Religious Education and Design for Leadership

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All programs of the Design for Leadership are described in detail in a separate catalog available in Adobe Acrobat format by clicking on the catalog link above, or in a traditionally printed format by writing the following address: Coordinator of the Design for Leadership, Defiance College, 701 N. Clinton St., Defiance, OH 43512, or by sending an e-mail request to design@defiance.edu.

The Design for Leadership is a Distance Learning program created in 1971 to serve persons who seek a career in religious education, but whose geographical location makes it impossible for them to pursue studies in a college offering a major in religious education. The Design for Leadership also serves persons already employed in religious education, but needing formal education in the profession. Most students in the Design for Leadership are re-entry or non-traditional students; that is, they are beyond the traditional college age of 18-25.

The program was initiated and continues to be supported by the Schauffler Endowment. Funds from the United Church Council on Higher Education and various churches have enabled the program to move beyond Ohio and serve students anywhere in the United States, Canada or the Armed Forces. Graduates find employment in both part-time and full-time positions in churches or continue their studies in graduate institutions.

The Design for Leadership offers both certificate and degree programs. Certificate programs available include the Church Education Certificate, the Youth Ministry Leadership Module, and the African American Ministry Leadership Module. Degree programs include an A.A. in Religious Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Education.

Church Education Certificate
The Church Education Certificate is composed of Guided Independent Studies and on-line courses that are completed in one's home and community. Its flexibility enables a student to select and complete only those Guided Independent Studies or on-line courses needed to complement one’s education or to meet requirements for denominational certification*. Or one may complete the requisite 34 semester hours and receive the Defiance College Certificate in Religious Education. Courses completed may also be applied toward a B.A. or A.A. degree without loss of credit.

* Certification criteria are established by each denomination. For this reason it is important for the student to secure complete information from his/her own denomination regarding the exact requirements of that denomination. Denominational requirements vary widely and completing this program does not imply that a particular denomination will accept it, per se, as meeting its particular certification criteria.

Basic Studies 18 hours

• DL 122 Foundations of Religious Education (3)
• DL 250 Curriculum and Resources (3)
• DL 214 Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (formerly The Bible: Old Testament) (3)
• DL 215 The Life and Teachings of Jesus and the Early Church (3)
• DL 357 Theological Foundations (3)
• DL 353 Leadership and Group Work Theory (3)

Age Level Studies 6 hours

• DL 226 Child Development and Nurture (3)
• DL 227 Adolescent Development and Environment (3)
• DL 228 Adult Understanding, Education, Action (3)

Administrative Coordination* 3-6 hours

• DL 175 Effective Involvement of the Laity (3)
• DL 475 Administrative Policies and Practice (3)
• DL 477 Educational Planning and Design (2)

General Electives* 3-6 hours

• DL 337 World Religions (3)
• DL 361 Church History (3)
• DL 395 Building Effective Youth Ministry (3)
• DL 422 Models of Religious Education (2)
• DL 495 Special Topics (1-3)

*A total of 9 hours must be taken in the last two categories.

Courses are taught using email, discussion boards, chat rooms and other traditional and newer means of communication.

Youth Ministry Leadership Module
This module is geared for persons currently active in youth ministry or motivated toward a career in youth ministry with or without prior formal training. This collection of courses can result in a certificate of completion of the module and/or progress toward a Church Education Certificate or a B.A. or an A.A. degree. A nine hour introductory module and a fifteen hour mid-module are both available. These options are described more completely in the Design for Leadership Catalog referenced at the beginning of this section.

The 9 hour introductory module includes:

• DL 357a How to Think Theologically (1)
• DL 214a Introducing Introduction to the Hebrew Bible (formerly The Bible: Old Testament) (1)
• DL 215a The Life and Teachings of Jesus (1)
• DL 227 Adolescent Development & Environment (3)
• DL 395 Building Effective Youth Ministry (3)
  

The 15 hour mid-module adds 2 semester hours of additional work to complete 3 hours each of DL 214, DL 215 and DL 357.

African American Ministry Leadership Module
This module is geared for persons working in, or motivated toward, a career in religious education in an African American context, with or without prior formal training in religious education. This collection of courses can result in a certificate of completion of this module and/or progress toward a Church Education Certificate or a B.A. or an A.A. degree. The Design for Leadership Catalog available in Adobe Acrobat Format above gives a more complete description of how these courses will fit into a degree program.

Courses in the African American Ministry Leadership Module include:

• DL 123 Christian Education in the African American Church (3)
• DL 216 African American Biblical Hermeneutics (3)
• DL 327 African American Youth Ministry (3)
• DL 329 African American Pastoral Care (3)
  

Bachelor of Arts Degree
The Bachelor of Arts degree is comprised of 120 semester hours and uses the courses listed above under the Church Education Certificate Program (with substitutions possible from the other certificate modules) for the major courses, coupled with four semesters (12 semester hours) of supervised field experience in a church or church related agency. In addition the student must meet Defiance College's General Education Requirements (listed earlier in this catalog), and take additional elective courses for a total of 120 hours. General degree requirements are identified by the Defiance College faculty, but may be taken at a local accredited college or university. Electives may also be taken through Defiance or at local institutions. A Bachelor of Arts degree is necessary preparation for study at most seminaries and all graduate schools of religion. It also constitutes a recognized credential in denominational and local church settings, particularly if the major is in Christian Education.

Associate of Arts Degree
The Associate of Arts degree in Religious Education requires 61 credits or semester hours. Thirty-four of those semester hours are included as the major, using courses noted in the Church Education Certificate Program. In addition there are nine semester hours of supervised field experience (achieved over three semesters) and 18 hours of general degree requirements. The Associate of Arts degree is sought when a person feels that such a degree meets his or her needs at a particular stage of life. Generally, if one anticipates participation in graduate school, a Bachelor of Arts degree is required.

Considerable additional information about the Design for Leadership and its programs is included in the separate Design for Leadership catalog available in Adobe Acrobat format above.