Director of Christian Education Program
Serve God and your congregation with DCE certification.
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Make a Difference for Christian Learners
When you train to become a Director of Christian Education (DCE), you become an important tool in ministry. At Concordia University Irvine, you’ll learn to change lives, bring hope to the hopeless, and reflect the light of Christ to the world.
The program includes four years of bachelor’s coursework and one year of internship. Plus, you’ll be assigned to a local congregation for fieldwork as early as the spring semester of your freshman year. Successful completion of the DCE program also certifies you by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) to work within its institutions.
Career Relevant
Gain real-world skills for a life of service and leadership.
Collaborative Classes
Learn in classes with a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Opportunity Awaits
Access internship and career opportunities across Southern CA.
“I am seeing firsthand how God has made each of us differently, and how as a minister of the Gospel, I am called to reach people where they are, recognizing how each of us is uniquely made.”
Brian Ho ‘24
Getting Started
The Director of Christian Education program is a rigorous post-baccalaureate certificate program aligned with LCMS. To pursue this program, you must have a Bachelor of Arts in Theological Studies: Christian Education Leadership, which includes 49 major units, as well as satisfying LCMS certification requirements (21 units).
The Director of Christian Education program also includes a central internship component. It’s a supervised, academic, one-year training program that enables you to experience as many aspects of the educational ministries in a congregational setting as possible.
Next Start
January 11, 2027
Curriculum
A Director of Christian Education (DCE) is a life span educational leader prepared for team ministry in a congregational setting. DCEs are certified, called, and commissioned within The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). A DCE, empowered by the Holy Spirit, plans, administers, and assesses ministry that nurtures and equips people in the Body of Christ for spiritual maturity, service, and witness in home, job, congregation, community, and the world.
The purpose of the Director of Christian Education program is to equip leaders for ministry who are passionate about the Gospel, God’s people, and Christ’s Church. Through four years of coursework and one year of internship, students will be prepared to serve effectively in a congregational setting in the following roles: ministry leader, Christian educator, life span minister (including youth ministry), and care minister. Upon the successful completion of the Christian education leadership major and the DCE program requirements, and upon recommendation of the faculty, students will receive certification as a DCE by the LCMS and become eligible to receive a call into full-time service in the church.
- Enduring Questions & Ideas (GE) (44-45 Units)
Normally completed during the first 2 years of attendance. - Major Requirements (46 Units)
Note: The Theological Studies: Christian Education Leadership major is required for all DCE students. - Minor Requirements (31-33 Units)
Note: The Director of Christian Education minor is required for all DCE students. - DCE Internship: Post-Baccalaureate (12 Units)
The final requirement for DCE certification is a year-long internship, normally following graduation, in a congregation, agency, or mission site of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) that will enable students to experience as many aspects of the DCE ministry as possible. While interns register as students under the ultimate direction of the DCE program director during internship, they are also paid by the participating congregation or agency and are under the direct supervision of a full-time rostered minister in the congregation or agency during this time.
Special Internship Situations: International Internship
Christ College partners with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Office of International Missions to offer international internship opportunities for some students in the Director of Christian Education (DCE) program. Students interested in an international internship must consult with the DCE program director as early as possible. Students will satisfy additional requirements from Concordia, LCMS World Missions and the potential internship site. Students selected for international internships will enroll in CED 490 for two (2) semesters and CED 491 for the remaining one (1) or two (2) semesters of international internship. Such students are responsible for three (3) semesters of internship tuition. Students on internship for twenty-four (24) months may pay CED 491 tuition over two (2) semesters. Internship tuition and fees may increase to align with the costs of supervision. Students are expected to work with LCMS Office of International Missions to raise support for an international internship and must show the ability to pay for airfare from the internship site to the United States in case of emergency or unexpected ending of the internship.
Special Internship Situations: Self-Funded Internship
Some unique internship opportunities may be in specialized ministry situations that require students to raise some or all of their internship salary. Students who are interested in one of these specialized internships will consult with the DCE director as early as possible. - Additional Information
All students in the program are required to meet annually with the program director to discuss their personal, professional, intellectual, and spiritual growth for DCE ministry. - DCE Post-Baccalaureate Certification
Concordia University Irvine also offers two tracks towards DCE certification for non-residential students. Details are found here:
View the Concordia University Irvine Online Catalog for a full list of courses.
Tuition and Fees
At Concordia, we understand that investing in your education is a significant decision. That’s why we offer a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make your academic journey more affordable. View tuition costs and fees.
Admission Requirements
View the Concordia University Irvine Online Catalog for full details on application and admission requirements.
Internships
The DCE internship especially focuses on lifespan Christian education, like part-time instructional agencies, youth ministry, family life, adult education, counseling, evangelism, and even church music.
The internship program has been designed to help you:
- Gain a better understanding of the purpose of mission and ministry of a congregation and the administrative structure which supports overall congregational programming.
- Experience a team relationship with pastors and other professional staff, as well as other church workers in circuit, district, and Synod.
- Develop instructional and administrative skills and relate classroom theory to real ministry experiences.
- Contribute to the ongoing ministry of a congregation.
- Clarify future learning needs through real ministry assessment and evaluation.
- Develop an appreciation for and sense of commitment toward the ministry of the church as a DCE.
- Mature as a person and as a professional.
- Increase self-confidence and a sense of security.
Explore Financial Aid
Reduce your tuition costs with financial aid — with help from a team that wants to make your time at Concordia as affordable as possible.
Meet Our Faculty
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Cari Chittick
Director of Lutheran Teaching Programs and LCMS Placement, Professor of…
FAQs
What is DCE in the church?
DCE means Director of Christian Education. This is a role that works with pastors and other members of the staff to lead within the congregation. Depending on your parish, you may work with all ages or focus on a specific age group.
Some of the important values a DCE should foster include:
- Exhibits Christian character
- Displays a spiritually maturing faith grounded in the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions
- Relates well with people of all ages
- Expresses passion for teaching and learning
- Possesses a servant heart
- Manages personal and professional life effectively
- Seeks to work in team relationships
- Strives for excellence
- Operates in a self-directed manner
- Encourages and equips future leaders
How can I become a director of Christian education?
The best way to prepare for a DCE role is to build up your knowledge in this area. At Concordia, you could participate in the Director of Christian Education program, which ultimately leads to certification within The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS).
Some positions you might be able to hold in a church include:
- Ministry leader: Heart for full-time service in the church
- Christian educator: Strong theological base to teach the Bible
- Care minister: Dynamic character, willing to listen to and care for the needs of others
- Lifespan minister: Compassion for people of all ages and backgrounds
Is there another format for the Director of Christian Education program?
Concordia offers two online alternate DCE certification routes. These are intended for adults who want to transition to DCE ministry and have professional or volunteer experience in a LCMS congregation.
Two options are available:
- If you’re working in a relevant ministry position in a church or church-related context, the online Christian Education Leadership Degree (CEL) with Director of Christian Education (DCE) Certification allows you to earn a bachelor’s or complement an existing degree with a second B.A. and DCE certification.
- If you haven’t had a ministry position, you can complete the Master of Arts in Theology with DCE certification.
Classes include live sessions, and summer intensive courses are required. Prior coursework in related fields will be evaluated for inclusion for certification purposes, but not for master’s credit.
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