Expanded Academic Opportunities

In addition to the standard curriculum, Concordia has many special programs to fit individual preferences and needs. Many of these may be incorporated into your regular course of study. Some involve travel; others are work experiences. For those programs not located on campus, application and review may be required.

These academic opportunities will add depth to your academic program and enrich your life in many ways. Not only will they open new doors, deepen your understanding, broaden your perspective, and reveal capabilities you did not know you had, but they also will be an important part of a liberal arts education. We encourage you to explore these opportunities.

The Center for Ethical Leadership
The Center for Ethical Leadership was established as an outreach center for the community and a resource center for the college. The purpose of the center is to develop and enhance ethics-centered and value-based leadership for individuals and organizations through information, networks, programs and consultation. Activities for the Center for Ethical Leadership include:
• monthly business ethics luncheons for the business and college community
• a fall leadership workshop dealing with a specific area of leadership
• the Norman M. Lorentzsen Spring Ethics Conference that involves one or more nationally recognized speakers
• seminars and consulting for corporations and organizations relating to ethical behavior and leadership
• ethics programs integrated with the curriculum and campus life at the college

The Center for Ethical Leadership is a division of the School of Business. For more information, call (218) 299-4411.

Concordia Language Villages
Since 1961, Concordia Language Villages has been offering internationally recognized language and culture programs for young people ages 7 to 18. More than 5,000 villagers participate in our one-, two- or four-week summer sessions. In addition, we offer language and cultural immersion programs for families, adults, educators and school groups throughout the academic year. Participants learn and speak one of 15 different languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish.

For more information, call the Concordia Language Villages office at (800) 222-4750 or (218) 299-4544 or stop by the Riverside Center. Our website, www.ConcordiaLanguageVillages.org, also has a wealth of information about our programs.

Credo Honors Program
Credo is an academic honors program in the core curriculum for high-ability, highly motivated students who accept the challenge of actively exploring the ideas that have significantly changed our world. Eligible students are invited to join the Credo program at admission or during the fall semester of their first year. Credo students participate in stimulating discussions and develop intellectual and social relationships as they challenge themselves and each other in this rigorous interdisciplinary program.

Program participants take four specially designated Credo courses. These include a Credo Inquiry Seminar, one Credo exploration course in the natural sciences, one Credo exploration course in the social sciences, and one Credo exploration course in either the humanities or the fine arts. The Credo exploration courses are typically team-taught by outstanding faculty who bring a distinctive approach and perspective to the subject. These courses are open only to Credo students and are topics not usually covered in other courses at Concordia. Examples of current Credo courses are The Renaissance; Germany, the Third Reich and the Holocaust; Life in the Universe; and Arthurian Legends.

For additional information regarding the Credo Honors Program, see Credo in the department pages of the catalog.

Cultural Events
The mission of Concordia College is to influence the affairs of the world by sending into society thoughtful and informed men and women dedicated to the Christian life. From the founding of the college, cultural events have been a fundamental component in carrying out this mission.

Cultural events programming at Concordia College enriches the intellectual and cultural life of the college by providing models of what the college values through presenting individuals and groups that stimulate a love of learning, evoke a commitment to excellence, provide growth of independent thinking, demonstrate creativity, broaden appreciation of the world, and awaken a personal and social consciousness and vision of the way the world can be.

The Performing Arts Series reflects a focused effort to offer our audiences opportunities to experience exceptional artists from various world cultures and traditions.

Faith, Reason and World Affairs Symposium: Each fall, the college sponsors the Faith, Reason and World Affairs Symposium on a topic of major significance. In the best liberal arts tradition, these symposia bring to campus knowledgeable speakers to represent various positions on the topic. The goal is to challenge participants to make informed judgments through hearing and discussing divergent points of view. Past topics have included medical ethics, the global economy, climate change and technology.

Nobel Peace Prize Forum: Each year for the past 20 years, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum has been hosted on a rotating basis by five Evangelical Lutheran Church in America colleges of Scandinavian heritage in the Upper Midwest: Augsburg (Minneapolis), Augustana (Sioux Falls), Concordia (Moorhead), Luther (Decorah) and St. Olaf (Northfield). Held in cooperation with the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway, the forum was created to offer an opportunity for Nobel Peace Prize laureates, diplomats, scholars and the general public to take part in a dialogue on the underlying causes and manifestations of conflict and war in modern society and on the dynamics of peacemaking. Concordia College will host the 25th annual forum in March 2013.

Departmental Honors Programs
Departmental honors programs are an option for highly motivated students. Several academic departments offer these intensified studies for exceptional students who wish to develop their talents to a greater degree than might otherwise be possible.

Students who successfully complete the departmental honors program graduate “with honors.” A notation to that effect appears on the academic record along with other honors earned at Concordia. The requirements of departmental honors programs vary. For more information, see the department chairs of biology, chemistry, communication studies, education, English, German, history, mathematics, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religion, social work and Spanish.

Dovre Center for Faith and Learning
The mission of the Dovre Center for Faith and Learning is expressed through addressing four specific goals:
• to keep the questions and issues of faith and learning alive on campus
• to assist faculty in connecting matters of faith with their work and their contributions to the college’s religious identity
• to assist in developing and sustaining faculty community
• to encourage new initiatives in relating faith and learning to students

While many of the current programs of the Dovre Center are geared toward supporting faculty as they integrate faith and learning in their research and teaching, the center is also exploring programs that involve direct student involvement as well. For information about the Dovre Center, contact Director Ernest Simmons of the religion department at (218) 299-3430.

Engineering Preprofessional Programs
Concordia College offers pre-engineering programs in collaboration with the Institute of Technology (IT) at the University of Minnesota. Pre-engineering students have the option of participating in a three-two dual program with IT. In this five-year program, students spend their first three years at Concordia taking courses in physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science and the liberal arts. They finish the program by spending the next two years at the University of Minnesota taking engineering and applied science courses. All of Concordia’s core requirements must be met in the first three years. (The requirement for a minimum of 40 upper-level semester credits does not apply, and a student is not expected to meet all requirements for the completion of a Concordia major.) Upon successful completion of the program requirements, students receive a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia with a major in Applied Science and a Bachelor of Science degree in one of 10 undergraduate degrees from IT: aerospace, biomedical, biosystems and agricultural, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, geological, materials science or mechanical engineering.

The faculty advisers for the pre-engineering program are predominantly members of the chemistry, mathematics and computer science, and physics departments. Typical schedules of courses allowing students to meet required core and science courses for either program may be obtained from these advisers.

Music Organizations
Known both nationally and internationally, Concordia’s music organizations are many and varied. The famed Concordia Choir, Concordia Orchestra and Concordia Band annually tour various regions of the United States; and all three ensembles have toured in Europe. Other vocal ensembles on campus include The Concordia Chapel Choir, Männerchor, Cantabile, Bel Canto and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. All of the choirs perform in chapel regularly and present local concerts. The Concordia Echo Band, The Concordia Symphonic Band, The Concordia College Jazz Ensembles, the Percussion Ensemble, Marimba Choir and Tintinnabula are other campus instrumental ensembles that perform in local concerts throughout the year. Membership in Concordia music ensembles is determined by audition. Students may also audition for the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, a professional ensemble that performs a regular subscription series. In addition, there are numerous brass, woodwind, string and piano ensembles.

One credit per semester is granted to members of all ensembles and musical organizations. Membership is determined by audition. Prospective members of instrumental ensembles should bring their own instruments. A limited number of instruments are available at a nominal rental fee per semester. For information about participation in any of these ensembles, contact the music department.

Choirs:
• The Concordia Choir (sophomores and above) tours nationally and internationally, performing at major concert venues on a regular basis, in addition to campus concerts and chapel appearances.
• The Concordia Chapel Choir (sophomores and above) also undertakes a regional tour and performs in local and campus concerts, as well as during chapel.
• Bel Canto (women’s choir) performs in chapel regularly in addition to campus concerts and local appearances.
• Männerchor (men’s chorus) and Cantabile (women’s chorus) serve members in their first year of college and perform primarily campus concerts, including chapel appearances.
• The Vocal Jazz Ensemble specializes in the performance of American classic and contemporary song literature in the jazz idiom.

All of the choirs (with the exception of the Vocal Jazz Ensembles) participate in the annual Concordia Christmas Concerts.

Bands and Orchestras:
• The Concordia Band, usually consisting of about 70 members, performs a variety of symphonic and popular music at concerts, convocations and other college functions and on its annual tour.
• The Concordia Symphonic Band, performs several concerts on campus each semester, including the PRISM Concert, Christmas Chapel, Composers Concert and Spring Concert.
• The Concordia Echo Band plays a variety of musical literature in on-campus concerts.
• The Cobber Athletic Band performs at various home athletic events throughout the academic year.
• The Concordia Orchestra performs representative works from the symphonic music literature in a series of concerts on campus and on its annual tour.
• The Concordia College Symphonia, a chamber orchestra, plays works in on-campus concerts, including performances with the jazz ensembles, and during chapel.

Instrumental ensembles: Smaller ensembles are formed on the basis of student interest and ability. Brass, string, woodwind, percussion, marimba and piano ensembles perform in concerts and at various college functions.
• Tintinnabula, a handbell choir, has 13 ringers who are chosen by audition. Campana, a second handbell choir, has up to 15 ringers and welcomes experienced as well as new ringers. Both groups play on five octaves of Malmark bells and appear in campus concerts, chapel services and at various local events. They also play at churches and festivals in the region, and participate in the annual Concordia Christmas Concerts.
• The Concordia College Jazz Ensembles consist of approximately 20 musicians each. These groups perform major works representing contemporary jazz literature and styles at numerous concerts and clinics both on and off campus.
• The Percussion Ensemble is a chamber music organization consisting of 20 to 25 musicians who perform on the many and varied definite and indefinite pitched instruments of the percussion family. The Percussion Ensemble is open through audition to students of all levels who express an interest in performing on percussion instruments. The group performs a wide variety of literature from the “standard” percussion repertoire, as well as exciting new arrangements of popular, classical and folk music. All students, regardless of their majors, are eligible to audition for the Percussion Ensemble.
• The Marimba Choir is a chamber music organization consisting of eight to 10 marimbists selected from the members of the Percussion Ensemble. They perform literature ranging from transcriptions of works by Bach, Mozart and other great composers, to Latin American, pops favorites, ragtime and contemporary literature for keyboard percussion. The Marimba Choir performs in the Percussion Ensemble concerts, as well as at numerous community and civic events. All students, regardless of their majors, are eligible to audition for the Marimba Choir.

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

Air Force ROTC/Aerospace Studies
The Air Force ROTC program is an educational and training program designed to give men and women the opportunity to become Air Force officers while completing an undergraduate or graduate degree. The program prepares students to assume positions of increasing responsibility and importance in today’s modern Air Force. In order to receive a commission, Air Force ROTC students must complete all requirements for a degree in accordance with University rules and regulations, as well as complete a variety of courses specified by the Air Force.

Program Description: The four-year program begins freshman and sophomore year with the General Military Course (GMC). It takes about three to four hours a week. Here you’ll learn the mission and structure of the Air Force and take a look at military life. After sophomore year, you’ll attend field training. Field training is an intensive, four-week program that gives you a first-hand look at the active duty Air Force and develops your military leadership and discipline. The last two years of the program is the Professional Officer Course (POC). You earn three credits each term for the academic courses. In addition to GMC and POC, cadets attend two hours of physical fitness each week, and participate in a two hour long leadership laboratory.

Scholarships: Air Force ROTC can help you to overcome the financial hardships associated with college, and when you complete your degree you’ve got a guaranteed career after school. Air Force ROTC one- to four-year college scholarships are available on a competitive basis to high school and college students. The AFROTC Scholarship Program can provide full tuition, lab fees, a monthly stipend (ranging from $300 to $500 a month), and money for books.

Obligation: If you’re a non-scholarship student, you incur no obligation to the Air Force during your freshman and sophomore years of school or during summer field training. You are able to keep many options open while you take an in-depth look at the Air Force. The length of your active duty commitment after graduation is determined by the program you pursue. This commitment is normally four years for non-flying officers and longer for flying officers.

Contact Information: If you are interested in the AFROTC program through Concordia, see the Office of the Registrar for information on Tri-College registration. You may also contact the department of Aerospace Studies at North Dakota State University at (701) 231-8186 or NDSU.afrotc@ndsu.edu. Visit www.ndsu.edu/afrotc/ for more information.

Army ROTC/Military Studies
The Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) prepares and commissions officers for the Active Army, Army National Guard, and the Army Reserves. ROTC is open to male and female students from Concordia College, North Dakota State University, and Minnesota State University Moorhead through the Tri-College program. Cadets must complete all degree requirements of their chosen major, in accordance with university rules and regulations, and complete required ROTC courses prior to commissioning as a Second Lieutenant. ROTC students also attend physical training and a hands-on leadership lab.

Program Description: The Army ROTC program consists of a two-year basic course (freshman and sophomore year) and a two-year advanced course (junior and senior year). During the basic course, there is no military obligation for non-contracted cadets and a student may withdraw at any time. Students who have Active Duty military experience, are currently a member of the Army Reserve/National Guard, complete the Leader’s Training Course, or have taken Junior ROTC may receive credit for the Basic Course. Eligible students are allowed to enter the advanced course and must agree to complete ROTC to commission as a Second Lieutenant. Advanced Course students will also complete the 29 day Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) between their junior and senior years.

Scholarships: Competitive scholarships are available for qualified students. ROTC scholarships pay for full tuition, fees, and $1,200 per year for textbooks and supplies. Students, who contract to receive a commission, are paid a monthly stipend of $300 freshman year, $350 sophomore year, $450 junior year, and $500 senior year. Scholarships are available for 2, 3, and 4 years. Army National Guard and Army Reserve scholarships are available through the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP). SMP cadets receive the benefits of the Army ROTC scholarship in addition to weekend drill pay and the Montgomery GI Bill.

Service Commitment: Students who decide to commission on Active Duty have an eight year service commitment after graduation; four years serving on Active Duty and the option of serving the remaining four years on Active Duty, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, or the Individual Ready Reserve. Army National Guard officers have an eight year commitment; six years in the National Guard with the option of serving the remaining two years in the Army National Guard or the Individual Ready Reserve. Army Reserve officers have an eight year service commitment after graduation.

Contact Information: For further information, call the Department of Military Science office at (701) 231-7552 and ask to speak to the Enrollment Counselor or a Gold Bar Recruiter or visit the Tri-College Army ROTC website at www.ndsuarmyrotc.com. The Department of Military Science is located on the North Dakota State University campus at Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse room 103.

Student Research Opportunities
Department Assistantships: Student assistantships are also available in several academic departments. These are positions with special educational and personal qualifications involving close cooperation with supervising faculty members. Application is made in writing and in person to the head of the department before April 1 for assistantships for the following college year. Ordinarily, the candidate has a year of residence at Concordia College before becoming eligible for an assistantship.

Centennial Research Co-Inquirers: Each year, a number of faculty are awarded grants to work with two students on an in-depth project in their discipline, focusing either on a primary research topic or on the best teaching methods in that discipline. The student partners work as true partners with the faculty member, spending two months during the summer developing the project, and then working with the faculty member throughout the following year to finalize the presentation of their findings. Students receive 4 semester credits for an Independent Study course in the summer, for which tuition is waived; they also receive stipends of $2,000 each. It is common for these projects to result in published articles or professional presentations, with one or both of the students serving as co-authors or co-presenters.

Student Lecture Series: Each semester, the Special Awards Committee of the Faculty Senate sponsors a series of two to three lectures given by students on academic topics. Nomination by a faculty member is required for participation in the lecture series. Typically, these presentations begin as research papers or projects within courses that have been completed and received excellent grades. However, with participation in the Student Lecture Series, the student commits to polishing and often enlarging the original assignment under the mentorship of the faculty member, with the result of additional growth through investigative inquiry.

Superior Studies Consortium
Concordia College is a member of the Superior Studies Consortium and offers a variety of courses at the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, Minnesota. Wolf Ridge is an accredited residential environmental school that offers outdoor learning experiences focusing on ecology, science, human culture, team-building and personal growth. For detailed information about the programs, contact the co-chairs of the environmental studies program.

Tri-College University
Fargo-Moorhead is fortunate to have three institutions of higher education within its boundaries. Each of these schools has outstanding departments, and students from all three schools are able to take advantage of each school’s respective strengths under the Tri-College University (TCU) program. TCU is a consortium of Concordia College, Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) and North Dakota State University (NDSU). TCU also provides several services and programs of interest to Concordia students.

Students regularly make use of the student exchange for courses in such fields as ROTC, special education and East Asian languages (see below).

Student Exchange: Full-time Concordia students may take courses at NDSU and MSUM during fall and spring semester at no additional charge, but are subject to the following limitations: 1) a student may take only one course each term, 2) a student may not take a course also offered at Concordia College, and 3) an overload charge is assessed if total semester credits in a student’s load are greater than 17. Grades and credits received for such courses are applied to a student’s Concordia grade point average and graduation requirements. The appropriate department or program chair must approve substitution of TCU courses in a Concordia major. Students should see the Office of the Registrar for information on available courses and further details about TCU registration.

Tri-College Minors: The Tri-College institutions recognize minors earned through the TCU course exchange. This means students can receive recognition on their transcripts for minors completed on one of the other TCU campuses, if in compliance with graduation requirements at Concordia. This policy applies only to minors earned in programs not available on a student’s home campus. This option makes it possible to combine majors at Concordia with complementary minors on another campus.

Library Services: Library patrons have direct access to the local collections at Minnesota State University Moorhead and North Dakota State University through the Tri-College Library Consortium, providing a library resource of more than 1.25 million books and 5,000 journals with titles representing all academic disciplines. Materials are delivered between libraries daily.

Bus Service: Community bus service is provided between campuses on a regular weekday schedule during the academic year.

Parking: Concordia students enrolled in TCU who desire to park at Minnesota State University Moorhead or North Dakota State University must obtain a TCU parking permit, available without charge from the Office of Public Safety at Concordia.

East Asian Languages
Instruction in Chinese is available at Concordia College. (See Chinese in the department pages of the catalog.)

Instruction in Japanese is offered through the Tri-College University Program in East Asian Languages. For more information contact the Office of the Registrar. Courses taken through the East Asian language program can satisfy the liberal arts Core requirement for proficiency in a world language and can lead to or contribute to degrees granted by Concordia College.

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