Youth Development

MASTERS DEGREE

The Master of Science degree in Child, Youth and Family Studies with a specialization in Youth Development includes 36 semester hours of course work. 28 hours come from courses required by Great Plains IDEA program. These courses include nine 3-credit hour courses and a 1-credit hour foundations course. Students in this specialization may choose from one of two options to finish their masters program at UNL.

Students in this program will:

Understand, integrate, and be able to apply conceptual approaches to youth development

Understand normative pathways to development

Understand youth and family cultural issues/contexts and their micro- and macro-influences on positive youth outcomes

Understand and apply basic research and evaluation skills to youth development programming through an applied project that serves as a capstone experience under the direction of the candidate's home institution

Develop skills in problem-solving with "stakeholders" including funding sources, boards, other agencies, families and other professionals

Demonstrate understanding of the development and impact of local, regional, state, federal, and global policies on youth and be able to advocate through policy development for optimal youth outcomes

Be able to develop and apply resources (e.g., agency budgeting, grant writing and processing, fundraising) for successful implementation and management of youth-serving organizations

Understand the history of the youth development area and advocate for the continued professionalization of the field

Prepare for a career working with youth, including:

4-H

Boys and Girls Club

Non-profit youth organizations

Faith-based groups

Community recreation leaders

Juvenile corrections professionals

Elementary, middle, and high school educators

Extension educators

Graduate Faculty: Online youth development courses are taught by the best faculty in the discipline from several universities including: Kansas State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Option I program of study will include:
29 semester hours of required course work
6 thesis credit hours
1 credit hour minimum of practicum
36 required credit hours total

Option II program of study will include:
28 semester hours of required course work
1-5 credit hours of Project or Thesis (with up to 5 option Project/Thesis elective hours)
1-3 credit hours of Practicum (with up to 3 Practicum elective hours)
36 required credit hours total

Course Requirements:
CYAF 861 Foundations in Youth Development Seminar (1 credit)
CYAF 863 Youth Professionals as Consumers of Research (3 credits)
CYAF 864 Community Youth Development (3 credits)
CYAF 868 Adolescents and Their Families (3 credits)
CYAF 869 Administration and Program Management (3 credits)
CYAF 872 Youth Development (3 credits)
CYAF 873 Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation (3 credits)
CYAF 875 Youth in Cultural Contexts (3 credits)
CYAF 878 Youth Policy (3 credits)
CYAF 894 Contemporary Youth Issues (3 credits each - may take 3 of these; examples include: Violence, Youth Appearance and Dress )
CYAF 897D Practicum (1 credit required; 3 credits maximum)
CYAF 899 Project/Thesis (1 credit required; 6 credits maximum)