Advanced Family Studies Online

Are you ministering to families regularly? Have you done prior training* and want to deepen your knowledge & skills to work effectively with Families, yet you can’t leave your ministry for 3-5 months to do a University of the Nations school?

* If you have completed a YWAM DTS and a Foundations in Family Ministries course (FMS FFS), then you qualify. If you have only completed a YWAM DTS and now have experience working with families and couples, you may also qualify to join. Please ask.
If you have not studied Family Systems or Genograms, you will be able to take two short courses as a prerequisite before starting the program.

You can choose to take this course in one of the three following formats:
1. The full course, including accreditation, a dedicated cohort group, and a staff tutor for assignment submissions and one-on-one tutoring.
2. Access to all of the resources in each module, and the option to participate in a group discussion call for each module (this is as if you were auditing the course).
3. Access to all the course resources as the modules are released.

TOPICS

In the Online Advanced Family Studies (AFS) you will take your skills to the next level. Topics are divided into three units:

Unit 1:

Introduction and study guide
Advanced Genograms
Advanced Family Systems
Theology of marriage

Unit 2:

Cultural diversity and gender roles
Personality / Contemporary marriage and family issues
Developing culturally appropriate courses
Parenting
Family trauma

Unit 3:

Capstone* project (your topic)
Reader
Intensive: Motivational interviewing coaching skills
Intensive: Sexuality and Gender

*The Capstone project is usually takes as two credits.

…and you will do this mostly from your home! All you need is a computer and a good internet connection.

ONLINE & INTENSIVES

The units run in a cohort, meaning that you work through each module connected to a group of students and staff (if you are taking the full course). You benefit from a personal 1-on-1 tutor, group discussions with each module, individual feedback on your assignments, as well as regular contact with other students through student trios and group “coffee times”. Content is delivered through videos and literature. While the AFS runs mostly online, a 10-day intensive* may be offered depending on the region.

The online modules will take place over the course of 9 months. Each module requires about 25 hours work (12 – 13 hours a week) and a new module will become available every 2 weeks. You can do up to 10 modules online. For the intensive one can earn an additional max of 3 credits. A minimum of 11 credits is required to be considered as having completed the lecture phase of the AFS.

The intensive is planned to run toward the end of the course. We get together for 10 days and go deeper in 2 topics: Motivational Interviewing and Sexuality & Gender. We will announce the date & location when the cohort starts. See this page as reference and for more info.

LANGUAGE OPTIONS

The Course material & lectures are offered in multiple languages. However, this depends on the number of students. A minimum of 10 students is required to start a language cohort. If you have a group of potential students in another language than those mentioned above, please contact us, so we can see how we could accommodate you.

EXTENSION STUDY CREDITS & DEGREE

This school will be registered as 11 – 12 credits through the College of Family Studies (with Extension Studies) in the UofN. The completion qualifies as the lecture phase of the AFS (FAM 351), building upon the existing Foundation for Family Studies. To complete the full program you are expected to do at least 8 credits of application (there are different ways of accomplishing this, details can be confirmed with the school leader). If you are interested in pursuing a degree in Family Studies, please indicate this when registering for this school.

COST

The online tuition fee for the AFS has several options:

Registration fee for all options: €20 per person.*

Full course: 750** Euro (exchange) or 260** Euro per unit*. The includes access to all the online modules (_{^{as long as your work and attendance is up to date}}) and accreditation with the UofN. You will be attributed to a personal tutor, participate in cohort discussions and inter-student groups. Most of the required books are included in the cost, and are available as e-books. Accommodation and travel costs for the (possible) intensive and any additional books are not included.
Online only: 450** Euro or 160** Euro per unit*. The fee includes access to all the online modules per unit, videos and many books. It includes the option of participation in a discussion group (Zoom) for each module. There is no regular tutor, no credits, and your work is not graded.
Self-study: 360** Euro or 130** Euro per unit*. This is including access to all online modules, videos and some books, but without participation in a cohort and no grading or personal tutor. The are no credits.

Some cohorts may include a 1- 2-week intensive is estimated (depending location), and the accommodation and meals are not included in the price above.

We offer scholarships as a partial discount for selected individuals. Please indicate this as you apply and we can discuss your situation.
You may also pay per unit, but keep in mind that there is a cost for each international money transfer.