County
Concordia University Texas
University Profile
Concordia University Texas is an award-winning institution of higher education, with its main campus in Austin. A privately-held, accredited, liberal arts university, Concordia was founded in 1926 and is affiliated with The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. It is a member of the highly respected Concordia University System in which more than 19,000 students are enrolled nationwide.
Academics
Concordia offers traditional undergraduate courses and a Master’s of Education graduate degree program, as well as the Accelerated Degree Program—a unique model of education that offers adults the chance to attain an undergraduate degree while attending only one class per week.
Concordia offers 22 undergraduate majors in four colleges: Business, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences. For undergraduate students, the student/faculty ratio is 19: 1. Full-time tuition and fees for the 2008-2009 school year (traditional, off-campus undergraduate only) was $21,200. Approximately 80 percent of all students received some form of financial aid.
In 2008, the University announced the development of a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program. Pending Texas Board of Nursing approval, Concordia anticipates admitting junior-level students to the Professional Nursing Courses of the Nursing Program in the summer of 2010. Students began enrolling in Pre-Nursing Courses in the fall of ‘08.
“The Texas Team Addressing Nursing Education Capacity, a collaboration between the Governor’s office and several higher education, workforce, and health administrative boards, found that Texas schools of nursing turned away an astonishing 41 percent of qualified applicants in 2007, totaling 7,765 prospective Texas nurses,” Dr. Tom Cedel, President, Concordia University Texas, said. “Texas simply must increase its capacity for qualified nursing students, and Concordia is eager to do our part in meeting that challenge.”
The Master’s of Education program is designed to enhance the professional educator’s expertise. It offers the student a professional degree that emphasizes preparation for exemplary educational practice and development, especially in leadership, technology and communication. On campus, students can earn the M.Ed. with one of three specializations, and can also participate in the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification program. The off–site cohort program brings the M.Ed. degree to students throughout the state of Texas.
The Accelerated Degree Program is offered at Concordia’s main campus in Northwest Austin, as well as satellite centers in Central Austin, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Because the Accelerated Degree Program features continuous education tracks, students take classes all year long, increasing the rate at which one can earn a degree.
Student Life and Athletics
Concordia University Texas has a vibrant and active student life. There is always something going on at campus from a night at Coffee House, to concerts, festivals, volunteer opportunities and athletic events.
Participating in activities is a great way to make friends and experience life at Concordia. There is an extensive extracurricular program. Whether dance, wakeboarding, music, biology, history, student government, or cheerleading; there is a club for everyone.
Concordia University Texas plays NCAA Division III athletics. There are 13 sports available for men and women. These include the following: baseball, softball, soccer, cross country, golf, basketball, volleyball and track and field.
When Concordia relocated in 2008, two new apartment style dormitories were built. They can accommodate about 270 students. Students enjoy open-air hallways, recreation area and a student lounge with free laundry room, vending machines, flat screen televisions and more. A small kitchenette is also available for residents to use.
Recent Relocation
In 2008, after more than 80 years in its current 23-acre, landlocked location in Downtown Austin, Concordia University Texas moved its entire campus to a 389-acre property in Northwest Austin.
With hundreds of acres of woodland and six state-of-the-art buildings totaling 195,000 square feet, the new property is allowing Concordia to continue its growth trend. Concordia has renovated the existing space into classrooms, office space, a library, student services space and a cafeteria. The University has constructed an athletic field house and apartment-style dorms. Concordia’s new site includes 250 acres of nature preserve, with wetlands, caves, dense tree cover and a habitat area for the Golden-Cheeked Warbler.
There has been exciting and increased interest in Concordia and its mission due to the historical campus move, as well as the University’s consistent growth and high performance. Concordia has increased many of its merit-based scholarships while keeping tuition increases in check to help maintain the affordability of a Concordia education.
The Austin Business Journal named Concordia University Texas to a recent list of “Best Places to Work.” U.S. News & World Report named Concordia University Texas to its 2007 list of “America’s Best Colleges.”
