Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance

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Youth Development

Program - Master's Degree - Graduate Certificate - Course Schedule - Faculty - Contacts
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General Program Information: Cost, Admissions, Financial Assistance, Grade Translation
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The Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA) is a consortium of eleven universities offering fully online graduate programs. Each university brings a unique strength to the multi-institution academic programs. In a multi-institution degree program, you apply, and are admitted at one university; enroll in all your courses at that university; and, graduate or receive a certificate from that university. However, your online courses are taught by the best faculty in the discipline from several universities.

Few graduate programs exist that focus solely on the second decade of life, and Great Plains IDEA is the only alliance of public universities to offer a youth development program completely online. There is a critical need for trained youth development professionals. An estimated 17,000 organizations currently serve more than 30 million young people, and national trends are moving away from focusing on problems and behavior correction, instead favoring a positive approach. Professionals who understand the strengths-based approach are in demand.

A certificate in youth development is ideal for professionals in a variety of youth-related fields. Areas include youth-serving organizations like 4-H; Boys and Girls Club; non-profit organizations; faith-based groups; community recreation facilities; correctional professions; elementary, middle and high school educators; and extension educators.

The 36 credit master's degree program consists of ten required courses (28 credits) and depending on the institution where students are admitted a Practicum, Project or Thesis for 8 credits. Project/thesis hours and practicum will be coordinated at each individual institution.

Core courses offered within the program include nine 3-credit courses and a 1-credit professional-development seminar:

• Foundations of Youth Development (professional-development seminar) (1 credit )
• Community Youth Development (3 credits)
• Adolescents and Their Families (3 credits)
• Program Design, Evaluation, and Implementation (3 credits)
• Contemporary Youth Issues (3 credits)*
• Youth in Cultural Contexts (3 credits)
• Youth Professionals as Consumers of Research (3 credits)
• Administration and Program Management (3 credits)
• Youth Development (3 credits)
• Youth Policy (3 credits)

*This course may be taken more than once, as long as the topic areas are different each time (up to 9 hours).

Two 13 credit graduate certificates programs are available. Students seeking a certificate in Youth Development must apply to Graduate School. Students completing both certificates need only take the Foundations course once.

Youth Development Specialist Certificate

Foundations of Youth Development Seminar (1 credit)

Plus four of the following courses:

• Youth Development (3 credits)
• Community Youth Development (3 credits)
• Adolescents and Their Families (3 credits)
• Youth in Cultural Contexts (3 credits)
• Youth Policy (3 credits)
• Contemporary Youth Issues (3 credits)

Youth Program Management and Evaluation Certificate

Foundations of Youth Development Seminar (1 credit)

Plus four of the following courses:

• Program Design, Evaluation and Implementation (3 credits)
• Administration and Program Management (3 credits)
• Youth Professionals as Consumers of Research (3 credits)
• Youth Policy (3 credits)
• Contemporary Youth Issues (3 credits)

For further information please refer to the contact information on the partner institution's web sites.

Student Handbook

• You will receive a graduate degree from a top tier university, taught by nationally recognized experts in the field of youth development.
• Networking opportunities will emerge from your electronic learning community.

Upon successful completion of the Youth Development program the student will be able to:

1. Understand, integrate, and be able to apply conceptual approaches to youth development (e.g., asset building, positive youth development, community youth development, risk and resiliency).
2. Understand normative pathways to development; Understand youth and family cultural issues/contexts and their micro- and macro-influences on positive youth outcomes.
3. 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.
4. Have developed skills in problem-solving with "stakeholders" including funding sources, boards, other agencies, families and other professionals.
5. 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.
6. Be able to develop and apply resources (e.g., agency budgeting, grant writing and processing, fund raising) for successful implementation and management of youth-serving organizations.
7. Understand the history of the youth development area and advocate for the continued professionalization of the field.

Youth Development faculty