Youth Development MA

Our Youth Development MA helps you grow your career and uplift young lives.

High school students working together to construct a stick-based structure

Lead the next generation with a Master's in Youth Development.

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½â€™s Master of Arts in Youth Development is the first program of its kind in New England. Designed for early and mid-career youth workers, this flexible, interdisciplinary degree equips you with the tools to lead, design, research, and innovate across youth-serving organizations. You'll customize your own concentration and gain hands-on experience through field-based learning.

A Youth Development Master's Degree Designed for You

Our program is for individuals working within youth development and/or youth-oriented social service organizations who want to elevate their careers to leadership positions.

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More Program Specifics

Understand admissions requirements, the courses you’ll take, and the concepts you’ll gain mastery of. Get all the detailed information you’re looking for.

The RIC Advantage

In our program you will design your own concentration, comprised of two elective courses and a capstone project. Coursework includes field experiences that provide opportunities to learn from and lead Rhode Island’s vibrant youth development community.

89%
of faculty hold terminal degrees in their fields.
$300M
More than $300 million has been invested in campus upgrades & renovations in the past 5 years.
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Apply for Graduate Admission

To begin the process you will need to sign up for an account with CollegeNET. Once you have a CollegeNET account, you will be able to log in any time and see your Activity Log which shows you a personalized status page.

Our Youth Development Faculty

Dream Accomplished - Helping First-Generation Students Excel

Program Details

Admission and Course Information

Learning Outcomes

  • 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, critically engage, and shape the intentional and diverse practices of care that shape youth and community.
  • Identity – Explore both self and others and hone the skills to support young people, staff, and communities in identity exploration.
  • Advocacy & Social Justice – Explore programming and policy through the lenses of power and difference in order to better understand how to build, sustain and lead positive communities with youth.
  • Leading With – Design and practice democratic, collaborative leadership models with youth, colleagues and partners in the field.

Youth Development MA Scholarship Fund

The Youth Development MA Program at ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ is delighted to announce a new scholarship that is available to all Youth Development MA students. All students will be eligible to receive a $1000 tuition scholarship over the course of their studies. As a program rooted in equity, this scholarship fund is part our commitment to higher education access in the field of Youth Development.

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ entrance

Take the Next Step!

Feinstein School of Education and Human Development

The Feinstein School administers and coordinates all professional education programs at ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½. We offer a range of programs, including early childhood, pre-K-12, counseling, school psychology, youth development and health and wellness.

Rachael Lee Ficke Clemons

Coordinator

Field Education Youth Development Program