Youth & Young Adult Ministry

CML 102 – Foundations of Ministry & Discipleship

This course introduces students to biblical and philosophical foundations of ministry by examining God’s global mission and our place as individuals and communities within His work. Particular attention will be given to how God’s people join with the Mission of God both locally and globally. Students will examine both their personal call to fulltime vocational ministry and healthy habits of discipleship and spiritual formation.

YMN 101 – Introduction to Youth and Young Adult Ministry

This course is designed to develop the academic, personal, and life management skills necessary for student success in an undergraduate program of ministry preparation. Students will identify their ministry goals, personal strengths, and areas for development. Students will gain an appreciation for the multifaceted process of training for vocational ministry and will develop key relationships with peers, academic advisors, and ministry practitioners.

YMN 110 – Adolescent Development in Culture

This course explores the physical, cognitive, moral, social and spiritual development of adolescents. Special attention will be given to variances between high and low culture, pop culture dynamics, macro, exo, and micro system influences, and teenage tensions related to the fluidness of technology and morality in today’s culture. Lectures and discussions will explore the relationships between adolescent development and culture and ensuing implications for valid ministry.

YMN 201 – Teaching Youth and Young Adults

This course is designed to help students develop skills in public speaking, curriculum planning, and small group facilitation within youth and young adult ministry contexts. Principles of interpretation (hermeneutics) and message-crafting (homiletics) will be taught and applied. Students will assess the spiritual and developmental needs of adolescents and produce lessons that are both faithful to the message of scripture and contextually applicable to youth and young adults in contemporary culture.

YMN 210 – Theological Foundation of Youth Ministry

This course provides an in depth look at the biblical, theological, historical, and philosophical foundations of Youth Ministry. Models and trends of youth ministry in Contemporary American church and parachurch contexts will also be examined. Special attention is given to the development of youth and young adult ministry mission statements, values, objectives, and strategy.

YMN 350 – Youth and Young Adult Ministry Internship

This course is an in-service program designed for the purpose of providing direct experience under the mentorship of a qualified professional. The internship is built on the educational principles of instruction, application, and evaluation, by placing students in a supervised period of learning in the context of actual ministry. This experience will enable students to grow in the understanding of their calling to ministry, personal leadership skills, and ability to analyze and evaluate objectively the effectiveness of their efforts. In addition, students profit from the evaluations of experienced professionals concerning their skills, attitudes, and understanding.

CML 330 – Discipleship Development in Camping Ministry

This course is designed to explore the making of disciples in a camping ministry setting. Through experience-based learning in the context of camping ministry, each student will learn basic principles about nature, personal worship, and outdoor living skills. Special attention will be given to personal formation balanced with the external skill sets needed to disciple effectively in a camp setting.

PCN 307 – Adolescent Therapy

The Adolescent Therapy course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of counseling adolescents. This course will address common issues facing the youth culture, development issues, approaches to counseling methods, and special topics pertaining to adolescents. In addition to assigned readings, class presentations and discussion of the outlined material, students will be afforded the opportunity to research and address issues of special interest to them.

YMN 401 – Adolescent Spiritual Formation

This course will develop skills in personal discipleship and leading discipleship movements in youth and young adult ministries. Biblical, theological, and philosophical foundations of spiritual formation are explored and various methods and models of discipleship are analyzed and applied. Particular attention is given to the spiritual formation of adolescents as students are equipped to lead discipleship and spiritual formation programs.

YMN 310 – Ministering to Families

This course will help students to understand family structures, become sensitive to varying family needs, and learn key approaches to providing ministry to families, both personally and programmatically in church ministry contexts.