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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Graduate Online and Distance Education

A UNL education wherever you are

Youth Development

  • About
  • Tuition & Fees
  • Courses
  • Tech Requirements
  • Application Process
  • Contact Us
The Program

The master’s degree or graduate certificate in Youth Development uses a strengths-based curriculum that supports youth to make them socially, emotionally and cognitively competent adults.

An estimated 17,000 organizations currently serve more than 30 million young people. Professionals who understand the strengths-based approach are in demand. Few Youth Development graduate programs exist. This Great Plains IDEA program is the only alliance of public universities to offer it 100% online.

Three options for study in Youth Development:

  • Master’s degree in Youth Development (36 credit hours)
  • Youth Development Specialist Certificate (13 credit hours)
  • Youth Program Management and Evaluation Certificate (13 credit hours)

Master’s degree or graduate certificate?
Professionals with a master’s degree can demand a higher wage than those holding a graduate certificate. The graduate certificate can be used for continuing education credits or a career ladder opportunity. A graduate certificate can also be used to supplement a master’s degree in another field.


The master’s degree and certificate prepare you to:

  • Develop policies with a positive effect
  • Apply basic research and evaluation skills
  • Understand normative pathways to development
  • Work with agencies, boards, families, and other professionals
  • Gain the necessary skills for budgeting, grant writing, and fund-raising
  • Examine the impact of local, state, federal, and global policies on youth
  • Identify how youth and family cultural issues affect positive youth outcomes
  • Apply the primary concepts of youth development

Who Should Consider This Program?

Students interested in careers in the following fields should consider this degree:

  • Professionals working with youth
  • 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
  • Military youth programs

Method of Delivery
Classes are offered through web based instruction. Students interact with instructors and other students through e-mail, online chats, discussion boards, and other methods. Some courses have supplemental materials on videos or CDs, and other courses may require phone conferencing.

All students must have access to a computer, e-mail and the Internet. Even though the classes do not “meet” at a scheduled time and place, the learner is expected to keep up with class assignments and interact as if the distance learner were attending a course on campus.

For more information:
Visit the Department of Child, Youth & Family Studies Web site.

childyouth
Great Plains IDEA logo

Great Plains IDEA Program
This program is part of the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA), a consortium of eleven universities offering fully online graduate programs.

Each university brings a unique strength to the multi-institution academic programs.

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.


Resident Tuition Cost:
  Resident Distance Ed. Tuition Distance Ed. Fee Registration Fee
Per Semester		 Tech Fee Library Fee Total Cost for 3 Credit Hours
 
Graduate per credit hour

 $430.00 -- -- -- --  
Graduate 3 credit hours $1290.00 -- -- -- -- --



Non-Resident Tuition Cost:
  Non-Resident Distance Ed. Tuition Distance Ed. Fee Registration Fee
Per Semester		 Tech Fee Library Fee Total Cost for 3 Credit Hours
 
Graduate per credit hour $430.00 -- -- -- --  
Graduate 3 credit hours $1290.00 -- -- -- -- --

Tuition rates are effective as of 7/1/09 and are subject to change in July of each year.

UNL Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid provides information about low-interest student loans.Nebraska teachers enrolled in graduate programs may be eligible for special forgivable loans from the Nebraska Department of Education.

Program of Study

Each course is 3 credit hours unless otherwise noted.

CYAF 861 Foundations of Youth Development (1 credit hour) must be taken in the first semester of matriculation.

All other courses can be taken in any order desired.

Required Masters degree courses (28 credit hours):
  • CYAF 861 Foundations of Youth Development Seminar (1 credit hour)
  • CYAF 863 Youth Professionals as Consumers of Research
  • CYAF 864 Community Youth Development
  • CYAF 868 Adolescents and Their Families
  • CYAF 869 Administration and Program Management
  • CYAF 872 Youth Development
  • CYAF 873 Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation
  • CYAF 875 Youth in Cultural Contexts
  • CYAF 878 Youth Policy
  • CYAF 894 Contemporary Youth Issues


Electives and/or Master's Thesis, Project or Practicum (8 credit hours) :

The remaining eight credits are determined in consultation with your advisor and masters degree option chosen. These credits can come in the form of additional course work, internship, special project, or thesis.

Youth Development Specialist Certificate Courses:
Required:

  • CYAF 861 Foundations of Youth Development Seminar (1 credit)

Four of the courses listed for 12 credits:
  • CYAF 864 Community Youth Development
  • CYAF 868 Adolescents and Their Families
  • CYAF 872 Youth Development
  • CYAF 875 Youth in Cultural Contexts
  • CYAF 878 Youth Policy
  • CYAF 894 Contemporary Youth Issues

Youth Program Management and Evaluation Certificate Courses:
Required:
  • CYAF 861 Foundations of Youth Development Seminar (1 credit)

Four of the courses listed for 12 credits:
  • CYAF 863 Youth Professionals as Consumers of Research
  • CYAF 869 Administration and Program Management
  • CYAF 873 Program Design, Implementation and Evaluation
  • CYAF 878 Youth Policy  
  • CYAF 894 Contemporary Youth Issues

Credits completed in a certificate may be considered as partial fulfillment for the Master’s Degree.  Please consult your advisor for more information.

More detailed information on course scheduling and descriptions are available on the GP-IDEA Web site.


Tech Requirements

High speed Internet connection is required. Check the Graduate Distance Catalog to learn the specific requirements for your program.

Some distance courses have supplemental materials on videos or CDs and others may require phone conferencing. You will interact with the professor and other students through e-mail, phone conferencing, and Blackboard.

Blackboard™ Requirements and Browser Configurations:
To effectively use Blackboard the Javascript and cookies on your computer must be enabled. Some content for features may require additional software. Pop-up blockers should be disabled for Blackboard (My.UNL). The browsers below are officially supported.

  • Internet Explorer: 7.0 or higher
  • Firefox: 2.0 or higher
  • Safari: 2.0 or higher

Older versions of the above or alternative browsers (such as Mozilla and Opera) may be compatible, but some features might not be available. To download the latest browsers, click the “help” button in Blackboard (My.UNL) and access the Downloads area.

Operating Systems:
Microsoft® Windows® 2000 and up, or Mac OS X, 10.2 and up are strongly recommended. Older operating systems (Microsoft® Windows® 98SE/ME, MacOS 8/9) or alternative platforms (Linux) are compatible, but may not have full functionality. Blackboard (My.UNL) is not currently compatible with handheld devices or Web-enabled phones.

Windows Macintosh
Minimum System Requirements Minimum System Requirements
Operating System: Windows XP SP 2
(Home or Professional)		 Operating System: OS X (10.2)
Processor: 1 GHz Processor: G3 800 MHz
RAM: 256 MB RAM: 256 MB
       
Recommended System Requirements Recommended System Requirements
Operating
System:		 Windows XP SP 2
(Home or Pro)
or Windows Vista		 Operating
System:		 OS X (10.4) or OS X (10.5)
Processor: 2 GHz or higher Processor: G4 1.25 GHz or higher
RAM: 768 MB or more RAM: 768 MB or more


Note: Using Blackboard with AOL:
While you can use AOL as your service provider, you cannot use the AOL Web browser to access Blackboard (My.UNL). If you try to use the AOL browser, you will find that it will automatically log you out every few minutes and you will experience problems with some of Blackboard’s services including assessments (tests and quizzes).

If you are an AOL user, once you’ve connected to the Internet, use a different Web browser to access the Internet.
Application Process

Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies

Required by Office of Graduate Studies

Required by Child, Youth and Family Studiesbr>
Application Deadlines
  • Fall Semester - April 15
  • Spring Semester - October 15
  • Summer Semester - January 15

Your application is reviewed only after all materials are received. It is recommended that you submit all materials six weeks prior to the deadlines.

For information regarding courses offered and department admission contact:

College of Education & Human Sciences:
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies
Lisa King
135 Mabel Lee Hall
Lincoln NE 68588-0236
Phone: (402) 472-7787
Fax: (402) 472-9170
E-mail: lKing2@unl.edu
Web: http://cehs.unl.edu/cfya/grad/youthdev.shtml

Extended Education & Outreach
900 North 22nd Street
P.O. Box 888805
Lincoln, NE 68588-8805
Phone: (402) 472-2715
Fax: (402) 472-4345
E-mail: unlextended@unl.edu
Web: http://onlinegraduate.unl.edu