Derik Idol, B.S., M.A.R.
Executive Director, Center for Youth Ministries
Assistant Professor of Youth Ministries

The world’s youth population ages 10-24 has grown to 1.8 billion and is at a historic high. There is some estimation that 40% of the world’s population comprises all those under the age of 24. The growing trend of religious non-affiliation among young people continues to be a concern to pastors, youth pastors, parents, and churches. This demographic is one of the greatest mission fields in the world, not to mention that many countries’ definition of “youth” is expanding upward to the age of 39.

The Center for Youth Ministries partners with departments across the university to assist local churches, pastors, youth pastors, and parents with resources to help understand the culture of youth in the world in which they live. The Center also seeks to help equip students who are training for youth ministry, as well as those who currently serve youth in ministry, by providing training in a co-curricular effort alongside the Department of Christian Leadership and Church Ministries.

Purpose

The Center for Youth Ministries exists to recruit, equip, and network those called to youth work, in both the local church and youth organizations, to carry out the Great Commission to students and their families.

Programs of Study

The programs of the School of Divinity are open equally to all men and women who meet the entrance requirements. Our purpose is to provide educational experiences for personal enrichment or professional training. We encourage the students to be all they can for God, and we are confident He will direct them to places of service. However, it is important for our students to know that we are a training agency not an ordaining agency. Ordination is the responsibility of a local church or, in some cases, a denominational body, each of which has its own criteria.

Evaluation of Transfer Credits

Credit toward the master’s-level  Divinity degrees (excluding the Th.M.) will be given for those courses taken at an institution in which a grade of C- or better was earned and which are equivalent to courses offered at the School of Divinity. Course work must have been completed no more than ten years prior to application of transfer of credit. Transfer credit into either the Th.M. or D.Min. program is limited to six hours in which the student has received a grade of B- or better. For the Th.M., course work must have been completed no more than 10 years prior to application of transfer of credit. For the D.Min., course work must have been completed no more than seven (7) years prior to application of transfer of credit.  Internship credit is not transferable.

Only courses and degrees from institutions accredited by accrediting agencies recognized by the Department of Education will be evaluated for transfer credit. (e.g., SACSCOC, TRACS, ABHE, etc).

Credits from a prior degree on the same academic level earned through Liberty University are considered transfer credits.

Rawlings School of Divinity Graduate Programs Advanced Placement

Liberty University undergraduate School of Divinity students admitted to the graduate School of Divinity may petition the Graduate Transcript Evaluation Office for permission to substitute advanced electives for select foundational courses that are a significant duplication of course content covered in similar courses taken by the student at the undergraduate level. Advanced Placement can be applied if petition meets the following criteria:

1. Advanced Placement based on completed coursework will be able to Liberty University graduates only.
2. Liberty University students may only request Advanced Placement for 300-400 level undergraduate courses taken at Liberty University in the specific subject area.
3. These 300-400 level courses must have been passed with a grade of B or higher.
4. Only the courses below are available for Advanced Placement substitution:

   Course List

   Code	Title	Hours
   CHHI 520	History of Christianity I	3
   CHHI 525	History of Christianity II	3
   HOMI 500	Preparation of the Sermon	3
   NBST 515	New Testament Orientation I	3
   NBST 520	New Testament Orientation II	3
   NGRK 505	Greek Language Tools	3
   NGRK 525	Beginning Greek II	3
   OBST 515	Old Testament Orientation I	3
   OBST 520	Old Testament Orientation II	3
   OTCL 505	Hebrew Language Tools	3
   OTCL 520	Beginning Hebrew I	3
   OTCL 525	Beginning Hebrew II	3
   THEO 525	Systematic Theology I	3
   THEO 530	Systematic Theology II	3

5. If approved, student must take electives in the discipline(s) of the Advanced Placement substitution (Example: approved CHHI 520 History of Christianity I (3 c.h.) substitution, student must take elective with a CHHI prefix).
6. Students who earned the bachelor’s degree at another institution must take the Institutional Challenge Exam (ICE exam) in order to qualify for Advanced Placement.

Institutional Challenge Examinations (ICE)

To apply for credit by examination, other than Advanced Placement, a student must submit a formal request. Residential students must submit requests to the School of Divinity; online students must submit requests to the ICE Coordinator. Each ICE attempt incurs non-refundable fees which are noted in the Fees chart of the Expenses and Financial Policy section. ICE requests are subject to the following guidelines:

1. The majority of the course work for any program of study must be earned through Liberty University. Each program specifies the minimum number of hours which must be completed through Liberty. ICE credit hours do not count toward this minimum.
2. The minimum passing score for graduate Institutional Challenge Exams is a B minus according to the grading scale in use at the time the exam is taken.
3. A passed ICE is awarded a grade of “P” (passing) and does not count toward the student’s grade point average.
4. A student may not take the Institutional Challenge Exam if the course has previously been taken or is currently being taken.
5. ICE may only be attempted once per course.
6. ICE may not be taken during the drop/add period.
7. ICE credit may only apply to the following courses:

   Course List

   Code	Title	Hours
   CHHI 520	History of Christianity I	3
   CHHI 525	History of Christianity II	3
   NBST 515	New Testament Orientation I	3
   NBST 520	New Testament Orientation II	3
   NGRK 505	Greek Language Tools	3
   NGRK 520	Beginning Greek I	3
   NGRK 525	Beginning Greek II	3
   OBST 515	Old Testament Orientation I	3
   OBST 520	Old Testament Orientation II	3
   OTCL 505	Hebrew Language Tools	3
   OTCL 520	Beginning Hebrew I	3
   OTCL 525	Beginning Hebrew II	3
   THEO 525	Systematic Theology I	3
   THEO 530	Systematic Theology II	3

Degree Candidacy

Degree Candidacy is granted when the student completes all prerequisites and is in good academic standing.