The Urban Educational Ministry minor exists to provide experience and targeted training for a teaching ministry in an urban setting. Participants in the minor will observe and work in urban classrooms, and complete coursework in order to prepare them for the unique needs of ministry in cross-cultural settings. Course work focuses on high-quality planning and teaching, as well as management and discipline that are grounded in law and gospel and that lovingly build structure for academic success and encourage Christian living.
Why do we offer this minor?
- Over 80% of the US population lives in urban areas – US Census
- 51% of children in urban areas—8.9 million—live in low-income families—NCCP
- These children are much more likely to be in the lowest performing schools with the least experienced teachers
What these children and their parents want are safe and well-ordered schools, where teachers will know and care about their children and offer high-quality education.
Our WELS schools in urban settings can offer all of this and more. Our schools are safe, our teachers care, and our students excel because Christ is the foundation and the work is motivated by the gospel. MLC now offers targeted training, the Urban Educational Ministry minor, to prepare teachers to serve in this growing field.
Minor Courses
EDU2201 Introduction to Urban Education Ministry
3 credits. Introduction and exploration of cross-cultural contexts for teaching and ministry. Observation and participation in cross-cultural ministry settings will provide the experiential framework to organize and apply the course material to real-life application. Open to education and pre-seminary students.
EDU2403 Urban & Cross-Cultural Summer Field Experience
3 credits. Summer field experience in urban/cross-cultural settings to build basic instructional skills, cultural competencies, and classroom management techniques essential to the urban classroom in coordination with approved ministry partners.
EDU3001 Classroom Management Basics
1 credit. Study of classroom management principles, and classroom culture to support reflective, responsive, and restorative practices based in the Biblical application of Law and Gospel.
EDU3002 Responsive Classroom Strategies
3 credits. Exploration of proven strategies that will promote high quality responsive teaching and management for beginning teachers.
Second Intercultural Elective – 3 credits (Choose one)
- One General Education Intercultural Elective (See General Education Courses Listing)
- EDU2403 Urban & Cross-Cultural Summer Field Experience (2nd experience)
Applied Ministry Elective – 3 credits (Choose one)
- THE3101 Introduction to Your and Family Ministry
- THE3110 Foundations of Evangelism
Field Experiences – Urban Educational Ministry Trips
| Destination | Who’s Invited | General Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | All students, all tracks | First exposure, general introduction |
| Minneapolis | Students enrolled in EDU2201 | Directed observation as a capstone to the concepts covered in class, opportunity to see methods in action. |
| Chicago | Those with interest/involvement in the minor and urban activities | Directed observation, exposure to specific strategies and techniques, compare and contrast with traditional WELS schools and with Milwaukee experience. |
Why so many trips? The principals of numerous schools and others connected with urban education gave their input in program design. Across the board they recommended early exposure and repeated opportunities to experience urban educational settings. New Ulm’s geographical location makes this somewhat challenging; however, MLC does have a top-notch program, based in gospel ministry, that produces teachers who are well prepared to enter and succeed in the urban setting. These trips are part of that training.
