Overview
Private and Coeducational, Luther College Stresses a Foundation of Core Learning for Undergraduate Students
Luther College is a coeducational undergraduate college in the town of Decorah, Iowa. One of the most important focuses of the comprehensive liberal arts education offered by Luther College is its foundational element called "Paideia." The term refers to the ancient Greek term for education and is a first-year undergraduate class that integrates both history and English as literature and writing. It is later resumed as "Paideia II" for single semesters during the junior and senior years. This segment concentrates on the methods of creating ethical choices and thinking. Though a small, private college, Luther offers some of the most diverse undergraduate programs offered by a religious school in Iowa.
Luther College is connected to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. The accredited Midwest college was founded more than 130 years ago by Norwegian Lutherans in order to teach future ministers, though it quickly went on to expand its program to include music study by the early 1900s and develop a broad contemporary liberal arts education for all of its students a few years later.
Luther College Offers More Than Sixty Diverse Majors, Specialty Degrees, and Preprofessional Programs for Undergraduates
Luther College has dozens and dozens of undergraduate majors for students to pursue in their time at the school, which ultimately enable them to gain a Bachelor of Arts degree at the end of their four-year term. These programs range from economics and computer science to museum studies and Scandinavian studies. The most popular areas of study include biology and life science; business and marketing; social sciences; and visual and performing arts. The college also offers a few special degree programs as well, including some engineering programs that allow students to take courses at the neighboring University of Minnesota and Washington University in St. Louis. Several other specialty programs and preprofessional programs enable students to take a multidisciplinary approach to their studies when pursuing degrees in arts management, prelaw, pre-physical therapy, or even sports management. Students who elect to take such specialty courses are usually already enrolled simultaneously as an undergraduate in a related field.
The faculty at Luther totals more than 170 full-time professors and teacher's assistants. More than half the faculty has terminal degrees in their fields. The total student body at Luther is close to 2,500 students, and the student-teacher ratio is a mere 12:1, enabling direct hands-on teaching environment to flourish. In fact, virtually all classes are small in size with very few lecture-format courses.
The Financial Aid Office Helps to Offset Costs by Means of Loans, Scholarships, and Work-Study Programs
The Financial Aid Office makes every effort to help all students find scholarships, grants, loans, and other forms of financial assistance to offset their educational costs. The Financial Aid Office also is able to set up a variety of work-study opportunities for students by providing campus employment for those qualified for jobs. These typically pay students a few thousand dollars annually.
Growing More and More Green, Luther's Campus Offers Many Activity Opportunities for Its Students
In recent years, Luther has effectively worked to reduce greenhouse emissions and increase the overall energy efficiency of the operating network of campus buildings that include research facilities, the substantial and various student housing buildings, performing arts centers, and lecture halls. There is a great deal to do on and around Luther's 175-acre campus, both for undergraduate residents and their visitors. Almost all of the student body of Luther lives on campus during their time at school and in the summer months. There are many events to enjoy, student organizations to join, and performances to see and hear. The geography of the town of Decorah lends itself to enjoying a great deal of outdoor activity, like boating, hiking, skiing, and even rock climbing.
Students Participate in Over 120 Unique and Varied Student Organizations
There are numerous student organizations at Luther. They range from informal social groups to traditional Greek life and from athletics to the more-academic. These include, but are in no way limited to, the Luther Artists Collective, the Philosophy Society, Luther Cheerleading, the International Culture Club, Phi Beta Kappa, Catholic Student Community, Amnesty International, Swing Dance Club, and Luther Feet Forward for A Cure.
Luther's Students Have Travel Options
Traveling in and around the campus of Luther can be easily accomplished. Most students walk to where they need to go, since most of them live on campus. Of course, automobiles are easily accessible for more distance travels. There are also two airports, the Decorah Municipal Airport and the Waukon Municipal Airport, for outgoing and incoming visitors. Additionally, there is an Amtrak train station in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Nearby Cedar Rapids and St. Paul Offer Culture, Nightlife, and Stimulating Places for Fun
The campus is located 70 miles north of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and about 90 miles from St. Paul, Minnesota. Students in Cedar Rapids can spend a leisurely day taking guided tours at the Indian Creek Nature Center or check out the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art to enjoy the work of famous regional artists like Grant Wood and others who depicted archetypical Midwest life, as well as enjoying the many great restaurants.
