Youth Development Leadership, MS

Program Description

The Master of Science degree program in Youth Development Leadership equips students with the competencies, knowledge and skills to help young people develop into healthy, competent, coping and contributing citizens. This program prepares students to address issues facing youth in the context of family and community with an emphasis on positive outcomes through a dynamic learning environment.

The MS in Youth Development Leadership is an interdisciplinary degree program designed to meet the needs of students who are also working professionals. All courses are offered in an accelerated format and are delivered through a variety of asynchronous and synchronous distance education technologies.

The Youth Development Leadership program is designed to empower students to focus on strengths and assets within the context of family and community that will promote positive youth development; identify and examine physical, emotional, environmental and social issues related to being a young person in today’s society; prepare professional educators and leaders at all program and management levels for careers in schools, agencies, institutions and community groups that serve youth; train new and current professionals to be well prepared with increased knowledge and enhanced skills in the youth development area; prepare leaders who will have an immediate impact on youth development in South Carolina and around the nation; link formal and non-formal prevention and intervention youth programs to enhance the learning experience for students; and strengthen youth serving agencies and organizations by supplying professionals who are competent in youth development leadership.

Additional information is available on the departmental website at https://www.clemson.edu/cbshs/departments/prtm/academics/graduate/ms-youth-development-leadership/index.html.

Summary of Degree Requirements

The Youth Development Leadership MS degree program requires 36 hours of course work.

Coursework

Required courses for the Youth Development Leadership MS degree are as follows:

PADM 8410 - Public Data Analysis 3 Credits  

YDP 8000 - Theories of Youth Development: An Applied Perspective 3 Credits  

YDP 8010 - Child and Adolescent Development 3 Credits  

YDP 8020 - Youth Development Programming in a Contemporary Society 3 Credits  

YDP 8030 - Creative and Ethical Leadership in a Changing Society 3 Credits  

YDP 8040 - Assessment and Evaluation of Youth Programs 3 Credits  

YDP 8060 - Youth Development in the Context of a Global and Diverse Society 3 Credits  

YDP 8080 - Grantsmanship 3 Credits  

YDP 8090 - Management of Staff and Volunteers 3 Credits  

YDP 8880 - Special Topics in Youth Development Leadership 3 Credits  

YDP 8900 - The Profession of Youth Development Leadership 3 Credits  

Outcomes, Learning Objectives, and Graduation Requirements

The Youth Development Leadership program is designed to:

1. Enhance student knowledge, skills, and attitude competencies related to youth development leadership via progression through a comprehensive youth development leadership curriculum;
2. Empower students to focus on youth strengths and assets within the context of family and community that will promote positive youth development;
3. Identify and examine physical, emotional, environmental, and social issues associated with being a young person (and leading youth) in today’s society;
4. Prepare youth development leaders at all program and management levels for careers in schools, agencies, institutions, and community groups that serve youth; and
5. Provide opportunities for students to immediately apply knowledge and skills acquired in the program to impact on youth development in South Carolina and around the nation.