NOTICE: Classes canceled today due to weather conditions. Check Blackboard for communication from your instructors.

student works with group of five children at church

Children's Ministry Degree

Earn a degree in Christian Ministry with an emphasis on Children's Ministry

If you have a heart for ministry and love working with kids, SBU's Children's Ministry concentration within the Christian Ministry major will equip you for service and a fulfilling career.

A unique combination of coursework and study in ministry, theology, education and psychology will equip you to effectively lead and maintain a children's ministry within a church or parachurch organization.

The Children's Ministry program is offered through SBU's College of Arts and Sciences.

Resources

Major Map (PDF)

Degree Plan

100%
placement
rate

(Exit surveys reveal that students are employed or accepted to graduate school by the time of their graduation.)

The SBU Advantage

Completing an apprenticeship in children's ministry will give you valuable, real-world experience prior to graduation.
Learn from highly qualified faculty including Dr. Duke Jones who has more than 30 years of Christian education experience.
An extensive network of churches will help connect you with employment after graduation. Each year, more churches seek to hire our graduates than the number of students in our program, creating great job placement opportunities.

Faith Integration

The integration of Christian faith and academic discipline is inherent in the Children's Ministry degree program. Students receive superior academic training in Biblical studies through core classes such as Methods of Biblical Interpretation, Christian Heritage, Christian Doctrine, and Disciple-making and Evangelism. The courses required by each concentration provide excellent career and ministry preparation with the goal of nurturing your personal faith while also equipping you to nurture the faith of others.

Careers

Our graduates pursue a variety of children's ministry and family ministry careers including:

Children's/Family minister at various churches around the country
Camp director
Day care director

Graduate Schools

Many graduates pursue further study at graduate schools or seminaries. Recent children's ministry alumni have continued their studies at:

SBU's own Master of Arts in Christian Ministry degree
Liberty University
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Full-Time Faculty

Dr. Don Denton, Professor

Dr. Prosperly Lyngdoh, Associate Professor

Dr. Duke Jones, Professor

Dr. Kelly Malone, Professor

Dr. Matt Kimbrough, Associate Professor

Dr. David Quackenbos, Division Head

Scholarships

Children's ministry majors are eligible for the Church Related Vocation (CRV) scholarship, which is currently valued at $2,000 per year. To maintain this scholarship, you must be enrolled in a ministry-related degree program, submit the necessary application and references, participate in SBU's in-service training program and complete any other requirements.

Several privately funded scholarships are also available by application to students preparing for service in missions and evangelism.

Baptist Association of Christian Educators (BACE)

Join SBU's chapter of the Baptist Association of Christian Educators. By joining BACE, you will receive valuable professional development opportunities and be part of a greater network of others who are in or are pursuing leadership roles in Christian education at local churches.

Christian Ministry: Children's Ministry (B.A.) Four-Year Plan

Freshman

Fall Semester

BIB 1013	Old Testament History	3
CIS 1103	Computer and Information Management	3
ENG 1113	English Composition I	3
MAT 1243	Algebraic Reasoning and Modeling	3
POL 1113	American Government and Politics	3
UNI 1111	University Seminar	1
Total hours		16

Spring Semester

BIB 1023	New Testament History	3
COM 1103	Fundamentals of Speech Communication	3
ENG 2213	English Composition II	3
HIS 2213/2223	U.S. History I or II	3
PSY 1013	General Psychology (or SOC 1003)	3
UNI 1121	Introduction to Critical Thinking	1
Total hours		16

Sophomore

Fall Semester

BIB 2093	Methods of Biblical Interpretation	3
CED 2003	Introduction to Christian Education	3
KIN 1162	Foundations of Physical Fitness/Wellness	2
GRE 2014	Elementary Greek I or
HEB 2014	Elementary Hebrew I	4
SPF 2032	Spiritual Formation for Ministry	2
EDU 2232	Introduction to Early Childhood Education	2
EDU 2381	Practicum — Infant/Toddler	1
Total hours		17

Spring Semester

FAR 10_3	Intro. to Art, Fine Arts, Music or Theatre	3
GRE 2024	Elementary Greek II or
HEB 2024	Elementary Hebrew II	4
THE 3113	Christian Doctrine	3
EDU 2332	Teaching the Young Child	2
EDU 2391	Practicum Preschool/Kindergarten	1
ECO 2003	LIFE Economics	3
Total hours		16

Junior

Fall Semester

THE 3023	Christian Heritage	3
BIO 1004	Principles of Biology	4
CED 3023	Church Administration	3
CED 3043	Children’s Ministry	3
CED 2033	Principles of Teaching in the Church	3
Total hours		16

Spring Semester

ICS 2901/2911	Culture Service Project	1
PHS ___4	Physical Science	4
THE 3023	Baptist Denomination (if a Church Related Vocation Scholarship recipient)	3
	Elective	3
	Elective	3
	Elective	3
Total hours		17

Senior

Fall Semester

ICS 2901/2911	Culture Service Project	1
PSY ___3	Counseling Elective	3
PSY 3053	Child Development	3
	Elective	3
	Elective	3
	Elective	2
Total hours		15

Spring Semester

CED 4983	Christian Ministry Apprenticeship	3
CHR 3073	Disciple-making/Evangelism	3
	Elective	3
	Elective	3
	Elective	3
Total hours		15

This is a proposed guideline. Please check the catalog and see your advisor for your final degree requirements.
Southwest Baptist University reserves the right to make changes to degree plans without advanced notice or obligation.
The student is responsible for understanding and completing all general education, degree, departmental and graduation requirements.

Download in PDF format:
Children's Ministry (B.A.) Plan (PDF)

Christian Ministry: Children's Ministry (B.S.) Four-Year Plan

Freshman

Fall Semester

BIB 1013	Old Testament History	3
CIS 1103	Computer and Information Management	3
ENG 1113	English Composition I	3
MAT 1243	Algebraic Reasoning and Modeling	3
POL 1113	American Government and Politics	3
UNI 1111	University Seminar	1
Total hours		16

Spring Semester

BIB 1023	New Testament History	3
COM 1103	Fundamentals of Speech Communication	3
ENG 2213	English Composition II	3
HIS 2213/2223	U.S. History I or II	3
PSY 1013	General Psychology (or SOC 1003)	3
UNI 1121	Introduction to Critical Thinking	1
Total hours		16

Sophomore

Fall Semester

BIB 2093	Methods of Biblical Interpretation	3
CED 2003	Introduction to Christian Education	3
KIN 1162	Foundations of Physical Fitness/Wellness	2
SPF 2032	Spiritual Formation for Ministry	2
EDU 2232	Introduction to Early Childhood Education	2
EDU 2381	Practicum — Infant/Toddler	1
CED 2033	Principles of Teaching in the Church	3
Total hours		16

Spring Semester

CHR 3073	Disciple-making/Evangelism	3
FAR 10_3	Intro. to Art, Fine Arts, Music or Theatre	3
THE 3113	Christian Doctrine	3
EDU 2332	Teaching the Young Child	2
EDU 2391	Practicum Preschool/Kindergarten	1
	Children’s Ministry Elective	3
Total hours		15

Junior

Fall Semester

THE 3023	Christian Heritage	3
BIO 1004	Principles of Biology	4
CED 3023	Church Administration	3
CED 3043	Children’s Ministry	3
	Children's Ministry Elective	3
Total hours		16

Spring Semester

ECO 2003	LIFE Economics	3
ICS 2901/2911	Culture Service Project	1
PHS ___4	Introduction to Physical Science	4
THE 3023	The Baptist Denomination (if a Church Related Vocation Scholarship recipient)	3
	Elective	3
	Elective	3
Total hours		17

Senior

Fall Semester

ICS 2901/2911	Culture Service Project	1
PSY ___3	Counseling Elective	3
PSY 3053	Child Development	3
	Elective	3
	Elective	3
	Elective	2
Total hours		15

Spring Semester

CED 4983	Christian Ministry Apprenticeship	3
	Children's Ministry Elective	3
	Elective	2
	Elective	3
	Elective	3
	Elective	3
Total hours		17

Download in PDF format:
Children's Ministry (B.S.) Plan (PDF)