Undergraduate Certificate
Children need support at all ages. Early childhood and adolescence are critical times for children’s development and education. The support they receive during these ages has a sizable impact on their continued development. This undergraduate certificate equips you with the skills needed to foster positive environments for children of all ages to thrive.
The program is meant to support anyone who works with children in a variety of roles. This can include PK-12 education, pediatric healthcare, child welfare and foster care, out-of-school programs, youth mental health programs, youth sports and recreation and more.
About the applied child and youth development program
This program comes from Mizzou’s Department of Human Development and Family Science within the College of Education and Human Development. The faculty within the department have years of experience leading the industry as scholars and practitioners in the field of youth development. The program is entirely online.
If you wish to add to your education beyond this undergraduate certificate, you can apply credits toward a bachelor’s degree, such as our Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education in a Mobile Society or the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science with an emphasis in Family and Lifespan Development.
Quick facts
Official name
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Child and Youth DevelopmentCampus
Program type
Undergraduate certificateAcademic home
College of Education & Human Development | Department of Human Development and Family ScienceDelivery mode
100% onlineAccreditation
Higher Learning CommissionCredit hours
12Estimated cost
$7,171.20*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.
Career prospects
Graduates who complete this certificate program can be eligible for several careers, including:
- Childcare workers
- Preschool teachers
- Teaching assistants
Program structure
This undergraduate certificate requires you to complete three courses and gives you options for the fourth course needed to finish the certificate. All courses are offered online in an asynchronous format.
Coursework includes
- Early childhood development
- Technology in youth development
- Adolescent and young adult development
Delivery
100% onlineCalendar system
Semester-basedTypical program length
1 yearTypical course load
3 courses per semesterAccreditation
The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.
Faculty spotlight
J. “Clay” Hurdle is an assistant professor in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Missouri. Dr. Hurdle’s academic interests include positive youth development, the development and cultivation of leadership skills in youth and land-grant university history.
Shinyoung Jeon is an assistant professor in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Missouri. Dr. Jeon’s work has revolved around evaluating the effectiveness of programs on children’s school readiness. She has also partnered with public school districts to examine the longitudinal developmental outcomes of high school children.
Michelle Mathews is an associate teaching professor in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Missouri. Dr. Mathews has over 25 years of experience in early childhood education. She has served as director of the MU Child Development Lab for eight years, from 2014 to 2022. Her courses focus on socialization in early childhood and the role of technology in early childhood education.
Kellie Seals is an assistant extension professor in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Missouri. Dr. Seals works with both researchers and practitioners to serve youth in Missouri by leading college and career programming and evaluation efforts for Missouri 4-H.