Summer 2015/Fuller Online
YF506
Hodge
YF506: URBAN YOUTH MINISTRY (4 Units: 160 hours). Daniel White Hodge.
DESCRIPTION: This course is an in-depth examination of the unique and complex dynamics of urban youth culture in the United States, with a particular focus on the values, attitudes, norms and rituals of several subcultures found in urban contexts. The significant role of popular culture in shaping U.S. urban youth culture will also be explored, notably in regard to the entertainment industry. The emanative impact of U.S. urban youth culture on young people around the globe will also be considered, as well as globalization's impact on urban youth culture in the U.S. Global urban youth issues will also be discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated (1) ability to understand and analyze the importance of being a student of culture—locally, nationally and globally—to understand both the subtle and not-so-subtle roles social systems and structures have in the lives of urban youth; (2) understanding of the influence of urban youth culture on youth living outside of cities to develop critical skills as interpreters of the messages and values communicated through the mediums of music and mass media; (3) understanding and analysis of some of the issues facing urban youth in other cities around the world; (4) familiarity with Hip Hop culture; (5) ability to evaluate an existing urban youth ministry for effectiveness.
COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours, which is outlined below in the assignment and assessment section. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.
REQUIRED READING AND VIEWING: 1,205 pages of reading required.
Anderson, Elijah. Code of the Street.The Atlantic. 2013. Avaiable on Moodle, [11 pp.].
Arzola, Fernando. Toward a Prophetic Youth Ministry: Theory and Praxis in the Urban Context. IVP Academic, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830828029, Pub. Price $20.00 [186 pp.].
Bradford, Brown B., Reed W. Larson, and T. S. Saraswathi, eds. The World’s Youth: Adolescence in Eight Regions of the Globe. Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN: 978-0521006057, Pub. Price $44.99 [382 pp.].
Hodge, Daniel White. The Soul of Hip Hop: Rims, Timbs & a Cultural Theology. InterVarsity Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0830837328, Pub. Price $17.00 [250 pp.].
Lee, Jennifer, and Min Zhou, eds. Asian American Youth: Culture, Identity and Ethnicity. Routledge, 2004. ISBN: 978-0415946698, Pub. Price $45.95 [376 pp.].
Seven films that fit course material: Menace II Society (1993), Tupac Resurrection (2003), The House I Live In (2012), Crips & Bloods: Made In America (2008), A Place At The Table (2012), Precious (2009), and Thirteen (2003).
RECOMMENDED READING:
Fuder, John, ed. A Heart for the City: Effective Ministries to the Urban Community. Moody Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0802491008, Pub. Price $29.99 [528 pp.].
Jones, Tony. Postmodern Youth Ministry: Exploring Cultural Shift, Cultivating Authentic Community, Creating Holistic Connections. Zondervan, 2001. ISBN: 978-0310238171, Pub. Price $19.99 [240 pp.].
King, Mike. Presence-Centered Youth Ministry: Guiding Students into Spiritual Formation. InterVarsity Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0830833832, Pub. Price $16.00 [192 pp.].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
1,205 pages of required reading. [60 hours].
Interact with weekly online video lectures. [This assignment is related to learning outcome 1 & 2] [2 hours weekly, 20 hours total].
Interact with and respond to online discussion questions & course content on Moodle (500-750 words a week) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 1-3] [20 hours].
Write reading response papers (3) on all assigned readings, including films (1,250 words each) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 1 & 2] [22 hours].
Do community research of a given target area and write a 7-10 page paper (2500-3000 words) on that research [20 hours prepping & implementing assignment] (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 3 & 5].
Write a research paper/creative project on a particular subject and/or class concept. Paper will be 4000 words (excluding TOC, cover page, and bibliography). Projects such as documentaries, murals, paintings, photo montages will need to be approved by the professor [15-20 hours preparing & writing] (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome 1-5].
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective. Option to meet a requirement in the Youth, Family and Culture emphasis.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.