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From the minute we started the first class, I knew this program was going to be incredible. I am learning so much about God’s Kingdom, ministry, and culture. Being with this group is going to help my ministry tremendously. Not only do I feel better equipped to work with kids, I feel like I can better empower leaders and other staff.

—Certificate Student

Why the Urban Youth Ministry Certificate?

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2010-2012 COHORT ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE UNTIL NOVEMBER 20, 2009

To inquire further about the Urban Youth Ministry program, please share more information with us so our Admissions team can be in touch with you! Note: Please be sure to select “Certificate in Urban Youth Ministry” under the drop-down menu designation for “Program of Interest.”. You may also email us with any questions or to request further information, or call 626.396.6021.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are so glad you are interested in finding out more about our new Certificate in Urban Youth Ministry. We figure you have all sorts of questions about the Certificate so we compiled the following list of Frequently Asked Questions.

1. What exactly is Fuller’s Certificate in Urban Youth Ministry?

2. What are the courses like?

3. How did Fuller decide what to include in the curriculum?

4. What exactly will be studied in the courses?

5. When do I start and when will I finish?

6. How much does the program cost?

7. Can I apply the credits I earn toward a Master’s Degree?

8. What if I don’t have my Bachelor’s degree completed yet?

9. How do I apply for the Certificate or the Credential?

10. What other academic programs are available for Youth Ministry training at Fuller?

11. Who can I contact for more information?

1. What exactly is Fuller’s Certificate in Urban Youth Ministry?

The Certificate in Urban Youth Ministry provides youth workers in urban church and parachurch settings with theological, psychological, and intercultural training vital to effective youth ministry. This unique program offered by the Fuller Youth Institute draws from the expertise of Fuller’s Schools of Theology, Psychology and Intercultural Studies to offer academic training that can be completed with a minimum of time away from ministry commitments.

2. What are the courses like?

The Certificate in Urban Youth Ministry requires the completion of eight master’s-level courses (24 units total) essential for effective youth ministry in urban contexts, including four three-month field education practica conducted in each student’s home ministry area under the supervision of a qualified mentor. In addition to the practica, courses include:

• Theology and Philosophy of Urban Youth Ministry
• The Urban Youth Ministry Leader
• Leadership and Management of Urban Youth Ministry
• Transformational Urban Youth Ministry

Four of the courses are offered as a hybrid of one-week intensives and distance learning that can be completed in the convenience of your own community.

3. How did Fuller decide what to include in the curriculum?

From 2003-2005, FYI conducted over 40 interviews with key urban youth leaders representing organizations like Young Life, Youth for Christ, Vision Youth, Urban Reclaim, the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative, Mission America, the Christian Community Development Association, and the Urban Youth Workers Institute. Fuller faculty then partnered with leaders and ministries nationwide to develop research-based training on topics like:

• An understanding of the developmental assets most pivotal to urban kids and families and case studies of ministries that are doing excellent holistic ministry.
• How to network resources in your city so that youth workers accomplish more working together than they ever could on their own.
• The principles of indigenous leadership development that are tested and really work in urban contexts.
• How to raise funds and financial support for your urban youth ministry.
• Solid counseling skills to help you respond to kids who have been traumatized and are hurting.
• How to design a theologically-grounded ministry plan based on clear outcomes.
• How to evaluate your own ministry so you can keep improving and also show others your tangible results.

4. What exactly will be studied in the courses?

Here’s a list of subjects covered in the six courses:

Course #1: Theology and Philosophy of Urban Youth Ministry

• A theological method to apply to daily life
• Understanding and experiencing the Kingdom of God
• Embracing and communicating through narrative theology/God’s story
• Reaching kids through incarnational evangelism
• Embodying the missional church
• Interacting with culture
• Understanding multicultural issues, racial reconciliation, and ministry

Course #2: The Person of the Urban Youth Worker

Personal needs:

• Learning to walk with Christ in the midst of suffering
• Maintaining health in your own life and family
• Developing boundaries
• Maintaining balance
• Developing your own peer community
• Creating accountability relationships

Ministry needs:

• Mentoring
• Networking
• Understanding and using your spiritual gifts

Course #3: Transformational Urban Youth Ministry

• Adolescent development
• Holistic evangelism and discipleship
• Counseling kids who have been traumatized
• Developing holistic, assets-based ministry
• Exegeting your context, the city
• Networking with other church and parachurch ministries in your city

Course #4: Leadership and Management of Urban Youth Ministry

• Developing and understanding organizational structure
• Developing and communicating vision
• Creating strategic plans
• Developing administrative skills
• Fundraising and resource development
• Nurturing a team
• Raising up indigenous leaders
• Conducting program evaluation

Courses #5-8: Guided Practica to be completed with a mentor.

There will be 4 2-unit practica, each of which will connect and help reinforce and apply the content of the above 4 core courses.

5. When do I start and when will I finish?

In order to create as relational a curriculum as possible, students in the Certificate of Urban Youth Ministry experience the courses as a cohort. For the 2010 cohort, the first course, “Theology and Philosophy of Urban Youth Ministry,” will start in Spring 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The entire course, as well as “The Person of the Urban Leader,” will be offered on-site at Fuller’s Pasadena campus.  We are currently restructuring the dates for next year’s intensive week and will publicize those when available.

The remainder of the “Person of the Urban Leader”  and “Theology and Philosophy” courses will be offered via various distance learning venues (i.e., listening to downloadable lectures or CDs, responding by e.mail) from before and after the one-week intensive (March – June).

The 2 practica related to both courses will consist of a supervised internship (likely in your current ministry setting) with a mentor of the student’s choice during fall quarter 2010 and winter quarter 2011.

The “Leadership and Administration in Urban Youth Ministry” course and “Transformational Urban Youth Ministry” course will be offered in Spring 2011, also during a one-week intensive setting in Pasadena, California . The 2 practica related to these 2 courses will consist of a supervised internship (likely in students’ current ministry settings) with a mentor of the student’s choice during fall quarter 2011 and winter quarter 2012. All coursework would be completed by the end of winter quarter 2012.

6. How much does the program cost?

The cost of the Urban Youth Ministry Certificate is approximately $7,704.00. Thanks to extensive fundraising, we will be able to offer 50% scholarships to all students enrolling in the program, with additional support available to eligible students. This scholarship support is such that students in the 2010-2012 cohort will only pay approximately $3,852 for the entire Certificate (payments will be evenly dispersed over the course of the two years). This is a significant discount! Students are also responsible for their own costs for transportation, lodging (at a discounted rate at accommodations arranged by Fuller), and food for the two face to face gatherings as well as books for all courses. Federal financial aid is not available for this program. However, if the total cost is still prohibitive for you, please let us know and we will continue to help you work toward alternative funding possibilities.  Also note that Fuller has frozen tuition rates for the next two years in order to make it possible for more students to continue their graduate education, so you can be assured that tuition will not go up for the duration of this program.

7. Can I apply the credits I earn toward a Master’s degree?

Although the Certificate is not awarded to students already admitted to degree programs, all courses earned toward a Certificate can be credited toward a degree program upon later admission to that program (if appropriate to the curriculum, and subject to certain degree requirements, such as residency or distance learning limits).

8. What if I don’t have my Bachelor’s degree completed yet?

If you don’t have your Bachelor’s degree yet, you can apply for a parallel program called the Urban Youth Ministry Credential program. As such, you will not technically be a student at Fuller Seminary but rather a student affiliated with the Fuller Youth Institute. You will complete the same work assignments and interact in most all of the same lecture and discussion formats as the Certificate students.

Credential students are encouraged to submit the syllabi from the Credential courses to appropriate undergraduate universities (probably Christian universities or colleges) in the hopes that they, too, will grant undergraduate credit for work completed.  The FYI staff can assist you by providing unofficial transcripts if needed.  Please note that Credential students are not considered official graduate students of Fuller Theological Seminary.

9. How do I apply for the Certificate or the Credential?

Beginning July 15, 2009, you can apply by selecting the appropriate link at the bottom of this page for credential or certificate. Further instructions and the application can be downloaded from there. THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR 2010 is NOVEMBER 20, 2009. This will be the deadline for ALL applications. Further, ALL supporting materials are due by November 30 to complete your file, including transcripts and reference forms.  For both the Certificate and the Credential, each applicant must submit ONE pastoral reference and ALL academic transcripts (official transcript copies must be sent from the schools themselves). Please plan accordingly.

International Students: Please read Fuller’s instructions for the international application process HERE.

10. What other academic programs are available for Youth Ministry training at Fuller?

Currently, our Certificate in Urban Youth Ministry program is our first for-credit academic program operated by the Fuller Youth Institute. However, Fuller also offers a Certificate in Youth Ministry (non-urban), a Master of Arts in Youth, Family, and Culture, a Master of Divinity with a Youth, Family, and Culture concentration, and both PhD and DMin programs in Youth, Family, and Culture. Please visit the Fuller Admissions site for further details about these other outstanding academic programs for youth ministry training.

11. Who can I contact for more information?

If you have questions not addressed already in this list, you may contact the FYI office for further information (fyi@fuller.edu) or call us at 626.396.6021.

To inquire further about the Urban Youth Ministry program, please share more information with us so our Admissions team can be in touch with you! Note: Please be sure to select “Certificate in Urban Youth Ministry” under the drop-down menu designation for “Program of Interest.”

TO APPLY FOR ADMISSION:

Our community has been pinpointed a priority neighborhood by our government because of the youth violence, poverty, poor school ratings and above average single parent homes. Our church is committed to improving the quality of life of those in the surrounding area, but it can be overwhelming trying to figure out where to start. Being able to learn from practitioners who have years of experience and expertise has been an enormous benefit to me. Thank you! As a result of this training, I have been able to help students like Atiba and Clinton move from significant prison sentences to college – from the streets to the classroom. Having the support of quality professors and other urban youth workers has kept me from giving up so many times!

—Certificate Student