Graduate Children & Family
Program Overview
The Master's degree in Children and Family Ministry is designed for the growing number of professionals who minister to the needs of children and families, whether through churches, evangelistic efforts, Christian education settings, professional organizations, or cross-cultural efforts focused upon ministry to children and families. Available in both on- campus and online formats, a strength of the program is the connection between classroom learning, peer interaction, and practical application. The focus of this thirty-six hour program is ministry to children and families in a congregational context with special emphasis on spiritual formation in children, advocacy and care for the special needs of children, discipleship of parents, creation of intergenerational ministry, curriculum and program development, dynamics of staffing leadership, and current trends in children and family ministry.
Objectives
Upon completion of this program the student will be expected to:
- Develop an advanced knowledge in the study, interpretation, and application of the Word of God, especially in relation to ministry to children and families.
- Develop an advanced understanding of the professional insights to be used in the enhancement of ministry to children and families.
- Improve skills relating to the various administrative and leadership processes in children and family ministries
- Demonstrate analytical thinking, especially in relation to the spiritual development of children, the care of special issues in children, and the implementation of family ministry.
- Utilize basic disciplines and methodologies so that independent study of Scriptures may be continued and applied to the furtherance of Christian worldview throughout future generations.
Program Requirements
Each of the following courses : 15 hours
PTH 5113 Research Literature and Technology
CFM 5113 Advanced Leadership of Children and Family Ministries
CFM 5123 Ministering to Children with Challenging Issues
CFM 5133 Strategies for the Spiritual Development of Children
PTH 5123 Family Ministry in the Church
9 hours from the following courses :
(Please notice that the following course selections offer you and emphasis in counseling, education, or both. Each class will enrich your ministry to children and families.)
COU 5413 Marriage and Family Counseling
EDU 5713 Studies in Classroom Management
EDU 5723 Principles & Practices of Early Childhood Education
EDU 5743 Advanced Strategies of Learning
PTH 5473 Ministry Within Cultural Diversity
Electives Component: 12 Hours
12 hours from BIB/PTH/THE and/or COU/PSY/EDU by Graduate Chair approval for the respective programs.
As many
TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS - 36*
Additional Requirements
*Students who have not completed twenty-four hours of Bible/Theology at the undergraduate level will be required to take BIB 5123 Biblical Hermeneutics and THE 5223 Christian World View in a Pluralistic Society. Regardless of the number of Bible/Theology hours previously earned, any student who has not taken a course in Hermeneutics must take the course BIB 5123 Biblical Hermeneutics.
Students must apply for graduation and successfully pass the Graduate Comprehensive Examinations prior to being approved for graduation from the Registrar's office. Application for graduation must be made by the end of late registration in the semester in which the student anticipates to graduate. In order to qualify for a specific graduation date, graduating students must have all program and course requirements completed. Contact the Graduate Studies office for more information.