Youth Development MA

Advance your career while serving youth populations.

Students talking in Horace Mann lobby

Our Master of Arts in Youth Development prepares you to lead and serve the next generation.

Our program is the first of its kind in New England. Designed for early and mid-career professional youth workers, this advanced degree equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to lead, design, research and innovate in youth settings. You will design your own concentration and your coursework will include experiential learning in the field.

Designed for You

Our program is for individuals working within youth development and/or youth-oriented social service organizations who want to elevate their careers to leadership positions.

Student in a group, smiling

More Program Specifics

Understand admissions requirements, the courses you’ll take, and the concepts you’ll gain mastery of. Get all the detailed information you’re looking for.

The ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆµ Advantage

In our program you will design your own concentration, comprised of two elective courses and a capstone project. Coursework includes field experiences that provide opportunities to learn from and lead Rhode Island’s vibrant youth development community.

89%
of faculty hold terminal degrees in their fields.
$300M
More than $300 million has been invested in campus upgrades & renovations in the past 5 years.
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Apply for Graduate Admission

To begin the process you will need to sign up for an account with CollegeNET. Once you have a CollegeNET account, you will be able to log in any time and see your Activity Log which shows you a personalized status page.

Our Youth Development Faculty

Dream Accomplished - Helping First-Generation Students Excel

Program Details

Admission and Course Information

Learning Outcomes

  • Purposeful Play – Understand that art and play can be a starting point for exploring content and community through ideals such as democracy, care, and inclusion.
  • Care – Experience, practice, critically engage, and shape the intentional and diverse practices of care that shape youth and community.
  • Identity – Explore both self and others and hone the skills to support young people, staff, and communities in identity exploration.
  • Advocacy & Social Justice – Explore programming and policy through the lenses of power and difference in order to better understand how to build, sustain and lead positive communities with youth.
  • Leading With – Design and practice democratic, collaborative leadership models with youth, colleagues and partners in the field.

Youth Development MA Scholarship Fund

The Youth Development MA Program at ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆµ is delighted to announce a new scholarship that is available to all Youth Development MA students. All students will be eligible to receive a $1000 tuition scholarship over the course of their studies. As a program rooted in social justice, this scholarship fund is part our commitment to equity and access in higher education and the field of Youth Development.

ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆµ entrance

Take the Next Step!

Feinstein School of Education and Human Development

The Feinstein School administers and coordinates all professional education programs at ÁñÁ«ÊÓÆµ. We offer a range of programs, including early childhood, pre-K-12, counseling, school psychology, youth development and health and wellness.

Rachel Lee Ficke Clemons

Coordinator

Field Education Youth Development Program