Student Information The CYMT vision is to train youth ministers and church leaders by providing graduate level training that develops practical theologians and theologically informed practitioners in youth ministry.

The CYMT will accomplish this vision through:

• 2 Year - Youth Ministry Student Internships in Local Churches
• Graduate Level Youth Ministry Training for Interns and local Youth Directors

Student Internships

The Center for Youth Ministry Training accepts 6 student interns each year, with a total of 12 student interns when the Center is at capacity. Students complete a two-year, hands-on youth ministry training process that combines classroom training, one-on-one spiritual direction, and a directed action/reflection process. In addition to classroom training, each student is immersed in a specific youth ministry context in one of our partner churches, where that student serves as that church's sole youth ministry staff person (30 hrs per week). Student Interns are provided with housing and a yearly $12,000 stipend for their work in one of our partner churches.

• 6 residential student interns
• Paid Internships in Local Churches serving as Part Time Youth Director(25 hrs per week).
• Students are provided with housing and a yearly $12,000 stipend
• Partner Churches may be located anywhere in the Middle Tennessee Area

Local Youth Directors

In addition to the 6 students that the CYMT will place in partner churches, the Center accepts 3 local youth directors to the program each year. These students must be currently serving full or part-time in local congregations. These students pay tuition to participate in the Center's classroom training but do not receive a stipend or housing. Tuition for the CYMT program is $4000 per year which includes all training, books, travel, and fees associated with the CYMT curriculum. If a student desires to receive academic credit for their work at Vanderbilt Divinity School, there is an additional cost of $1250 per class which is half of the regular tuition.

Note: Youth Director's or Church's interested receiving coaching and help strengthening their youth ministry from the CYMT staff in addition to training for their staff member can apply to be a Training Partner Church.

Classes and Training

As a part of the program, all students will be expected to participate in weekly classes on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Each student will develop his or her own "practical ecclesiology," by doing ministry out of an intentional community and learning the skills that can prevent the isolation that can be deadly to long-term youth ministry. The CYMT curriculum will include both traditional classroom learning, and action/reflection processes that integrate students' academic growth with the real-life situations of the churches they serve. Curriculum will focus on three broad areas:

1. Theology -Bible Content and Interpretation, Basic Systematic Theology,
and Processes for Thinking Theologically About Youth Ministry

2. Practice - Understanding Youth Ministry, Strategies for Sustainable Youth Ministry

3. Personal - Leadership & Spiritual Development

Vanderbilt Divinity School

Students will take one class each semester from Vanderbilt Divinity School. Special arrangements have been made so that students only have to be present in class one day a week. Lectures for other days will be made available online. Students will take New Testament, Old Testament, Christian Theology, and Church History. Students may take the classes as auditors or for credit. If a student desires to receive academic credit for their work at Vanderbilt Divinity School, the cost is $1250 per class which is half of the regular tuition. Currently, students can earn up to 12 hours of academic credit for their work. We are working diligently to get up to 24 hours of academic credit.

Students will participate annually in the Princeton Forums on Youth Ministry, exposing them to the seminary environment and to professors who might naturally make the bridge to seminary more probable. The CYMT will also have multi-day intensive training events each semester to enhance the classroom experience.

Youth Ministry Professors

Mark DeVries and Dietrich Kirk teach the core youth ministry courses, enhanced by adjunct, visiting theologians from various seminaries or universities. Students will have the opportunity to learn from professors at Princeton Theological Seminary at the Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry and from professors at Duke Divinity School either on their campus or in Nashville.

Students will have the opportunity to learn from several world reknown theologians and Biblical scholars while taking classes from Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Click Here - to learn what other students are saying about the CYMT program.

Application Process

Students can apply online for this year's class of students. An admissions committee will narrow the list, with the top 10 applicants being invited to interview for the six available positions. Deadline for applying for the upcoming year's class is March 31, 2008. Both residential and non-residential students complete the same application process.

Application Deadline - Has been extended to April 30, 2008!

Student Intern Application

Student Intern Expectations - If you are applying for an Student Intern Position

Training Church Student Expectations - If your church is applying to participate in the whole program

Tuition Only Student Expectations - If you are applying to only take classes

Frequently Asked Student Questions

To have a CYMT staff member contact you to discuss a potential internship email us at info@cymt.org