• Description of Program
• Admission
• Degree Requirements
• Special Opportunities
• Careers

Description of Program

The youth development major prepares students for the professional delivery of services which focus on the infant, child and adolescent across all ability levels and within the family, community context. Required courses build a strong foundation to serve youth through integration of key professional topics including: professionalism, cultural and human diversity, applied human development, relationships and communication, and program development.

Admission

Apply online for undergraduate admission to Indiana University at http://admissions.indiana.edu/.

A newly admitted freshman or transfer student, beginning in the fall 2020 semester, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science degree with a major in youth development, will receive an offer of direct freshman admission to the this program if he or she meets both of the following criteria:

1. Entrance Test Scores: The applicant must have earned one of the following minimum standardized test scores:
   • a combined critical reading and math score on the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) of 1280. --or--
   • a composite score on the ACT (American College Test) of 27.
2. Academic Performance: The applicant must either:
   • possess a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.5. --or--
   • rank in the top 12 percent of his or her high school graduating class.

Before entering the School of Public Health - Bloomington as a youth development major, all other students begin studies in the University Division, and then subsequently certify into this program as soon as they satisfy the following two admission criteria:

Students in the University Division must also declare their intention to major in youth development to the University Division Records Office. If a student earns less than 2.0 semester GPA for the term before entering the School of Public Health-Bloomington, the student may be admitted on academic probation as long as the student has completed 30 credits and has at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

International applicants for admission to a second undergraduate degree program in the School of Public Health - Bloomington, whose primary language is not English, must satisfy one of the following criteria before being considered for admission directly into one the School's degree programs:

• submission of a minimum score on the Test Of English As a Foreign Language (TOEFL), of 550 on the paper-based test, or 213 on the computer-based test, or 80 on the Internet-based test.
• submission of a minimum score of 7 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
• proof of completing at least three full years of secondary school in a predominantly English speaking country.

For students from countries where the TOEFL and the IELTS are not available, other evidence of English proficiency may be considered.

All entering international students whose primary language is not English will be required to take a special examination in English with IU prior to registering. Prepared by IU and designed to test a student’s ability to use English in an academic setting, the exam consists of three parts: an essay on a general topic, a listening comprehension exercise, and a grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension section. There is little that one can do to prepare for this exam other than to continue using written and spoken English at every opportunity. Appropriate remedial English courses may be prescribed on the basis of the results of this test.

International students whose primary language is not English must agree to take any English language courses prescribed from the results of this examination. Fees for special part-time English courses are the same as for other courses; however, credits earned do not meet degree requirements. If the results of the proficiency examination indicate that full-time work in English is required, the student will be assigned to the Intensive English Program (IEP).  

Students enrolled in IEP do not take academic courses until they achieve adequate English proficiency. If a student has serious doubts about English ability and is not financially prepared to undertake the additional time and expense of an intensive English program here, the student should consider completing English study in the student’s home country. In addition, the student may consider delaying admission to a future session.

Degree Requirements

This is a four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Applied Health Science degree with a major in youth development. A minimum of 30 successfully completed credit hours and a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) are required for admission to this program. Graduation requirements include:

• completion of general education requirements.
• completion of youth development major requirements.
• a minimum of 120 successfully completed credit hours which count toward the degree program.
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in courses used to complete the portion of this degree entitled: youth development core. 
• No Pass/Fail except for free electives.

General Education (20 – 39 credits)

All undergraduate students must complete the IU Bloomington campus-wide general education common ground requirements. Such students must visit the 2019-2020 General Education Bulletin to view these requirements.

Major (76 cr.)

Youth Development Core (49 cr.)
A minimum grade of C– is required in each professional core course.
Complete the following courses:

• SPH-B 150 Introduction to Public Health (3 cr.) +S&H
• SPH-F 150 Introduction to Life Span Development (3 cr.) +S&H
• SPH-F 180 Survey of Practice with Youth and Families (3 cr.)
• SPH-F 255 Human Sexuality (3 cr.)  +S&H
• SPH-F 330 Leadership Theory and Practice in Youth Development (3 cr.)
• SPH-F 345 Parent Child Relations (3 cr.)
• SPH-F 347 Human Development II—Middle Childhood through Adolescence (3 cr.)
• SPH-F 410 Positive Youth Development (3 cr.)
• SPH-F 417 African American and Latino Families (3 cr.)
• SPH-F 430 Professional Preparation in Human Development and Family Studies (3 cr.)
• SPH-F 458 Family Law and Policy (3 cr.)
• SPH-F 497 Internship in Human Development and Family Studies (6 cr.)
• SPH-H 160 First Aid and Emergency Care (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 494 Research and Evaluation Methods in Health and Safety (3 cr.)
• SPH-L 102 Participant Leadership Development (1 cr.)
• SPH-N 220 Nutrition for Health (3 cr.)

Additional Required Courses (27 cr.)
A minimum grade of C- is required in each additional major course.
Complete the following courses:

• Computer Literacy: BUS-K 201 The Computer in Business (3 cr.) or CSCI-A 110 Introduction to Computers and Computing (3 cr.) +N&M or SPH-K 200 Microcomputer Applications in Kinesiology (3 cr.)
• CJUS-P 375 American Juvenile Justice System (3 cr.)
• SOC-S 100 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.) +S&H or SOC-S 101 Social Problems and Policies (3 cr.) +S&H
• SOC-S 316 The Family (3 cr.)
• SPH-H 263 Personal Health (3 cr.) +S&H
• SPH-Q 381 Introduction to Biostatistics (3 cr.) or Equivalent Stats
• SPH-R 210 Inclusion in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 230 Recreational Sports Programming (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 431 Youth Sport Management (3 cr.)

Suggested Youth Development Courses for the First-Year Student
Fall Semester
ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition (3 cr.)
SPH-F 150 Intro to Life Span Development (3 cr.)
SPH-H 263 Personal Health (3 cr.)
Arts and Humanities Elective (3 cr.)
Free Elective (3 cr.)

Spring Semester
MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics (3 cr.)
SPH-B 150 Introduction to Public Health (3 cr.)
SPH-F 180 Survey of Practice with Youth and Families (3 cr.)
SPH-L 102 Personal Leadership Development (1 cr.)
World Languages and Cultures Elective (3 cr.)
Free Elective (3 cr.)

Special Opportunities

Students participate in required internships with faculty supervision and are encouraged to engage in a variety of youth-serving settings. A student who completes the major requirements is prepared to apply for certification to become a Family Life Educator with an Indiana Youth Development Credential from the National Council on Family Relations. Initial steps will also have been completed toward earning the Child and Youth Care – Professional (CYC-P) credential.

Students in this program have the opportunity to engage in a career class, School of Public Health - Bloomington Career Services, leadership development student organizations, clubs, and individual research with faculty members, and involvement in service and professional organizations.

Careers

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree are equipped to work in a wide variety of youth-serving agencies including: hospitals, schools, group homes, non-profit organizations, juvenile justice systems, public health agencies, and community youth services, and afterschool programs. The Youth Development degree was compiled to complement both state and national efforts to provide high quality professionals who are prepared to maintain both credentials at both the state and national level. The youth development curriculum also provides a strong base of theoretical and practical knowledge which serves students who may pursue advanced degrees in public health, criminal justice, social work, physical therapy, and medicine.