Concordia University Chicago

The MA in gerontology program at Concordia University Chicago positions graduates to promote and contribute to the wellness of our aging population. It prepares graduates to work in a variety of aging-related careers. Additionally, this course of study allows for a tailor-made curriculum combining an integrated perspective on aging and older adults. Students are trained in the best practices of gerontological education, research, and practice.

The master of arts in gerontology from Concordia University Chicago is designed to provide an interdisciplinary course of study for individuals interested in meeting the needs of an aging world and improving the lives of older adults.

The world’s population is aging and the number of older adults is increasing. This demographic reality suggests that there will be a demand for individuals skilled in addressing the unique opportunities and challenges associated with aging.

The higher education leadership curriculum encourages students to draw and build upon knowledge and experiences related to their professional work while also requiring students to develop strong research skills and a familiarity with evidence-based decision-making. While grounded in topics related to Higher Education systems in the United States, this emphasis also provides opportunities to explore the internationalization and globalization of higher education.

Concordia University Chicago's master of arts in leadership studies program is based on the conviction that leaders must learn to lead change so that services and deliverables are effectively, ethically and efficiently delivered to an increasingly diverse population in the context of a changing economy and rapidly developing technologies. The graduate program in leadership studies focuses on practitioner needs by linking theory to the best practices of leadership.

The leadership skills that students attain while pursuing a master’s in leadership are transferrable across all types of organizations—private, for profit, nonprofit and public. The Concordia-Chicago leadership curriculum was developed to prepare students to lead organizational change and innovation, while managing the challenges of continuous change and global competition.

Students who pursue their master’s in leadership may be working as or want to pursue careers as information officers, strategic planners, project managers, sales directors, military officers, hospital administrators and religious leaders. The Concordia-Chicago master of arts in leadership studies is designed for people with all types of backgrounds and interests, whether they work or want to work in the government, nonprofit, for-profit, health care, higher education, military, and human services at the local, regional, national or global level.

The Master of Arts in Human Service Administration degree program provides graduates with skills and expertise in the areas of leadership, management and direct quality service delivery to others. It addresses the needs of students interested in pursuing supervisory and management roles in agencies that provide social services to a wide variety of clients. These organizations could include non-profits, for-profit services and government agencies. A combination of knowledge and skills in both management and human development provides a strong framework for understanding such administrative roles.

The Human Services Administration graduate program is designed to enable students to:

• Acquire a core of knowledge related to effective leadership positions within human services agencies.
• Develop organizational and managerial skills necessary for competent administration.
• Integrate a theoretical orientation with practical competency in the realm of human relations.
• Assume positions of an administrative nature in various health care agencies.

The organizational leadership curriculum will support the development of scholar practitioners who will grow their organizations by incorporating various methods of strategic planning and forecasting, innovative change initiatives, organizational diagnostic strategies and purposeful reform interventions.

Concordia University Chicago's master of arts in leadership studies program is based on the conviction that leaders must learn to lead change so that services and deliverables are effectively, ethically and efficiently delivered to an increasingly diverse population in the context of a changing economy and rapidly developing technologies. The graduate program in leadership studies focuses on practitioner needs by linking theory to the best practices of leadership.

The leadership skills that students attain while pursuing a master’s in leadership are transferrable across all types of organizations—private, for profit, nonprofit and public. The Concordia-Chicago leadership curriculum was developed to prepare students to lead organizational change and innovation while managing the challenges of continuous change and global competition.

Students who pursue their master’s in leadership may be working as or want to pursue careers such as information officers, strategic planners, project managers, sales directors, military officers, hospital administrators and religious leaders. The Concordia-Chicago master of arts in leadership studies is designed for people with all types of backgrounds and interests, whether they work or want to work in the government, nonprofit, for-profit, health care, higher education, military and human services at the local, regional, national or global level.

Concordia University Chicago's master of arts in TESOL is available both online and on campus and is designed for those who want to pursue a career teaching English to both adults and children. Graduates will be prepared to demonstrate competency and proficiency as ESL/EFL (English as a Second Language / English as a Foreign Language) teachers in any of the following settings, whether in the US or overseas:

• community organizations
• intensive English programs
• college/university settings
• private language companies or corporations

Coursework in educating both adults and children, mobile/distance learning, and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) will provide the theoretical framework and practical knowledge important to teaching English to adults and children.

Because so many kinds of ESL/EFL teaching jobs are available worldwide, TESOL is an important field in an ever-shrinking world. International schools are opening up worldwide and every year more Americans move abroad to teach or work in global settings as companies shift their headquarters transnationally.

What differentiates Concordia-Chicago’s MBA program?

All of our courses integrate Four Pillars of Knowledge into the curriculum. By cultivating these essential principles in an academic setting, the Concordia-Chicago MBA gives you a competitive edge as you move forward in your career, both while you’re pursuing your degree program and after completion. The Four Pillars are:

• Ethics and Social Responsibility
• Critical Thinking and Entrepreneurial Mindset
• Communication and Human Relations
• Global Interconnectedness and Inclusiveness

Flexibility:  Classes are offered in an accelerated online format, online at your pace, on-campus accelerated or on-campus at your pace.  We work with you to select the format that meets your needs.

Collegial Community: Our educational model fosters close working relationships between students and faculty. At the same time, our unique cohort system groups students together for the duration of their educational experience. This collaborative environment accelerates learning and builds strong peer and mentor relationships that last a lifetime and, often, enhance your career trajectory.

Business e-Portfolio: Each of the core MBA courses culminates in the student’s compilation of aSignature Project that highlights learning outcomes, accomplishments and skills. Once assembled, these projects form an electronic portfolio designed for sharing with current or future employers. The Business e-Portfolio equips you with a portable, persuasive demonstration of the mastery gained in the pursuit of your MBA.

Experienced faculty: The Concordia-Chicago educational approach integrates theory with highly practical, concrete, real-world applications. Our talented, committed faculty members offer MBA students ample, personalized attention and are eager to share their business experience with you.

Your lifelong partner in education: Earning your MBA at Concordia-Chicago is the beginning, not the end, of an ongoing relationship with an institution committed to your lifelong growth and success. At Concordia-Chicago College of Business, we recognize the importance of maintaining professional agility and contemporary focus in a fast-changing world. At every stage of their careers, our students take advantage of our post-MBA, graduate certificates to maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace.  We offer a full range of graduate MBA courses from which working business professionals may select based on their individual needs.

Concordia University Chicago provides a specialization in school business management with and without an Illinois Chief School Business Official (CSBO) Management endorsement. The information below is only for candidates who do not already have a graduate degree.

Learning Objectives

By pursuing a CSBO, you will gain a solid foundation in school business administration. You will acquire skills in budgeting, facilities management, human resources, public relations, and legal issues that are required to be a successful administrator. Included in the curriculum are six hours of clinical experience as required by the State of Illinois to be eligible for the CSBO endorsement.

Proficiency Exam Requirements for CSBO

In order to obtain a CSBO endorsement students will be required to show evidence that they have taken and passed both the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) and the CSBO content test #185.

Career Possibilities

• Chief financial officer
• Function specialists: transportation, facilities, accounting
• Human resource director
• Chief operations officer
• School administrator
• Superintendent

The study of finance is more global centric than ever. The financial crises of the last decade is a clarion call for MBA graduates who are ethical and possess the knowledge and skills to excel in financial decision making. 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.

Were you born to lead? The current economic environment requires successful businesses to use resources creatively and effectively. There is an increasing need for leaders who can guide an organization in adapting to changing environments and consumer needs. Many businesses seek out managers with strong leadership skills who adjust well in a changing environment.

Concordia University Chicago's MBA with a specialization in school business management provides the business fundamentals needed to lead and manage in today’s increasingly complex educational institutions. This distinctive program is appropriate for educational professionals looking to advance their careers, or for anyone looking to transition into the field of educational administration.

The Concordia University Chicago Department of Leadership is at the forefront in providing educators with quality, relevant and current graduate education, which enhances the leadership of public and nonpublic teachers and administrators as they positively impact schools.

We advocate for our doctoral degree candidates and all students in the public and nonpublic schools. We are reflective professionals who provide quality, relevant, and current education for our graduate candidates in leadership. We prepare our candidates to be teacher and administrator leaders guiding public and nonpublic schools in the service of students so that they may become effective citizens in a global society.

The PhD and EdD programs in leadership and gerontology provide a multidisciplinary framework from which to respond to existing age-related questions, and intensive, in-depth training for those who want unique preparation for leadership roles for addressing issues related to aging. The doctoral candidate's knowledge base of research methods and theoretical perspectives encompasses various social and basic science disciplines rather than relying on a single disciplinary approach to aging and leadership.

This PhD program in leadership and gerontology produces highly qualified and trained social scientists that have training in research methodology and its application in an aging society. The EdD program in leadership and gerontology produces highly qualified and trained stewards of gerontological leadership trained in applied gerontology. Candidates of this degree may actively engage in research, teaching, or service in academic or nonacademic settings. [Source: AGHE Standards and Guidelines for Gerontology and Geriatric Programs, 2008]

The longevity revolution and growing numbers of people associated with an aging population is creating the need for advanced multidisciplinary study in gerontology. This doctoral program in gerontology reflects the need for expanding the knowledge base in the field and training in the profession.

Graduates of our program will be armed with specialized training and will be well-positioned to assume leadership roles as a gerontologist in government, healthcare or academic settings.