Darren Duerksen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies and Christian Ministries, Program Coordinator
What’s possible when you pursue God’s calling on your life?
Ministry.
Christian ministry is living out the Gospel. At Fresno Pacific, you’ll gain both biblical knowledge and practical skills for ministry – whether that’s in a church, parachurch or nonprofit organization.
Dive deep into scripture, learn to resolve conflict in pursuit of Shalom, and develop practices for personal spiritual formation.
Faculty with expertise in theology and a broad range of ministry experience will challenge you to think biblically about Jesus and His Kingdom. You’ll gain both practical and theoretical knowledge through classroom work, research, and an integrated internship with a community church or parachurch agency.
Through biblical study, you’ll be equipped to pursue your vocation in ministry.
Program Highlights
- Meet for class one night per week
- Progress through the entire program with a cohort of 12-22 students
- Engage diverse classmates from a variety of life stages and cultural backgrounds
- Study under experienced faculty and who assign relevant coursework
- Gain hands-on experience with an integrated internship
- Receive help in identifying your calling from faculty mentors
- For a detailed program brochure, click here
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Faculty
Catalog
Program Director: Darren Duerksen, Ph.D.
Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry and Leadership is designed for both traditional undergraduate and adult accelerated or degree completion program students currently in or preparing for Christian ministry. In this program students will be challenged to think biblically about Jesus and his Kingdom in relation to the larger world, cultivate personal spiritual formation, enhance competencies in ministry skills, and engage real-life ministry contexts.
The major consists of three learning components: course work, spiritual formations, and applied learning in an internship. The program course work component consists of classroom experiences designed to address the unique and ongoing challenge of Christian ministry. Classes generally meet one night a week. In addition, there are a few courses that will be online and most courses will have an online component, so some computer literacy is important. The spiritual formation component consists of courses designed to run throughout the semester, concurrent with other courses, with a retreat component at the conclusion of the semester. An internship component is integrated into the program and provides students with hands-on experience and integrated reflection. The internship also usually culminates with a retreat component at the end of each semester.
The Christian Ministry and Leadership program exists to equip students with knowledge, skills, and personal development so that they can love what God loves through a life of vocational ministry. Love what God loves by equipping yourself to join God's mission through a life of vocational ministry.
Admissions Requirements
See the Admission Policies and Requirements section of the catalog for further information on admission requirements to the university.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate a basic knowledge of biblical theology including foundational principles of biblical interpretation and a relevant, contemporary theology of the church.
- Perform skills in Christian leadership, practical programming, communication (written and oral), pastoral ministries and the practice of hospitality as a Christian imperative.
- Interpret issues of personal nature, calling, and formation.
- Develop proficiency and explore calling through an internship experience ministry such as youth, worship, or children's ministry.
Credit-Bearing Grades
Students must earn a C- or higher to receive credit for their Christian Ministry and Leadership courses. Exceptions: Students may receive credit for any other general education or elective course, with a D -.
Program Length/Semester Starts
This is a scheduled, 24-month cohort program. New students may be added to a cohort at the beginning of each semester (January and August).
Locations Offered
Fresno Main Campus
Degree Pathways
Christian Ministry and Leadership, B.A. (DC) Two Year Pathway
Christian Ministry and Leadership, B.A. ADT Pathway
Required Courses (47 Units)
The following units must be earned at Fresno Pacific University:
- BIB 428 - Biblical Theology Credits 3
- BLIT/BIB Course Credits 3 *
- MGT 362 - Nonprofit Management Credits 3 **
** ACCT 301 may be considered as a substitute for MGT 362 in consultation with the program director.
- MIN 310 - Perspectives on Mission and Ministry Credits 2
- 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
- REL 455 - Christians and Religious Neighbors Credits 3
- THEO 300 - Introduction to Theology and Ethics Credits 3
- THEO 465 - Theological Ethics of Conflict and Peacemaking Credits 3 ***
*** COM 420 may be considered as a substitute for THEO 465 in consultation with the program director.
* excludes BIB 100/300/314
Christian Ministry & Leadership Internship Series (6 units total)
CML Internship (MIN 482 & MIN 483 series) may be completed by either 3 semesters of 2 units (preferred for adult accelerated students) or 2 summers at 3 units with the program director's approval. Students take MIN 482 in the semesters leading to their final semester and MIN 483 in their final semester.
- MIN 482 - Christian Ministry and Leadership Internship - Integration Credits 2-3
- MIN 483 - Christian Ministry and Leadership Internship - Summative Credits 2-3
Electives
Elective units as needed to meet the Bachelor of Arts minimums. This requirement may be met through allowable college coursework, Advanced Placement exams, College Level Examination Program, International Baccalaureate exams, and Military or ACE credit.
Lower Division Major Requirements
For more information on General Education requirements, please see: General Education: Degree Completion Students
All students in the major are required to take the necessary general education courses in addition to those outlined in the major. Students in the Christian Ministry and Leadership program (both traditional and adult accelerated or degree completion) are required to complete BIB-100/300/314 and a BLIT course. The BLIT/BIB program requirement replaces the Biblical Perspectives course in Degree Completion General Education.
Advanced Standing at FPU Biblical Seminary
Students who graduate from the CML program and meet all appropriate academic standards may be eligible to receive Advanced Standing to the FPU Biblical Seminary master's programs in ministry and divinity, or have courses waived for other programs. Students must pass the following undergraduate classes with a B or better to be eligible for Advanced Standing with admission to the FPU Biblical Seminary:
| BIB 100/300 | MIN 397 |
| BLIT 301-499 | MIN 398 |
| MIN 360 | MIN 399 |
| MIN 378 | MIN 470 |
| MIN 392 | REL 455 |
Please see Advanced Standing policy and application process or contact Seminary Admission for more information.
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).
- 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
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Program Admission Prerequisites
- 60 transferable baccalaureate-level units
- Minimum 2.4 GPA
- 2 years post-secondary experience
Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) Information
All ADT degrees (AA-T & AS-T) to Christian Ministry & Leadership, B.A.
BA courses fulfilled through ADT:
- All lower-division General Education requirements fulfilled
- BA major has no lower-division major or co-requisite courses that could be fulfilled by the ADT.
- All BA major courses are upper-division and are completed at FPU.
- This program is offered as evening accelerated
ADT Guarantee is the completion of BA/BS degree in 68 units.
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
View full transfer policy Find agreements for your school
*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
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
* 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.
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
While this degree is relevant to many career fields, it is especially designed for those interested in church and para-church ministries with a focus on community leadership, preaching, teaching and missional engagement. Graduates are well prepared for graduate school and seminary training.
Career Possibilities
- Pastor
- Children’s minister
- Youth minister
- Camp ministry leader
- Missionary
- Non-profit leader
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