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
Christian Life, Faith, and Ministry
Introduction to Philosophy
Theology and the Christian Life
Introduction to Biblical Literature: Exodus/Deuteronomy
Luke/Acts
Undergraduate Division Core12
UBBL 3XX/4XX: Upper-division Bible Course 1
Select one of the following:
Practical Ethics 2
Reasons for Faith: Exploring the Rationality of the Existence of God and Christianity
History of Ancient Philosophy
Medieval Philosophy
History of Early Modern Philosophy
History of 19th and 20th Century Philosophy
Ethics
Select one of the following:
Church History: Apostolic Era to the Eve of the Reformation 3
Church History from the Eve of the Reformation to the Present 3
Select one of the following:
Senior Seminar: Church and Society 4
Senior Seminar 4
Senior Seminar: Theology and Social Issues 4
Youth and Family Ministries Major Core24
Writing 2: Writing for Christian Practice 5
Introduction to Practical Theology
Introduction to Contemporary Youth and Family Ministries
Studying and Teaching the Bible
Writing 3: Culture and Ministry 6
Adolescent Development in Family Ministry
Christian Ministry Internship I 7
Christian Ministry Internship II
The Art of Leadership 7
Youth and Family Ministries Core Electives9
Students should select 3 of these 6 classes:
Evangelism and Discipleship
Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling
Suffering: Theological and Practical Perspectives on Disabilities
Race, Reconciliation, and Ministry 8
Christian Values and Human Sexuality 9
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
Anthropology for Everyday Life 1
Intercultural Communication 1
Principles and Practice of Community Engagement 2
Mentoring and Small Groups
Topics in Ministry
Evangelism and Discipleship
Effective Teaching in Christian Education
Intercultural Ministries 1
Ministry to the City
Christian Mission in the 21st Century
Principles of Preaching
Communicating the Gospel
Suffering: Theological and Practical Perspectives on Disabilities
Race, Reconciliation, and Ministry 1
Children's Educational Ministries
Ministry Organization and Administration
Spiritual Transformation
Exegeting the City
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
Anthropology for Everyday Life 1
Intercultural Communication 1
Principles and Practice of Community Engagement 2
Mentoring and Small Groups
Topics in Ministry
Evangelism and Discipleship
Theology and Practice of Ministry
Ministry to the City
Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling
Principles of Preaching
Communicating the Gospel
Suffering: Theological and Practical Perspectives on Disabilities
Race, Reconciliation, and Ministry 1
Children's Educational Ministries
Ministry Organization and Administration
Exegeting the City
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
Anthropology for Everyday Life 1
Intercultural Communication 1
Principles and Practice of Community Engagement 2
Mentoring and Small Groups
Topics in Ministry
Evangelism and Discipleship
Theology and Practice of Ministry
Intercultural Ministries 1
Ministry to the City
Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling
Race, Reconciliation, and Ministry 1
Ministry Organization and Administration
World Religions 1
Introduction to Social Work 2
Social Welfare Policy and Service
Child Welfare
Fundraising, Grant Writing, and Fiscal Decision Making
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. Apply practical theology methodologies in ministry contexts.
  3. Develop a healthy awareness of one’s self, gifts, and/or callings.
  4. Exhibit increased capacities to cultivate inclusive communities.
  5. Demonstrate competence related to skills required for Christian leadership.
  6. Articulate how their maturing theology informs their Christian practice.