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(San Jose & Sacramento campuses)
The Youth Ministry track seeks to develop skilled youth ministry practitioners with a solid biblical and theological foundation. Hence, instruction will be provided by youth ministry practitioners familiar with both biblical and field-tested perspectives.

In addition to the Master of Arts in Specialized Ministry Core Outcomes, the Youth Ministry Track attempts to achieve specific outcomes:

  1. Know the biblical/theological/philosophical basis for the strategy of youth ministry that best fits the context of their ministry.
  2. Know how to study youth culture and adolescent development and make effective application of that knowledge.
  3. Be able to design strategies to effectively reach youth with the Gospel and be an agent of change who contributes to spiritual transformation of youth.
  4. Be able to manage a youth ministry in a skilled manner as part of a team.
  5. Be able to design strategies to effectively incorporate youth into congregational life.

The program requires 60 semester hours of coursework:

Spiritual formation: 6 hours
SFS 501 Learning to Love God and Others (2)
SFS 502 Practicing Prayer and Other Key Disciplines (2)
SFS 504 Growing into Ethical Maturity (2)

Biblical interpretation studies: 16 hours
DBS 506 Learning to Interpret Scripture (4)
BLS 501X Interpreting Old Testament I: Genesis - 2 Samuel (2)
BLS 501Y Interpreting Old Testament II: 1 Kings - Song of Solomon (2)
BLS 502X Interpreting Old Testament III: Isaiah to Malachi (2)
BLS 502Y Interpreting New Testament I: Gospels (2)
BLS 503X Interpreting New Testament II: Epistles 1 (2)
BLS 503Y Interpreting New Testament III: Epistles 2 (2)

Theological studies: 10 hours
THS 501 Knowing the Triune God: Theology I (4)
THS 502 Glorifying the God of our Salvation: Theology II (4)
THS 503 Living as the Community of the Spirit: Theology III (2)

Ministerial core studies: 12 hours
Required—4 hours:
DMS 501 Thinking Theologically about Ministry (2)
DMS 506 Developing Godly Leadership for the 21st Century (2)
Restricted electives—Select 8 hours from among the following:
DIS 501 Communicating Christ in Culture (2)
DMS 502 Introducing Theology and Practice of Worship (2)
EMS 505 Growing Disciples Intentionally (2)
PTS 503 Practicing Evangelism and Apologetics (2)
PTS 504 Maximizing the Church’s Redemptive Influence (2)
PTS 507 Providing Pastoral Counseling (2)
PTS 508 Developing Strong Families (2)
PTS 510 Preparing and Preaching Expository Sermons (2)

Mentored Ministry: 6 hours
MFM 500 Discovering/Developing Your Ministry Potential (2)
MFM 501/504 Mentored Field Ministry (1+1+1+1)
(see program advisor for MFM/practicum details)

Specialization track: 8 hours
Select 8 hours from the courses below, or related electives with advisor approval:
YMS 501 Understanding Adolescent Development (1)
YMS 502 Developing a Theological Model for 21st Youth Ministry (2)
YMS 503 Managing Youth Ministry (2)
YMS 504 Communicating to Youth (1)
YMS 505 Issues for 21st Century Youth Ministry (1)
YMS 506 Spiritual Formation of Youth (1)
CNS 546 Counseling Adolescents (1)

Open electives: 2 hours

Total: 60 hours

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