Arts & Humanities

Master of Arts in Children and Youth Ministry

The Master of Arts in Children and Youth Ministry is a postgraduate programme offered by Pan Africa Christian University through the Department of Children and Youth Ministry. The programme seeks to produce knowledgeable scholars and practitioners equipped to serve children and youth in church and community contexts across Africa.

The programme combines theological foundations with practical ministry skills, equipping students to provide servant leadership and communicate biblical messages relevantly to children and youth. Students develop competence in child development, youth psychology, ministry programming, and pastoral care for young people.

Core areas of study include biblical foundations for children and youth ministry, child and adolescent development, youth ministry programming, pastoral care of children and youth, Christian education for young people, research methods in ministry, and contemporary issues facing children and youth in Africa.

Pan Africa Christian University is a private Christian university in Nairobi with a dedicated Department of Children and Youth Ministry. The programme is designed for both recent graduates and experienced ministry practitioners seeking advanced training for leadership roles in children and youth ministry.

The programme offers flexible study options including full-time and part-time modes, with intakes in January, May, and September. Students engage with both theoretical frameworks and practical ministry applications, connecting with other ministry leaders for ongoing professional relationships.

Graduates are prepared for careers as children and youth pastors, ministry directors, Christian education coordinators, youth workers, and ministry trainers in churches, Christian organisations, and community-based programmes serving children and youth.

Skills Required

Children and Youth Ministry Programming
Child and Adolescent Development
Biblical Foundations for Youth Ministry
Pastoral Care of Children and Youth
Christian Education for Young People
Youth Counselling Skills
Ministry Leadership and Management
Research Methods in Ministry
Contemporary Youth Issues in Africa
Curriculum Design for Ministry

Key Subjects

Biblical Foundations for Children and Youth Ministry
Child and Adolescent Development
Youth Ministry Programming
Pastoral Care of Children and Youth
Christian Education for Young People
Research Methods in Ministry
Contemporary Issues Facing Children and Youth
Youth Counselling
Ministry Leadership and Management
Curriculum Design for Ministry

Certifications

Youth Ministry Certification (Youth Specialties)
Compassion International Holistic Child Development Certificate

Specializations

Children's Ministry

Focuses on ministry to children from early childhood through pre-adolescence, including Sunday school, children's church, and child evangelism.

Youth Ministry

Examines ministry to adolescents and young adults, including youth discipleship, mentoring, and youth group leadership.

Youth Counselling

Covers counselling skills for working with young people facing challenges including identity, relationships, and mental health.

Christian Education

Focuses on designing and implementing Christian education programmes for children and youth in church and school settings.

Urban Youth Ministry

Examines ministry approaches for urban youth contexts, addressing challenges of urbanisation, poverty, and social change.

Family Ministry

Covers approaches to supporting families in nurturing children and youth in faith, including parenting support and intergenerational ministry.

Youth Leadership Development

Focuses on developing young people as leaders in church and community, including youth empowerment and leadership training.

Community-Based Youth Work

Examines youth ministry in community contexts, including after-school programmes, community outreach, and social transformation.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 220,500
Private, up to: Ksh 337,500
Job market: Moderate

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Biblical Foundations for Children and Youth Ministry
Child and Adolescent Development
Youth Ministry Programming
Pastoral Care of Children and Youth
Christian Education for Young People
Research Methods in Ministry
Contemporary Issues Facing Children and Youth
Youth Counselling
Ministry Leadership and Management
Curriculum Design for Ministry

Modules

10 in the programme

Biblical Foundations for Children and Youth Ministry
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines biblical and theological foundations for ministry to children and youth, including scriptural principles for nurturing faith in young people.
Child and Adolescent Development
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers developmental psychology from childhood through adolescence, including cognitive, emotional, social, and spiritual development stages.
Youth Ministry Programming
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines principles and practices for designing, implementing, and evaluating youth ministry programmes in church and community contexts.
Pastoral Care of Children and Youth
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers pastoral care approaches for children and youth, including crisis intervention, grief support, and pastoral counselling skills.
Christian Education for Young People
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines principles of Christian education for children and youth, including curriculum design, teaching methods, and learning assessment.
Contemporary Issues Facing Children and Youth
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines contemporary challenges facing children and youth in Africa including urbanisation, technology, substance abuse, and social media.
Youth Counselling
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Develops counselling skills for working with young people on issues including identity, relationships, peer pressure, and mental health.
Ministry Leadership and Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers leadership and management principles for children and youth ministry, including team building, volunteer management, and strategic planning.
Research Methods in Ministry
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers quantitative and qualitative research methodologies for conducting original research in children and youth ministry.
Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on a children or youth ministry topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Children's Ministry
Focuses on ministry to children from early childhood through pre-adolescence, including Sunday school, children's church, and child evangelism.
Youth Ministry
Examines ministry to adolescents and young adults, including youth discipleship, mentoring, and youth group leadership.
Youth Counselling
Covers counselling skills for working with young people facing challenges including identity, relationships, and mental health.
Christian Education
Focuses on designing and implementing Christian education programmes for children and youth in church and school settings.
Urban Youth Ministry
Examines ministry approaches for urban youth contexts, addressing challenges of urbanisation, poverty, and social change.
Family Ministry
Covers approaches to supporting families in nurturing children and youth in faith, including parenting support and intergenerational ministry.
Youth Leadership Development
Focuses on developing young people as leaders in church and community, including youth empowerment and leadership training.
Community-Based Youth Work
Examines youth ministry in community contexts, including after-school programmes, community outreach, and social transformation.

A day as a student

A typical day involves attending lectures on child development, youth ministry programming, or biblical foundations for children's ministry at PAC University. Students engage in case studies of ministry scenarios, group discussions on contemporary youth issues, and practical exercises in curriculum design and counselling skills. The programme includes practical ministry assignments where students apply learning in church or community settings. Those in the research phase conduct field research on ministry practices, interview youth and ministry leaders, and work on their thesis under faculty supervision.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme is specifically designed for children and youth ministry, addressing a critical need in African churches with the continent's young population.
PAC University has a dedicated Department of Children and Youth Ministry, providing specialised faculty and resources.
Flexible study options with full-time and part-time modes, and three intakes per year (January, May, September).
Programme combines theological depth with practical ministry skills, preparing graduates for immediate application in ministry contexts.

Against it

Programme is relatively expensive at approximately KES 661,500 total for a private university.
Only one institution offers this specific programme in Kenya, limiting choice.
Career opportunities are primarily within church and Christian organisation contexts, which may have limited funding for paid positions.
The programme may not be recognised in secular contexts, limiting career mobility outside ministry settings.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses

Public171k to 221k

171k at Maseno University221k at University of Nairobi

Private191k to 338k

191k at Africa International University338k at Pan Africa Christian University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 220.5K/yr verified uonbi.ac.ke. PAC 337.5K Y1, AIU 191K modular verified. Maseno unverified.

Funding options include HELB postgraduate loans for Kenyan students, PAC University scholarships for well-performing students, and sponsorship from churches and ministry organisations supporting staff development.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
PAC University Scholarships
Church and Ministry Sponsorship

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
PAC University Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 100,000Kenyan
Well-performing PAC University students demonstrating academic excellence and financial need.
Church and Ministry Sponsorship
ScholarshipKsh 300,000Kenyan
Ministry practitioners sponsored by their churches or Christian organisations for professional development.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: Mature entry: Holders of a Diploma and Higher Diploma in a relevant discipline from an institution recognised by the Ministry of Education and approved by CUE, with a minimum of 3 years field experience in Christian ministry.

How you are assessed

4 components

Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
CATs, ministry project reports, case study analyses, seminar presentations, and practical assignments conducted throughout each semester.
Final Examination
Examination60% of the mark
End-of-semester examination covering course content, including essay questions, biblical analysis, and ministry application scenarios.
Practical Ministry Assessment
Practical20% of the mark
Assessment of practical ministry skills through supervised ministry assignments, programme design projects, and field reports.
Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on a children or youth ministry topic, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), ensuring recognition across Kenya. The programme is offered by Pan Africa Christian University, a chartered Christian university in Nairobi.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Statutory accreditation for all Kenyan universities and their degree programmes.
International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry
Professional membership
Global academic association for youth ministry scholars and practitioners. Membership recommended for professional networking and research.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Children and Youth Pastor
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 180,000
Leads children and youth ministry programmes in churches, including teaching, counselling, programme planning, and volunteer coordination.
Ministry Director
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 220,000
Directs children or youth ministry departments in large churches or Christian organisations, overseeing staff, programmes, and budgets.
Christian Education Coordinator
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 150,000
Coordinates Christian education programmes for children and youth in churches, schools, or Christian organisations.
Youth Worker
Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 120,000
Works with young people in community-based programmes, schools, or Christian organisations providing mentoring, support, and activities.
Ministry Trainer
Low demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 180,000
Trains and equips other children and youth ministry workers through workshops, courses, and mentoring programmes.
University Lecturer
Low demandKsh 90,000 to Ksh 200,000
Teaches children and youth ministry, theology, or Christian education at Bible colleges and universities.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as children and youth pastors, ministry directors, Christian education coordinators, and youth workers in churches, Christian organisations, and community programmes.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Logos Bible Software
SoftwarePrimary
Digital Bible study platform providing resources for sermon preparation, Bible lessons, and theological research for ministry.
Canva
SoftwarePrimary
Design platform for creating visual materials for children and youth ministry including presentations, posters, and social media content.
Google Workspace
Software
Productivity suite for ministry planning, communication, and collaboration including docs, sheets, and presentation tools.
SPSS
Software
Statistical software for research projects in ministry, analysing survey data and programme evaluations.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Children and youth ministry is just about running fun activities for young people.
The programme involves serious theological, psychological, and pedagogical study, equipping graduates for comprehensive ministry leadership including counselling, education, and programme management.
You don't need a master's degree to work in youth ministry.
While entry-level positions may not require postgraduate qualifications, leadership roles in large churches, Christian organisations, and training institutions increasingly demand advanced training.
Children and youth ministry is only for those preparing to become senior pastors.
The programme prepares specialists in children and youth ministry, a distinct calling that requires specific skills and knowledge different from general pastoral ministry.
The programme is only for Pentecostal or charismatic Christians.
While PAC University has Pentecostal roots, the programme serves Christians from various denominational backgrounds seeking to serve children and youth effectively.
Youth ministry is declining in relevance as young people disengage from church.
Africa has the youngest population globally, making children and youth ministry increasingly critical for the church's future and for addressing social challenges facing young people.
The programme focuses only on church-based ministry.
The programme covers both church-based and community-based youth work, including school programmes, community outreach, and social transformation initiatives.