This course will examine the fundamentals of youth development and the youth development profession. Through this introduction to the field, students will explore the ethical, professional, and historical elements of youth development as it has evolved toward professionalization.
An introduction to theory and research in positive youth development. The course emphasizes how the developmental tasks of this life stage are influenced by (and influence) family and home, school, peers, and other contextual forces. The course will help students recognize and become familiar with the major issues and transitions of adolescents.
Focuses upon community youth development from a strength-based approach. This approach is a holistic and dynamic understanding of youth and communities encompassing both individual development (i.e. positive youth development) and adolescents' interrelationships with their environments. Emphasis is placed upon research, theory, and practice
This course explores adolescent development in the context of the family. The bi-directional influences between adolescents and their families will be examined. Implications for professionals working with youth and families will be explored and highlighted.
This course presents issues faced by youth today and associated risk and resiliency factors. A different topic is presented each year. Past topics have included Youth Violence, Youth and Appearance, and Volunteerism. The course may be taken more than once, as long as the topic areas are different each time.
This course will examine the cultural contexts that affect youth from within and outside the family. Students will be encouraged to think critically about society and culture, gain further knowledge of how ethnic groups fit historically into society, and examine how history has shaped the current cultural climate of the U.S.
Students will learn the basics of quantitative and qualitative research approaches that will enable them to understand, evaluate, and critique research articles. Students will be able to judge the validity and usefulness of research articles in order to guide their educational or therapeutic interventions or public policy decisions.
Focuses on hands-on tools for conducting strategic planning, designing program logic model, and evaluating the performance of programs for youth and families. Students will develop knowledge through participating in a community-based project involving the practical application of program design and evaluation methods.
This course introduces students to the development, administration and management of youth-serving organizations.
This course examines federal and state policies that impact the developmental opportunities for youth. A guiding question that will be used to evaluate these existing (and prospective) policies is whether they contribute to, or act as barriers to desired developmental outcomes.
Fall 2008
CDFS 710 Foundations
CDFS 712 Adolescents
CDFS 713 Community
CDFS 714 Cultural
CDFS 718 Research
CDFS 719 Policy
Spring 2009
CDFS 710 Foundations
CDFS 711 Youth Development
CDFS 712 Adolescents
CDFS 714 Cultural
CDFS 716 Program Design
CDFS 717 Administration
Summer 2009
CDFS 710 Foundations
CDFS 711 Youth Development
CDFS 715 Youth Issues
Fall 2009
CDFS 710 Foundations
CDFS 712 Adolescents
CDFS 713 Community
CDFS 717 Administration
CDFS 718 Research
CDFS 719 Policy
Spring 2010
CDFS 710 Foundations
CDFS 713 Community
CDFS 714 Cultural
CDFS 716 Program Design
CDFS 717 Administration
CDFS 719 Policy