In partnership with Youth Ministry Institute, the Institute for Discipleship at Southwestern College is offering a certification in youth ministry.
This certification requires just four 6-week courses of $125 each and one 12-week practicum of $325 — a total of $825. The certification gives you both a solid theological understanding to support your youth ministry, as well as practical knowledge from experts. The practicum course is especially valuable, giving you a chance to practice what you’ve learned and receive coaching and constructive feedback. Equivalent course work completed at Perkins School of Youth Ministry is transferable into the IFD/YMI certification program.
Develop tools to make a big impact in your youth ministry and a network of other Christian youth workers from around the country!
Certification Length
You can complete all the courses you need for certification in just 18 months.
Courses and practicums will be taught on a yearly rotation.
Add a Denominational Emphasis
You can add an Emphasis in United Methodist Studies to your certificate by taking just one additional 6-week course, IFDC050 – United Methodist Studies.
2020 course schedule:
January 20 – February 28, 2020 | IFDYC130 & IFDYC110
March 16 – May 1, 2020 | IFDYC140 & IFDYC120
(no class during Holy Week)
August 24 – October 2, 2020 | IFDYC110 & IFDYC130
October 12 – November 20, 2020 | IFDYC140
August 24 – November 20, 2020 | IFDYC150
Certification in Youth Ministry
- IFDYC110 – Teaching Biblical Faith with Youth | Not Currently Enrolling
Explore best practices for discovering and teaching the Bible with youth. This course focuses on scriptural foundations, gospel exploration, Biblical translation and interpretation, and methods for effectively teaching the Bible. - IFDYC120 – Teaching Theology with Youth | October 12 – November 20, 2020
Examine how beliefs, doctrine, and theological framework shape a youth ministry’s calendar. Concepts taught will include grace, the Trinity, sacraments, eschatology, and more. Learners will be exposed to youth ministry-related texts from theologians including Dr. Andrew Root and Rev. Kendra Creasy Dean. - IFDYC130 – Adolescent World | Not Currently Enrolling
This course covers the physical, emotional, and social development of teenagers as these relate to youth ministry. Topics will include adolescent brain development, generational theory, faith formation, and spiritual growth. - IFDYC140 – Ministry with Youth | Not Currently Enrolling
Develop a philosophy of Youth Ministry using theologically sound components in addition to creating a long-range vision and plan for ministry in their own setting. Topics covered will include ethics, boundaries, finances, volunteers, retreats, mission trips, parents, communication, self-care, and much more. - IFDYC150 – Practicum in Youth Ministry | Not Currently Enrolling
This 12-week course includes guided application of knowledge gained through previous coursework, with individual coaching and constructive feedback from Matt Vaughan, our IFD instructional partner and SC alum.
Past Students Said…
“I learned a lot from other students and how they interacted with their youth groups, especially about how to allow the kids to ask more uncomfortable questions.”
“Lori did an excellent job facilitating and communicating. I appreciate her encouraging and practical approach– and the amount of pre-work (as well as tweaks along the way!), and employing of others’ experience, wisdom and input, to make the course moving forward fluid and valuable.”
“I really liked the interaction with the other students. It made me feel not so alone in the journey, knowing that so many of them where very close to being in same situation as I was.”