Youth Ministry

This program is designed for those who are preparing to enter into lifelong vocational youth ministry. It balances both academic and practical requirements, integrating relevant studies with experience in the field, and emphasizes character development through spiritual formation.

I thought I knew a lot about youth. I had been serving for 8 years as a youth leader, and then intern. I thought I had it down. Then I came to PLBC to become a Youth Pastor, and everything I thought I knew was challenged and reshaped. God has changed my perspective and my heart, and I’m realizing that I don’t know as much as I thought I did! PLBC is changing the way I do youth ministry.

Jesse Tulman

2015 Graduate, Youth Ministry Program

PURPOSE

This program is designed for those who are preparing to enter into lifelong vocational youth ministry. The program is designed to balance both academic and practical requirements, integrating relevant studies with experience in the field, and emphasizes character development through spiritual formation.

PROGRAM LENGTH
    • 129 credit hours
    • 4 years full time
PROGRAM DIRECTOR


Jen Wright

OBJECTIVES

In addition to meeting the learning objectives required for all programs, the Biblical Studies and Youth Ministry Major will enable graduates to:

    1. Know the current issues of adolescent culture.
    2. Communicate the Gospel to adolescents.
    3. Disciple adolescents.
    4. Articulate a biblical and personal philosophy of youth ministry.
    5. Lead a healthy youth ministry in a local church or para-church ministry.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

In addition to completing the 66 credit-hour core, students in this major also take the following:

BIBLE AND THEOLOGY COURSES (12 credit hours)

    • THS 490 Theological Method (3)
    • Bible and Theology Electives (9)
      This includes Bible, Theology, Biblical Language, or Apologetics courses.

MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT COURSES (42 credit hours)

A. Spiritual Formation / Pastoral Ministry Requirement (12 credit hours)

      • PTH 201 Spiritual Formation II (3)
      • PMN 101 Pastoral Ministry (3)
      • PMN 252 Homiletics I (3)
      • PMN 282 Leadership Development (3)

B. Youth Ministry Courses (23 credit hours)

      • YTH 110 Philosophy of Youth Ministry (3)
      • YTH 150 Youth Ministry Seminar I (1)
      • YTH 250 Youth Ministry Seminar II (1)
      • YTH 320 Speaking to Adolescents (3)
      • YTH 330 Adolescent Development and Family Systems (3)
      • YTH 430 Youth Ministry Leadership (3)
      • YTH 440 Youth Crisis and Intervention (3)
      • One of the following (3 credit hours)
        —CED 221 Children’s Ministry (3)
        —CED 301 Christian Education (3)
        —PMN 385 Contemporary Family Dynamics (3)
      • Three credit hours from the following (3 credit hours)
        —YTH 298 Ministry Research Project (1)
        —GEN 192 Food Safe Level I (1)
        —GEN 190 Class 4 Driver’s License (1)
        —GEN 193 Class 2 Driver’s License (1)
        —GEN 194 Standard First Aid (1)
        —GEN 252 Drama Seminar (1)
        —MUS 132 Individual Guitar (1)
        —MUS 182 Individual Guitar (1)
        —MUS 232 Individual Guitar (1)
        —MUS 282 Individual Guitar (1)
        —MUS 142 Live Sound Fundamentals I (1)

C. Practicum Requirements (4 credit hours)

      • YTH 100 Youth Ministry Practicum I (1)
      • YTH 200 Youth Ministry Practicum II (1)
      • YTH 300 Youth Ministry Practicum III (1)
      • YTH 400 Youth Ministry Practicum IV (1)

D. Capstone Requirement (3 credit hours)

      • PTH 499 Senior Seminar (3)

OPEN ELECTIVES (9 credit hours)

PROGRAM LINKS

Program Checklist

Tuition & Fees

PURPOSE

This two-year program is designed for those who are preparing to enter into lifelong vocational youth ministry. The program is designed to balance both academic and practical requirements, integrating relevant studies with experience in the field, and emphasizes character development through spiritual formation.

PROGRAM LENGTH
    • 66 credit hours
    • 2 years full time
PROGRAM DIRECTOR


Jen Wright

OBJECTIVES

In addition to meeting the learning goals and objectives required for all degree programs, the Youth Ministry major will enable graduates to:

    1. Know the current issues of adolescent culture.
    2. Communicate the Gospel to adolescents.
    3. Disciple adolescents.
    4. Articulate a biblical and personal philosophy of youth ministry.
    5. Lead a healthy youth ministry in a local church or para-church ministry.
SPECIALIZATION REQUIREMENTS

In addition to completing the 12 credit-hour core, students of this diploma also take the following:

GENERAL STUDIES (12 credit hours)

    • GEN 100 Personal Resource Management (3)
    • GEN 101 Academic Writing (3)
    • GEN 105 Academic Writing Lab (0)
    • GEN 198 The Christian Mind (3)
      One General Studies Elective (3 credit hours)

BIBLE AND THEOLOGY COURSES (9 credit hours)

    • BIB 252 The Gospels (3)
    • Bible and Theology Electives (6)
      This includes Bible, Theology, Biblical Language, or Apologetics courses.

MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT COURSES (33 credit hours)

A. Spiritual Formation Requirements (9 credit hours)

      • PTH 101 Spiritual Formation I (3)
      • PTH 114 Life and Ministry in Holy Spirit (3) or PTH 325 Evangelism Strategies (3)
      • PTH 201 Spiritual Formation II (3)

B. Youth Ministry Requirements (17 credit hours)

      • YTH 110 Philosophy of Youth Ministry (3)
      • YTH 150 Youth Ministry Seminar I (1)
      • YTH 250 Youth Ministry Seminar II (1)
      • YTH 320 Speaking to Adolescents (3)
      • YTH 330 Adolescent Development and Family Systems (3)
      • YTH 430 Youth Ministry Leadership (3)
      • YTH 440 Youth Crisis and Intervention (3)
      • Youth Ministry Elective (3 credit hours)

C. Practicum Requirements (3 credit hours)

      • YTH 100 Youth Ministry Practicum I (1)
      • YTH 200 Youth Ministry Practicum II (1)
      • YTH 300 Youth Ministry Practicum III (1)

D. Capstone Requirement (1 credit hour)

      • YTH 298 Ministry Research Project (1)
PROGRAM LINKS

Program Checklist

Tuition & Fees

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