BA in Youth and Family Ministries

APU’s youth and family ministries major helps students develop a personal philosophy of ministry based on their strengths and calling to apply in future church leadership roles.

54 units

The youth and family ministries major trains, equips, and educates students to effectively reach and minister to adolescents in an increasingly diverse global context. This major is built upon the premise that effective youth work requires the youth worker to be a student of God’s Word, culture, and adolescence. This premise is reflected in a curriculum that includes a 33-unit ministry core (including 9 units of electives), a 9-unit concentration, and the traditional liberal arts curriculum required for an accredited bachelor’s degree. Upon completion of this Bachelor of Arts in Youth and Family Ministries, students are equipped to step into youth and family ministry contexts and/or graduate programs.

Successful completion of the major requires a 2.5 cumulative GPA in all courses required for the major.

Requirements

Specific General Education Requirements for Youth and Family Ministries Majors
MIN 108
Christian Life, Faith, and Ministry
PHIL 100
Introduction to Philosophy
THEO 200
Theology and the Christian Life
UBBL 100
Introduction to Biblical Literature: Exodus/Deuteronomy
UBBL 230
Luke/Acts
Undergraduate Division Core12
UBBL 3XX/4XX: Upper-division Bible Course 1
Select one of the following:
PHIL 301
Practical Ethics 2
PHIL 303
Reasons for Faith: Exploring the Rationality of the Existence of God and Christianity
PHIL 315
History of Ancient Philosophy
PHIL 316
Medieval Philosophy
PHIL 320
History of Early Modern Philosophy
PHIL 325
History of 19th and 20th Century Philosophy
PHIL 330
Ethics
Select one of the following:
THEO 352
Church History: Apostolic Era to the Eve of the Reformation 3
THEO 354
Church History from the Eve of the Reformation to the Present 3
Select one of the following:
MIN 496
Senior Seminar: Church and Society 4
PHIL 496
Senior Seminar 4
THEO 496
Senior Seminar: Theology and Social Issues 4
Youth and Family Ministries Major Core24
WRIT 200
Writing 2: Writing for Christian Practice 5
or MIN 206
 Introduction to Practical Theology
MINY 203
Introduction to Contemporary Youth and Family Ministries
MINY 226
Studying and Teaching the Bible
MIN 300
Writing 3: Culture and Ministry 6
MIN 301
Adolescent Development in Family Ministry
MIN 401
Christian Ministry Internship I 7
MIN 402
Christian Ministry Internship II
MIN 417
The Art of Leadership 7
Youth and Family Ministries Core Electives9
Students should select 3 of these 6 classes:
MINC 253
Evangelism and Discipleship
MINC 370
Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling
MINC 420
Suffering: Theological and Practical Perspectives on Disabilities
MINC 430
Race, Reconciliation, and Ministry 8
MINY 400
Christian Values and Human Sexuality 9
MINY 403
Adolescent Issues and Intervention 9
Concentration9
Students must choose a concentration below
Total Units54
1

This is in addition to the General Education upper-division Bible requirement; students must choose one of the other upper-division courses offered by the department.

2

Meets the General Education Civic Knowledge and Engagement requirement.

3

Meets the General Education Theology requirement.

4

Meets the General Education Integrative and Applied Learning requirement.

5

WRIT 200 meets the General Education Writing 2 requirement.

6

Meets the General Education Writing 3 requirement.

7

MIN 401 and MIN 417 require concurrent enrollment. 

8

Meets the General Education Intercultural Competence requirement. 

9

Students majoring in Youth and Family Ministries will be advised to take MINY 400 and MINY 403 to fulfill two of their core electives.

Concentrations

Beyond core requirements for the youth and family ministries major, students must choose a concentration. Based on a student’s primary interests, the choice of a concentration enables the student to begin to prepare for professional work in related ministry fields and affords the student the opportunity to work in ministry settings that accentuate his/her strengths, abilities, and passions. One concentration must be chosen from those listed below. Concentration courses cannot double-count with major core or core elective courses.

Church and Pastoral Ministries Practices

MINC 318Theology and Practice of Ministry3
MINC 370Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling3
Select one of the following:3
GLBL 201
Anthropology for Everyday Life 1
GLBL 260
Intercultural Communication 1
GLBL 355
Principles and Practice of Community Engagement 2
MIN 350
Mentoring and Small Groups
MIN 495
Topics in Ministry
MINC 253
Evangelism and Discipleship
MINC 326
Effective Teaching in Christian Education
MINC 330
Intercultural Ministries 1
MINC 346
Ministry to the City
MINC 405
Christian Mission in the 21st Century
MINC 408
Principles of Preaching
MINC 416
Communicating the Gospel
MINC/SOCW 420
Suffering: Theological and Practical Perspectives on Disabilities
MINC 430
Race, Reconciliation, and Ministry 1
MINC 446
Children's Educational Ministries
MINC 456
Ministry Organization and Administration
MINC 467
Spiritual Transformation
MINC 487
Exegeting the City
RELG 200
World Religions 1
Total Units9
1

Meets the General Education Intercultural Competence requirement. 

2

Meets the General Education Civic Knowledge and Engagement requirement. 

Intercultural Christian Ministries

MINC 330Intercultural Ministries 13
MINC 405Christian Mission in the 21st Century3
Select one of the following:3
GLBL 201
Anthropology for Everyday Life 1
GLBL 260
Intercultural Communication 1
GLBL 355
Principles and Practice of Community Engagement 2
MIN 350
Mentoring and Small Groups
MIN 495
Topics in Ministry
MINC 253
Evangelism and Discipleship
MINC 318
Theology and Practice of Ministry
MINC 346
Ministry to the City
MINC 370
Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling
MINC 408
Principles of Preaching
MINC 416
Communicating the Gospel
MINC/SOCW 420
Suffering: Theological and Practical Perspectives on Disabilities
MINC 430
Race, Reconciliation, and Ministry 1
MINC 446
Children's Educational Ministries
MINC 456
Ministry Organization and Administration
MINC 487
Exegeting the City
RELG 200
World Religions 1
Total Units9
1

Meets the General Education Intercultural Competence requirement.

2

Meets the General Education Civic Knowledge and Engagement requirement.

Ministry in Urban and Social Service Contexts

MINC/SOCW 420Suffering: Theological and Practical Perspectives on Disabilities3
MINC 487Exegeting the City3
Select one of the following:3
GLBL 201
Anthropology for Everyday Life 1
GLBL 260
Intercultural Communication 1
GLBL 355
Principles and Practice of Community Engagement 2
MIN 350
Mentoring and Small Groups
MIN 495
Topics in Ministry
MINC 253
Evangelism and Discipleship
MINC 318
Theology and Practice of Ministry
MINC 330
Intercultural Ministries 1
MINC 346
Ministry to the City
MINC 370
Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling
MINC 430
Race, Reconciliation, and Ministry 1
MINC 456
Ministry Organization and Administration
RELG 200
World Religions 1
SOCW 250
Introduction to Social Work 2
SOCW 251
Social Welfare Policy and Service
SOCW 351
Child Welfare
SOCW 400
Fundraising, Grant Writing, and Fiscal Decision Making
SOCW 410
Family Violence
Total Units9
1

Meets the General Education Intercultural Competence requirement.

2

Meets the General Education Civic Knowledge and Engagement requirement.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this program shall be able to:
  1. Demonstrate proficiency in communication.
    2.
  2. Apply practical theology methodologies in ministry contexts.
    3.
  3. Develop a healthy awareness of one’s self, gifts, and/or callings.
    4.
  4. Exhibit increased capacities to cultivate inclusive communities.
    5.
  5. Demonstrate competence related to skills required for Christian leadership.
    6.
  6. Articulate how their maturing theology informs their Christian practice.