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Today’s teens transform into tomorrow’s adults. Yet, in between are many challenges. In school, academic pressure increases — both in the classroom and in thinking about one’s future. Peer relationships grow more complex and often become the foundation of one’s support system and identity. And as a teen forges their own sense of self, family and community dynamics change significantly.
Research shows that effective advocacy, supportive adult relationships, evidence-informed policy and programs cultivating leadership and other life skills, and opportunities to build confidence and contributions empower all teens as they prepare for adulthood.
The University of Missouri’s (Mizzou) online master of arts in youth development program positions you to better understand adolescents and young adults and develop programming and policy to support youth to thrive. In this flexible course of study offered through Innovative Digital Education Alliance (IDEA), you explore the principles and applications of positive youth development to help teens discover personal strength, build meaningful connections and think about their place in the world.
If you're not ready for a full master's program, two Mizzou certificate programs introduce you to key applications for direct work with youth or developing your youth program leadership skills: youth development specialist (graduate certificate) and youth development program management and evaluation (graduate certificate).
Quick facts
Official name
Master of arts in human development and family science with an emphasis in youth developmentCampus
Program type
Master's degreeAcademic home
College of Education & Human Development | Department of Human Development and Family ScienceDelivery mode
100% onlineAccreditation
Higher Learning CommissionCredit hours
36Estimated cost
$21,960.00*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
You remember the struggles and triumphs of your teen years. So, get ready to extend a hand, listen and light the way for others as a youth development program specialist or manager — a career path predicted to see 9% higher demand through 2032.
Mizzou’s online master’s in youth development program equips you to assist this population socially, academically and personally in several contexts:
- 4-H
- Faith-based youth groups
- Foster care programs and transition services
- Juvenile justice programs
- Local and national after-school programs (e.g., Boys and Girls Clubs)
- Non-profit organizations
- Youth advisory councils
About the online master’s in youth development program
A more recent concept, positive youth development consists of three goals — helping teens form their identities, develop a future-focused mindset and enrich their communities. Supportive adults direct these outcomes either by managing youth-related programs like 4-H or Boys and Girls Clubs or creating policies that influence these efforts.
At the core of these measures, teens begin to realize who they are — including their positive attributes and their unique roles within their family, school and community. This personal connection gives way to more nurturing peer dynamics, bolsters academic performance, increases college attendance and reduces rates of substance abuse, teen pregnancy and violent behaviors.
If you strive to establish more impactful youth programs, design policies that encourage adolescents to fulfill their potential and better engage those you serve, Mizzou’s online master’s in youth development program suits mid-career professionals along both tracks. You’ll delve into the importance of research and explore theories that help foster teens’ emotional, social and behavioral development. At the same time, you’ll examine outside factors — including school, peers, family and environment — that could potentially hinder their progress.
With this knowledge, prepare to:
- Help youth grow into leaders by understanding their strengths and building supportive connections with both peers and adults
- Design, develop, manage, evaluate and fund youth programs, including in and after school
- Advocate for racially and economically diverse youth populations, whether through policy, new programs or as you directly work with clients and their families
- Promote inclusive environments where all youth, regardless of background, feel like they belong
- Propose or analyze federal and state policies influencing youth development and programs
Program structure
The online master’s in youth development program requires 36 credit hours of course work. Both required courses and electives cover theories and applications related to the following areas: foundational skills in positive youth development, relational dynamics and positive youth development, contexts of youth practice and policy, and youth program management, evaluation and administration. Students also complete a research-based capstone project centering around a youth development topic of their choosing. Students are encouraged to create a tangible capstone project that aligns with their needs in their current work setting or that supports their future professional goals.
To get where they need to be, students meet with an academic advisor from their home campus to discuss career goals and the courses that best support their professional development. Should any technical issues arise, they also have access to a campus coordinator.
While students apply to and receive their diploma from their home campus, they have the option to take courses through other participating IDEA universities. In addition to the University of Missouri, Iowa State University, Michigan State University, North Dakota State University, Texas Tech University and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln manage courses for the online master’s in youth development program.
The online master’s in youth development program is 100% online and based on a semester schedule. Students typically take two classes each semester and finish in two to three years. Please keep in mind that start and finish dates vary based on the university overseeing the course.
Course work includes
Required courses explore:
- Principles and practices of positive youth development
- Normative pathways of adolescent and emerging adult development
- The influence of families and communities on youth development
- The influence of localized and public policy on youth outcomes
- Key aspects of managing youth programs and working with various stakeholders (e.g., volunteers, boards, etc.)
- Utilizing evidence to design, implement and evaluate the efficacy of youth programs
Review all requirements for the online master’s in youth development.
Delivery
100% onlineCalendar system
Semester-basedTypical program length
2 or 3 yearsTypical course load
2 classes per semesterAccreditation
The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.
Innovative Digital Education Alliance (IDEA)
IDEA is a consortium of 20 renowned public universities from across the United States, offering online degree and certificate programs in human sciences and agriculture. Students apply to and are admitted by one university, enroll in all of their courses through that university and graduate from that university. However, the online courses are taught by faculty in the discipline from several universities.
Faculty spotlight
Melissa Herzog is the academic advisor for all students admitted to the University of Missouri's youth development graduate program. Dr. Herzog teaches the foundations of positive youth development and adolescents and their families courses. As an academic advisor, she has an open-door policy to support individual program planning and mentors all master's student capstone projects in the program. She is currently co-principal investigator of a federally-funded, statewide relationship education program for single adults across Missouri where she oversees evaluation and quality improvement. She has previously worked on social competence intervention development, teacher training and program evaluation for middle school youth on the autism spectrum.
For questions about the youth development graduate program and how it fits your personal and professional goals, reach out to Dr. Melissa Herzog.
As an applied developmental scientist, Steven Krauss’ expertise explores the dynamic interplay of youth and adult relationships in shaping and empowering psychosocial development. Dr. Krauss’ research program utilizes qualitative and mixed methods to delve into how developmental relationships contribute to the health and well-being of adolescents and emerging adults. A distinctive feature of his work is the application of a youth-adult partnership lens, through which he explores the myriad benefits, processes and barriers associated with collaborative efforts between youth and adults in various programs and projects. His current work focuses on relational capacity building among adult volunteers and youth members in 4-H programs in Missouri and the North Central region. Dr. Krauss teaches two courses: youth-adult relationships and program design and evaluation.