Academics
As an academic community, the students and faculty of Luther College are committed to liberal learning in the arts and sciences. A Phi Beta Kappa chapter—enstated on only 276 campuses nationwide—attests to the academic excellence of the college and its students. Courses are conducted by 181 full-time teaching faculty, 89% of whom hold a Ph.D. or other terminal degree. The ratio of students to faculty is 12:1.
A key component of the Luther education is Paideia, a two-part interdisciplinary program named for the Greek for "education." Paideia I is a year-long common course integrating English and history; Paideia II courses are semester-long interdisciplinary seminars for upperclassmen which concentrate on the process of making ethical decisions.
Luther operates on a 4-1-4 academic calendar. First semester runs from September to December, followed by a three-week January Term. Second semester runs from February to May. In the liberal arts tradition of broad inquiry, students often use "J-term" to study abroad, perform internships in their field, or study one topic intensely while on campus. Two four-week summer sessions are also offered at Luther, one in June and another in July.
