Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

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.

The bachelor of arts degree in music is a broad-based liberal arts degree. Students who study music also gain exposure to various disciplines in the arts and sciences.

You will also emphasize in other areas from the humanities or take a minor area or another major. For example, some students will take courses in business or administration.

Concordia-Chicago offers two specialized certificates that can be part of your music major: a certificate in parish music (DPM) and a certificate of piano pedagogy. Review the links to learn more about specific requirements for these certificates.

Nearly all core subjects are taught and ensembles conducted by regular full-time faculty. Our music faculty is recognized and highly respected in their fields of expertise. Many of our applied faculty members perform regularly in organizations such as Chicago Symphony Chorus, Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Sinfonietta, Illinois Philharmonic, Elmhurst Symphony, and Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest. Our faculty takes a personal interest in your education and musicianship.

Both the music major and the music minor include academic courses, applied study and ensemble participation. Academic courses encompass the core areas of music theory and aural skills, music history and literature and conducting. All music majors study a primary instrument or voice, and many study a second instrument as well.

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.

Concordia University Chicago's Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction provides graduate candidates with an innovative, world-class learning experience. Courses are taught by experienced education leaders and scholars, who assist candidates throughout a rigorous degree track by stressing the importance of integrity, competence and servant leadership.

Faculty methods utilize the latest technology and engage students through real-world applications using multiple instructional models. We establish a critical theoretical and practical approach for well-rounded learning environments which prepare candidates for success in the field of education today and tomorrow for education leaders.

The master of arts degree in curriculum and instruction is directed toward the preparation of master classroom teachers. The program enables teachers to increase mastery of curriculum methodology, pedagogy and theoretical applications and apply these skills to their teaching to achieve a deeper penetration into subjects, enhance understanding of the learner and the process of education, and become a resource person for curriculum development.

Our courses prepare you for working in all forms of journalism, writing for a range of traditional and new media, and working with public relations and publishing.

Journalism has shifted significantly in the past few years to embrace the digital age. From traditional newspapers to magazines to broadcast outlets, more and more journalists rely on the Web, blogs, video and social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr to gather information, report the news and engage with sources and audiences.

In this major, we train our future journalists how to research, write and craft stories for print or visual media and critically use the Internet and other new media platforms while applying traditional journalism practices and ethics. We will prepare you to fit into the ever–evolving media world.

Required courses cover the fundamentals of journalism. Creative courses in photojournalism, magazine writing and feature writing will further build upon your skills. You may also choose electives in television production, desktop publishing, graphic design, public relations and more.

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.

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

Faculty in the Department of Human Performance are knowledgeable and experienced in their respective areas of expertise. More importantly, they look to serve and impact the lives of others.

As a Concordia-Chicago student, you will learn about the multi-dimensional aspect of fitness and wellness, anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, exercise, evaluation and exercise testing and prescription.

These basics are further expanded upon as you progress through the course of your studies preparing you to enter the professional world. At CUC, our classes are small and encourage hands-on learning. You will work closely with the faculty, who will help you throughout your entire college career. Faculty will be able and willing to work with you individually to discuss assignments and career decisions, while ensuring you receive a quality experience at CUC.

Individuals with knowledge in finance will have the opportunity to differentiate themselves from peers and build life-long skills while positively impacting the world. All major management positions, regardless of discipline, require a knowledge of finance in order to produce the desired results. A CUC MBA plus a specialization in finance will prepare you to differentiate yourself from your peers and build life-long skills while impacting the world in a socially responsible manner.

Concordia University Chicago's MBA specialization in finance provides you with a solid foundation in financial management and an understanding of public and private financial processes, financial markets, analysis and investments in a world where finance is an international language. The four courses within this specialization are designed to help you understand the fundamentals of money and banking, financial statement analysis, corporate finance, and international finance. Graduates will navigate through financial situations and problem solve with a global perspective.

Specialization Outcomes

• Analyze and evaluate the financial condition of a business, organization, or government enterprise and recommend an appropriate financial management course of action.
• Evaluate how the capital structure of a company impacts raising capital for various business and organizational structures.
• Demonstrate the ability to appraise and assess financial decisions of a business or organization to develop a visionary culture embracing inclusivity and diversity in all its forms.
• Apply and evaluate the objectives of corporate financial management including analysis of foreign exchange rates and the impact of various government influences in respect to  financial strategies.

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.