Youth Ministries (YMIN)
This course will be a study of the physical and emotional development of adolescents, and the development of a philosophy of ministry with adolescents, with guidelines and discussion relating to the implementation of a program of ministry within the framework of the local church as well as in various other contexts.
This course will survey various elements of the youth culture and the adolescent experience while considering ways that these elements of culture and experience are addressed by the Gospel of Christ. The course will feature discussion of traditional adolescent issues and a survey of curricula and materials that address these issues.
The ministry of outreach and evangelism is a critical component of any effective youth ministry. This course will examine the biblical bases for evangelistic ministry, the essential components of the evangelistic message, and will survey various modes and means of personal and group evangelism. This course will also focus on developing significant writing skills or students in the major.
This course will explore the value and rationale for youth ministry in the context of wilderness camping. Special emphasis will be placed on the logistics of group camping in the wilderness setting, and how to plan and execute such a trip. Course participants will learn ways of using the wilderness experience for group building, leadership development and personal spiritual growth. The context of the course is a two-week wilderness trip that will include backpacking, rock-climbing and whitewater rafting.
By learning and participating in a small group, students will gain the basic skills necessary for facilitating small groups in a youth ministry context. Through this experience, students will learn how to create an atmosphere where youth can meet together regularly and become committed to each other, to the group, and to growing together in their faith in Christ. Principles of biblical interpretation and Bible study activities appropriate to youth ministry will be explored.
This course is designed to train students in skills necessary for effective youth ministry. This phase of the skills curriculum will focus on creativity, learning styles, event planning, communication skills and techniques. The course will utilize a laboratory approach that begins with instruction and moves into hands-on participation.
This two-semester course will prepare selected students for effective campus ministry as student chaplains, primarily in campus residence halls. Students will be instructed by theory and practice concerning the "internal" facets of campus ministry (e.g., devotional life, spiritual disciplines). The second semester will focus on special topics that impact campus ministry to empower student chaplains to have a more effective ministry in the residence halls.
This two-semester course will prepare selected students for effective campus ministry as student chaplains, primarily in campus residence halls. Students will be instructed by theory and practice concerning the internal facets of campus ministry (e.g., devotional life, spiritual disciplines). The second semester will focus on special topics that impact campus ministry to empower student chaplains to have a more effective ministry in the residence halls.
Using the format of student presentations and peer evaluations, the course will focus on how to teach biblical principles to teenagers. Students will learn how to teach creatively, structure a Bible study, and create and use media in ministry. Prerequisite: minimum grade of "C" in YMIN 207.
This course is designed to cover a wide range of topics and issues related to doing ministry with youth in urban environments. Along with examining urbanism, poverty, culture and context we will also look at youthful counter movements in cities. We will ask questions about the city's appeal to suburban and rural youth, neo-yuppies, gentrification, urban development and renewal. Students in this class will have an opportunity to research and present their findings on a particular urban youth sub-culture and their unfolding vision for doing ministry with that particular group.
This course will focus on some of the "nuts-and-bolts" areas of everyday youth ministry in the parish and para-church setting. Topics examined will range from organizing and administering a youth program to counseling teenagers, the dynamics of team ministry and working with volunteers. Other practical concerns that will be given attention are finances and budgeting, church staff relationships and promotional skills.
Each youth ministry major is required to complete a total of 320 hours (4 semester credits) of ?eld placement. This allows a student to practice and sharpen performance skills in the only setting where they ?nally count, in ministry with the youth themselves. Field placement credits may be earned through summer internships (see 315, 415), one-year, full-time internships (specially arranged through department chairperson) and through part-time placements during the school semester. Opportunities range from working with Young Life or some other para-church ministry, to inner-city ministry, to ministry in a traditional church setting. Students must apply to the department to enter the ?eld placement program. The faculty seeks to help students find suitable placement after they have been accepted into the program. Prerequisite: Permission of the Youth Ministries program director.
Each youth ministry major is required to complete a total of 320 hours (4 semester credits) of ?eld placement. This allows a student to practice and sharpen performance skills in the only setting where they ?nally count, in ministry with the youth themselves. Field placement credits may be earned through summer internships (see 315, 415), one-year, full-time internships (specially arranged through department chairperson) and through part-time placements during the school semester. Opportunities range from working with Young Life or some other para-church ministry, to inner-city ministry, to ministry in a traditional church setting. Students must apply to the department to enter the ?eld placement program. The faculty seeks to help students find suitable placement after they have been accepted into the program. Prerequisite: Permission of the Youth Ministries program director.
This course is designed to help students reflect on a cross-cultural ministry experience to help them integrate their calling to youth ministry and their own identity. Following a practical, hands-on youth ministry experience in a cross-cultural setting overseas for at least one semester, students will enroll in this course for a reflective process in which they will evaluate their personal and ministry experiences from their international ministry setting. Prerequisite: Permission of the Youth Ministries program director.
The call to serve as Christians implies finding new ways of contextualizing the Gospel. This course is designed to encourage students to think creatively when serving in today's world. In order to break stereotyped patterns and allow creativity to emerge, the student will be exposed to different cultural experiences and will reflect on the need to embrace a cross-cultural approach in ministry. This course includes a ten-day spring break trip to a location outside of the United States.
Understanding the dynamics of decision-making, love, finding a life partner, marriage, human sexuality and healthy family living combined with an analysis fo the dysfuntional family, abuse, addiction, disability and divorce. Relating the Gospel to these topics will permeate the course.
The objective of this course will be to review various theoretical approaches to Christian counseling and to apply those approaches to issues that are specific to adolescence: identity formation, spiritual formation, family issues, sex and sexuality, pregnancy, abortion, abuse, delinquency, eating disorders, suicide and substance abuse. Prerequisites: Minimum grades of C in YMIN 102 and PSY 206 or permission of instructor or Youth Ministries program director.
This allows a student to practice and sharpen performance skills in the only setting where they finally count, in ministry with the youth themselves. Field placement credits may be earned through summer internships, one-year, full-time internships (specially arranged through department chairperson) and through part-time placements during the school semester. Opportunities range from working with Young Life or some other para-church ministry, to inner-city ministry, to ministry in a traditional church setting. Students must apply to the department to enter the field placement program. The faculty seeks to help students find suitable placement after they have been accepted into the program. Permission of the Youth Ministries program director is required.
Beginning with a biblical definition of Christian discipleship, special attention is given to identifying what Christian discipleship looks like in the adolescent culture. Students review various components of a ministry of discipleship and examine strategies of discipling youth. The course is an intensive 5 day field trip to view various youth discipleship programs. Students will be charged an additional fee to cover extra food and housing costs for the travel component of the course. Due to the unusual nature of this course, it is offered only in Summer Session.
Using a seminar format, special focus and attention will be given to questions that often emerge in youth ministry: At what point does parental responsibility override a con?dential youth-youth minister relationship? How does one handle various problems of discipline? What is the relationship between para-church and local church youth programs? The course will utilize a case-study approach in exploring some of these issues. The Culminating Senior Experience (CSE) project will be part of this course.
This course will be designed to give students opportunities to exercise their skills in speaking to teenagers. Students will focus on creative teaching methods, curriculum design and various approaches to Bible study (topical, textual, etc.). Class sessions will consist largely of student pres?entations and careful group critique of those pres?entations. Prerequisites: Course is open to youth ministry majors who are in their junior or senior year and have successfully (minimum grades of C) completed YMIN 101, 102, 207 or who have permission of the instructor.
Each youth ministry major is required to complete a total of 320 hours (4 semester credits) of field placement. This allows a student to practice and sharpen performance skills in the only setting where they finally count, in ministry with the youth themselves. Field placement credits may be earned through summer internships (see 315, 415), one-year, full-time internships (specially arranged through department chairperson) and through part-time placements during the school semester. Opportunities range from working with Young Life or some other para-church ministry, to inner-city ministry, to ministry in a traditional church setting. Students must apply to the department to enter the field placement program. The faculty seeks to help students find suitable placement after they have been accepted into the program. Prerequisite: Permission of the Youth Ministries program director.
Each youth ministry major is required to complete a total of 320 hours (4 semester credits) of field placement. This allows a student to practice and sharpen performance skills in the only setting where they finally count, in ministry with the youth themselves. Field placement credits may be earned through summer internships (see 315, 415), one-year, full-time internships (specially arranged through department chairperson) and through part-time placements during the school semester. Opportunities range from working with Young Life or some other para-church ministry, to inner-city ministry, to ministry in a traditional church setting. Students must apply to the department to enter the field placement program. The faculty seeks to help students find suitable placement after they have been accepted into the program. Prerequisite: Permission of the Youth Ministries program director.
Each youth ministry major is required to complete a minimum of 120 hours of internship (beyond field placement). This allows a student to practice and sharpen performance skills in the only setting where they finally count-- in ministry with youth themselves. Internship credits may be earned through summer internships and through part-time placements during the school semester. Opportunities range from working with Young Life or some other para-church ministry, to inner-city ministry, to ministry in a traditional church setting. Prerequisite: Permission of the Youth Ministries program director.