Youth
development leadership (YDL)
Program overview
YDL offers all youth workers—whether they are volunteer or
professional, teachers or summer camping staff, religious youth group
leaders or juvenile probation officers, community program directors or
street outreach workers, mentors or therapists—an opportunity to learn
more about working with and on behalf of youth. It is a degree designed
by University faculty and community youth work professionals.
- collaborative approach to learning;
- interdisciplinary curriculum;
- cohort of other youth work professionals, for
supportive learning environment;
- diverse faculty dedicated to healthy youth
development and committed to helping you develop a course of study
that meets your professional and personal needs and interests.
What is
the M.Ed. in youth development leadership?
Youth development leadership is a graduate degree offered by the
College of Education and Human Development for people who work with
youth in traditional and nontraditional settings. They’re people like
you, committed to the healthy development of young people. Effectiveness
depends upon keeping up with the challenges facing today’s youth, which
requires continual learning and professional growth. This degree is an
excellent career opportunity for anyone working with youth, regardless
of his or her previous academic background.
The
M.Ed. in youth development leadership emphasizes:
- a community-based model of positive youth development;
- experiential learning models;
- leadership and community building by encouraging consultation among
faculty, professional youth workers, fellow students, and young people;
- diverse, flexible, and interdisciplinary faculty and curriculum that
provide an informed understanding of practices, policies, and ethics of
youth development work;
- positive professional development.
The YDL
program
“People in
the YDL program come from different experiences and backgrounds, not
only in their personal lives, but also in the field of youth work.
Everyone has different passions, but we’re all working toward a
similar goal. There’s a very real sense of support and camaraderie
that I haven’t felt anywhere else.”
—Jessica Pierson Russo, teacher,
multicultural community educator
Cohort
Students admitted to the program take the core courses together, one
course per semester over a two year period. This supportive community
environment establishes a network of professional connections, personal
support, and fun. Though you can apply for acceptance into the YDL
program at any time, you will be required to begin the series of core
courses with your cohort in the fall. Faculty
adviser selection
Because you take the initiative in tailoring the program to fit your
professional needs, it is important to have an adviser to partner you in
your graduate work. You are assigned an adviser upon admission to the
College, but you may ask a different faculty person to be your adviser
once you are acquainted with the program and the professional focus of
each faculty member.
Core courses
The College’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction and
Department of Educational Policy and Administration offer the core
courses, which focus on healthy youth development in families,
schools, the workplace, and the community.
- The reason: The Everyday Lives of Youth (3 credits)
- The method: Experiential Learning:
Pedagogy for Community and Classroom (3 credits)
- The settings: Organizational Approaches to Youth Development (3
credits)
- The critical issues: Community:
Context for Youth Development Leadership (3
credits)
“...my
involvement in the YDL program taught me to speak out on behalf of
kids in ways that truly made a positive difference...”
—YDL graduate
The faculty advise, guide, and mentor you throughout the program,
but it is your individual vision of youth leadership that provides
the focus. Based on your own professional interests, you choose 10
credits of elective courses from departments across the University.
In addition to choosing electives in your area of interest, you
select from a variety of seminar options and complete a field
experience of your own design. At the end of your time in the
program, you compile a portfolio: a comprehensive, critical
reflection of your work and experiences. For more detailed
curriculum information, follow the links below.
Revised November 2004
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