Program options

There are several different paths a student may take to obtain the DCE certification with the bachelor of arts option being the most popular.

DCE with a Bachelor of Science in Education - Elementary, Middle Level or Secondary

This program is for individuals who would like to have the option of teaching in the classroom or feel that this focus within their program would enhance their abilities as a parish DCE.

DCE with Bachelor of Arts Degree

This program is designed for those who wish to serve as a parish DCE and who would like some course electivity to enhance their strength in certain DCE competency areas. In this program students can choose from the following majors: behavioral science, human psychology, music or theology. The student also chooses an emphasis from one of the following: child, youth, adult, family, outreach, parish music or pre-seminary.

The following three curriculum options have been developed by the faculty of Concordia. Each program includes at least five years of course work, one of which involves a year-long internship:

DCE with B.S. in (Elementary) Education Degree (153 total hours)

• General Education (44 hours)
• DCE Sequence (52 hours)
• Educ-229 Introduction to DCE Ministries (2)
• Educ-484 Confirmation Planning and Implementation (2)
• Educ-485 Parish Education Program Administration (3)
• Educ-388 Youth Ministry Theory & Methods (3)
• Educ-480 Practicum in DCE Ministries (3)
• Educ-481 Director of Christian Education Internship (24)
• Educ-483 Leadership Development: Enabling Others to Lead & Teach (3)
• Psy-341 Group Techniques (3)
• Psy-442 Introduction to Counseling (3)
• Theo-450 Understanding and Teaching the Bible (3)
• Theo-487 Planning Adult Education in the Parish (3)
• Professional Education Core (22 hours)
• Elementary Education Endorsement (35 hours)

DCE with B.S. in (Middle Level) Education Degree (194 total hours)

• General Education (44 hours)
• DCE Sequence (same as above) (52 hours)
• Two Content Teaching Areas (CTAs) (18* hours each)
• Professional Education Core 22 hours)
• Middle Level Endorsement 36 hours)

DCE with B.S. in (Secondary) Education Degree (184 -216 total hours)

• General Education (44 hours)
• DCE Sequence (same as above) (52 hours)
• Subject Endorsements (2) (27–63 hours each)
• or Field Endorsement (1) (51–63 hours)
• or Comp. Subject Major (48–57 hours)
• Professional Education Core (22 hours)
• Secondary Education Sequence (18–22 hours)

DCE with B.A. Degree (160-188 total hours)

• General Education (44 hours)
• DCE Sequence (same as above) (52 hours)
• Major: Behavioral Science, Psychology, Music, or Theology (30–56 hours)
• Educational Ministry Courses (18 hours)
• Educ-362 Teaching the Christian Faith (2)
• Psy-101 Introduction to Psychology (3)
• Psy-200 Intro to Human Relations (2)
• Psy-210 Educational Psychology and Gen. Methods (2)
• Theo-241, 242, 251 or 252 Biblical Interpretation (3)
• Theo-361 Christian Doctrine I (3)
• Theo-362 Christian Doctrine II (3)
• DCE Emphasis (16–18 hours)
  DCE Emphases (DCE/BA students must choose one of the following):

  Parish Music Emphasis (18 hours) (not to be combined with music major)

  • Mu-102 Aural Skills I (1)
  • Mu-103 Music Theory I (3)
  • Mu-104 Aural Skills II (1)
  • Mu-105 Music Theory II (3)
  • Mu-331 Basic Conducting (2)
  • ChMu-313 Christian Hymnody (2)
  • Theo-382 Corporate Worship (3)
  • Ensemble or Applied Music (3)

Outreach Emphasis (16 hours)
• *CTA-211 Public Speaking (3)
• *Soc-335 Sociology of Religion (3)
• Theo-375 Contemporary Cults, or
• *Theo-390 World Religions: The Gospel in a Pluralistic World (3)
• Theo-385 Parish Visitation and Evangelism (3)
• Theo-399 Independent Study in Evangelism Visitation (1)
• Theo-460 Factors in Congregational Growth (3)

Family Life Emphasis (18 hours)
• Psy-211 Child Development and Psychology (2)
• Psy-212 Child Development and Psychology: Young Children OR
• Psy-422 Psychology and Development of the Young Adolescent (1)
• *Psy-421 Psychology of Adolescence (3)
• *Soc-331 The Family (3)
• Theo-482 Nurturing Faith (3)
• Theo-483 Sexuality and the Family (3)
• Theo-485 Family Life Ministry (3)

Youth Emphasis (16 hours)
• Educ-300 Outdoor Christian Education (2)
• Educ-379 Methods in Secondary Religion (2)
• Psy-211 Child Development and Psychology (2)
• Psy-422 Psychology and Development of the Young Adolescent (1)
• *Psy-421 Psychology of Adolescence (3)
• *Soc-331 The Family (3)
• Theo-485 Family Life Ministry (3)

Pre-Seminary Emphasis** (30 hours )
• Greek (12)
• Hebrew (9)
• Philosophy (6)
• CTA-211 (3)

Child Emphasis (17 hours)
• Educ-300 Outdoor Christian Education (2)
• Educ-330 Early Childhood Education Foundations and Programs (3)
• Educ-332 Early Childhood Education Curriculum and Methodology (3)
• Educ-430 School Community & Parent Involvement (2)
• Educ-452 Early Childhood Program Organization and Management (3)
• Psy-211 Child Development and Psychology (2)
• *Psy-212 Child Development and Psychology: Young Children (1)
• Psy-422 Psychology and Development of the Young Adolescent (1)

Adult Emphasis (18 hours)
• Psy-401 Psychological Foundations of Teaching and Learning (3)
• *Psy-451 Personality Theory (3)
• *Soc-221 Social Problems (3)
• *Soc-333 Social Gerontology (3)
• Theo-483 Sexuality and the Family (3)
• Theo-485 Family Life Ministry (3)

*Denotes courses with prerequisites

**If the student plans to attend seminary, internship is waived. The student receives a B.A. without DCE certification. See below for additional information.

Note: All undergraduate students identified as DCEs must complete a minimum of six hours of upper level theology (300 or 400 level) courses on Concordia’s campus.

See also: Please check the course catalog for other information about programs in which you are interested.