Philosophy & World Religions

Certificate Program in Youth Development

in Religious Settings

Purpose

The Certificate Program in Youth Development in Religious Settings prepares students for work with youth in a variety of religious organizations and contexts, including youth work and youth ministry in congregations, residential camping, and parachurch organizations.

Career Preparation

In addition to the coursework, students pursuing the certificate should consider co-curricular experiences as part of their education, including part-time and summer jobs, internships, and practicums, especially those students who desire positions in a specific denomination or tradition.

Required Courses: 24 total credit hours

Religion:

640:024 Religions of the World
640:141 Old Testament and Other Hebrew Scriptures
640:142 New Testament and Early Christian Writings

Youth & Human Services:

43Y:157 Introduction to Youth Development in LYHS
43Y:155 Planning Strategies in Nonprofit Youth Serving Agencies
43Y:060 Principles of Nonprofit Youth Serving Agencies
43Y:154 Human Resource Development in Nonprofit Youth Serving Agencies

One elective selected from following:

Philosophy:

650:050 Reasoning About Moral Problems

Religion:

640:040 Religion, Ethics and Film
640:117g Religion in America
640:130 Great Living Religions: Hinduism and Buddhism
640:132 Great Living Religions: Confucianism, Taoism, and Zen
640:134 Great Living Religions: Judaism and Islam
640:136 Great Living Religions: Christianity
640:171 Religion and Ethics

Course descriptions: http://www.uni.edu/pubrel/catalog/

Other Student Expectations

Students who are majors in Leisure, Youth, & Human Services should do their 15-credit, senior- year internship and senior project with a religious organization. LYHS students may use Religion and Ethics courses as “supporting courses.”

To Register for the Program

Complete a registration form. it is available from the Philosophy and Religion office (BAK 135) or download it. Send the completed form to Dr. Betty A. DeBerg, Department of Philosophy and Religion, mail code 0501, or deliver it to department office.

To Graduate with the Certificate

Send a letter requesting the certificate along with your current degree audit or transcript by November 1 for fall graduation or April 1 for spring graduation to Betty A. DeBerg, Department of Philosophy and Religion, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0501 (on campus mail code 0501).