Bachelor’s Degree in the Church’s Educational Ministry Requirements

Expected Outcomes:

• Students will be equipped with the skills needed to find employment in the local church in the areas of youth ministry, children’s ministry, or Christian Education.

• Students will be prepared to enter seminary or a graduate program in religion.

Degree Requirements (Semester Hours)

General Education Core

Note: The Core should include

REL 101	History & Literature of the Old Testament	3
REL 102	History & Literature of the New Testament	3
PSY 113	General Psychology	3
PSY 211	Developmental Psychology-Lifespan	3

Additional Required Lower Level Course (3)

REL 241

Introduction to Philosophy

3

Required Upper Level Courses (42)

PSY 308	Psychology of Learning & Cognition	3
REL 325	Introduction to Ethics	3
REL 375	Faith & Popular Culture	3
REL 401	History of Christian Thought	3
REL 415	Intro to Contemporary Christian Theology	3

Choose one of the following (3)

REL 370	Christianity and Unbelief	3
REL 371	Concepts of Being Human	3
REL 380	The Battle for God: Fundamentalism in Religious Life	3

Choose two of the following (6)

REL 301	The Life & Teachings of Jesus	3
REL 311	The Johannine Literature	3
REL 321	The Life & Letters of Paul	3
REL 331	The Wisdom Literature	3
REL 351	Principles of Christian Education	3
REL 366	Leadership in Educational & Formational Ministries	3
REL 368	Administration of an Educational Ministry	3
REL 378	Teaching the Bible	3
REL 382	Curriculum & Instruction in an Educational Ministry	3
REL 425	Senior Seminar in the Church's Educational Ministry	3

Youth Ministry Emphasis OR Children’s Ministry Emphasis (12)

REL 362	Models of Youth Ministry	3
REL 385	Adolescent Faith Development & Discipleship	3
REL 421	Religion Practicum I	3
REL 422	Religion Practicum II	3

REL 421 and REL 422: in youth ministry

Children’s Ministry Emphasis

REL 361	Christian Education for Children	3
REL 364	Models of Children's Ministry	3
REL 421	Religion Practicum I	3
REL 422	Religion Practicum II	3

REL 421 and REL 422: in children’s ministry

Upper Level Electives (Choose from the following) (12)

PSY 321	Theory & Practice of Counseling	3
PSY 406	Disorders of Childhood and Youth	3
SOC 312	Marriage & Family	3
REL 301	The Life & Teachings of Jesus	3
	Or
REL 311	The Johannine Literature	3
	Or
REL 321	The Life & Letters of Paul	3
	Or
REL 331	The Wisdom Literature	3
REL 412	20th Century Continental Philosophy	3
REL 431	The United Methodist Church History & Beliefs	3
REL 440	Religion in America	3
REL 450	The Holocaust in Historical Perspective	3
REL 499	Selected Topics & Readings in Religion	1

REL 301, REL 311, REL 321 and REL 331: if not taken as required upper level hours

Other Electives (0-3)

Total Credit Hours: 121