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This program is 100% online: no campus visits are required.
Successful completion of the program requires 36 total credit hours; 27 required credit hours, six credit hours of electives and three credit hours of the capstone project (H_D_FS 8090). Students complete a research-based capstone project centering around a youth development topic of their choosing. Students are encouraged to create a tangible capstone project.
The youth development master’s degree program is organized by key competencies that are vital to youth professionals. This structure ensures that graduates of this program are well-rounded and poised for career advancement.
Courses are offered by multiple public universities in the IDEA consortium, and some may have varying start and finish dates. Once you’re a Mizzou student in the program, you will register each semester through Mizzou regardless of the institution offering the course.
Course planner
The chart below shows when the courses are traditionally offered. Courses are 3 credit hours each, unless stated otherwise. The University reserves the right to change or cancel courses as needed.
State authorization
States require that the University of Missouri-Columbia be authorized to deliver university-level distance/online education to their residents. Each state handles this process differently.
Please see our state authorization page for more information.