Graduate Studies Certificate in Youth and Family Ministry

San Jose

• Youth and family ministry studies 12

  • YMS 501 Understanding Adolescent Development 1 The cognitive, social, moral, and emotional development of adolescents will be explored. Particular emphasis will be given to the tasks, challenges, and crises during adolescence that are relevant to youth ministry, including the implications for the development of faith during the teenage years. 1 credit.
  • YMS 502 Developing a Theological Model for 21st Century Youth Ministry 2 The historical, philosophical, and theological underpinnings of youth ministry will first be introduced. Then popular models of contemporary youth ministry (both congregational and para-congregational) will be described and evaluated. 2 credits.
  • YMS 503 Managing Youth Ministry 2 Specific competencies for leadership and management of youth ministry will be imparted, including the tasks of organizing, equipping, training, program assessment, staff relationships and personnel evaluation. Specific emphasis will be given to developing a growing and multiplying ministry. 2 credits.
  • YMS 504 Communicating to Youth 1 You will develop skill in listening to youth, reading youth culture, and analyzing current contexts of the adolescent experience. This will impart the competencies needed for relating to, speaking to, and entering into the world of a young person with the gospel of Jesus. 1 credit.
  • YMS 505 Issues for 21st Century Youth Ministry 1 You will gain proficiency in engaging contemporary youth issues from a biblical perspective, e.g., sexuality, poverty, globalization, internet, media, multi-culturalism, etc. 1 credit.
  • YMS 506 Spiritual Formation of Youth 1 You will gain insight into effective nurturing of an adolescent's spiritual life through mentoring, spiritual direction, discipleship, and shepherding. You will also gain greater insight into the emergence of adolescent spiritual maturity. 1 credit.
  • EMS 505 Growing Disciples Intentionally 2 Christ commands His children to love God, love people and make disciples (Matt 22:37-40, 28:16- 20). This course will examine the role of the local church and para-church organizations in facilitating, guiding, and nurturing the spiritual growth of believers from infancy through the end of life. The teaching/learning process will be evaluated primarily in terms of intentional growth outcomes in the lives of Christians at all levels of spiritual maturity. 2 credits.
  • FMS 501 Family Ministry in the Church 2 This course will focus on ministry to the contemporary family in and through the church. The role that the church should play in family assimilation will be discussed including the current types of family dysfunction. A solid basis in the theology of family ministry will be examined. Types of ministry best suited to various periods in family life development will be emphasized. 2 credits.

• Open electives 4

Total Credits 16