Academic Director: Sarah Zeller-Berkman, PhD
CUNY School of Professional Studies
101 West 31st Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Email Contact: Sarah Zeller-Berkman, Sarah.Zeller-Berkman@cuny.edu
Mission
The Youth Studies Program aims to play a prominent role in shaping the programs, organizations, systems and research that impact young people’s lives by providing a learning community for youth service staff, researchers, advocates and policy makers. By offering high quality coursework, a robust research agenda and experiential opportunities that are shaped through a participatory, critical and interdisciplinary lens, the Youth Studies Program seeks to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to design, run, research, advocate for and work in youth settings and other institutions and programs that impact young people’s lives.
The Program
Youth Studies is an emerging multidisciplinary field that spans the humanities, social sciences, the arts and sciences. Integrating theory, research, public policy and practice, Youth Studies provides an opportunity to deepen students’ understanding of the relationship of youth and society through critical thinking, research and writing.
The Advanced Certificate in Youth Studies responds to the needs of those who work in the youth services field and is innovative in its approach to providing a pathway for professional development. Graduates of the program are better prepared to design and offer programs that exemplify best practices in youth work, to engage in meaningful research with youth, and to develop youth policy that caters to the needs of youth, communities and families in the public education, juvenile justice, social welfare and medical systems.
Admissions Criteria
Candidates for admission to advanced certificate programs must possess a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher from an accredited undergraduate institution. Applicants are also required to write a personal statement, upload a resume, and provide one letter of recommendation. Applicants who meet the basic eligibility criteria may be asked to take part in an individual interview before final acceptance is determined.