The Family Studies concentration is the perfect choice for students preparing for family ministry in a church setting, or who simply want to prepare to run a ministry and engage with people in any ministry context. 

Study families from biblical, sociological, and practical vantage points. Put your learning into practice in various ministries both on and off campus, and get connected through a variety of internships.

Learn the perspectives and skills needed for effective ministry with families. Apply now to begin your BA in Christian Ministry: Family Studies.

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  • Overview
  • Requirements

This program provides a strong liberal arts foundation, biblical and theological grounding, and the skills necessary for success in ministry settings and the marketplace. This program is specifically designed to equip students for effective service and leadership in professional or lay settings by allowing them to tailor their program to include courses in several concentrations of study:  Adolescent Studies, Camp Ministry, Childhood Studies, Family Studies, Mission Studies, Pastoral Studies, and Worship Arts. Additionally, the program provides a firm foundation for further study at the graduate level. This program ultimately seeks the transformation of students for effective ministry to the church and world through quality classroom instruction along with experiential education in a broadly defined academic and ministry training program.

Past graduates entered many types of careers including pastoral and associate pastoral ministry (youth, children, women, family, etc.), lay and ministry-related teaching, missions, camp leadership, church administration, and various other ministry and lay positions.

The BA Christian Ministry requires 45 credit hours of Christian Ministry and Christian Ministry-related course work (including 24 credit hours at the 300+ level). There are two layers of requirements in this program. First, students must complete the 18 credit hour ministry core requirements. Second, students must choose both a primary (18 credit hours) and secondary concentration (9 credit hours) from two of the following options: Adolescent Studies, Camp Ministry, Childhood Studies, Family Studies, Media Arts, Mission Studies, Pastoral Studies, Sport Studies, and Worship Arts. Like most Briercrest programs, the BA Christian Ministry requires 39 credit hours of 300+ course work within the context of a 120 credit hour degree.

Credit Hours: 120

I. Ministry Core Requirements (18 credit hours)
CM 101 Foundations of Church Ministry
CM 105 Perspectives in Mission
CM 439 Christian Ministry Internship
CM 461 Issues in Ministry Leadership
PAST 438 Practical Theology
One of:
COMM 104 Public Speaking
COMM/PAST 355 Homiletics

II. Ministry Concentration Requirements:

Primary Concentration: 18 credit hours including at least 12 credit hours from 300+ level from one of 6 ministry options listed below.

Secondary Concentration: 9 credit hours including at least 3 credit hours from 300+ level from one of the 6 ministry options listed below.

Note: For students pursuing a minor, courses from either their Core or from free electives may be used, but not courses from ministry concentrations

III. Free Electives (to bring credit hour total to 120 credit hours)

PRT 400 Senior Portfolio
SL 1-6 Service and Experiential Learning

In addition, all Bachelor of Arts degrees require the completion of Briercrest's core curriculum.

Faculty

Blayne Banting   DMin, PhD
Associate Professor of Preaching and Christian Ministry
Rob Chartrand   DMin
Assistant Professor of Christian Ministry, Program Coordinator for CM
Geoff Dresser   DWS
Assistant Professor of Worship Arts
Marilyn Muller   MA
Adjunct Instructor - Christian Ministry
Michael Pawelke   DMin
Professor of Leadership and Pastoral Studies
Brian Westnedge   MA
Adjunct Instructor - Christian Ministry
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Your Future

 
Possible Careers
  • Camp leadership
  • Chaplain
  • Pastor
  • Youth worker
Potential Graduate Programs
  • Master of Youth Ministry at Briercrest Seminary
  • Master of Christian Ministry at Briercrest Seminary
  • Master of Divinity at Briercrest Seminary
  • MA Theological Studies at Briercrest Seminary