Youth Development Specialist, Graduate Certificate

Program Overview

The IDEA youth development program has its roots in Positive Youth Development Rather than focusing solely on corrective measures, a Positive Youth Development approach equips young people in the second decade of life with the skills and opportunities necessary for a successful transition into adulthood. Thisonline graduate certificate program approach promotes positive outcomes for all youth by recognizing their strengths, fostering positive relationships, and providing youth with opportunities to learn, lead, connect, and serve.

Program Outcomes

In this program you will learn:

To interact effectively and positively with youth to promote supportive relationships, youth engagement, and youth leadership.
To navigate the multiple systems (e.g., family, school, community, policy) that influence youths lives, to appreciate the diversity of these systems, and to engage with these systems to promote positive youth development.
To design, manage, implement, and evaluate programs to enhance and support positive outcomes for youth.
To understand theory, research, and policy about youth and youth programming and to use this research-based knowledge in a variety of ways (e.g., funding proposals, program design, policy/advocacy efforts, etc).

Career Outlook

When youth development professionals take part in higher education and ongoing learning, research shows that youth program quality improves. In this youth development certificate program you will learn to use more effective practices and feel more confident about your work, all of which will benefit youth.

Our graduates work with various youth-serving organizations:

Boys and Girls Club
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
Cooperative Extension services, 4-H programs
Missouri State Correctional Office
Girls, Inc.
21st Century Community Learning Centers
Administration for Native Americans
AmeriCorps
Family and Youth Services Bureau
Federal Youth Court Program
Learn and Serve America
National Guard Youth Challenge Program
Neighborhood Networks
Passport in Time
Preserve America Stewards
Promise Neighborhoods
YouthBuild

Career Pathways and Potential Earnings

Graduates of Youth Development Specialist can expect job titles and median salaries similar to the following:

Career Pathways and Potential Earnings for Youth Development Specialist Students

Target Occupation

National Median Salary (USD)

Child, Family, and School Social Workers

$58,573

Social and Community Service Managers

$78,229

Social and Human Service Assistants

$45,115

Farm and Home Management Educators

$58,115

Disclaimer: Salary data is sourced from © 2026 Lightcast, based on information from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Please note that this information is intended solely for reference purposes. MSU Online disclaims any responsibility or liability for any inaccuracies, omissions, or errors in the data.

A Top-Ranked Education

29th among Best Public Universities in America — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
Veteran-Friendly 'Gold Status' 10 Years in a Row — Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, 2025
#22 in Best Education Schools— U.S. News & World Report, 2026
#13 in Best Online Master's in Education Programs — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
#3 in Online Graduate Programs for Special Education— U.S. News & World Report, 2026
#4 in Graduate Programs for Educational Psychology — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
#1 in Graduate Programs for Elementary Teacher Education — U.S. News & World Report, 2026
#1 in Graduate Programs for Secondary Teacher Education — U.S. News & World Report, 2026

Tuition & Fees per credit

In-State Tuition

Out-of-State Tuition

$622

Cost of Attendance

The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found on the "Estimate Your Cost of Attendance" page.

The MSU Value Promise

You can be ensured a return on your investment at Michigan State University.

As one of the top research universities in the world, Michigan State University has advanced the common good with uncommon will since 1855.

MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community.

MSU has been offering online degree programs since 1998. Our maturity is evident in the high quality of the learning experience enjoyed by our online students.

MSU provides programs and initiatives that support and enhance diversity. We will expand our campus and external partnerships to put in place inclusive recruitment and retention practices. We nurture and promote individuals’ varied experiences and perspectives, ensuring structures and processes make possible full participation by all members of our community.

MSU actively collaborates with campus and external partners to innovate across all dimensions of graduate education. We create and support networks that increase collaboration and improve educational opportunities for our online students.

MSU’s nationally recognized online programs foster student growth and well-being throughout their academic career. We will expand inclusive mentoring practices and accelerate improvement across units to implement evidence-based practices to ensure our students complete successfully.

Continuing education can be one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding experiences you undertake in your life. We hope you consider becoming a Spartan, to learn online and reach your career goals. With highly ranked online programs and exceptional professors, we educate students who advance the common good with uncommon will.

Course Information

Core Courses

HDFS 801 - Foundations of Youth Development (3
Credits)
YD 810 - Youth Development (3 Credits)

Electives

Choose 6 credits of electives

YD 803 - Adolescents & Their Families (3 Credits)
YD825 - Adolescent Health and Sexuality (3 Credits)
HDFS 861/YD 824 - Positive Youth Development in Community Settings (3 Credits)
YD830 - Youth Adult Relationships (3 Credits)
YD822 - Youth in Cultural Contexts (3 Credits)
YD806 - Youth Mental Health (3 Credits)
HDFS 860/YD 823 - Youth Policy (3 Credits)
HDFS86 - Youth, Sport, and Society (3 Credits)
YD833 - Systems of Care for Youth at Risk (3 Credits)

Admissions Requirements

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

A bachelor's degree
Résumé/CV
- Previous work experience preferred
A written personal statement
- Detailing your professional interests and goals
A written academic statement
- Detailing why you are academically interested in the field and how you wish to use the degree in professional settings
3 letters of recommendation
- At least one academic reference is preferred. If the applicant has been out of
  school for a while, ask letter writers to discuss the applicant's ability to apply research and theory
Official transcripts from all previous schools
No GRE required
- GRE needed for international students
TOEFL is English is not your native language

To apply to this program:

Complete a university graduate application
- Including paying the application fee
Submit all required materials to the application portal.
Send all official transcripts to Michigan State University.
Complete a department application form
GRE scores are not required if you are a U.S. resident applying to the Masters Plan B program. International applicants must submit GRE scores. Send the GRE scores directly to the University.
Applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores
from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) taken within the last 2 years. The code for Michigan State University is 1465.

Youth Development Specialist

Graduate Certificate

Online

Course Delivery

12

Total Credits

$622

Credit Hour

1 year

Minimum Duration

Dr. Yuya Kiuchi

Program Overview

Program Outcomes

Career Outlook

Career Pathways and Potential Earnings

A Top-Ranked Education

Key Dates

Fall Semester

Application Deadline

Spring Semester

Application Deadline

Summer Semester

Application Deadline

Tuition & Fees per credit

Cost of Attendance

The MSU Value Promise

Next Steps

Course Information

Core Courses

Electives

Admissions Requirements

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

To apply to this program: