scientific information effectively to both scientists and non-scientists using oral and written forms of expression
• Vocation and ethics: recognize how vocations in science provide opportunities for service to Christ and others and necessitate ethical behavior in all aspects of science
• God’s design and stewardship: demonstrate an understanding of how/why a Christian sees evidence of God’s design in nature and how to be good stewards of His creation

Study how to create complex hardware and software systems, manage complex computer information systems (IT), and lead a technical team. Now offering two new tracks in Software Engineering and Computer Information Systems. Both of these tracks will build on your existing experience by deepening your skills and knowledge in the main areas of computer science. A bachelor's degree in a related field is recommended, but not required. Optional catch-up modules are available for each course to help bring you up to speed.

Upon completion of the MSCS program, you’ll be trained in problem solving, collaboration, creative design processes, professional literature, writing, presentation, and ethical practices. You’ll be prepared for advanced professional positions in software development and other technical/design-oriented roles in computing.

Program Highlights

• STEM certified
• Ethics & vocation are central themes in our program showing how professionals respond to the needs of clients, users, and society
• Program can be completed in 18 months
• Start dates available every six to eight weeks throughout the year
• Available online and in person

Graduates from the MSCS program pursue a variety of careers such as system/database administrators/architects, business intelligence analysts, software engineers, application developers, and many others. Our recent grads have gone on to work at:

• Experius
• EP Soft Technologies
• Charter Communications
• iDigital
• QA Labs
• Integra Tech
• Concurrency
• And many more

Our computer science master's program was designed with working professionals in mind. You’ll get a rigorous, quality education that fits within your busy schedule. All courses will be available online in an accelerated eight week format, but three courses per semester will be offered face-to-face on campus.

Software Engineering

The software engineering track builds or sharpens your skills in creating problem-solving tools using computers. The specialization courses dive into traditional concepts and current trends in the theory, design, and implementation of programming languages, compilers, and advanced algorithms. A MSCS degree with this concentration opens the door for advancement in a career in software development, data or business analysis, and more. People in this field with a master's degree typically perform roles such as team lead or senior developer.

Do you consider yourself an innovative and strategic person? Are you interested in communicating products to consumers that could change their lives for the better? A marketing career is something you should pursue! This program feeds both sides of your brain to give you the technical and creative skills you need as you launch your career.
When you earn your bachelor of marketing degree from Concordia University, you’ll be able to market yourself to your future company. This program covers a lot of ground, from consumer audiences and their needs to product design, packaging, pricing, advertising, selling, distribution, brand identification, and promotion. You’ll study public relations – how it's used to promote and manage public perception – as well as basic advertising campaign strategies like copy, visualization, and layout. You’ll learn the difference between business-to-business and business-to-consumer operations. The program also covers the digital landscape, teaching the ins and outs of web design and maintenance, and the impact of E-commerce on marketing. You’ll learn marketing research methods and measurements, dip your toes into international marketing, and gain insights on how to ethically engage and interact conscientiously with the public.

After you graduate, you’ll enter the workforce ready with both the technical and creative skills every marketing professional needs to know to succeed. You will know how to create and implement effective marketing campaigns by providing a foundation in the brand identification and promotion, E-commerce, web page design and maintenance, and research methods. On top of all of this, it is also probably nice to know that marketing graduates have one of the highest job placement rates in the business world.

Let’s talk about the long term. Upon graduation you’ll have acquired the skills and knowledge and a year of practice experience to immediately enter into generalist professional practice. So, how do you get there? Everything that you learn will be centered around the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) nine competencies. They include: demonstrating professional behavior, advancing human rights, using practice-informed research and research-informed practice, and engaging with a diverse range of people.

What makes us unique? Simple. Our philosophy of education. We believe that Christian service, quality research, and hands-on learning are the best ingredients for your growth as a competent professional. You’ll learn comprehensive methods in providing support and counsel to individuals, families, and groups, communities and organizations in need.
The primary mission of the CUW social work program is to prepare graduates for baccalaureate level, generalist, social work practice, within the context of faith, service and social justice.  To fulfill this mission, the CUW Social Work program is based on CSWE’s nine competencies:

• Demonstrate Ethical & Professional Behavior
• Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
• Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
• Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
• Engage in Policy Practice
• Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
• Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
• Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
• Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities