Graduate Certificate Summary
Description
The graduate certificate in Youth Development is a unique online certificate program that focuses solely on Youth Development. The certificate uses an approach that examines people, places, supports, opportunities and services young people need to be happy, healthy and successful, both in theory and practice. Taught through the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance for the Human Sciences (Great Plains IDEA), this is the only alliance of public universities to offer it completely online.Students may complete the certificate in one of two focus areas: Youth Development Specialist or Youth Program Management and Evaluation.
This certificate is aimed at professionals working with youth, including:
- 4-H and Boys and Girls Clubs
- Non-profit youth organizations
- Faith-based groups
- Community recreation leaders
- Juvenile corrections professionals
- Elementary, middle and high school educators
- Extension educators
Distance Education Opportunities
All courses are completed online through Great Plains IDEA, a consortium of 11 universities. Students admitted to this certificate program will take courses delivered via distance technologies by Nebraska and the other participating institutions.Youth Development
- This graduate certificate is offered by the Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies.
- On the WebDepartment Website
- Graduate ChairDr. Julia Torquati
Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies - Great Plains IDEA Campus CoordinatorLisa King
135 Mabel Lee Hall
Lincoln NE 68588-0236
Phone: 402-472-7787
Fax: 402-472-9170
Lking2@unl.edu
Application Checklist and Deadlines
Required by the Office of Graduate Studies
- Application for Graduate Admission for a graduate certificate objective
- $50 non-refundable application processing fee
- One set of transcripts, uploaded to MyRED (see upload requirements)
- If your native language is not English: verification of English proficiency
- If you are not a US citizen and you hold an F1 visa: concurrent admission to a degree program, because a certificate alone is not sufficient for F1 status
See also: steps to admission.
Required by the Department for this Certificate
- Statement of professional goals
- Intent form
- Resume
- Three letters of recommendation
Application Deadline
Students are encouraged to seek admission to begin in the Fall semester. Applications will be considered continuously based on available slots.Courses
The certificate requires 12 hours and a one-hour foundations course for a total of 13 credit hours.Some courses listed here require admission to a Child, Youth and Family Studies graduate degree program or permission.
Courses required for both focuses
CYAF 861 - Foundations of Youth Development (1 cr, Montana State University or Kansas State University)Courses that may be applied to either focus
CYAF 878 - Youth Policy (3 cr, Michigan State University)CYAF 879 - Contemporary Youth Issues: Life Skills (2 cr, Montana State University)
CYAF 879A - Contemporary Youth Issues: Violence (1 cr, Kansas State University)
CYAF 879B - Contemporary Youth Issues: Youth and Appearance (1 cr, UNL)
Courses required for the Youth Development Specialist focus
CYAF 864 - Community Youth Development (3 cr, Michigan State University)CYAF 868 - Adolescents and Their Families (3 cr, Montana State University)
CYAF 872 - Youth Development (3 cr, UNL)
CYAF 875 - Youth in Cultural Contexts (3 cr, Michigan State University)
Courses required for the Youth Program Management and Evaluation focus
CYAF 873 - Program Design, Evaluation, and Implementation (3 cr, UNL or Colorado State University)CYAF 863 - Youth Professionals as Consumers of Research (3 cr, UNL or Montana State University)
CYAF 869 - Administration and Program Management (3 cr, Colorado State University or Kansas State University)
More Course Information
The Graduate Bulletin provides course descriptions, prerequisites, degree program requirements, and more.The Schedule of Classes specifies dates, times, locations, and instructors when this course is offered.
Related Pages
Students interested in Youth Development also may want information about:Explore all areas of study:
Departments: Have an update for this page? Contact Justina Clark.
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