YS 620 - Practicum: Designing and Running Quality Youth Programs (3 Credits)

Prerequisite/Co-Requisite: YS 600   and YS 610  
This course is a practicum through which students learn theory and skills related to implementing quality youth programs through an examination of organizational conditions (e.g., management, strategy, finances and fundraising). This course is designed to critically analyze how organizational systems and practices help and/or hinder positive youth development. Students will test ideas and practices with their peers through group discussion, program and organizational observations, guest speakers, case studies, and a final project, and a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) lens will be used throughout the course. Students will use their existing workplace or another one of their choosing as a case study. If students do not have a work site, the YS program will help arrange a placement.  While this class does not meet weekly, there is weekly work assigned, and students will direct their own learning as they assess their organizations using both theoretical and practical lenses.

Topics covered in this course include:

• The intersection of Positive Youth Development and organizational management
• Leadership and strategy in youth-serving organizations
• Management and administration as enabling and constricting factors to program success (e.g. human resources, fiscal management, marketing)
• Sustaining programs through fundraising, collaboration, and advocacy