Academic Programs Catalog

College of Social Science

Department of Human Development and Family Studies

Graduate Study
Youth Development Specialist - Graduate Certificate

The Youth Development Specialist Graduate Certificate is designed to assist youth professionals to train individuals in the second decade of life with the skills necessary for a successful transition into adulthood. The program addresses the need for advanced education in youth issues and does so through a strengths-based curriculum.

The online format and course schedule of the certificate program allows flexibility to accommodate both full-time students and working professionals. The College of Social Science, in collaboration with The Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GPIDEA), offers this program with all course work delivered via the World Wide Web at www.gpidea.org.

Admission

To be considered for admission into the Youth Development Specialist Graduate Certificate applicants must follow established University admission procedures. Students currently pursuing the Master of Arts in Youth Development are not eligible to apply for admission to the Youth Development Specialist Graduate Certificate.  For additional information, refer to the Admission section in the Graduate Education section of this catalog.

Requirements for the Youth Development Specialist Graduate Certificate

The program is available totally online. The student must complete 12 credits of course work in collaboration with The Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GPIDEA).

1. Two of the following Core Courses (6 credits)
     Foundations of Youth Development   3
     Youth Development  3
2. Complete 6 credits of electives from the following courses:
     Adolescents and Their Families  3
     Adolescent Health and Sexuality  3
     Consumers of Research  3
     Positive Youth Development in Community Settings  3
     Youth, Sports, and Society  3
    Youth, Families, and Technology  3
     Youth-Adult Partnerships  3
    Youth and Complex Social Systems  3
    Youth Culture  3
     Youth Policy and Positive Youth Development  3