Ministry and Church Leadership Certificate Program

Jamie Webster, Director/Interim Campus Minister and Coordinator

The Certificate Program in Ministry and Church Leadership is designed to equip students with a set of intellectual and practical skills that will help to prepare them for future work in ministry. Though this program is not a substitute for later professional or graduate study, it offers valuable academic and practical preparation for various forms of ministry, such as, youth ministry, social outreach, and other forms of parish and pastoral work. The College will award the Certificate to students who successfully complete all program requirements as well as the requirements for graduation. Typically, all requirements for the major and the certificate program can be completed in a normal four-year course of study. The Certificate Program is open to students from all majors.

The Campus Minister serves as the Director of the Certificate Program. Students work with the Director and with their faculty advisor to select appropriate courses and coordinate the requirements of the Certificate Program in relation to their other academic requirements. The internship component of the Program is arranged in consultation with the Director. Students interested in pursuing ministry in a non-Christian religious tradition will consult with the Director to identify appropriate course substitutions.

Ministry and Church Leadership Certificate Requirements:

Students are required to complete the following five components:

Certificate-Related Course Requirements

PHR 235	Group Facilitation	3
REL 228	Introduction to Christian Theology	3

An additional course in Biblical Studies:

REL 130	Hebrew Bible World and Culture	3
	Or
REL 140	The New Testament World and Culture	3

One additional course outside of the student’s major selected from the following: (3 Credit Hours):

BUS 201	Principles of Management	3
PSY 211	Child Development	3
PSY 218	Adolescent Development	3
PSY 222	Adult Development and Aging	3
PSY 333	Theories and Techniques in Counseling	3
SOC 215	Sociology of Marriage and Family	3
SOC 315	Social Inequality	3
REL 211	The American Religious Experience	3
REL 212	World Religions	3
REL 325	Sociology of Religion	3

And a supervised and reflective internship in a church/ministry setting - Students will engage in a semester-long supervised internship experience in a local/selected church context. In addition to working with a supervisor in the selected setting, the student will also meet regularly with the Director to engage in reflection and discussion about the nature and various dimensions of ministry. The internship will usually take place in the student’s junior or senior year. Depending on a student’s major, this internship may or may not be taken for credit.