HardingUniversity BFAM333Youth&FamilyMinistry

Syllabus for YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an introduction to Youth and Family Ministry.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
to grow in our relationship with God, acknowledging Him as the source from which our lives and ministries must flow
to encourage theological reflection about youth ministry leading to appropriate action
to pursue deeper understanding of the ever-changing cultural context of teenagers
to explore developmental issues of adolescents
to encourage passion for ministry in the name of Christregardless of career choice
to equip for youth ministry through the compilation of appropriate resources
to consider various models for youth and family ministry in the local church context

REQUIRED TEXTS
The Bible (both Old and New Testament)
Powell, Kara and Chap Clark, Sticky Faith, Zondervan, 2011.
Mark Devries, Sustainable Youth Ministry, Intervarsity, 2008.
Fields, Doug, Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry, Zondervan, 2002.
Elmore, Tim, Generation iY, Poet Gardener, 2010, updated, 2015.
GRADING AND REQUIREMENTS 90100% A
Reading Quizzes 120 pts
8089% B
Exams 150 pts
7079% C
Group Calendar 50 pts
6069% D
Individual Practical Projects 200 pts
Pastoral Principles/Take Home Final 50 pts 59%andbelow F
Total 570 pts

Individual Practical projects (200 points)

Required (50 points)
Philosophy of Ministry
Choose 2 (15 points each)
40 hour week planner (vocation)
5 year plan (vocation)
Plan a retreat
Spiritual discipline plan
YM model position paper
Create a lesson plan on an approved topic
Other
Choose 3 (10 points each)
Create a teen ministry budget
Interview a teen, youth minister or teen parent
Create a Bible study
Visit a teen setting and make observations
Read an approved article and write a 2 paragraph summary
Create a rite of passage
Other
Choose 2 (10 pts each)
Create an approved PPT or PREZI presentation
Suggestions: Spiritual Parenting, Step families and ministry, Spiritual formation, History of YM, YM in scripture,
Generations summary, YM models, etc
Book Review (50 points)
Write a 5 page review of an approved youth ministry book.
20 points (choose 1)
o Majors: ym notebook
o Non- majors: Write a 5 page paper on the biblical model of creating disciples.

LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICY

Late assignments for any reason receive credit.
On the day an exam closes all missing assignments up to that point will be entered as a zero and will no longer be accepted.
If you miss a quiz and it is an excused absence, you may turn in a 2-3 page, single-spaced, typed summary and reflection of
the reading assignment at the beginning of the next class period. The make-up assignment will be graded based on
thoroughness and grasp of the material.
ATTENDANCE
1. Responsible participation in a Bible class is an integral part of the Harding experience.

2. Though you are encouraged to be present for each of our class meetings this semester, you are allowed the equivalent of one
weeks of unexcused absences (for a daily class, that is five; for a MWF, that is three, for a TTh class, that is two, for a night
course, one). Use them responsibly. The instructors of this course intend to record attendance each day.

3. Three (3) tardies count as one unexcused absence. If you are late to class it is your responsibility to see that you are not
charged with an absence. Tardies must be registered on the day you are late to class.

4. Each unexcused absence beyond that will be penalized as follows (assuming a100 point scale for course grading):

For daily classes: 2 points off the final grade

For MWF classes: 3 points off the final grade

For TR classes: 4.5 points off the final grade

For weekly classes: 9 points off the final grade

5. When students accumulate unexcused absences totaling at least 20% of the total class meetings (the equivalent of three
weeks) for the semester, they will be given a grade of WF for non-attendance (a WF - Withdrawn Failing) and referred to
the office of the Vice-President of Academic Affairs where they will received further discipline for violation of academic
policy. See the catalog for further clarification.

6. If a student accumulates two WFs in Bible courses due to excessive absences, this will result in a Bible attendance
suspension for at least one semester.

7. For an absence to be excused, the instructor of this course must receive written confirmation from the appropriate source
within one week of the students return to class. (Excuses are issued by the school nurse, the Vice President for Academic
Affairs, a coach, or a sponsor and reported in Pipeline. Absences are not excused until posted in Pipeline.)

8. In addition to the above, the instructor of this course reserves the right to discern whether or not a student is taking advantage
of the attendance policy.

9. If a student leaves class without prior permission of the teacher, it will be counted as an unexcused absence.

10. If a student puts his/her head on the desk and sleeps during class, it will be counted as an absence.

11. A student preoccupied text-messaging is emotionally and intellectually not in sync with the learning environment. A student
found text-messaging or giving the appearance of text-messaging (ie: looking down at ones lap just under the edge of the
desk) will be counted absent. This form of absence carries with it the same penalties as an actual absence.

12. Whether an absence is excused or unexcused the student is responsible for the class material and assignments

CONSULTATION: I am here to serve in any way that I can. I do not have set office hours during the week, but will be available
before or after class with an appointment in advance. Additionally, I can be reached via email if you have any questions or concerns.

TECHNOLOGY
Cell phones should not be used in class. They should turned off or turned to silent mode.
Emailing, instant-messaging, facebooking, text-messaging, internet browsing, or updating your organizer on your cell phone
or laptop are not allowed in class. This includes when guest speakers are present.

ASSESSMENT
Harding University, since its charter in 1924, has been strongly committed to providing the best resources and environment for the
teaching-learning process. The board, administration, faculty, and staff are wholeheartedly committed to full compliance with all
criteria of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The university values
continuous, rigorous assessment at every level for its potential to improve student learning and achievement and for its centrality in
fulfilling the stated mission of Harding. Thus, a comprehensive assessment program has been developed that includes both the
Academic units and the Administrative and Educational Support (AES) units. Specifically, all academic units will be assessed in
reference to the following Expanded Statement of Institutional Purpose: The University provides programs that enable students to
acquire essential knowledge, skills, and dispositions in their academic disciplines for successful careers, advanced studies, and servant
leadership.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

It is the policy for Harding University to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal and state law. Therefore, any
student with a documented disability condition (e.g. physical, learning, psychological, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange
reasonable accommodations, must contact the instructor and the Disabilities Office at the at the beginning of each semester. (If the
diagnosis of the disability occurs during the academic year, the student must self-identify with the Disabilities Director as soon as
possible in order to get academic accommodations in place for the remainder of the semester.) The Disabilities Office is located in
Room 102 of the Lee Academic Center, telephone, (501) 279-4019.

TIME MANAGEMENT EXPECTATIONS

For every class hour, the typical student should expect to spend at least two clock hours a week of problem solving, reading,
reviewing, organizing notes, preparing for coming exams/quizzes and other activities that enhance learning. The first person to email
me on October first will get a free quiz pass.

DRESS CODE
All members of the Harding community are expected to maintain standards of modesty and decency in dress appropriate to
the Christian lifestyle and consistent with professional employment expectations. For these reasons, students are expected to
adhere to an established dress code.
Students who fail to do so will be dismissed from class to change clothes. This will result in a tardy or an unexcused absence
(If a student misses 1/3 of the class, he or she will be counted as absent).
Be especially aware of the following standards from the dress code:
o Shoes are required to be worn.
o Tight or form-fitting attire and garments designed as underwear or sleepwear should not be worn as outerwear. This
means that you may NOT wear pajama pants to class!!
o No shorts.
o For women, clothing must not be low-cut and may not reveal cleavage or the midriff. Also, skirts and dresses must
not have hemlines or slits that extend above the knee.
o For men, no hats or other head coverings.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Honesty and integrity are characteristics that should describe each one of us as servants of Jesus Christ. As your instructors, we
pledge that we will strive for honesty and integrity in how I handle the content of this course and in how we interact with each of you.
We ask that you join us in pledging to do the same. Academic dishonesty will result in penalties up to and including dismissal from the
class with a failing grade and will be reported to the Assistant Provost. All instances of dishonesty will be handled according to the
procedures delineated in the Harding University catalog.
Cheating in all its forms is inconsistent with Christian faith and practice and will result in sanctions up to an including dismissal
from the class with a failing grade and your name being turned into the Dean and the Asst. Provost for further disciplinary action.
Plagiarism, the intentional or unintentional presentation of anothers work as your own, will not be tolerated in this course. It is
your responsibility to know what constitutes plagiarism and to avoid it. When in doubt, cite your source! All cases of suspected
plagiarism will be reported to the Dean and the Asst. Provost.
Any student caught cheating will be immediately dismissed from class for the day and his/her paper will be marked as a zero.
Furthermore, the student may be dismissed from the class permanently.

ASSIGNMENTS

If an assignment doesnt have a specified template the student is to assume that it is to be done to the standard of a youth
minister presenting to a parent or elder group.
Most of the special assignments will be due at the end of Thanksgiving break but can (and should) be turned in throughout
the semester. One notable exception is the Philosophy of Ministry. This assignment will need to be worked on from the
beginning and added to each week.
If you have an idea or an interest in a topic or area of youth ministry please talk to me about substituting that for an
assignment. This option ends October 15.