Course Descriptions

This course introduces students to youth ministry covering various ministry contexts. It covers historical as well as contemporary youth ministry concepts. A broad spectrum of issues are introduced including theological foundations, traditional and nontraditional youth ministry, globalization, urbanization and multicultural perspectives, adolescent development, family, culture, and the minister as a person and Christian.

This course provides an introduction to YoungLife, as well as a theological and practical foundation for students interested in Young Life leadership. Students investigate the theology of the incarnation and evangelism, and begin to develop a personal theology of ministry. Site visits to local schools and YoungLife clubs, coupled with relevant readings, will expand students' understanding of the complexities of current adolescent culture. Prerequisite: MIN 108

Building upon MINY 172, this course further equips YoungLife leaders by challenging students to engage various theological topics, promoting their own understanding and spiritual formation. Students develop the ability to articulate their own faith, as well as the theological foundations informing it. Following the YoungLife format, students construct and deliver several club talks. Practical issues such as time management, logistics, legal issues, and dealing with difficult adolescent/family issues are addressed. Prerequisite: MINY 172

This course helps students develop skills in biblical exegesis and teaching biblical principles to youth. Emphasis is placed upon evaluating students' ability to teach Bible in settings both inside and outside the classroom. Prerequisites: MIN 108, UBBL 100 or UBBL 230; or department permission

This course examines biblical, theological, philosophical, and psychological foundations of sports ministry. The course includes a brief history and philosophy of sports ministry, including successful and unsuccessful models beginning with New Testament models for using sports in ministry to the present formation of the National Association of Church Sports and Recreational Ministries (NACRSM). Theology foundations include a theology of competition, victory, unity, character formation, and sportsmanship.

This course examines the mandate of the Gospels in the Great Commission to "make disciples" within the culture of modern athletics and in the context of sports ministry. Students learn the skills to effectively use sports recreation as vehicles to accomplish the ministry of evangelism and discipleship.

This course provides students with the practical and theoretical resources to be an effective leader of sports ministry programs in church and parachurch settings. Students are provided with academic experiences both inside and outside the classroom to be proficient in program development and implementation, budgeting, goal setting, ministry evaluation, and staffing. Prerequisites: PSYC 290, UBBL 100, MINY 305 or MINY 310; or department permission

This course involves an interdisciplinary examination of physiological, sociocultural, psychological, and theological bases of human behavior with attention devoted to student's development of a personal perspective toward sexuality that integrates Christian values and moral integrity. Students learn to assess and understand an adolescent's sexual develoment, problems, and issues that relate to sexological and moral development. Prerequisites: MIN 108, MIN 200, MIN 301, or department permission

This course introduces the student to the basic skills and practice of counseling adolescents. The course serves as counseling "first-aid", meaning that students learn basic helping skills but do not qualify as professional counselors. Students are exposed to counseling issues and problems that grow out of the development process, disorders that begin with/are unique to adolescence, and intervention, prevention, and referral strategies. Students also examine a philosophy of counseling from a practical theology and biblical perspective. Prerequisite: MIN 301

This course develops students' abilities to develop and implement a philosophy of ministry. Emphasis is placed upon the theological, philosophical, and practical viability of various current youth ministry philosophies and identifying unique philosophical emphases relevant to particular contexts. Prerequisite: CMIN 206 or instructor's permission

This course helps students understand the interplay among culture in general, youth culture, and evangelism. Since cultural forces are constantly shifting, emphasis is placed on ethnographic principles and practices to help understand and share the Gospel in a specific youth context. Prerequisite: YMIN 406 or instructor's permission

This course integrates theories and praxis learned in course study with hands-on leadership experiences while under the supervision of an APU professor and ministry professionals. Students serve in a sports ministry setting (either church or mission agency) at least 72 hours during the semester while also participating in a small group to facilitate reflection, mentoring, and growth. Prerequisites: MINY 305, MINY 310, MINY 320, or department permission

This course integrates theories and praxis learned in course study with hands-on leadership experiences while under the supervision of an APU professor and ministry professionals. Students serve in a sports ministry setting (either church or mission agency) at least 72 hours during the semester while also participating in a small group to facility reflection, mentoring, and growth. Prerequisite: MINY 451 or department permission

This course connects seniors pursuing a sports ministry concentration with the world of the professional sports minister.

This course engages in a focused and intensive study of particular topics of direct relevance and urgency in the practice of youth ministry. Topics vary from semester to semester, and this course may be taken more than once as topics change.