Bachelor of Arts

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

Our program provides you with a solid foundation in which you will build your critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills, and apply these skills to psychology. You will develop an understanding of the different types of psychology and theories behind them.

Today, psychologists are increasingly concentrating on behaviors that affect the mental and emotional health and mental processes of healthy human beings. For example, they work with business executives, performers and athletes to combat stress and improve performance. They advise lawyers on jury selection and collaborate with educators on school reform. They show up immediately following a disaster such as a plane crash or bombing, to help victims and bystanders recover from the trauma or shock of the event.

The required courses in the major will provide you with a strong foundation in psychology. Courses such as development, statistics and research will acquaint you with the field, while preparing you for courses like social psychology, abnormal psychology and neuropsychology.

The electives in the psychology department will help you refine your interests and skills. Students wishing to pursue a career in the helping professions can take courses such as Group Dynamics and Leadership Skills, Community Psychology, and Behavior Assessment and Management. Students who wish to prepare for continued scholarly work in the psychological sciences will be encouraged to take classes like Cognitive Psychology, History and Systems and Cross-Cultural Psychology.

You will also choose a capstone experience from either an internship in psychology or senior seminar in psychology. Through the seminar you will discuss current topics in psychology, career planning and the role of psychology in today’s society.

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.

Our rigorous but flexible degree programs build students’ critical knowledge of business and business issues. Faculty and staff are dedicated to providing students with a well-rounded learning experience by using the latest technology and engaging students with real-world business scenarios and hands-on learning exercises.

The Bachelor of Arts in marketing degree, which requires 48 semester hours of study, is for students who want a broad liberal arts foundation with an emphasis in business. If you have questions, a counselor with our Office of Admission can help as you decide on the Concordia-Chicago degree program that best matches your strengths and career interests.

Your learning experience will be greatly enhanced by talented faculty who are engaged in the study of history along with you.

All of the full-time History Department faculty members hold terminal degrees in the field of history and have numerous years of teaching experience. A liberal arts degree in history can help you recognize the origins and purpose of government, the law, religious beliefs, forms of worship, political choices and ways of living. Through the study of history, you’ll learn how to develop a coherent and sophisticated mental map that orients you to the time, place, and circumstances of your own existence. By analyzing history, you’ll also enhance your critical thinking skills as you search for the relevance and meaning of historical events.

If you major in history at Concordia University Chicago, you will take writing and researching history, senior seminar and history topics courses. You will be required to select one course in American History, European History and Non-Western History.

You may choose from many electives to fulfill degree requirements, including world history, U.S. Women’s History, 20th Century Europe, Illinois history and many more.

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.

Biology is the study of life, which can be studied through molecular, organismal, cellular and ecological perspectives. There is growing demand in the workforce for biology expertise; the job outlook is very promising.

Concordia University Chicago offers a Biology program in which you can earn either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. As a member of the program, you will be encouraged to supplement your classroom learning through independent study in the Department of Natural Sciences.

The B.A. in English is a 36-hour major that requires coursework in British, American, and world literature, as well as literary theory, linguistics, and writing. It requires you to experience a broad range of literature, yet it allows you to select from a variety of courses.   

The four courses required of all majors are Literary Theory and Criticism, Linguistics, Shakespeare, and Seminar in English. Students take Literary Theory early in the major to learn the theories and methods that underlie literary studies. The Seminar in English, usually focusing on a single author, provides a capstone experience near the end of the major. It requires significant research and culminates in a long seminar paper.

Of the remaining eight courses in the major, one must be in American literature, one in British literature, one in world literature, and one in twentieth-century literature. Multiple course options exist to fulfill each of these requirements, so you can choose a course that interests you from each area. One advanced writing course is also required. The remaining hours may be taken as electives.

Across all industries, there is a need for proficient managers and leaders. The focus of this major is to graduate students who are confident leaders and managers. Students will sharpen their critical and creative thinking skills and build their business acumen. These abilities and skills are integral to sustaining business success. Students will learn from industry experts and study topics such as ethical decision-making, strategic thinking, leadership and management, marketing, accounting, human resources, operations management, and finance.

Graduates of the BA in Business Administration with a major in management find positions as production supervisors, account executives, human resources administrators, and more.

Faculty and staff are dedicated to providing students with a well-rounded learning experience by using the latest technology and engaging them with real-world business scenarios and hands-on learning exercises. Many courses are offered online, although the traditional 16-week face-to-face format is available.

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.

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.