FIND YOUR FIT
Which concentration fits your calling?
Choose a concentration below to see its focus and who it is for. Your interests and the people you want to serve can help you decide.
Choose an option to see its focus and who it suits, or compare the choices together.
A quick way to decide
If you want broad church ministry preparation, start by exploring Pastoral Ministry. If you feel drawn to a particular area of service, compare that concentration with it.
Select a concentration to explore the kind of ministry it prepares you for.
Pastoral Ministry
Preach, shepherd, and lead.
- What you will study
- A broad preparation for church ministry, with study in preaching, pastoral care, biblical interpretation, evangelism, servant leadership, and church growth.
- Who it is for
- You want to serve as a pastor, help lead a church, plant a church, or develop a broad foundation for caring for a congregation.
- Choose this if
- You are drawn to preaching Scripture, guiding believers, and helping a local church grow in spiritual health.
Christian Counseling
Bring biblical care to people’s lives.
- What you will study
- Study Christian counseling principles, ethics, listening and counseling techniques, crisis care, marriage, adolescents, and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
- Who it is for
- You are drawn to one-to-one care, biblical encouragement, pastoral support, and helping people through personal or family challenges.
- Choose this if
- You want your studies to center on caring for hurting people and offering thoughtful, Scripture-grounded guidance.
Evangelism
Share the gospel and equip others to reach people.
- What you will study
- Explore personal witnessing, evangelism methods, preaching, apologetics, world religions, and compassionate outreach.
- Who it is for
- You have a strong desire to reach people for Christ, lead outreach, communicate the gospel, or equip a church to become more effective in evangelism.
- Choose this if
- You are drawn to conversations about faith, community outreach, and helping people respond to Jesus.
Marketplace Ministry
Live your calling through work and business.
- What you will study
- Connect biblical principles with business, ethics, culture, entrepreneurship, leadership, and Kingdom living.
- Who it is for
- You are a business owner, entrepreneur, professional, or workplace leader who wants to serve God and influence others through everyday work.
- Choose this if
- You see your business, profession, or workplace as a place to practice integrity, serve people, and express your faith.
Youth Ministry
Reach and disciple the next generation.
- What you will study
- Study youth culture, current issues, youth evangelism, organizing a youth ministry, and biblical communication and care.
- Who it is for
- You serve or hope to serve teenagers and young people through a church, outreach ministry, or discipleship setting.
- Choose this if
- You want to help young people understand Scripture, grow in faith, and navigate the pressures of their generation.
Music Ministry
Lead worship and serve through music.
- What you will study
- Explore biblical worship, the Psalms, creativity, Christian music history, songwriting, worship leading, and a music ministry practicum.
- Who it is for
- You already have a basic musical background and want to develop the biblical and ministry side of serving as a worship leader, musician, or Christian creative.
- Choose this if
- You are drawn to helping people worship God through music, creativity, and thoughtful worship leadership.
PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE
Your tuition at a glance.
Published bachelor’s course tuition, before additional fees and books.
- Courses in this program
- 11 courses
- Pay by individual course
- $2,178
- Published paid-in-full tuition
- $1,500
11 courses × $198 per course
Save $678 on course tuition
Additional fees & your individual plan
There are no application, Degree Completion Plan, or graduation fees. Transcript requests are $10. Required books and other program-specific costs may apply.
Your Degree Completion Plan confirms the courses you need and any approved transfer credit. Admissions can confirm how these affect your individual cost. The totals above use the full published course count.
Multi-course and paid-in-full payments are nonrefundable. Paying by individual course remains available.
Youth Pastor Concentration
Ministry Leadership Major
Tuition: $198 per 3-credit course ($66 per credit)
Total Courses in this Program: 11
Reaching young people is one of the most important and challenging ministries in the church today. The Youth Pastor Concentration is designed to prepare leaders who desire to share the gospel with a new generation and disciple young people in their faith.
Grounded in a biblical approach to youth ministry, this program combines timeless ministry principles with practical understanding of youth culture, sociology, and leadership. Students learn how to communicate the gospel effectively, mentor young believers, and build vibrant youth ministries within the church and community.
Courses in the Youth Pastor concentration prepare students to serve young people through church ministries, youth outreach programs, and parachurch organizations.
What You Will Learn
Through this program, students will develop:
- A biblical foundation for youth ministry
- Effective communication skills for reaching young people
- Understanding of youth culture and adolescent development
- Practical strategies for building and leading youth ministries
- Skills for mentoring and discipling young believers
- Greater confidence in sharing the gospel with the next generation
- A passion for raising up young disciples of Christ
Graduates of this concentration are equipped to serve as youth pastors, youth leaders, and mentors who help young people grow in their faith and develop into committed followers of Christ.
Program at a Glance
Degree Program: Bachelor of Biblical Studies – Ministry Leadership Major
Concentration: Youth Pastor
Courses Required: 11 Courses
Credits Earned: 33 Credit Hours
Tuition: $198 per course ($66 per credit hour)
Study Format: 100% Online through the ACU Virtual Campus
Start Date: Begin Anytime
Courses in the Youth Pastor Concentration
1) APTH 4675 – Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God
This course explores God’s call to live in spirit and truth. Students examine the illumination of Scripture and the role of revelation knowledge in renewing the mind and living a Spirit-filled life.
2) BIBL 4481 – Survey of the Book of Acts
This course traces the spread of the gospel through the ministry of the early church as recorded in the Book of Acts and examines the role of the Holy Spirit in evangelism.
3) COMM 3780 – Communicating Christian Faith
Students explore practical methods of expressing and defending their faith, including apologetics, personal testimony, and communicating biblical truth in challenging situations.
4) EVAN 3500 – Preaching the Word
This course introduces the principles of effective preaching and communication, emphasizing Spirit-led delivery and connecting with listeners.
5) MINN 4355 – The Touch of Christ: Ministering to the Broken
Students explore Christ’s ministry to those who are hurting and learn practical approaches to ministering to individuals facing addiction, abuse, poverty, and other life challenges.
6) YPAS 3355 – The Sociology of Youth
This course examines adolescent development and youth culture from a biblical perspective, focusing on the social and emotional development of young people.
7) YPAS 3455 – Current Issues in Youth Ministry
Students explore the major cultural and spiritual challenges facing youth today and develop strategies for effective ministry in a changing world.
8) YPAS 3890 – The Young Minister: A Study of Timothy
This course studies the life and ministry of Timothy as a young leader in the early church and examines principles for youth ministry leadership.
9) YPAS 4596 – Organizing Youth Ministry
Students learn practical strategies for building and leading youth ministries, including leadership structure, program development, and ministry growth.
10) YPAS 4611 – Strategies for Youth Evangelism
This course focuses on developing and implementing effective evangelism strategies for reaching young people with the gospel.
11) YPAS 4923 – Urban Youth Ministry
Students explore the unique challenges and opportunities involved in ministering to young people in urban environments.
Why Choose AMES Christian University
For more than two decades, AMES Christian University has been committed to providing affordable, accessible Christian education to students around the world. Our programs are designed to equip believers with strong biblical knowledge and practical ministry training while allowing students to study at their own pace.
Affordable Christian Education
We are committed to keeping Christian education accessible. Our tuition rates have remained unchanged for over 19 years, allowing students to pursue their calling without overwhelming financial burden.
100% Online Learning
Students can begin their studies anytime and complete courses from anywhere in the world. Our flexible online format allows students to balance ministry, family, and career while continuing their education.
Open Enrollment Year-Round
There are no semesters or waiting periods. Students can begin their degree program whenever they are ready.
Ministry-Focused Training
Our programs emphasize practical ministry training combined with strong biblical foundations to prepare students for real-world ministry opportunities.
Serving Students Worldwide
Through our partnership with AMES International School of Ministry (AISOM), we have helped equip more than 90,000 students from over 180 nations for ministry since 2005.
Begin Your Ministry Training
If God has placed a calling on your life to serve His people, this program can help prepare you for effective ministry leadership.