Youth Ministry Major

Youth Ministry Workshop

General Info:

Howard Payne University is the only University in Texas to offer a Bachelor’s Degree in Youth Ministry. We are pleased to make this claim because we want students to know that we will do all that we can to prepare you for a quality Youth Ministry experience in the local church and in other arenas that relate to Ministry with Students.

What is the purpose of the Youth Ministry Program?

The primary purpose is to prepare students for a local church youth ministry. As with all of the degrees in the School of Christian Studies at Howard Payne, however, our goal is to have you pursue a higher degree of education than just the Bachelor’s level. Additionally, because of the nature of the requirements of the degree you will be prepared on the basic level for any ministry in the church.

Is there anything distinctive about the education a person receives from HPU in general?

We think there is. We have chosen to focus on the practical part of ministry in the church. While we prepare you with a sound Biblical and Theological education, we also give opportunity to do practical ministry as well through a required supervised ministry program as well as through the provision of an avenue for ministry in the surrounding area churches.

What is the focus of the Youth Ministry Degree? 

We believe that Youth Ministry is more than just ministering to students. There is a much larger perspective to Youth Ministry that includes training and nurturing those who lead students in the various programs of the church and helping parents who are in the process of guiding students on a daily basis.  The added emphasis about how a minister must take care of himself/herself both spiritually and professionally combines to provide a balanced approach to youth ministry.

What are some of the Youth Ministry courses that I can expect to take?

“Philosophical Foundations for Youth Ministry” will help you to articulate your philosophy of youth ministry while “Understanding Today’s Youth Culture” will help you navigate the world of youth culture and minister to today’s teenager.   “Survey of Youth Education” gives a broad overview of the many Youth Program/Ministry resources that are available.   “Legal Issues in Youth Ministry” addresses the ever-increasing need for Youth Ministers to know about the liability and practical ideals of the law that impact Youth Ministers.   Every spring we conduct the “Youth Ministry Workshop” which is a practicum on Youth ministry, and in addition to that we have a “Church Recreation” course in which you discover how to develop and maintain a broad program of leisure-time activities in a church setting.   Many guest speakers who practice what is taught in our classes are on campus during every semester.  This is just a small sampling of what you can expect if you attend Howard Payne and pursue a Youth Ministry degree.

How can I get more information about the Youth Ministry Program?

You can request a catalog or you can call Dr. Gary Gramling at 325-649-8404. He will be happy to explain the program and give you even more information.