Admission Requirements for U.S. and International Applicants
To be considered for admission to a master’s program, applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and submit the following:
- Application for admission: Apply online.
- Objective Statement
Provide information on your future educational goals and/or objectives and their relationship to pursuing graduate work at Concordia University Chicago. This is part of the online application.
- Transcripts
Provide one official, sealed transcript from each institution through which a degree was earned.
- International Transcripts
Foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a Concordia-approved international credentialing service. Concordia-Chicago accepts course-by-course evaluations fromWES (World Education Services) ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators), or AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers).
- Two letters of recommendation
Letters should be from individuals able to comment on the applicant’s academic proficiency, personal character and competence and effectiveness in professional work.
- Prerequisite credit
Prerequisite credit requirements vary by degree program. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and the School Counseling program require 12 earned credit hours at the undergraduate level in a discipline appropriate to each respective program, with a grade of C or above. Most other master’s degree programs do not have a prerequisite credit requirement.
- Program specific requirements
For the Master of Arts in Teaching and the School Counseling programs, students will be required to take the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) and submit passing scores. A writing sample and essay are required for a student to qualify for these programs.
All documents should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admission and Student Services, Concordia University Chicago, 7400 Augusta Street, River Forest, IL 60305. The office fax number is (708) 209-3454.
Additional Requirements for International Applicants
Applicants who are not U.S. citizens are required to meet all admission standards listed for the program they wish to enter. In addition, the following are required to be considered for admission:
- English Language Proficiency
International applicants who have earned an advanced degree from an accredited institution in the United States, or students from an international English-speaking university need not submit English language scores. Otherwise, applicants must demonstrate one of the following:
— Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 72 (internet-based), or
— International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of at least 6.0, or
— Password Test score of at least 6.0, or
— Michigan test score of 85, or
— Pearson Test of English score of at least 61, or
— Proof of successful completion of Level 112 at an ELS Language School or certificate of Completion of Program from an English Language Institute (ELI), along with a recommendation of the program director, or
— King George International College (KGIC) English for Post-Secondary Education (EPE) final proficiency test score of 75% with a passing class score of 80.
- Transcripts
Provide official, sealed U.S. transcripts from institutions where degrees were earned.
- Foreign Transcript Evaluation
Foreign transcripts must be evaluated by a Concordia approved international credentialing service. Concordia accepts course-by-course evaluations from WES (World Education Services), ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators) or AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers).
- Professional Résumé
- Declaration of Finances
Submit a certified document pledging financial support for the first year of study and verifying the same for the following year/s of study.
- Regular Admission Status
International students must qualify for regular admission to a degree program in order to enroll.
All documents should be submitted at least seven weeks prior to the student’s expected start date. I-20 forms will be issued after admission is granted.
