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Christian Ministries Minor

School of Arts and Sciences

Explore Christian Ministries Minor

Overview

The wide variety of courses within the Christian Ministry minor will give you a taste of the potential of ministry. Whatever your major, the minor offers a chance to explore an interest in Christian ministry and receive further academic training and preparation for either personal or professional reasons.

Program Highlights

  • Flexible scheduling of classes
  • Emphasis on FPU’s Christian heritage
  • Experienced and highly-rated faculty
  • Students come from a variety of life stages and cultural backgrounds

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Catalog

Program Director: Darren Duerksen, Ph.D.

Overview

The Christian ministry minor offers students pursuing degrees in other majors and who have interest in Christian ministry to pursue further ministry training and preparation as part of their academic training either for personal or professional reasons. The CM minor may be ideal for: 1) students pursuing careers in Christian non-profit organizations that require specific training found in another major, 2) students interested in areas of ministry that might benefit from preparation in other majors with support from ministry education (children's ministry, church business administration, etc.) or, 3) students pursuing careers in other fields who are interested in additional training to prepare them for a life of ministry. Students completing the minor may also be eligible for advanced standing at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø Biblical Seminary should they later decide to pursue a master's degree in ministry preparation. Admission and character requirements in the major apply likewise to the minor.

Degree completion students must complete two years of post-high school work experience in a professional setting with an interest in pursuing Christian ministry.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate basic knowledge from the ministry content areas of the program: heritage (biblical interpretation and theology, along with a historical view and a relevant, contemporary theology of the church), community leadership (pastoral ministries, conflict transformation and leadership skills awareness) and missional engagement (evangelism & discipleship, urban ministry and intercultural ministry skills)
  2. Perform skills in Christian leadership, practical programming, communication (written and oral) and pastoral ministries
  3. Interpret issues of personal nurture, calling and formation
  4. Demonstrate content integration and "calling" exploration through spiritual formation and a ministry internship experience—i.e., youth, worship, children's ministry, etc.

Locations Offered

Main Campus Ï㽶ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø

Required Courses (16 Units)

Core Courses (2 Units)

  • MIN 310 - Perspectives on Mission and Ministry Credits 2

Elective Courses (14 units)

Students take additional units from the following courses, with no repeat courses allowed.

  • BIB/BLIT course Credits 3
  • COM 420 - Conflict Management and Resolution Credits 3
  • MIN 330 - Disability Ministry Concepts Credits 3
  • MIN 360 - The Church in an Urban World Credits 2
  • MIN 376 - Current Practices in Evangelism and Discipleship Credits 2
  • MIN 378 - Worship Ministries Concepts Credits 2
  • MIN 392 - Biblical Interpretation and Teaching Credits 2
  • MIN 397 - Spiritual Formation: Perils, Pitfalls and Potential of Ministry Credits 2
  • MIN 398 - Spiritual Formation: Cultivating a Prayerful Heart Credits 2
  • MIN 399 - Spiritual Formation: Taking Care of the Inner Life Credits 2
  • MIN 450 - Leadership in Ministry Credits 2
  • MIN 470 - Pastoral Ministries Credits 2
  • MIN 483 - Christian Ministry and Leadership Internship - Summative Credits 2-3
  • MUS 400 - Music in the Church Credits 3
  • REL 455 - Christians and Religious Neighbors Credits 3
  • THEO 300 - Introduction to Theology and Ethics Credits 3

  • Other course substitutions may be discussed with the program director for inclusion in the minor

Possibilities Await
With an FPU Education

You already have a lot going on in your life, which is why our degree completion programs are designed to meet you where you are. You'll be surrounded by other students who will support and encourage you, by faculty mentors who are invested in your success, by opportunities to connect what you learn in the classroom to the real world, and by connections to the employers who will help you move forward in your career.

First Steps to Admission

  • Submit an application for admission (online)
    * Admission applications are free, no discount codes required.
  • Request official transcripts from previously attended colleges, universities and high schools and send electronically to trans.evaluator@fresno.edu
    • GED Transcripts OR any AA, AS, AS-T, AA-T from an accredited College or University as proof of High School graduation
    • This includes any military transcripts you may have, along with your military release forms (DD214).​â¶Ä‹
  • Complete the FAFSA as early as October 1. (FAFSA Code: 001253)
    Enroll in the minimum number of units per semester to qualify for loans.
  • Schedule an appointment with your Student Financial Services Advisor 559-453-2041 sfs@fresno.edu

Requirements

  • University Admission Prerequisites

    • Minimum 6 transferable baccalaureate-level units
    • Minimum 2.4 GPA
    • 2 years post-secondary experience

  • Program Admission Prerequisites

    • 60 transferable baccalaureate-level units
    • Minimum 2.4 GPA
    • 2 years post-secondary experience 

Program Requirements

  • Minimum 2.4 GPA
  • 60 transferable baccalaureate-level units
  • Two years post-secondary experience

Transfer Agreements

The following guidelines are used when considering transfer credit:

  • Courses completed at a regionally or ABHE, ATS, TRACS, or AARTS accredited institution
  • Baccalaureate-level courses
  • Grade of C- or better
  • Courses are not duplicate to credit already received
  • All GE and major courses must be taken for a letter grade, not pass/fail
  • No lab is required for Area 5 Physical & Biological Sciences
  • Some majors have lower division prerequisites. Select an institution below to see the school's general education and lower division major requirements

 

*Transfer Agreements are only a tool. Transfer work is not considered official until it has been evaluated by the FPU Registrar’s Office.

Non-traditional Admission

Steps for Re-admission

To reenter into the Degree Completion program within 5 years of last enrollment, the student will need to complete the Degree Completion Re-admission Form. An academic advisor will determine if the student may reenter and if any conditions apply for readmission. The student will be charged at the current tuition rate for any course repeated.

*Note: If student is readmitting after 5 years of last enrollment, the student will need to refer to “First Steps to Admission".

Steps for Non-matriculated Admission

The non-matriculated application is for people who are interested in taking baccalaureate classes through the Degree Completion program, but are not seeking to be admitted into that program. Students must complete this Non-matriculated Application Form only once in order to be qualified to take courses. Applicants must also meet the two-year post-secondary experience requirement to take these courses. Financial Aid is not available, and the course limit is six units per semester with a limit of two semesters total.

For more information, or for help filling out this application, please contact Graduate and Degree Completion Admissions at (559) 453-3690.

State Authorization

State authorization is a federal requirement in the Higher Education Act that requires institutions to be authorized in the state in which online programs are offered. Ï㽶ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø works regularly with individual state authorization agencies to meet each state's requirements. Currently, Ï㽶ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø has received authorization to offer online degree programs in all but nine states: Georgia, Michigan, New York, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington D.C. and Wisconsin.

For the latest updates on the status of FPU's authorization in your state, contact your FPU Admissions representative.

Cost & Financial Aid

The below listed prices reflect the current and upcoming Fall and Spring semesters and do not include any financial aid. Paying for college can be an overwhelming step in your education journey. We can help you find all the possible opportunities to reduce your out of pocket costs.

Tuition & Financial Aid

2024-25

Degree Completion ProgramsAmount
All Programs$550
General Education$550
Elective Courses$550
Other CostsAmount
Student services fee (per semester)$110

2023-24

Degree Completion ProgramsAmount
Business Administration: Business Management, B.A.$550
Business Administration: Emergency Management, B.A.$550
Business Administration: Health Care Administration, B.A.$550
Business Administration: Health Care Administration, Informatics and Technology, B.A.$550
Business Administration: Organizational Leadership, B.A.$550
Business Administration: Project Management, B.A.$550
Christian Ministry and Leadership, B.A.$525
Computer Information Systems, B.A.$525
Criminology, B.A.$525
Early Childhood Development, B.A.$550
Liberal Arts, B.A.$550
Psychology, B.A.$550
RN to BSN, BSN$525
Social Welfare, B.A.$550
Social Work, B.A.$550
  
General Education Courses$550
Elective Courses$550
Other CostsAmount
Student services fee (per semester)$100

* This is an estimate. Costs subject to change. Cost of attendance figures are used for budgeting purposes only and represent an estimate of projected tuition and fees for the coming academic year. Actual tuition rates are approved by the Board of Trustees and may vary. 

Types of aid

Financial aid can refer to scholarships, grants and loans, which are available to you from the government, the university or outside sources. Aid types vary depending on the type of student you are.

Photo of Alexandra Green

Alexandra Green

Mathematics

The grants, the academic awards, the transfer scholarship – all of it makes it so much more affordable to attend FPU. I know that school isn’t cheap for anyone, but FPU helped me realize that I could actually come to this school because they were going to help me so much financially.

Career Opportunities

This minor is ideal for people pursuing careers in Christian non-profit organizations that require specific training found in professional majors. As just one example, students interested in areas such as children’s ministry or church administration could pair this program with early childhood development or organizational leadership. This minor is also beneficial for students in any field who seek preparation for ministry as a lay person in their local church.

Career Possibilities

  • Children's ministry
  • Church administration

Career Development Happens Here

The staff in our Career Development and Experiential Learning Center are here to help you prepare to enter the working world. Whether your a freshman or an FPU alum, there are a number of resources and trainings offered to help you find the internship and job you’re looking for.

  • Resume writing classes
  • Career assessments, exploration & planning
  • Job search and networking opportunities
  • and much more

Visit the Career Development Center