General Education Requirements at Concordia University Texas
Build a Christ centered, liberal arts foundation that prepares you for every part of life, not just your first job. The Concordia Common Experience Curriculum is the shared core of all undergraduate baccalaureate degrees at Concordia University Texas. Through coursework in leadership, faith, liberal arts and experiential learning, you will grow as a thinker, communicator and servant leader who is ready to make a difference in your community and career.
What Is the Concordia Common Experience?
The Concordia Common Experience Curriculum is the general education core required for all CTX baccalaureate degrees, regardless of program or delivery format, including traditional, hybrid and online programs. It complies with both regional and state accreditation standards for general education and is designed to support your academic growth, spiritual formation and personal development.
The Concordia Common Experience Curriculum has four primary goals:
- Exposure to a range of academic disciplines central to a liberal arts education
- Development of foundational academic skills
- Exploration and formation of personal identity
- Learning through application and experience
Students are required to complete 41 to 49 credit hours in courses certified to meet the Concordia Common Experience Curriculum goals, including:
- 10 to 13 credit hours in the Concordia Distinctive
- 18 to 19 credit hours across six Liberal Arts disciplines
- 13 to 17 credit hours of Foundational coursework
Advance toward your degree with a strong general education foundation.
Concordia Distinctive
Liberal Arts
Foundational Competency
How the Concordia Common Experience Is Structured
The curriculum is organized into four main components:
- Concordia Distinctive Courses
- Foundational Competencies
- Liberal Arts Courses
- Experiential Learning Graduation Component
Each part works together to help you grow intellectually, spiritually and professionally.
Concordia Distinctive Courses
Faith, Leadership and Vocation
The Concordia Common Experience Curriculum Distinctive Courses are comprised of the three Leadership Series courses, as well as a minimum of six hours of in residence Religion coursework. The following are required of all CTX undergraduate students.
Concordia Distinctive Requirements (10 to 13 credit hours)
* Note: Students cannot transfer credit for courses in the Leadership Series (LDR 1100, LDR 2201, LDR 3301, LDR 4101). Leadership courses are distinctive to CTX and must be taken in-residence. Similarly, students cannot transfer credit for REL 1311 and/or REL 1301 without still satisfying the minimum 6-hours of in-residence Religion (REL) courses at CTX. Students who have credit for similar/equivalent courses from another accredited institution may transfer in credit but will still be required to take six hours of Religion (REL) courses in-residence at Concordia University Texas.
Students who by previous study have acquired a comprehensive knowledge of the Christian understanding of the Old Testament and/or the New Testament may take an exemption examination (one for each testament). A successful score on the examination will allow the student to skip that particular course and advance to another REL course to satisfy the Concordia Distinctive requirement. Successful scores on these tests do not grant college credit; they merely allow the student to advance to a higher-level course. A student who desires to attempt this exemption should contact the School of Ministry to administer these examinations.
Foundational Competencies
Core Academic Skills for Every Major
The Concordia Common Experience Curriculum Foundational Competencies require a minimum of 13 credit hours of designated courses that develop foundational academic skills. The following are required of all CTX undergraduate students.
Foundational Competencies Requirements (15 credit hours)
Liberal Arts Curriculum
Exploring the World from Multiple Perspectives
The Concordia Common Experience Curriculum Liberal Arts require a minimum of 18 credit hours of designated courses, introducing students to a variety of disciplines offering diverse perspectives on the world around us. The following are required of all CTX undergraduate students.
Liberal Arts Requirements (18 to 19 credit hours)
Experiential Learning Graduation Component
Learning by Doing
The experiential learning component is designed to support students’ personal and academic growth by direct engagement with the community. Each CTX undergraduate student must complete one or more of the following options totaling three credit hours or more:
- Internship course (30 plus hours), must be taken in residence
- Practicum course (30 plus hours), must be taken in residence
- Travel course (4 plus days), must be taken in residence
- Semester abroad* (10 plus weeks)
- Approved experience based course which must be taken in residence:
- EDU 2310, 3333, 4300, 4305, 4307, 4312, 4601, 41200
- RDG 3326, 3342, 4327
- COM 3398
- MIN 3198
- REDU 3198
- LDR 2116S, LDR 2116T
- ENG 3307
- SOC 1301
- BIO 1101 to 1106, BIO 3302, BIO 3370, BIO 4410 SCI 3303
- SCI 3303, SCI 3304
- SVL x1xx: Service learning field Experience course attached to course of student’s choice, coordinated through student advisor and course instructor, must be taken in residence
- Comparable documented service learning, coordinated through student advisor, student must petition for this in advance to count in place of one of the courses listed above
* For the purpose of Experiential Learning credit, “abroad” is defined as anywhere outside the continental United States including Hawaii, Alaska, and all United States’ territories. Programs shorter than 10 weeks could satisfy the requirement with approval from the General Education Committee.
Experiential Learning Course Options with Descriptions
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Education (EDU) Courses
Hands on learning in real classroom environments that prepare you for teaching and educational leadership.
- EDU 2310, Introductory practicum in elementary or secondary classrooms that introduces observational and reflective teaching experiences.
- EDU 3333, Applied instructional strategies practicum where students practice lesson planning and teaching techniques in field settings.
- EDU 4300, Advanced field based teaching experience that deepens classroom responsibilities under supervision.
- EDU 4305, Classroom management practicum focused on managing learning environments and student behavior.
- EDU 4307, Curriculum design practicum in which students help design and implement instructional units.
- EDU 4312, Special populations field experience emphasizing support for diverse learners.
- EDU 4601, Extended student teaching experience that serves as a culminating, full time classroom placement.
- EDU 41200, Capstone teaching seminar with embedded fieldwork that integrates theory, practice and reflection.
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Reading (RDG) Courses
Experiences that support literacy development in real classrooms.
- RDG 3326, Literacy assessment practicum focused on evaluating reading abilities and needs.
- RDG 3342, Foundations of reading instruction fieldwork that applies reading strategies with students.
- RDG 4327, Reading intervention practicum that provides targeted support for struggling readers.
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Communication and Ministry
Practical learning in media, ministry or leadership settings.
- COM 3398, Communication internship that provides supervised experience in media, public relations or related fields.
- MIN 3198, Ministry internship with hands on service in congregational or ministry contexts.
- REDU 3198, Religious education practicum focused on teaching and program leadership in faith based settings.
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Leadership
Service based leadership development experiences.
- LDR 2116S, Service leadership project where students design and complete a community based service initiative.
- LDR 2116T, Transfer student leadership experience that helps transfer students engage and lead within the CTX community.
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English
- ENG 3307, Writing, editing or publishing practicum that offers real world communication and content creation experience.
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Sociology
- SOC 1301, Introduction to Sociology with an experiential component that connects social theory to community engagement.
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Biology
Hands on laboratory and field experiences in the life sciences.
- BIO 1101 to 1106, Introductory biology lab series focused on scientific inquiry, data collection and analysis.
- BIO 3302, Field biology experience that examines organisms and ecosystems in natural settings.
- BIO 3370, Environmental science fieldwork that explores environmental challenges and solutions.
- BIO 4410, Research or internship in biology that provides advanced lab or field experience.
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Science (SCI)
- SCI 3303, Applied science practicum that connects scientific concepts to real world projects.
- SCI 3304, Science education field experience that supports teaching and learning in school or community settings.
Turn learning into impact through internships, travel, and service.
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Concordia Common Experience Learning Outcomes
The Concordia Common Experience Curriculum helps students grow intellectually, personally and spiritually as they prepare for lives of meaning and purpose.
Think critically and creatively to understand, evaluate and solve problems.
Apply quantitative reasoning to real world situations.
Practice healthy habits of mind, body and spirit.
Recognize the importance of creation care for environmental and personal well being.
Communicate effectively through writing, speaking and other forms of expression.
Develop deeper self understanding along with awareness of others and diverse cultures.
Grow as servant leaders who positively influence their communities.
Strengthen Christian identity and explore how faith connects to vocation and academic study.
FAQ: Concordia Common Experience and General Education
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What is the Concordia Common Experience Curriculum?
The Concordia Common Experience Curriculum is the shared general education program for all undergraduate students at Concordia University Texas. It includes Concordia Distinctive courses, Foundational Competencies, Liberal Arts courses and Experiential Learning requirements.
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How many general education hours are required?
Students complete 43 to 45 credit hours in the Concordia Common Experience, including Concordia Distinctive, Foundational Competencies, Liberal Arts courses and Experiential Learning.
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Can I transfer courses into the Common Experience?
Some coursework may transfer into the Foundational Competencies and Liberal Arts areas, depending on transcript evaluation. Leadership courses (LDR 1100/T, LDR 2201/3301, LDR 4101C/G/E), a minimum six hours of Religion courses, and Experiential Learning coursework must all be taken in residence at Concordia Texas.
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Do all students take the same Concordia Distinctive courses?
All undergraduate students complete the Leadership Series courses and a minimum of six hours of in residence REL courses, with specific options outlined in the curriculum. Exemption exams are available for students with extensive prior study in Old Testament and or New Testament, but these do not grant credit and students still complete the required in residence REL hours.
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How does the experiential learning requirement work?
Students fulfill the experiential learning component through internships, practicums, travel courses, semester abroad or approved experience based courses and service learning. These experiences connect classroom learning to real world practice and help students clarify their calling.
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How does the Common Experience reflect Concordia Texas’s Christian mission?
Through REL courses, leadership development and outcomes focused on faith and vocation, the Concordia Common Experience helps students encounter Christ through the Word of God, understand core Christian teachings and explore how their faith connects to their academic major and future work.
Ready to see how the Concordia Common Experience fits your major?