• Director of Christian Education (DCE)
• Program options
• Faculty and facilities
• Common questions
• Opportunities in and out of the classroom
• Career paths

CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP (CEL)/DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION (DCE) PROGRAM

Concordia prepares Christian educators who equip people of all ages in congregations for their ministries in various contexts. The focus in preparation is on the individual as instructional leader, educator, consultant, administrator, care action minister, and researcher. DCE certification is an option for individuals who are members of an LCMS congregation and seeking designation as a DCE within the LCMS.

ADMISSION INTO DCE PROGRAM

Students with sophomore or junior standing are provisionally admitted into the DCE program after meeting the following requirements:

1. completion of an application form, recommendations, and personality instruments
2. minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50
3. successful completion of an interview with a faculty screening committee
4. minimum theology and CEL major grade point average of 2.75.

APPROVAL FOR DCE INTERNSHIP

Students who have been provisionally admitted and have junior or senior standing are fully admitted into the program and approved for the DCE internship after successful completion of the following:

1. minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50
2. minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in CEL major and theology course work
3. successful completion of at least a semester of Educ 480, Practicum in DCE Ministry
4. interview with the director of DCE Ministries and successful completion of assigned learning goals.

APPEAL PROCESS

If a student wishes to appeal the decision relative to admission to the program or approval for internship, a written appeal may be addressed to the commissioned ministers appeal committee through the university provost within three months of the decision to deny admission. Any student who is not satisfied with the decision of the appeal committee may appeal directly to the president of Concordia University.

RECOMMENDATION FOR PLACEMENT AS A DCE

Faculty approval of students for DCE placement is based upon their having:

1. maintained a 2.50 GPA in all courses counted toward graduation
2. maintained a 2.75 GPA in the CEL major/theology courses
3. successfully completed Educ 481 (DCE Internship)
4. obtained their advisor’s recommendation on the placement form.

CEL CURRICULAR OPTIONS

The following curriculum options have been developed by the faculty of Concordia. Students choosing the internship option (required for DCE students) require at least five years of course work, one of which is the year-long, off-campus internship. 

Flexibility for the student is a key component of the program. Students must choose one of the following options:

• CEL+BS in Education (Elementary, Middle Level, Early Childhood, or Secondary)
• CEL+BS in Education (Elementary, Middle Level, Early Childhood, or Secondary) + CTD
• CEL+BS in Education (Elementary, Middle Level, Early Childhood, or Secondary) + LTD + DCE
• CEL+BA (with additional major in Theology, Psychology or Behavioral Science and optional emphasis)
• CEL+BA+DCE (with additional major in Theology, Psychology or Behavioral Science and optional emphasis)

1. General Education (48 hours)

2. CEL major (24-hour internship is optional) (47-71 hours)

• Educ 235 Field Experiences I (1)
• Educ 329 DCE Ministries II: The Emerging DCE (2)
• Educ 335 Field Experiences II (1)
• Educ 362 Teaching the Christian Faith (2)
• Educ 388 Youth Ministry Theory & Methods (3)
• Educ 480 Practicum in DCE Ministries (3)
• Educ 481 Director of Christian Education Internship (Optional) (24)
• Educ 483 Leadership Development: Enabling Others to Lead & Teach (3)
• Educ 485 Parish Education Program Administration (3)
• EDPS 210 Educational Psychology and General Methods (2)
• Psy 341 Group Techniques (3)
• Psy 442 Introduction to Counseling (3)
• Rel 121 History and Lit. Old Testament (Also required in Gen Ed requirements) (3)
• Rel 131 History and Lit. New Testament (Also required in Gen Ed requirements) (3)
• Theo 210 Faith and Life (Also required in the Gen Ed requirements) (3)
• Theo 241, 242, 251 or 252 Biblical Interpretation (3)
• Theo 450 Understanding and Teaching the Bible (3)
• Theo 485 Family Life Ministry (3)
• Theo 487 Planning Adult Education in the Parish (3)

3.  Foundational major:

• Education, Theology, Behavioral Science or Psychology (30-xx hours)

4.  DCE Certification Requirements for LCMS students seeking a DCE certificate (34 hours)

Note: All undergraduate students seeking DCE certification must complete a minimum of six hours of 300 or 400 level theology courses on Concordia’s campus.

• Educ 229 Introduction to DCE Ministry (2)
• Educ 481 DCE Internship (24)
• Educ 484 Confirmation Planning and Implementation (2)
• Theo 361 Christian Doctrine I (3)
• Theo 362 Christian Doctrine II (3)

5.  DCE EMPHASES (Optional) (12-20 hours)
CEL/BA or CEL/DCE/BA students may choose one or more of the following:

• Adult Emphasis (12 hours)
• Psy 451 Personality Theory (3)
• Soc 221 Social Problems (3)               
• Soc 333 or Gero 402 Social Gerontology (3)
• Theo 483 Sexuality and the Family (3)

Biblical Languages (option for those planning on a seminary education) (16 hours)

• Greek (8)
• Hebrew (8)

Child Emphasis (14 hours)

• Educ 300 Outdoor Christian Education (2)
• Educ 332 Early Childhood Education Curriculum and Methodology (3)
• Educ 430 School Community & Parent Involvement (2)
• 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)
• Theo 482 Nurturing the Faith Through Family, School & Congregation (3)

Family Life Emphasis (12 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)
• Theo 482 Nurturing Faith Through Family, School and Congregation (3)
• Theo 483 Sexuality and the Family (3)              

Outreach Emphasis (12 hours)

• Educ 358 Religious Education and Innovative Technology (2)
• Theo 375 Christian Denominations, Movements & Contemp. 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)               

Parish Music Emphasis (20 hours)

• ChMu 313 Christian Hymnody or ChMu 411 Christian Liturgy (2)
• Mu 102 Aural Skills I (2)
• Mu 103 Music Theory I (3)
• Mu 104 Aural Skills II (2)
• Mu 105 Music Theory II (3)
• Mu 331 Basic Conducting (2)
• Theo 382 Corporate Worship (3)
• Ensemble or Applied Music (3)

Youth Emphasis (12 hours)

• Educ 300 Outdoor Christian Education (2)
• Educ 358 Religious Education and Innovative Technology (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)

Worship Arts Emphasis (12 hours)

• ChMu 313 Christian Hymnody (2)
• Educ 358 Religious Education and Innovative Technology (2)
• Theo 382 Corporate Worship (3)
• ChMu 282 Media in Contemporary Music (2)
• ChMu 174 Songwriting for Contemporary Worship (2)
• ChMu 255 University Praise Band (1)

Self-Designed Emphasis (15 hours)

A student may choose to design an individualized emphasis. The emphasis must meet the following criteria:

1. The emphasis must be at least 15 hours of upper-level coursework (300 or 400-level).
2. The emphasis must be directly applicable to the DCE program’s roles and sub-roles.
3. The student must submit a written rationale for the emphasis, stating how it fits traditional DCE ministry roles and including a list of the proposed coursework.               
4. The emphasis must be approved in writing by the DCE Program Director, the student’s advisor, and the chair of the academic department housing the majority of the emphasis courses.
5. A minimum of 50% of emphasis hours must be taken at CUNE.
6. No more than three semester hours can be applied to the emphasis prior to the formal approval of the emphasis.
7. A copy of the approved plan of study must be filed with the Registrar’s Office.

The DCE Certificate

Concordia awards a DCE certificate to all LCMS graduates who have completed the DCE admission process, CEL major, foundational major, DCE certification requirements and all other graduation requirements for a baccalaureate degree. This certification entitles a graduate to receive a call as a DCE and to be placed on the Commissioned Minister Roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.

DCE Specialist Diploma

The DCE Specialist Diploma program is designed for those who have completed a bachelor's degree without DCE certification and may be serving in a DCE role in a congregation or working in an unrelated field. The process for this graduate certification includes:

     1.  Formal application to the DCE program.

     2.  Interview with faculty members.

     3.  Course work in Christian education, theology and psychology as determined
          through interview.

     4.  An internship of one year.

     5.  Recommendation and endorsement by faculty.

For further information, contact the Office of DCE Ministries or the graduate office.

Minors

Minors are available to all students.  Minors are not available in an area similar to a student's major.

Religious Education (15 hours)

• Educ 201 Introduction to Education (3)
• Educ 362 Teaching the Christian Faith (2)
• Educ 424 Differentiated Instruction (2)
• Psy 210 Educational Psychology (2)
• Psy 451 Personality Theory (3)
• Theo 450 Understanding and Teaching the Bible (3)

Sport Ministry (21 hours)

• HHP 291 Foundations of Human Performance (2)
• HHP 391 Internship in Sports MInistry (3)
• HHP 462 Sport Ethics (3)
• HHP 491 Management of Physical Education and Sports (3)
• Educ 300 Outdoor Christian Education (2)
• Theo 375 Christian Denominations, Movements, & Contemporary Cults (3) or Theo 390 World Religions: The Gospel in a Pluralistic World (3)

Electives (to bring total to 21 hours) from:

• Psy 341 Group Techniques (3)
• HHP 228 Programs in Individual, Dual, and Team Sports (3)
• HHP 248 Programs in Leisure and Adventure Activities (1)
• HHP 298 Theory of Coaching (2)
• HHP 465 Human Diseases (3)

Note: if used for DCE emphasis area, internship would be excluded

Youth Ministry (12 hours)

• Educ 388 Youth Ministry Theory and Methods (3)
• Psy 421 Adolescent Psychology and Development (2-3)
• Six hours from Psy 341 Group Techniques (3), 442 Introduction to Counseling (3), HHP 492 Recreational and Intramural Programming (3), Theo 382 Theology of Corporate Worship (3), 482 Nurturing Faith through Family, School and Congregation (3), and 483 Sexuality and the Family (3)