Chicago and its suburbs are home to more than 200 Lutheran congregations. CUC's DCE program partners with some of these churches to provide our DCE students with opportunities to explore and develop practical ministry skills through hands-on congregational fieldwork before they begin working in a church full-time.

CUC's DCE students also have many opportunities to participate in and to take leadership of social and spiritual events, retreats, mission trips, Bible studies, and fellowship opportunities. CUC's DCE students form a close-knit community that not only provides support and encouragement while you're in school, but they also form many deep friendships that remain strong even after graduation.

DCE students also have opportunities and are encouraged to take on leadership roles within the DCE program by helping to plan, organize, and lead activities and events for their fellow DCE students.

Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.

Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).

STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.

Contact our PSA counselor for more information

To apply, you will need the following: 

• A completed admission application for Concordia University Chicago.
• Official transcripts of all college coursework from each institution you have attended.
• Foreign transcripts evaluated by a Concordia-Chicago-approved international credentialing service. Concordia-Chicago accepts evaluations from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).
• A certified document pledging financial support for your first year of study and without any unexpected events, and enough funding from the same or an equally dependable source for the following years.
• Proof of graduation from a secondary school.
• A transfer verification form for students transferring from a school in the United States.
• Proof of English proficiency, via one of the following:
• A score of at least 72 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) — Concordia-Chicago’s DI code is 1140
• A score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Successful completion of Level 112 at an ELS Language School (ELS) or a certificate of completion of program from an English Language Institute (ELI), along with a recommendation of the program director
• Duolingo test with a minimum score of 95