Concordia opened its doors for the first time at its current location in 1905. The school began as a four-year academy to meet the needs of the region for pastors and school teachers for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The campus has evolved into a university that offers a solid liberal arts education, pre-professional programs, professional church work programs, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in education and business. The campus' 2,000 students come from all over the United States and the world, but primarily from the Pacific Northwest.Concordia University is a Christian university preparing leaders for the transformation of society. Located on 13 acres in a residential neighborhood of Portland, Concordia's mission drives all planning in academics and future directions. The campus builds on its strengths, pursuing programs that will assist students to prepare for work or to enhance their pursuit of lifelong learning. Students, staff, and faculty the Concordia community are valued as the most important components of this campus, as all strive to encourage, support, and equip for service and fulfillment.