Certificate in Youth Work Practice

Youth Work Practice Certificate Program Overview

Whether leading a youth development organization, managing youth programs, or working at the frontlines with young people, a youth worker puts young people’s wellbeing at the center of her/his efforts. Youth work is about building trust-filled, mutually respectful relationships with young people and helping them to develop knowledge, skills, and a sense of purpose. Youth workers create safe environments for young people and guide those harmed by oppressive community conditions such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and classism through a process of healing and building resilience. Youth workers connect with young people that other individuals and institutions have failed to engage.
Clark University’s Certificate in Youth Work Practice honors this important profession and is committed to building this field by integrating foundational and cutting edge youth development theories with authentic youth work practice. Our program has been co-created with local youth workers. Learning, teaching and action happen in the context of a Community of Practice (CoP) consisting of Clark faculty directly engaged in youth work, alongside aspiring, novice, and experienced youth workers.

Youth Work Practice Certificate Requirements

With different types of students entering the program (undergrads, graduate students, accelerated master’s students, and youth workers) we realize that the course of study has to be flexible. Yet, we are committed to the formation of communities of practice and the development of a collective professional identity among students in the program.

• Required (3.5 units)  

• IDCE 340 - Fundamentals of Youth Work
• IDCE 303 - Youth Work: Practice and Social Justice
• IDCE 345 - CDP Practice: Reflection and Deliberate Practice
• IDCE 398 - Internship

• Electives (2.5 units)-Supports students in the acquisition of the Program’s Learning Outcomes *Sampling*

• IDCE 346 - Practicum in Community Development and Planning
• EDUC 381 - Critical Pedagogies
• IDCE 30203 - Program Evaluation for Youth and Community Development Initiatives
• IDCE 30221 - Education and Development
• IDCE 30225 - Grant Writing for Community Developers
• IDCE 30238 - Public Communication Seminar
• IDCE 30281 - Community Needs and Resource Analysis
• IDCE 30296 - Nonprofit Management I
• IDCE 30298 - Nonprofit Management II
• PSYC 258 - Emerging Adulthood: Dev. from Late Teens through the 20s

Core Faculty in the Program of Youth Work Practice

Jeffrey Arnett, Psychology
David Bell, International Development and Social Change
Katerine Bielaczyc, Hiatt Center for Urban Education
Ramon Borges-Mendez, Community Development and Planning
Nigel Brissett, International Development and Social Change
Eric DeMeulenaere, Education
Sarah Michaels, Education and Communication and Culture
Seana Moran, Psychology
Ousmane Power-Greene, History
Laurie Ross, Community Development and Planning