Youth Development Course Descriptions

CYAF 861 Foundations of Youth Development (1cr) Prereq: Admission to Child, Youth and Family Studies graduate program or permission. Distance delivered by Montana State University or Kansas State University.

Fundamentals of youth development and the youth development profession. Exploration of ethical, professional, and historical elements of youth development as it has evolved toward professionalization.

CYAF 863 Youth Professionals as Consumers of Research (3cr) Prereq: Admission to Child, Youth and Family Studies graduate program or permission. May also be offered by Montana State University via distance delivery.

Research report evaluation skills for youth development professionals. Fundamental quantitative and qualitative research principles guiding disciplined inquiry. Application of research results and theories to practice.

CYAF 864 Community Youth Development (3 cr) Prereq: Admission to Child, Youth and Family Studies graduate program or permission. Distance delivered by Michigan State University.

National emphasis of strength-based or asset approach to community youth development, encompassing individual development and adolescent relationships with environments. Emphasis on research, theory, and practice applied in communities. Existing models, theoretical and applied literature, and current community efforts will be examined.

CYAF 868 Adolescents and Their Families (3 cr) Prereq: Admission to Child, Youth and Family Studies graduate program or permission. Distance delivered by Montana State University.

Adolescent development as related to and intertwined with family development. Reciprocal influences between adolescents and their families are examined. Working with youth via the family system will be highlighted.

CYAF 869 Administration and Program Management (3 cr) Prereq: Admission to Child, Youth and Family Studies graduate program or permission. Distance delivered by Colorado State University or Kansas State University.

Introduction to the development, administration, and management of youth-serving organizations.

CYAF 872 Youth Development (3 cr) Prereq: 12 hours child, youth and family studies or social sciences. Distance delivered by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Scientific literature concerning the interrelationships of the physiological, psychological, and sociological aspects of the adolescent and young adulthood years. Emphasis on understanding of individuals and their continuous adjustment within the family life cycle as they make the transition from childhood to adulthood.

CYAF 873 Program Design, Evaluation, and Implementation (3 cr) Prereq: Admission to Child, Youth and Family Studies graduate program or permission. May also be offered by Colorado State University via distance delivery.

Overview of program development process and outcome evaluation of community children and family programs. Theoretical, methodological, and programmatic issues in conduction programs and scholarship.

CYAF 875 Youth in Cultural Contexts (3 cr) Prereq: Admission to Child, Youth and Family Studies graduate program or permission. Distance delivered by Michigan State University.

Cultural context factors that affect youth from a holistic perspective within and outside the family unit. Provides an understanding of the cultural heritage of differing family types.

CYAF 878 Youth Policy (3 cr) Prereq: Admission to Child, Youth and Family Studies graduate program or permission. Distance delivered by Michigan State University.

Examination of various federal and state policies designed specifically for youth. Evaluation of existing state and national policies as to whether they contribute to, or act as barriers to, desired developmental outcomes.

CYAF 879 Contemporary Youth Issues: Life Skills (2 cr) Prereq: Admission to Child, Youth and Family Studies graduate program or permission. Distance delivered by Montana State University.

Issues faced by youth today and associated risk and resiliency factors; life skills for youth; and helping skills necessary for youth professionals.

CYAF 879A Contemporary Youth Issues: Violence (1 cr) Distance delivered by Kansas State University.

Causes and consequences of youth violence. Approaches to theory and research on developmental of violent behavior in youth. Assessment of prevention and intervention programs.

CYAF 879B Contemporary Youth Issues: Youth and Appearance (1 cr) Analysis of interrelationships between clothing and culture; influences on clothing and modes of adornment within U.S. adolescent subgroups. Function of Clothing and Adornment in interpersonal communication, interaction, and self-identity development.