Bachelor of Arts in General Ministries
A calling can take many shapes, but serving in church leadership takes a special kind of person, one with commitment, integrity, and heart. It also requires specialized training, and that’s where Northwest University’s College of Ministry can help. The general/pastoral ministries program combines academic excellence with spiritual formation and hands-on experience in local churches to prepare you for full-time vocational ministry. When you graduate, you’ll be ready to make a difference, one that has eternal impact.
Why General Ministries at NU?
- Choose from four different concentrations: Children and Family Ministries, Church and Ministry Leadership, General Ministries, or Youth and Family Ministries.
- Benefit from small classes that feature dynamic curriculum and one-on-one time with professors.
- Develop a culturally relevant approach to ministry—one that adapts to cultural changes without compromising biblical truth.
- Learn from highly qualified professors with real-world ministry experience as pastors, missionaries, authors, and seminar speakers.
- Study biblical and theological concepts, along with leadership skills and church strategy, for an education that fully equips you for full-time ministry.
- Engage with your learning through three semesters of internships at local churches.
- Join the School of Ministry’s annual trip to Israel to see the Bible come alive, studying biblical lands and history on location.
Internship Opportunities
- Bethany Christian Assembly
- Cedar Park Church
- City Church
- Eastridge
- Eastside Foursquare
- New Life Renton
- Overlake Christian Church
- Local church plants
Common Career Paths
A degree from NU can help you launch your career immediately after graduation. Some of the positions that a degree in general ministries can open up for you include:
- Associate/Assistant Pastor
- Senior Pastor
- Youth Pastor
- Ministry Program Director
- Church Planter
- Missionary
- Public Speaker
- Business Leader

Word from the College of Ministry
“The College of Ministry’s primary goal is to develop leaders for Christian ministry. This is accomplished by creating classes that are relevant, scholarly, and inspirational. Our full-time faculty and guest instructors are among the best in the nation in their fields. In many of our programs, we have waiting lists from churches and ministries that desire to employ students from our department. Pastoral ministry (including youth and children’s pastors), mission work, and church planting are a few of the areas where we continually place our students.”
Dr. Joshua Ziefle
Dean, College of Ministry
View Course Descriptions
You can explore program details such as course descriptions and graduation requirements for this program in our academic catalog.
Go to the Catalog