College of Arts & Sciences Catalog
Youth Ministry
The Youth Ministry program at Bethel is dedicated to developing leaders who have skills, training, and spiritual commitment for incarnational ministry to today’s adolescents in a variety of cultural settings. In this program, students prepare for the professional field of youth ministry, including careers in church, camp, and parachurch ministries. Studies in youth ministry also prepare students for seminary or other graduate studies, and enrich the life and ministry of the church by equipping lay people with tools and skills for effective service as youth ministry volunteers.
Courses
YOM200 • Foundations of Ministry (fall) 4 credits
Introduction to the theology and practice of Christian ministry. Presents a conceptual, theological, and biblical understanding of all ministry, lay and ordained. Opportunity to develop a usable, working philosophy of ministry and a model for critical thinking about the practice of ministry in the contemporary setting. Prerequisites: BIB101 (may be taken concurrently); sophomore standing.
YOM210 • Adolescent Development in the Context of Family (spring) 3 credits
Examination of adolescent development and family dynamics. Emphasis on understanding adolescent development in the cognitive, physical, psycho-social, and spiritual arenas, along with examining family development and family dynamics. Focus on application of practical youth ministry. Prerequisite: YOM200.
YOM231 • Youth Ministry in an Urban Context (occasionally interim) 3 credits
Experiential course designed to introduce the student to youth and youth ministry in an urban, multicultural context. Using an urban context as a lab, students study adolescents and ministry to adolescents in the inner city. Experiences include shelters for the homeless, urban religious life, and urban youth ministry centers as well as the cultural life of a major metropolitan center.
YOM250 • Sophomore Practicum (fall) 2 credits
Introduction to youth ministry through supervised participation in a church program. Emphasis on broad exposure to aspects of youth ministry and participation in selected activities coupled with reflection and discussion in a seminar setting. Self- and supervisor-evaluation of youth ministry as a career choice. Prerequisite: Must be taken in the same academic year as YOM200.
YOM310 • Understanding Adolescent Cultures (fall, odd # years) 3 credits
Investigation of culture and cultural dynamics with an emphasis on what culture is and how to analyze it. A study of the role of teenage youth as culture makers and culture bearers, and the dynamics of ministry in a youth cultural setting. Prerequisite: YOM210 or equivalent.
YOM315 • Faith Development of Youth (spring) 3 credits
Dynamics of spiritual development of youth. Emphasis on spiritual formation of both the minister and those to whom he or she ministers and the interrelatedness of these; evangelism and discipleship; counseling and referral. Prerequisite: YOM210 or equivalent.
YOM320 • Organizational Issues in Youth Ministry (fall, even # years) 3 credits
The organization of a ministry program for youth in a local church. Development of skills in the areas of personal and ministry organization including special emphasis on leadership, time management, volunteers, budgets, administration and legal issues, working with a pastoral staff and congregation, denominational issues, and identity. Prerequisite: YOM200.
YOM321 • Issues in Youth Ministry (spring) 3 credits
Theological and practical introduction to the application of biblical studies and social science research to issues confronting youth ministers. Review of exegetical methods and major research approaches as applied to investigation and analysis of significant contemporary problems in light of biblical, theological, and social science perspectives. Prerequisites: YOM200; YOM210; THE201; Interpreting Biblical Themes (J) course.
YOM340 • Teaching and Programming Skills in Youth Ministry (fall, even # yrs) 3 credits
Development of programs, curriculum, and strategies for communicating with youth including understanding youth needs, the use of small group teaching and activities, music and worship, and camps and retreats. Prerequisites: YOM200; YOM210.
YOM403 • Senior Practicum (fall) 3 credits
Placement in a church setting under the direct supervision of an experienced youth minister or senior pastor. Emphasis upon application of course work, participation in all aspects of youth ministry, self- and supervisor-evaluation of strengths and weaknesses. Prerequisites: Acceptance into youth ministry program; senior standing.
YOM404 • Senior Practicum (spring) 3 credits
Placement in a church setting under the direct supervision of an experienced youth minister or senior pastor. Emphasis upon application of course work, participation in all aspects of youth ministry, self- and supervisor-evaluation of strengths and weaknesses. Prerequisites: Acceptance into youth ministry program; senior standing.
Program
In this section, semester credit hours will be shown after the course number and description.
Major in Youth Ministry (B.A.)
| YOM200 | Foundations of Ministry | 4 |
| YOM210 | Adolescent Development in the Context of Family | 3 |
| YOM250 | Sophomore Practicum | 2 |
| YOM310 | Understanding Adolescent Cultures | 3 |
| YOM315 | Faith Development of Youth | 3 |
| YOM320 | Organizational Issues in Youth Ministry | 3 |
| YOM321 | Issues in Youth Ministry | 3 |
| YOM340 | Teaching and Programming Skills in Youth Ministry | 3 |
| YOM403 | Senior Practicum | 3 |
| YOM404 | Senior Practicum | 3 |
| BIB210 | History of Israel | 4 |
| BIB217 | Significance of the Old Testament for Today | 3 |
| BIB260 | The Life and Teachings of Jesus | 4 |
| BIB265 | The Life and Teachings of Paul | 4 |
| Choose from: | 3 | |
| GES450P* | Reconciliation in a Racialized Society | |
| SOC342G* | Race, Ethnicity, and Peacemaking | |
| SOW327G* | Social Relations: Issues of Power and Privilege in the U.S. | |
| Choose from: | 6-8 | |
| REL225L* | New Religious Movements | |
| THE235 | Current Theological Controversies | |
| THE256L* | Christian Apologetics | |
| THE263 | Christian Social Ethics | |
| Or any 300- or 400-level | Bible or Theology course listed under the BTS major options. | |
| Choose from: | 3-4 | |
| ANT310, 311 | Frogtown Urban Experience I & II | |
| ANT381G* | Urbanism: A Way of Life | |
| SCS229U* | Interaction with Urban Life and Systems | |
| YOM231* | Youth Ministry in an Urban Context | |
| Total | 57-60 | |
| General Education | 51-52 | |
| Electives | 10-14 | |
| TOTAL | 122 |
* A student may also choose to use this course to meet a General Education requirement.
Program Admission Procedure
To be formally accepted into the youth ministry program, the student must:
- Complete an application for admission to the youth ministry program.
Application forms will be distributed at the beginning of
the course YOM250 Sophomore Practicum.
- Supply with the completed application: a) an essay, “Why I Am Choosing a Youth Ministry Major” and b) two letters of reference—one from a Bethel University faculty person outside the youth ministry program and a second from a pastor or other adult outside Bethel.
Application should be submitted by the end of the first month that a student is enrolled in YOM250. Acceptance to the program will be finalized by mid-term of the following semester. Periodic reviews during the period of application will inform the student of progress toward finalization, and the student may self-select out of the process at any time.