General Education

General Education is the foundation for all academic work at Concordia University. Composed of core and distribution courses in the liberal arts, General Education provides the essential knowledge an educated person is expected to possess, and the habits of mind needed to master this knowledge and use it well in every arena of life. Through this broad intellectual experience students pursue the General Education learning outcomes that Concordia faculty have identified as crucial for achieving excellence in academics and in one’s vocations in society and the Church.

Core Curriculum

The Core Curriculum component of General Education fosters common, sequential, and interdisciplinary learning. It provides a shared intellectual foundation that will be drawn on and developed in students’ distribution courses, majors, minors, and (pre-)professional programs. Taken in the first four semesters at Concordia, Core courses in theology and biology, philosophy and math, and history and literature are paired to facilitate holistic learning. Giving attention to the close reading of great works from around the globe, each Core course also emphasizes wrestling with life’s enduring questions and ideas, developing one’s ability to think critically and write cogently, and the interaction of faith and academics.

General Education Learning Outcomes

• Developing Wise, Honorable, and Cultivated Citizens: Students will reflect on and articulate what it means to be a “wise, honorable and cultivated citizen.”
• Christian Literacy and Life: Students will demonstrate knowledge of, and appreciation for, the Christian faith and life.
• Systematic Inquiry: Students will apply systematic thought to learning and life.
• Clear Communication: Students will demonstrate competency in written and oral communication.
• Socio-cultural Responsiveness: Students will demonstrate knowledge from multiple perspectives of, and sensitivity to, social and cultural diversity.
• Aesthetic Responsiveness: Students will develop aesthetic comprehension and sensitivity through engagement with the arts and broader human experience.
• Health and Well-being: Students will recognize and distinguish healthy behaviors in their lives.
• Servant Leadership: Students will identify and practice meaningful ways to serve and lead others.