Pre-Seminary (BA)
Concordia-Chicago’s program is a community of young men who support and encourage each other in the faith through study, service and Christ-centered friendships.
This built-in community helps direct your discernment about where the Lord might be leading you in life and ministry.
Our theological faculty is recognized and respected throughout the Church. They are authors of numerous published books, articles and commentaries.
The Pre-Seminary program lead works closely with our students, mentoring their academic, spiritual and personal development. By entering CUC’s program, you will hit the ground running with many mission, ministry and service opportunities—all intended to help you discern whether being a pastor is the right calling for you.
Our Pre-Seminary program offers two degree tracks:
The first degree track is through the College of Theology, Arts & Humanities in which you will take theology and Biblical language courses, while choosing a liberal arts major and minor.
The second degree track is through the College of Education in which you will follow the secondary education Lutheran teacher education track in addition to the pre-seminary theology and Biblical language courses.
Pre-seminary students select a major either in liberal arts or teacher education. Suggested majors within the liberal arts are theological languages, theology, history, philosophy, English or classical liberal studies. These tracks meet all academic entrance requirements for both LCMS Synodical seminaries. CUC’s depth and breadth of coursework prepares students to enter and excel at the seminary level.
Intakes
- Jan
- Aug
Application Processing Time in Days: 30
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
Concordia University Chicago’s faculty, staff, curriculum, location and library resources enhance the offerings of the Pre-Seminary program.
CUC’s world-class location provides easy access to the cultural, learning and service opportunities of a major city. A rich variety of Lutheran congregations and service organizations exist within an easy distance to the campus. Our library is one of the oldest theological libraries in the Synod, with access to the resources of other major Chicago schools.
PSW Opportunity
Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.
Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).
STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.
Contact our PSA counselor for more information
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
To apply, you will need the following:
- A completed admission application for Concordia University Chicago.
- Official transcripts of all college coursework from each institution you have attended.
- Foreign transcripts evaluated by a Concordia-Chicago-approved international credentialing service. Concordia-Chicago accepts evaluations from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).
- A certified document pledging financial support for your first year of study and without any unexpected events, and enough funding from the same or an equally dependable source for the following years.
- Proof of graduation from a secondary school.
- A transfer verification form for students transferring from a school in the United States.
- Proof of English proficiency, via one of the following:
- A score of at least 72 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) — Concordia-Chicago’s DI code is 1140
- A score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Successful completion of Level 112 at an ELS Language School (ELS) or a certificate of completion of program from an English Language Institute (ELI), along with a recommendation of the program director
- Duolingo test with a minimum score of 95
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Bachelors/UG Degree
- Duration: 04 Year
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Total Tuition Fee:
150960 USD
Average Cost of Living: 14000 USD /year
Application Fee: 100 USD