Youth Ministry
Is a Youth Ministry Major For Me?
Southwestern College’s nondenominational Youth Ministry program is designed for individuals called to serve young people by ministering to and developing their lives as young Christians. The program emphasizes the importance of the role that youth ministers play in guiding young people as they develop emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. As such, the program combines real-world awareness of life’s complexities with a thorough grounding in biblical and theological understanding.
The Youth Ministry program is offered completely online.
Required and Core Courses
Required Major Courses
HRD 210 Building Academic Success
REL124 Introduction to Youth Ministry
PHIL 225 Critical Thinking
REL 424 Applications in Youth Ministry
REL 224 Adolescent Spirituality
PHIL 320 Philosophy of Religion
REL 215 Understanding the Old Testament
REL 216 Understanding the New Testament
REL 324 Teaching Methods in Youth Ministry
REL 333 The Church: Origins to the Middle Ages
REL 334 The Church: Renaissance to the Present
REL 301 Systematic Theology I
REL 302 Systematic Theology II
REL 454 Practicum in Youth Ministry
CLO 499 Responsibility for the Future
Recommended Electives
REL 420 Evangelism
REL 325 Basic Preaching
REL 415 Denominational Heritage and Structure
REL 354 United Methodist History (required for anyone seeking United Methodist Youth Ministry certification)
REL 425 Church Administration and Finance
Course Descriptions
REL124 Introduction to Youth Ministry
An exploratory course that introduces students to the necessary concepts and skills related to youth ministry. The course includes observation in local church and/or para-church youth ministry settings.
PHIL 225 Critical Thinking
This course introduces students to skills necessary for analyzing arguments, which students can then use to determine the strength or soundness of ideas they encounter in their reading. It includes learning to recognize informal fallacies.
REL 424 Applications in Youth Ministry
Comprehensive youth ministry foundational to local church work. Emphasis on equipping learners to practice youth ministry in the local church by exploring a variety of theories, techniques, and resources.
REL 224 Adolescent Spirituality
A course exploring age-relevant existential questions concerning belief in God, religious experience, and young people’s relationships to the church and to each other. It includes an introduction to spiritual disciplines associated with the Christian faith.
PHIL 320 Philosophy of Religion
An inquiry into the general subject of religion from the philosophical point of view. Among the specific questions considered are: the nature, function and value of religion; the validity of the claims of religious knowledge; the nature of evil; and the existence and character of deity.
REL 215 Understanding the Old Testament
A survey of the Old Testament books (Hebrew Scriptures) with focus on appropriate interpretive methods that pastors and youth pastors use to help congregations understand and apply the scriptures. It shows the deep influence of the Old Testament upon the New Testament.
REL 216 Understanding the New Testament
A survey of the New Testament books with focus on appropriate interpretive methods that pastors and youth pastors use to help congregations understand and apply the scriptures. It illustrates the New Testament’s dependence upon the Old Testament.
REL 324 Teaching Methods in Youth Ministry
This course builds on prior learning in youth ministry courses by combining that learning with educational theory, to develop a knowledge base and skill in teaching in youth ministry settings. It includes teaching in groups and one-to-one. (Prerequisite: REL 124)
REL 333 The Church: Origins to the Middle Ages
This course introduces learners to the major movements, personalities and ideas that have shaped Christian thought and practice through the centuries. It also links these matters to issues the contemporary church and world are facing. The course covers the time frame from the church’s beginnings to approximately 1300 CE/AD.
REL 334 The Church: Renaissance to the Present
This course is an extension of REL 333 and follows the same approach; it introduces learners to major thinkers, ideas and movements that shape today’s church and helps students to see their significance for understanding today’s church and world. (Although it is best to take the courses in order, REL 334 may be taken prior to taking REL 333)
REL 301 Systematic Theology I
An introduction to the best practices of Christian thinkers, to equip pastors and youth pastors with interpretive tools for helping people understand the Christian faith. The focus of this course is on methods (critical tools) for the interpretive role of pastor/youth pastor. (Recommended Prerequisite: PHIL 225)
REL 302 Systematic Theology II
A study of the core teachings of the Christian faith and the means by which the church through the centuries has come to organize these teachings. This course shows the deep internal relationships between the various teachings and how they shape both individual and communal Christian life.
REL 454 Practicum in Youth Ministry
The practicum involves real work experience in a youth ministry setting. Practicum should allow significant application of concepts learned throughout the program of study. Approval forms for practicum are available online. The form requires a complete description of the work to be undertaken, the basis for grading, the signatures of the learner, off-campus supervisor, and the supervising instructor. It is to be returned to a Professional Studies office at the time of enrollment for the course.
CLO 499 Responsibility for the Future
Seniors with various majors will share learning and approaches from their different disciplines toward dealing holistically with issues that shape the future, seeking to integrate disciplines and to synthesize knowing, caring, and doing.
All classes are 3 credit hours unless otherwise indicated.
Admission Requirements
Entering students must have earned at least 30 college credits from previous college coursework or ACE evaluated military training, a GPA of 2.0, and have three years of full time work experience. Transfer hours accepted for Professional Studies admittance may include English Composition I and II, and mathematics (college algebra preferred). These courses may be considered in transfer or completed at Southwestern College.
Contact a program representative to evaluate your options.
Graduation Requirements
A total of 124 credit hours must be earned to graduate. You must have at least 60 credit hours from a four-year university or college and at least 30 hours from Southwestern College (does not include prior learning experience credits). Of the 30 hours required from Southwestern, 15 of the last 30 hours earned toward your degree must be at Southwestern College. See your advisor for more information.
Meta
Southwestern College’s Youth Ministry studies program provides learners with preparation for graduate study, for professional study, or for a wide range of occupations for those persons pursuing service within any Protestant Christian denomination.
