FSC’s Religion with Concentration in Youth Ministry Program will challenge you to think deeply and critically about Biblical and theological questions of faith, tradition, reason and religious identity and their application and appropriation in youth ministry settings.
As a result, you’ll be prepared for full-time employment in youth ministry settings and for the seminary or graduate programs in religion.
TOP REASONS TO CHOOSE FSC FOR YOUTH MINISTRY
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You will gain practical experiences in Youth Ministry settings throughout your course work and an onsite semester long internship.
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You’ll work with faculty who maintain high standards of excellence, immerse you in the historical critical approach to the Bible, and challenge you to think critically about your faith and religious tradition in a Youth Ministry context.
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FSC’s religion majors boast a 100% placement rate in graduate programs.
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We host two annual endowed lecture series—The Warren W. Willis Lecture in Religion and The Biblical Symposium—that bring outstanding scholars and thinkers to campus.
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Take advantage of study-abroad experiences in places like Turkey, Greece, and Italy.
Engaged learning in the classroom
In your classes, you’ll benefit from a variety of approaches designed to engage your learning. Whether you’re pursuing directed research on your own project, designing multimedia projects, or participating in student-panel discussions, you’ll have the opportunities to move beyond textbooks and actually work with ideas.
The Religion faculty pride themselves on being teacher-scholars who bring a wealth of field experience and expertise to enrich your coursework.
Course Information
FSC’s major offers a curriculum that includes foundational introductory and upper-level courses in Old Testament, New Testament and Theology as well as a course in world religions and a senior capstone seminar. You’ll also complete youth ministry courses such as Teaching and Learning Theories, Leadership and Administration, and Bible and Theology in the Youth Ministry Setting. The program culminates in a semester-long supervised internship in a youth ministry setting.
Our students have interned with:
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Tennessee Annual Conference UMC, Nashville, TN
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St. Andrews UMC, Brandon, FL
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First UMC, Lakeland, FL
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Christ UMC, Lakeland, FL
Clubs & Organizations
Our majors are eligible for induction into
Theta Alpha Kappa, the national honor society for religious studies and theology.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Each year, we award Rising Sophomore, Junior and Senior Merit Scholarships to outstanding students. We also provide need-based scholarships.
Graduate & Professional Opportunities
Youth Ministry graduates are well prepared for vocational youth positions in churches, camps and non-profit settings that focus on bettering the lives of youth in our communities. If you choose to pursue graduate work, our majors are accepted to some of the nation’s top seminaries and graduate programs for religion. They are also awarded some of the most prestigious scholarships available at schools like Candler School of Theology, Duke Divinity School, Yale, Vanderbilt, and Boston School of Theology.
Degree Requirements
Students who pursue the degree with the Concentration in Youth Ministry will build on the solid foundation provided by the above curriculum by critically applying it in the youth ministry setting while also developing an understanding of teaching and learning theories for youth ministry and its leadership and administration. This concentration allows students to advance their understandings of youth ministry through practical applications culminating in an internship.
Religion: Youth Ministry Major Requirements
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A. General Education Requirements |
40 hours |
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B. Major Requirements |
42 hours |
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REL 2215 |
The Old Testament: The Literature, the History, the Religious Ideas |
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REL 2216 |
The New Testament: Its History, Literature, and Theology |
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REL 2218 |
Basic Christian Beliefs |
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REL/PHI 2219 |
World Religions and Philosophies |
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REL 4999 |
Capstone Seminar in Religion |
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RYM 2210 |
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RYM 3310 |
Leadership and Administration for Youth Ministry |
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RYM 4410 |
Bible and Theology in the Youth Ministry Setting |
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RYM 4960 |
Internship |
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or |
Teaching and Learning Theories for Youth Ministry |
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RYM 4961 |
Internship |
One course selected from each of the following three groups:
GROUP 1
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REL 3345 |
The Wisdom Tradition in Ancient Israel |
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REL 4435 |
Prophetic Thought in Ancient Israel |
GROUP 2
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REL 3366 |
Johanine Literature: Gospel, Letters and Apocalypse |
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REL 4416 |
Life and Letters of Paul |
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REL 4446 |
Life and Teachings of Jesus |
GROUP 3
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REL 4428 |
Current Theological Thought |
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REL 4448 |
The Doctrine of God |
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C. Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements |
20 hours |
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D. Electives |
26 hours |
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E. Total |
128 hours |
Course Descriptions
RYM 2210 TEACHING AND LEARNING THEORIES FOR YOUTH MINISTRY
Four hours. An exploration of teaching and learning theories for youth ministry, including but not limited to information processing, group interaction, indirect communication, personal development, action/reflection, transformative education and other theories of education.
RYM 3310 LEADERSHIP & ADMINISTRATION FOR YOUTH MINISTRY
Four hours. An examination of youth leadership processes in the life of the church, including but not limited to group dynamics, planning procedures and practices, recruitment and training of volunteers, the use of curriculum resources, and structuring and planning for youth ministry.
For REL course descriptions, see Religion »
RYM 4410 BIBLE AND THEOLOGY IN THE YOUTH MINISTRY SETTING
Four hours. Prerequisites: One other RYM course and REL 2215 and REL 2216 and REL 2218. An examination of the Bible and theology in the youth ministry setting. The course includes methods for teaching the Bible and theology, the significance of the Bible and theology in the life of the church.
RYM 4960/4961 INTERNSHIP
Four hours. Prerequisite: Senior standing and permission of the instructor. A supervised, semester long work experience in youth ministry in a local church or other approved setting.
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