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Program Description
The 12-credit certificate program was designed to help understand the unique challenges facing adolescents and young adults. Intended for counselors, educators, family therapists, social workers and other professionals dedicated to serving the developmental needs of youth in contemporary society, the program provides an overview of the major issues that impact youth development from a social justice perspective.
What is Youth Development and Social Justice?
The Youth Development and Social Justice (YDSJ) program focuses on the promotion of positive youth development within the context of social justice. The YDSJ framework views young people as assets and active change agents with the capacity to transform their lives and the world toward equity and justice.
The program provides an overview of the interconnectedness between youth development and youth resistance to social injustice. Students in the YDSJ minor will: 1) analyze issues of equity and oppression in relation to youth development, 2) work directly with youth in the community, and 3) apply theory to practice to build on the strengths of communities and youth. The program is experiential in nature and students learn by doing in trainings, workshops, and community settings.
You Might Like This Program If...
- You are interested in youth empowerment and social change.
- You want to study big questions, such as such as: 'what does equitable education look like?' and 'how does youth organizing translate to social policy?'.
- You want to make a difference in the lives of youth and communities.
- You want to learn about the impacts of discrimination and oppression on youth development.
- You want to pursue a career in behavioral health, social work, education, advocacy, nonprofit administration, community development, public policy, community organizing, or criminal justice.
Program Requirements
To earn an undergraduate certificate in Youth Development and Social Justice, a minimum of 12 credits is required.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| HDFS 345 | CONTEMPORARY URBAN ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FRAMEWORKS  | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Youth Development and Arts-based Social Justice | ||
| Adolescent Development | ||
| Developmental Transition to Adulthood | ||
| Adolescence | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Intercultural Communication Theory and Research | ||
| Social Justice and the Image | ||
| The Juvenile Justice System | ||
EARTH 111 | ||
| Environmental Factors and Their Effect on Your Food Supply | ||
| Adolescent Development | ||
| Values and Ethics in Health and Human Development Professions | ||
| Youth Development and Social Justice Capstone Seminar | ||
| Communities and Families | ||
| The Helping Relationship | ||
| Developmental Problems in Childhood and Adolescence | ||
| American Politics: Principles, Processes and Powers | ||
| Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies | ||
| Peace and Conflict Studies Seminar | ||
| Introduction to the Psychology of Gender | ||
| Applied Social Psychology | ||
| Multicultural Psychology in America | ||
| Health Psychology | ||
| The Psychology of Gender | ||
| Social Problems | ||
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
Brandywine
Marinda Kathryn Harrell-Levy
Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies
25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1277
mkh23@psu.edu
Mont Alto
Helen McGarry
Director of Continuing Education
1 Campus Drive
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-4118
hem11@psu.edu
Career Paths
The Youth Development and Social Justice certificate will support a multitude of careers in youth development, including adolescent behavioral health, education, and corrections.
Contact
Brandywine
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES
25 Yearsley Mill Road
Media, PA 19063
610-892-1277
mkh23@psu.edu
Mont Alto
1 Campus Drive
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-4118
hem11@psu.edu