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, instated on only 276 campuses nationwide, attests to the academic excellence of the college and its students.
Courses are conducted by 178 full-time teaching faculty, 90 percent 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 word 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.
