More Program Specifics
Understand the courses you’ll take, the curriculum requirements to meet, and the concepts you’ll gain mastery of. Get the detailed information you’re looking for.
Youth Development BA
With our Youth Development bachelor's degree you can give young people a stronger start.
Become a youth leadership professional in RIC's Youth Development Program.
Our curriculum is multidisciplinary, combining courses in education, social work and nonprofit studies to prepare you to work with populations ranging in age from three to twenty-one in a variety of settings.
High-Demand Youth Development Careers
- Childcare Worker
- Social Service Manager
- Case Manager
- Youth Minister
- Camp Director
- Outreach Worker
Why Earn a Youth Development Bachelor's Degree at Rhode Island College?
- Our Youth Development degree is unique within Rhode Island and encompasses coursework from multiple disciplines.
- Youth Development majors graduate prepared to work with youth in after-school programs, recreation centers, community arts centers, youth residential housing, justice and probation sites, youth ministry and governmental agencies.
- Our program includes a student-chosen minor or self-designed concentration composed of five-plus courses, in addition to a 180-hour internship.
- Topics covered include: social justice, educational psychology, human development, social work, nonprofit studies, children and youth with disabilities and pedagogy.
diversity_3
Join Our Community
We're thrilled that you're interested in Rhode Island College and we want to make sure that nothing stands in your way of pursuing a RIC degree. Just let us know how we can help you with your next steps.
Our students graduate with both a BA in youth development and a Certificate of Undergraduate Study in nonprofit studies.
Our Youth Development Faculty
Dr. Lesley M. Bogad
- Professor
Dr. Victoria Restler
- Associate Professor
Hear From a Student
Marleni Suazo
“Our youth need role models; they need somebody who will see their potential and empower them.”
– Youth Development Major
Impacting Local Youth
Silas Murray is intent on empowering youth the way he was empowered — through sports
Program Details
Admission Requirements
If you are interested in the Youth Development Program, email the Feinstein School at fsehd@ric.edu to set up an introductory meeting with the program director. There are no minimum credit requirements and the Praxis test is not required to apply to this program.
Admission to the Youth Development Program (YDEV) requires:
- Rhode Island College undergraduate admission
- an interview with an advisor about whether YDEV is a good fit for you and your career goals
- a personalized Plan of Study created with your YDEV advisor that maps your unique path to graduation
- completion of a short survey about your interest in YDEV
Program/Learning Goals
Five Anchors guide the Youth Development BA program learning goals at Rhode Island College:
Purposeful Play
Understand that art and play can be a starting point for exploring content and community through ideals such as democracy, care, and inclusion.
Care
Experience, practice, and critically engage the intentional and diverse practices of care that shape youth and community.
Identity
Explore both self and others and develop skills to support young people in identity exploration.
Advocacy and Social Justice
Investigate and interpret programming through the lenses of power and difference in order to better understand how to build positive communities with youth.
Leading With
Experience and practice the intentional elements that allow adults to lead with youth to make a better world.
Take the Next Step!
Department of Educational Studies
In the Department of Educational Studies, we teach you how children grow and develop and help you to use that knowledge to create learning environments and experiences that will benefit children for life.
- phone401-456-8018
- placeHorace Mann Hall 339
