Program Overview

Introduction to the CAS Kinder- und Jugendseelsorge Program

The CAS Kinder- und Jugendseelsorge program is offered by the Theologische Fakultät, Institut für Praktische Theologie, Abteilung Seelsorge, Religionspsychologie und Religionspädagogik of the Universität Bern. This program aims to provide participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to work in the field of child and youth pastoral care.

Program Overview

• Start: 2025
• Duration: 1 1/2 years
• Scope: 15 ECTS
• Flexible entry possible: Yes
• Individual modules can be attended: Yes
• Location: Bern
• Language: German
• Admission requirements: Completed university studies and professional practice in the field of child and/or youth work
• Costs: CHF 7,000

Program Structure

The program consists of six modules, including an introductory day, a colloquium, and an essay. The modules cover topics such as:

• Developmental psychology of childhood and adolescence
• Religious and social psychological knowledge of childhood and adolescence research
• Perception of life worlds
• Concepts of child and youth pastoral care, systemic family counseling, and coaching techniques
• Current religious pedagogical concepts
• Legal basics in connection with children and adolescents
• Institutions, facilities, and places of child and youth pastoral care

Program Goals

The program aims to enable participants to:

• Acquire in-depth knowledge of current concepts of child and youth pastoral care
• Understand the life worlds of children and adolescents and perceive their needs
• Describe and explain conflict and problem situations typical of childhood and adolescence
• Shape professional relationships and respect boundaries
• Recognize psychological disorders and perform triage
• Choose appropriate communication forms and apply counseling and coaching techniques
• Support children and adolescents in positioning themselves and experiencing self-efficacy
• Discuss elementary and existential life questions and theologize with children and adolescents if desired
• Analyze and critically discuss current projects and institutions of child and youth pastoral care

Modules

The program consists of the following modules:

Module 1: Developmental, Religious, and Social Psychology

• Dates: October 15-18, 2025
• Instructors: Prof. Dr. Krimmer Evelyn, Bärtschi Judith lic.phil., Prof. Dr. Huber Stefan, Pfr. Köhler-Andereggen Andreas

Module 2: Legal Basics and Institutions, Facilities, and Places

• Dates: November 21-22, 28-29, 2025
• Instructors: Gross Mona, Weber Gabriella, Weller Cornelia

Module 3: Concepts and Methods of Child and Youth Pastoral Care in Conversation with Religious Pedagogy

• Dates: March 5-6, 12-13, 2026
• Instructors: Prof. Dr. Krimmer Evelyn, Studer Andreas, Pfr. Maitland Marcus, Prof. Dr. Noth Isabelle, Pfr. Köhler-Andereggen Andreas

Module 4: Life Worlds of Children and Adolescents and Possibilities of Participation

• Dates: May 7-8, 2026
• Instructors: Abzieher Diana, Kipfer Christoph

Module 5: Praxis Community

• Dates: Parallel to the modules
• Instructors: Weller Cornelia

Module 6: Training Phase

• Dates: Parallel to the modules

Admission Requirements

• Completed university studies
• Professional practice in the field of child and/or youth work
• Exceptions can be approved by the program management "sur dossier"

Costs

• CHF 7,000 for the entire CAS program
• CHF 275 per day for individual modules

Related Programs

• CAS Spiritual Care
• CAS Spital- und Klinikseelsorge AWS Schweiz
• CAS Altersseelsorge in Heimen und Gemeinden AWS Schweiz
• CAS Psychotherapie im Kindes- und Jugendalter