Fall 2015/Pasadena

YF522

Argue

YF522: EMERGING ADULT SPIRITUALITY AND MINISTRY (4 Units: 160 hours). Steven Argue.

DESCRIPTION: This course will seek to understand the unique opportunities and challenges evident in the emerging adult stage of life [ages 18-29]. Specifically, we will explore emerging adults’ experiences regarding their faith journeys, spiritual struggles, and relationships with the church. Together, we will reimagine ministry that is good news to emerging adults and attempt to answer one of the biggest questions asked in churches today–“Where have all the 20-something’s gone?”

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated (1) an ability to define and explain the particular characteristics associated with emerging adulthood; (2) an understanding of developmental, social, cultural, and spiritual challenges associated with emerging adults in various cultural contexts, including the limitations of current research on Emerging Adulthood; and (3) propose theologically rooted and missionally creative ways to nurture spiritual formation in emerging adults through church and/or parachurch ministries in diverse cultural contexts.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. Directed learning will include students interviewing a church or ministry in order to understand the questions, challenges, and initiatives the ministry is addressing as it seeks to support emerging adults. Students will create approximately ten questions, set up a time to meet with a ministry leader who is directly involved or desiring to be more involved with serving emerging adults [senior pastor, youth pastor, college-age pastor, singles pastor, parachurch leader, etc.]. Questions must reflect the subject matters of the course and will be used to write a 5-page assessment and recommendation for the leader interviewed.

REQUIRED READING: 1200 total number of pages required.

Books [1150 pp.]:

Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen. Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens through the Twenties. 2nd ed: Oxford University Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0199929382, Pub Price $25.00, [330 pp.].

Magolda, Peter Mark, and Kelsey Ebben Gross. It's All About Jesus!: Faith as an Oppositional Collegiate Subculture. 1st ed. Stylus, 2009. ISBN: 978-1579223557, Pub Price $27.00 [340 pp.].

Parks, Sharon Daloz. Big Questions, Worthy Dreams: Mentoring Young Adults in Their Search for Meaning, Purpose, and Faith. 1st ed. Jossey-Bass, 2000. ASIN: B002BN8722, Pub Price $25.00 [240 pp.].

Smith, Christian, et al. Lost in Transition : The Dark Side of Emerging Adulthood. Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0199828029, Pub Price $26.00 [240 pp.].

Articles [50 pp.]:

Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen, and Lene Arnett Jensen. "A Congregation of One: Individualized Religious Beliefs among Emerging Adults." Journal of Adolescent Research 17.5 (2002): 451-67. [16 pp.].

Douglass, Carrie B. "From Duty to Desire: Emerging Adulthood in Europe and Its Consequences." Child Development Perspectives 1.2 (2007): 101-08. [7 pp.].

Facio, Alicia, et al. "Emerging Adulthood in Argentina: An Age of Diversity and Possibilities." Child Development Perspectives 1.2 (2007): 115-18. [3 pp.].

Galambos, Nancy L., and M. Loreto MartÌnez. "Poised for Emerging Adulthood in Latin America: A Pleasure for the Privileged." Child Development Perspectives 1.2 (2007): 109-14. [15 pp.].

Nelson, Larry J., and Xinyin Chen. "Emerging Adulthood in China: The Role of Social and Cultural Factors." Child Development Perspectives 1.2 (2007): 86-91. [5 pp.].

Rosenberger, Nancy. "Rethinking Emerging Adulthood in Japan: Perspectives from Long-Term Single Women." Child Development Perspectives 1.2 (2007): 92-95. [3 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen, et al. Debating Emerging Adulthood. Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0199757176, Pub. Price $36.95.

Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen, and Elizabeth Fishel. When Will My Grown-up Kid Grow Up?: Loving and Understanding Your Emerging Adult. First Edition. Workman Publishing, 2013. ISBN: 978-0761162414, Pub. Price $23.95.

Christerson, Brad, Korie Edwards, and Richard Flory. Growing up in America: The Power of Race in the Lives of Teens. Stanford University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0804760522, Pub. Price $22.95.

Clydesdale, Timothy T. The First Year Out: Understanding American Teens after High School. Morality and Society Series. The University of Chicago Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0226110660, Pub. Price $26.00.

Freitas, Donna. Sex and the Soul: Juggling Sexuality, Spirituality, Romance, and Religion on America's College Campuses. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0199747610, Pub Price $17.00.

Mintz, Steven. The Prime of Life : A History of Modern Adulthood. Belknap Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0674047679, Pub. Price $35.00.

Smith, Christian, and Patricia Snell. Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults. Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0195371796, Pub. Price $24.95.

Suskind, Ron. A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League. 1st ed. Broadway Books, 1998. ISBN: 978-0767901260, Pub. Price $15.99.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1,200 pages of required reading [80 hours].

2. DLA (20%): Directed learning will include students interviewing a church or ministry in order to understand the questions, challenges, and initiatives the ministry is addressing as it seeks to support emerging adults. Questions must reflect the subject matters of the course and will be used to write a 5 page assessment and recommendation for the leader interviewed. This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [10 hours].

3. Completion of 4, 2-page reaction papers (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [10 hours].

4. Personal reflection on Emerging Adulthood (20%). Students choose one of the following options: [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [10 hours].

- Option 1: Keep a weekly journal for 10 weeks on how the material covered in this class material helps you make meaning of your own emerging adult experiences, or your experiences of parenting/mentoring an emerging adult. Summarize your findings in light of the material covered in this class.

- Option 2: Design a questionnaire and interview three emerging adults. Summarize your findings in light of the material covered in this class.

5. Research paper that focuses on one particular segment of emerging adults; applies current theories on Emerging Adulthood to identify formational challenges, contextual nuances, and unique ministry considerations [e.g. Married EAs, EA and Asian females, EA and spiritual struggle of men, EA and urban settings, etc.], and critically reflects on the limitations of these theories pertaining to their segment of focus. – 3000 words (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [20 hours].

PREREQUISITES: Auditors are not required to complete assignments but are encouraged to invest in them as much as they are able.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to count in the Youth, Family, and Culture Emphasis. Option to meet the C2 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.