Bachelor of Arts in Youth and Family Ministries
Working with youth is a life-changing experience—both for you and for the students. So preparing to go into youth ministry is an important step, one that Northwest University can help you with, offering 80 years of experience in equipping leaders for effective ministry. The Youth and Family Ministries program combines academic excellence with pastoral training and hands-on experience in local churches to prepare you for vocational ministry. When you graduate, you’ll be ready to transform our future—one young life at a time.
Why Youth and Family Ministries at NU?
- Benefit from small classes that offer personal access to professors who care about your progress.
- Develop a culturally relevant approach to ministry—one that adapts to cultural changes without compromising biblical truth.
- Learn from qualified faculty members who have real-world ministry experience.
- Gain a solid foundation in biblical and theological studies while also developing the leadership and organizational skills essential to effective youth ministry.
- Put your education into practice through hands-on volunteer and internship opportunities at local churches.
- Network with ministry leaders in the greater Seattle area and beyond.
The professors in the Youth and Family Ministries major go deeper than just the academics. They care about you, they pray for you, and they believe in you.
–Nik Nair
Internship Opportunities
- Cedar Park Church
- Reach Church
- Evergreen Community Church
- Maltby Christian Assembly
- New Life Church
Common Career Paths
A degree from NU can help you launch your career immediately after graduation. Some of the positions that a degree in Youth and Family Ministries can open up for you include:
- Youth Pastor
- Children’s Pastor
- Youth/Social Worker

Word from the College of Ministry
“Our Youth and Family Ministries degree utilizes the skills of experienced student leaders as adjunct faculty. It is our belief that Youth and Family Ministries is one of the most critical programs that we offer in the College of Ministry.”
Dr. Joshua Ziefle
Dean, College of Ministry
View Course Descriptions
You can explore program details and course descriptions for this program in our academic catalog.
Go to the Catalog