Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education

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

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’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.

We offer rigorous but flexible degree programs that build students’ critical knowledge of business and sports issues.

Our faculty and staff are dedicated to providing students with a well-rounded learning experience by using the latest technology and engaging classes with real-world business scenarios and hands-on learning exercises.

Graduates with sports management degrees find career positions as athletic directors, team managers, account executives, talent scouts and more.

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.

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.

The Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education has achieved National Recognition by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), thereby meeting standards as one of the top graduate degree programs in the country. The MA in ECE program prepares candidates for a variety of leadership roles in early childhood education and is relevant for early childhood teachers, administrators, public policy and advocacy specialists, and scholars. This program is designed to provide candidates with a strong background in child and language development, family and community relationships, assessment, research, theory and practice, of birth through age eight programs within a variety of educational settings: public and private centers and schools, adult and community-based educational settings, and other for- and non-profit organizations.

The MA in ECE program does not lead to licensure, but is intended for early childhood educators who have had at least two years of experience with young children. Upon completion of the program, candidates who have an Illinois Educator’s teaching license may choose to study further and take additional coursework to obtain endorsements in Special Education and/or English as a Second Language (ESL). After receiving their degrees, our graduates will be ideal educators in the design and implementation of early childhood curriculum and programs in centers, home child care, schools and districts, and other settings, and contribute their leadership to various early childhood organizations.

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.

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.

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.

As a student in Classical Liberal Studies, you will be challenged to make connections between history and modernity.

Through rigorous study, you will apply classical concepts in a contemporary setting to address the needs of the 21st century church and world. You will draw on the strength of a broad variety of Concordia University Chicago’s programs, including music, theology and languages, as well as the quality of worship life on campus.

In this unique program, you will work with faculty who are respected and recognized throughout the Church as well as nationally in their fields of study. Your studies will span several departments—from courses in Latin and Greek to courses on Shakespeare, and from modern European history to ethical theory.

A Classical Liberal Studies minor is also available to complement other Concordia University Chicago undergraduate degrees.