The major in youth ministry offers students an opportunity to make special preparation to serve as youth ministers while laying a strong foundation in a study of the Bible and Bible-related subjects. The purpose of the youth ministry major at OC is to equip students to minister with adolescents and their families.

An OC graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Youth Ministry will be able to:

1. "Know thyself."
2. Plan and lay out a yearly program of activities that reinforce the core values of the Christian faith, the local church, and the youth group.
3. Involve the parents of adolescents and other volunteers in the youth and family program, utilizing their gifts.
4. Refer to parents, authorities, and/or counselors when adolescents are at risk.
5. Share the Gospel specifically using methods to reach adolescents.
6. Disciple and assist adolescents in their spiritual formation.
7. Use and teach scripture effectively.

Student must complete a minimum of 126 hours including the major, core, and minor if required. Elective hours may be needed to reach 126 hours. 

1. 17 hours required core major courses 

• BIBL-2713 - Introduction to Ministry
• BIBL-3013 - Hermeneutics
• BIBL-3203 - Biblical Exegesis
• BIBL-3823 - Counseling for Ministers
• BIBL-4753 - Seminar in Christian Ministry
• BIBL-2512 - Personal Evangelism

2. 3 hours chosen from

• BIBL-3253 - Teaching the Bible

or 

• BIBL-3913 - Homiletics I: Preparation & Delivery of Religious Speeches

3. 6 hours required 

• BIBL-4213 - Teaching the Bible to Adolescents
• YTMN-4823 - Youth Ministry-Teaching Practicum

4. 9 hours chosen from 

• YTMN-2123 - Counseling Adolescents
• YTMN-2213 - Introduction to Youth and Family Ministry As A Profession
• YTMN-2233 - Experiential Teaching Methods in the Outdoors
• YTMN-3113 - Evangelism, Discipleship, and Spiritual Formation With Adolescents
• YTMN-3213 - Models & Programming in Youth Ministry
• YTMN-4113 - Media Culture and Adolescence
• YTMN-4313 - Volunteers, Parents, and Staff in Youth and Family Ministry

5. 3 hours practicum required

• YTMN-4813 - Youth Ministry Internship

6. 3 hours required

• BIBL-3413 - Christian Family

7. 3 hours chosen from 

• FMST-2423 - Parent-Child Relations
• FMST-3913 - Family Development

8. 6 hours psychology courses 

• PSYC-1113 - General Psychology I
• PSYC-3523 - Developmental Psychology

9. 6 hours Old Testament textual courses 

10. 9 hours New Testament textual courses 

11. 6 hours elective textual courses

12. 6 hours, biblical languages

A student must take 6 hours of Greek or 6 hours of Hebrew in addition to the above requirements for the B.A. in Religious Education. 

• GREK-1113 - Elementary Greek I
• GREK-1213 - Elementary Greek II

or 

• HBRW-3113 - Elementary Hebrew I
• HBRW-3213 - Elementary Hebrew II (May also count as Old Testament textual)