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About the BA in Biblical Studies (Youth and Family Ministries) Degree

Why Study Youth Ministry at Cedarville?

Adding a youth and family ministries concentration to your Bachelor of Arts in biblical studies will prepare you to minister effectively in a wide variety of youth and family ministries. You will learn how to encourage spiritual growth through meaningful relationships, compelling biblical teaching, effective program development, and influential servant-leadership in a constantly changing youth culture. Youth and children's ministry is vital, and this concentration will allow you to pursue youth ministry in a way that will leave you strong in your faith and with a desire to share and spread the gospel. This degree also provides a solid foundation for graduate study in ministry.

We also highly recommend that you consider completing this program as part of Cedarville's Accelerated BA + MDiv option, which allows you to complete your BA in biblical studies and Master of Divinity in just five years, including the youth and family ministries concentration.

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What Sets Cedarville Apart?

Program Overview

Program Highlights

Customizable — By adding a minor from any of Cedarville’s academic programs, you can customize your degree to fit your ministry interests and goals.

Real-World Experience — A required internship is built into the program, giving you real-world, hands-on youth and family ministry experience.

Liberal Arts Approach — You will take core general education courses taught from a biblical worldview. This liberal arts approach will prepare you to have a broader impact for Christ and give you expertise in various fields that will enhance your platform for ministry.

Placement Success

We’re proud of our successful graduates! 100% of recent graduates from the School of Biblical and Theological Studies were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. Check out Cedarville's other placement rates.

Cedarville's Placement Rates

What Can I Do With a Youth and Family Ministry Degree?

With a youth and family ministry degree from Cedarville, you will be prepared for a variety of youth ministry jobs:

  • Associate pastor
  • Bible teacher
  • Camp director
  • Christian education director
  • Missionary
  • Pastor
  • Youth/student pastor

Graduate schools, professional schools, and seminaries welcome our graduates.

Graduate and professional programs and employers welcome Cedarville University graduates each year. It is important to note that some professional career fields you may pursue require additional education, experience, and/or licensure beyond the completion of your Cedarville University undergraduate degree.

Opportunities to Learn Outside the Classroom

As you’re pursuing your youth ministries degree, your coursework will be complemented by the following opportunities.

Student Organizations — Cedarville offers many ministry and service organizations that help develop character and ministry skills. Many Bible faculty members serve as advisers for these organizations, and students are encouraged to take full advantage of them. The School of Biblical and Theological Studies sponsors:

  • Chi Delta Nu, an organization that provides encouragement to students entering youth ministry through prayer, fellowship, and service.
  • Alpha Sigma, an organization devoted to promoting critical thinking through philosophical and theological inquiry into issues central to the biblical worldview and contemporary culture.

Internships — When you are ready to move into full-time ministry, there is no substitute for hands-on experience. An internship is the best way to gain valuable experience and build relationships. Students from the School of Biblical and Theological Studies have completed internships with:

  • Athletes in Action
  • Echoing Hills Village
  • Far Hills Community Church
  • Kids Alive International - Dominican Republic
  • Living Waters Bible Camp
  • Phoenix Fellowship Baptist Church - Durban, South Africa
  • Scioto Hills Camp and Retreat Center
  • TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission) - Antalya, Turkey

Global Outreach (GO) — Use one of your spring or summer breaks to go on a short-term missions trip, sharing the Gospel either in the U.S. or abroad. We encourage EVERY student to take at least one GO trip!

Discipleship Ministries —  Discipleship Ministries offers small discipleship groups (called “d-groups”) that meet regularly for prayer, accountability, encouragement, and Bible study. Serve as small-group leader or be a member of the Discipleship Council (DC), which helps administer d-groups. Both are great ways to hone your leadership skills while encouraging spiritual growth on campus.

Local Ministries — Apply what you’re learning in chapel and in the classroom as you serve through  local church ministries and  community outreach teams. Your faith will grow as you help meet the physical and spiritual needs of those you serve.

Program Curriculum

Building on your core liberal arts and Bible minor courses, you will take courses in Bible, theology, and practical ministry. The youth and family ministry major requires courses that prepare you to teach the Word of God to a variety of settings and a broad array of ages. The curriculum includes study in ministry development and leadership.

Sample courses:

  • Campus Ministries
  • Discipleship

Program Format and Related Programs

Cedarville offers graduate and undergraduate programs with flexible completion options. You may also want to consider these related programs as you consider the degree or program that is the best fit for you.

Program Level and Format

  • Undergraduate
  • Residential
  • 4-Year
Man standing with book open

From Our Students:

  • I truly appreciate that our department strives to combine high academic standards with a real expectation of spiritual growth. Faculty members treat the Bible as the treasured Word of God, which should be diligently studied for our own benefit and for the building up of the Church. I am now far more thoroughly equipped for a life of faithful ministry in God’s Kingdom.
    Andrew Brads ’24 Biblical Studies
    Andrew Brads
Job and Grad School Placement

Program Faculty

Photo of Trent Rogers

Trent Rogers, PhD

Dean of SBTS, Associate Professor of NT and Greek

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Photo of Tom Hutchison

Tom Hutchison, PhD

Professor of Educational Ministries and Applied Theology

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Photo of Jeremy Kimble

Jeremy Kimble, PhD

Professor of Systematic and Applied Theology, Director of The Synergy Initiative

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School of Biblical and Theological Studies

Program News

  • Conference attendees talking together around a round table.

    Student Ministry Roundtable

    Student ministry leaders from Ohio and neighboring states are invited to gather on March 20 for Cedarville University’s third annual Student Ministry Roundtable.
  • Four copies of Thomas Nelson Publishing's Armor of God Bible on a table.

    New Bible Helps Kids Understand Armor of God

    Helping children better understand the Bible is the focus of the new “Armor of God Bible” released February 18 by Thomas Nelson Publishing. Cedarville University’s Dr. Kevin Jones, dean of the school of education, provided study helps for the Bible.