Minor in Professional Youth Work (19-21 Credits)

The certificate program is intended to expand career options for students, whatever their majors may be. Employment opportunities include human services, community development, youth programs in public, private, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and teaching opportunities in a variety of environmental education/science centers and non-school settings. The certificate is administered through the Education Program in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

The program addresses the growing need for educated professionals to work with youth in structured organizations. There are about 3,800 local, state, and national organizations in the United States that focus on the development of youth, some of which are "prevention" oriented while others utilize "intervention" strategies. Eleven of the major national youth organizations serve some 25 million youth, provide full-time employment for over 30,000 staff members, and offer more than 3,000 job openings annually.

The certificate program is designed to promote the study of challenges facing society in the areas of agriculture and food systems;

Minor/Certificate Declaration Form (PDF)

Minor/Certificate Completion Form (PDF)

Catalog Link

For further information, contact Rebecca Jordan, 209 Waller Hall, 932-732-932-9164, scilearn@rci.rutgers.edu.

Required Courses (13-15 credits) download √list

11:300:101 Introduction to Professional Youth Work (1) or 05:300:200 Exploring Teaching as a Profession (3)
11:300:301 Administration and Management of Youth Agencies (3)
11:300:306 Educational Psychology: Principles of Classroom Learning (3)
01:355:201 Research in the Discipline (3) or equivalent (such as 01:355:302 Scientific and Technical Writing or 01:355:303 Writing for Business and the Professions)
11:300:438 Practicum in Professional Youth Work (3) or 11:300:200/300/400 Cooperative Education (3)

Electives (6 credits)

11:300:416 Environmental Education in the School Curriculum (3)
11:374:201 Research Methods in Human Ecology (3)
11:015:224 Individual, Marriage, and the Family (3)
11:709:226 Nutrition for the Developing Child (3) 11:709:323 Nutrition for the Child in Family and Community (3)
01:830:271 (Prerequisite: 01:830:101) Psychology of the Family (3)
01:830:333 (Prerequisite: 01:830:101) Adolescent Development (3)
01:920:108 Minority Groups in American Society (3) 01:920:218 Sociology of Education (3)
01:920:272 Sociology of the Family (3)

environment and natural resources; food, nutrition, and health; and human and community development.

The certificate program includes academic and experiential learning and draws upon educational pedagogy, sociology, and psychology to prepare students to address complex problems in youth, family and community services. More specifically, the program, which is interdisciplinary and applied in nature, provides a foundation in (a) individual and family development and functioning in the community and societal context; (b) contemporary issues facing youth, families and communities; and (c) policies and programs designed to prevent or alleviate concerns related to youth development and family issues. Students also acquire, in conjunction with the School's general education requirements and leadership development opportunities, critical intervention skills in interpersonal communication, program planning, leadership, social policy, applied research and evaluation and community-based education.