Youth, Family, and Culture Cohort
Application Due: July 31, 2026
Scholarship + Ministry Together
Join a cohort of ministry leaders committed to transforming how we serve young people. This cohort is designed for those who feel called to advocate for adolescents and emerging adults through their role in youth ministry, pastoral ministry, family ministry, parachurch ministry, camping ministry, educational contexts, or campus ministry—and spaces are limited.
The Doctor of Ministry degree in Youth, Family, and Culture equips ministry leaders with the theological depth, research fluency, and innovative practices necessary to meaningfully impact the lives and faith journeys of young people. Together, let’s reimagine how we serve the next generation.
Your 3-Year Degree Plan
Year 1: Theological Lenses for Current Interpretations of Youth, Family, and Culture (16 units)
Fall (Sep–Dec) 2026: Reading and Seminar (6 units, online with in-person intensive in Pasadena, October 5-9, 2026)
Winter (Jan–Mar) 2027: Doctoral Research (4 units, online)
Spring (Mar–June) 2027: Integration (6 units, online)
In the theology module, students will utilize practical theology as a framework for ministry, focusing on the most pressing theological and philosophical questions that shape adolescents and emerging adults today. Through reading, reflection, dialogue with peers, and engagement with leading scholars and practitioners, students will become more fluent in the critical conversations that impact youth, families, and the cultural contexts they inhabit.
By the end of the first year, students will be able to:
- Identify and describe the most pressing theological and philosophical topics shaping youth people today, referencing key voices and resources
- Articulate and synthesize significant theological and philosophical perspectives, applying their insights to youth, family, and cultural contexts
- Engage peers and experts in meaningful online and in-person seminar discussions
- Begin to clarify and articulate their area of research interest for the doctoral project.
Year 2: Social Science Research for an Informed Understanding of Youth People, Their Relationships, and Their Contexts (16 units)
Fall (Sep–Dec) 2027: Reading and Seminar (6 units, online with in-person intensive in Pasadena, October 4-8, 2027)
Winter (Jan–Mar) 2028: Doctoral Proposal Development (4 units, online)
Spring (Mar–June) 2028: Integration (6 units, online)
In the social science module, students will develop skills in interpreting, evaluating, and applying current research on youth, family, and culture to their own contexts. Drawing on insights from sociology, psychology, and related disciplines, participants will critically engage with the latest studies that describe the lives and experiences of today’s adolescents and emerging adults. Through reading, reflection, dialogue with peers, and direct interaction with leading experts, students will gain a deeper appreciation for how psychosocial research informs and enriches ministry.
By the end of the second year, students will be able to:
- Identify and analyze key research that amplifies the voices and lived experiences of adolescents and emerging adults, while evaluating its reliability, generalizability, and limitations
- Faithfully apply social science research to their ministry contexts for deeper understanding and practical evaluation
- Participate in robust discussions with peers and experts through online and in-class seminars
- Further refine and articulate their area of research focus for the doctoral project
Year 3: Rethinking Church, Youth Ministry, and Advocacy for Young People (16 units)
Fall (Sep–Dec) 2028: Reading and Seminar (6 units, online with in-person intensive in Pasadena, October 2-6, 2028)
Winter (Mar–June) 2029: Integration (6 units, online)
Spring (Jan–Mar) 2029: Doctoral Project (4 units, online)
In the ministry module, students stretch and expand ministry application by imagining fresh, informed, and contextually grounded approaches. By engaging theological reflection, research, and practical innovation, students will develop new paradigms of support, advocacy, and formation for young people in their ministry settings. Through reading, reflection, peer dialogue, and interaction with leading experts, participants will design and implement ministry practices that creatively respond to the needs of adolescents, emerging adults, and their families.
By the end of the final year, students will be able to:
- Creatively raise new ministry questions and generate innovative, informed approaches that advocate for young people in their contexts
- Develop a comprehensive ministry model that addresses a specific challenge facing adolescents or families in their community
- Engage peers and theological experts in collaborative learning through online and in-class seminars
- Refine and sharpen the focus of their doctoral project, preparing for its completion
Instructor
Steven Argue is associate professor of youth, family, and culture at Fuller Seminary and the applied research strategist at the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI). He has worked in multiple ministry contexts as a youth pastor, parachurch leader, and pastoral team leader at Mars Hill Bible Church (Grand Rapids, MI), and served on the board for the Association of Youth Ministry Educators. He researches, speaks, consults, and writes regularly on topics surrounding adolescence, emerging adulthood, faith, and spiritual struggle.
Dr. Argue is the co-lead investigator for a four-year, $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment focused on understanding young adults and congregations. Discipleship Initiatives with Young Adults (DIYA) is focusing on the key transitions emerging adults experience in their third decade of life, how these impact their spiritual quests, and what religious institutions can do to support them.
Argue has authored Young Adult Ministry Now (2022) and coauthored three other books: Sticky Faith Innovation: How Your Compassion, Creativity, and Courage Can Support Teenagers’ Lasting Faith (2021); Growing With: Every Parent’s Guide to Helping Teenagers and Young Adults Thrive in Their Faith, Family, and Future (2019); and 18 Plus: Parenting Your Emerging Adults (2018). He is a contributor to The Rowman & Littlefield Handbook of Contemporary Christianity in the United States (2022), Joy: A Guide for Youth Ministry (2020), and Adoptive Youth Ministry: Integrating Emerging Generations into the Family of Faith (2016). Argue lives in Southern California, eats vegetarian, and runs marathons. He’s @stevenargue on social media platforms.
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Office Hours
Monday – Friday
8 am – 5 pm (Pacific Time)
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